Monday, December 29, 2008

End of '08

The end of each year always makes me sad, I have a hard time with letting go of the past 365 days. This year is like every other, I'm not quite ready for the newness, the unknown, of next year.

Highlights of 2008:
Jan: Ringing in the New Year by eating a pint of ice cream with the resolution to lose weight this year
Feb: Turning 21 without a single drink
March: Trip to Virginia and Tennessee
April: Celebrating the end of the semester with a patio dinner/bar night with Leah
May: First trip to California, Falling in love with San Fransisco
June: A whole month of camp love!
July: Starting the book "1001 Questions to Ask Before You Get Married" with Mark
Aug: Matt and Jenn's Wedding, Trip to Iowa, Graduating from college
Sept: Getting my first real job
Oct: Finishing "1001 Questions to Ask Before You Get Married" with Mark
Nov: Lakeview Dinner Auction, Counting Blessings
Dec: Time with my friends and family

This year, as a whole, has been defined by the development of my faith. I have grown closer to God and grown more in His word in the past four months than in all the time before them. I am thankful for His guidance, His grace, and His love. I am also thankful of His reminder from 1 Corinthians that LOVE NEVER FAILS.

Tuesday, December 16, 2008

Bridesmaids

This past Sunday I finally had a weekend day off and was able to go to Louisville to see Lu's new apartment and to visit with Rose. We took the time on our shopping trip to buy them bridesmaids' dresses. We found one that we all three agreed on (a miracle!), found one in each size, tried them on, they looked wonderful, and we got a great deal. One day, one dress, one time in the fitting room, FANTASTIC!


It was wonderful to have another wedding task completed but it also reminded me of one of the hardest decisions I have made since getting engaged - picking who I wanted to have stand with me at my wedding. I have wonderful friends from high school, two great girlfriends from college, and of course my collection of camp loves. In the end, it became obvious that I had to pick someone who not only knows and loves me but also knows and loves Mark...with that conclusion, Rose became the only choice. She was one of the first people I told that I wanted to marry Mark, she followed us creepily around the lake the night we started dating, and she was one of the first people we told the night we got engaged. And while I have been blessed with beautiful friendships in my life, my friendship with her is the only one that has spanned high school, college, and camp. I am sorry that I have friends that feel left out but I hope they also understand that I wanted my bridesmaids to be friends of Mark's as well. I am so thankful for all of the friendships in my life and for all of the ways my friends have helped, and are helping, Mark and I get ready for our wedding.