Leaving home

Ever since I got engaged back in November 08, I've realized that the hardest part about leaving home will be leaving family.  This is a picture of my grandma and if you can tell, even at 94, she is quite the social butterfly. 

Probably the main reason leaving home is difficult is that my grandma continues to remind me almost every day if not multiple times within a day of how sad she'll be when I leave.  It's inevitable that I'll hear her slowly making her way down the stairs, plop down on the couch wherever I am and then tell me that once I leave, she'll never get to see me.  "Once you leave there will be few chances to see you." over and over...

I try to explain to her that I'll be living close by. I'm not moving to Mexico goodness!  Anyways, having lived at home for 26 years so far, the transition will probably be tough on them, but I'm hoping my grams and I can chat on the phone periodically if not see each other face to face.  

TWO MONTHS!

Let's all say hooray because my crazy wild semester is OFFICIALLY over.  I'm running on four hours of sleep, but strangely I'm not tired (I guess I'll find out tomorrow). The real celebration is because yesterday was my birthday, yeah!, but also the TWO MONTH mark to the wedding. And now that school is OVER, I can actually think about the wedding a little=).

To add to that, Kevin and I will soon be able to spend more quality time (QT) together. His semester is almost over too. This year has been crazy but blessed as we've both been studying like mad dogs and our phone conversations aren't allowed to drift into the night.  Kevin has school in the morning, I have mine at night and finally in only a little, we'll be able to hang and enjoy each other's company alot more.  

Excited to get married, but also excited because at weddings everyone you never see yet love comes together.  I know Kev and my wedding will be quite a celebration and even though I'm not the frills and fancy type, I'm just excited.=) Here's a before picture of the bride and groom (Yes I'm wearing my Ape shall never kill ape shirt)... two months baby!...oh my goodness, is that possible??

Early morning thoughts

It's almost two months until the "big" day.  I know I'm only 25, to be 26, and what do I know about marriage, but I don't feel like I'm on cloud nine about being married. I have been reminded this week that it is the most challenging relationship that we can have on earth.  That's a bit crazy, uhhh yeah, but thank God because I love challenges and I love Kevin. =)  I believe we're going make a pretty crazy couple.

To prepare for this big step in my life, I really really think that I'm going to have to remember God's love and focus on his power, strength, and energy through the coming weeks.  Hopefully everyday I can have sweet quality time with God.  Darn it, weddings are stressful, but I hope especially in the weeks drawing up to the wedding that I'd be calm cool AND extra excited=) But really no stress in the frills..

I'm at peace though with getting MARRIEd mostly because I see that God has prepared me in many ways to be a good wife. I'm not going to be perfect because I can be bossy, strong willed and selfish, and I can stab with my words no joke, but I feel like I've had a lot of experience butting heads with people I love and have had much training in how to love others despite how they treat me.  Plus I have many great models to follow after.  Feel like God has put in me great perseverance to never quit, which I hear is important.  

Finishing up the semester in these last two weeks, just sent out invites, and have premarital counseling tomorrow. Oh yes, it'll get done!

By Far the Most Difficult Day

Today has been by far the most difficult day in trying to get my work done.  Usually I'm pretty task oriented but I have a final paper due for one of my classes next week not to mention many other final papers and exams to study for, but instead tonight, I spent hours looking for comfortable shoes to wear with my wedding dress. 

Who am I kidding? I hate shopping for shoes.  Look at what wedding planning can do to a person!

In addition to these changes, I've realized that when you have a beautiful ring with a diamond on it, it's hard not to still stare at it all the time. I'm still awestruck that Kevin trusted me with a diamond. ME?  Well, I'm honored to have his ring and the funniest thing is I used to tout in high school how I never looked at my nails like most girls do. I always had my palms up rather than down. With a ring, I've changed! I always look at my hand palms down! It's the ring I tell you. 

An update on wedding planning?

It's not stressing me out. Praise the Lord.  Invitations go out this weekend!

Addressed the invites with the help of two faithful friends with great penmanship! Tegan and Amanda thanks!  Here are some pics of Amanda and I stamping the invites. That's right! They're 100% homemade with Kinkos help=).

This week and last, I had some good company and great help from Amanda, Wing, and Te, all at different times to help me with invites.  Fun times =).

Writing!

It's 11:30am right now and I'm trying to finish at 10 page paper that's due today. Have class at 4pm an another assignment to complete so I'm going to keep this short. I'm done with the paper, only problem is I haven't read it through yet and revisions and citing articles always takes a long time. Just in case, you didn't know, I am currently getting my Masters in Public Health at UMCP.  Kevin is hard at work in his program in Elementary Education at UMCP as well. He graduates JULY 2nd and when that happens, we're going to have a big celebration. It's a huge accomplishment! 

As I'm writing my paper and apparently a blog entry, I'm listening to "Breathe Deep" a cd filled with the music of Hiram Ring, a college friend of mine.  Check him out at www.hiramring.com, buy his tunes on ITUNES, and if you're on the invite list to my wedding, then you should hear him there as well!  Alrighty, BACK TO WORK.