busy busy...

hi :)

whew. what a crazy few days. every weekend seems to be so ridiculously packed lately. dan and i haven't been able to get to saturday night church since his birthday (dec 21)! so, more than a month later, i think we'll be able to go this saturday. so, what's been making life so crazy, you ask? let's see...

my birthday weekend. was great! :) it was a very enjoyable time. still can't believe i'm 25... but then it does tell me that i'm getting married soon. it's weird how that is. my brain kept telling me (last year) i'll be getting married NEXT year (even tho it wasn't very far away), so when it became 2009 it was a shock. then it was 'i'm getting married when i'm 25'... y'know? well... it is indeed 2009, and i am 25... and in just about 6 months i'll be married!

that brings me to wedding planning! it's starting to take over a little more of my time/thoughts/energy each day. i realize how close it's getting and try and make appointments and officially book people/make firm decisions. it's coming along very nicely, though. meeting with a photographer friday. still have to look into flowers and all that. lots of great stuff getting planned, it's going to be awesome! looked at tuxes, and got something of a quote on those (got a nice discount if we go with them) - including a free groom's tux and (get this!!) free ring bearer tux rental, too!!! i am SOOOO excited to see lukie in a tux!! haha!! :) i'd say 'that will make my day' but... uh... it will definitely make me VERY happy! he's going to look so completely adorable! (as long as i don't need to get a cars pillow for him to carry... though mater would match the color scheme... hmmm) i am so excited for all the kids to be present. i counted it up today and we have 35 kids invited. granted some will be only months old, but... that's a lot of kids. :)

speaking of kids, youth group. planning for the year, working out some events (famine and such), went on a retreat this past weekend - went very well! keeping busy. signed up and put in a deposit to go on the mission trip this summer. i haven't been on one for quite a few years. it's at the end of june, so it won't conflict with wedding stuff - tho i'm sure i'll have to ask wendy to put on tips for my nails, bc i'll break them all down in west virginia. yeah, going to wv. i don't care for the state. but i feel the need to come to terms with the state and i think it will help with closure. be praying for the group going down - i know God's going to do some great stuff in us. also looking at volunteering at a place in aliquippa. it's very interesting to me, and i'm praying for God to make it clear if that's where he wants me (along with concord). i know he's got something great in mind for me, and he's placed them on my heart. :) we'll see.

so, i started this day out incredibly stressed out. i couldn't think straight, i felt like i had just way too much information bouncing around in my head. so, i started taking things one at a time. if i could take care of something little and get it off my 'to do' list, then i did it. a lot of odds and ends kinds of things, but i did them. one at a time. and i feel better so far. i know there's still a bunch of things to do, but instead of getting all flustered and just complaining (not that i didn't complain at all...) then i did what i could do. what's that quote from mother teresa.... "i know God will not give me anything i can't handle. i just wish he didn't trust me with so much." my room got straightened up some, papers got sorted or thrown out, laundry got done, appointments were rescheduled... and here it is 9pm and i'm comfortably relaxing in bed. my heart is calm, i don't feel overwhelmed. what a day. :)



take care of you for me.