Wedding Madness

Invitations are going out today! Wedding planning is in full-swing and I am already tired of it. At this point, we have a lot of things worked out but it seems like a ton more are just waiting to be done. At least the registry is all figured out.

We went yesterday to register for the items we liked at Bed, Bath and Beyond. They were so efficient! The store was very well-run. We had a very nice experience, albeit a long one as we made some decisions together. I, of course, relished in the opportunity to pick out and mentally design what our future home would look like (we don't have a place to live planned yet, by the way). It was a different story for Fred; toward the end he acted like a sailor who had been lost at sea for weeks- starved and crazed. At the point when I caught him scanning obscure items for fun, I knew it was time to leave.When we got to his parents house, Fred accused his father of never having registry shopped, because he "never warned me about it." Oh brother.

Don't forget to check out our wedding website for answers to some of your potential questions, wedding details & R.S.V.P. options, and some hilarious old photographs of Fred & I.

Important Wedding Registry Tip

Just a note about Target's Club Wedd wedding registry (much thanks to our friends Sy & Kate, who called me immediately after he found out that Fred & I are registered at Target):

If you decide to purchase any Target registry gifts, please obtain a gift receipt.

We have nothing against Target (we love the store!), but apparently there are some issues with returns and the registry's policies are fairly strict. We plan to only register for what we actually need and will use, but in the event of some unforseen circumstance, Fred & I would like the options of return or exchange. If you have any questions about the return policy, check ClubWedd.com.

THANKS FOR YOUR HELP!

Dressed for Success

After a fun day of trying on an assortment of wedding gowns, I found THE ONE!

I thought finding the right dress would be the hard part, but that turned out to be the easiest. When my sales associate went to order the dress in my size, she was turned down. There weren't any more in stock. The Lord is bigger than my little problem, however, and she kept trying until finally today (5 days after we first started trying them) the dress company found one in my size/color combination partially made in China. It will be finished and shipped here, then be here in "early August." I am still not out of the woods, so let's all pray that God comes through in a big way and that it fits like the glove I am hoping for!

In other news, I can't believe tomorrow is my last day of school for the whole school year. It's crazy, it seems like it just started. I learned a lot this year, I hope I taught half as much as what I learned.

Shop 'til We Drop

I am going to shop for a wedding dress today! My mom, Tess & Mrs. Betcher (my future mother-in-law!!!) will be accompanying me to Davids Bridal (where every gown is on sale, starting TODAY!) & Patty's Bridal Boutique. I've heard that you can get lost in Patty's, it is so large and so full of dresses.

Please pray that I find the best dress TODAY (or soon), so that I don't have to waste time looking. I am also asking God for a dress that I can wear right off the rack, because I don't think I have time for alterations. Plus, if I find one today, I could try it on every day this summer until August 31.

P.S. Fred will NOT be allowed to see the dress (or me IN the dress) until I walk down the aisle, so please don't describe it to him - he's very sneaky, if you couldn't tell by his proposal.

My Favorite Surprise

Everybody's been wanting to hear the story of how it happened, so here it is from my perspective:

I took Friday off of school to attend a photography workshop hosted by three amazing professional photographers (a post about my awesome experience there is sure to come!) both that day & Saturday. After a long day of learning Friday, I was experiencing a little "brain mush." As I drove home from the workshop in Kalamazoo, I called my friend Tess & invited myself over to join her family's pizza & a movie night.

Just after we had started the movie and our dinner, Fred called me on my cell phone. He told me he was taking some stuff up to one of his former students at Faholo Camp & Conference Center. He is still living in Toledo, so it was an hour & a half drive and he wanted someone to talk to. When he found out I was at Sean & Tess's (his cousin & cousin-in-law) house, he asked to speak with Sean and made it sound very convenient that I happened to be there. I told him I'd call him when I left, and let he and Sean talk about "car stuff" for about 5-10 minutes. When they hung up, we all jumped back into the movie.

About an hour went by, and he called me again:

Fred: Hey, what are you up to?

Emily: Um... I'm still watching the movie. (Duh. I told you I'd call you after.)

Fred: So are you in the room with them right now?

Emily: No. (That would be rude.) I am downstairs.

Fred: Well can you do me a favor, then?

Emily: Maybe. (You can't make me.)

Fred: Put on your shoes & turn on the outside light.

Emily: Do I have to tie my shoes? (What?! Why did that even cross my mind, let alone come out of my mouth?)

Fred: Nope.

Emily: Okay...

It was at this time that I opened the front door and my best friend came walking up the driveway, surprising me with an impromptu weekend visit, yet again. We greeted each other with an embrace, and salutations, when suddenly Fred leaned back, told me he loved me and that he wanted to marry me. Then he got down on one knee, pulled out a ring, and proposed to me right there - in that floodlit driveway on a muggy night at the end of May.

I told him I'd think about it.

JUST KIDDING! I said yes. I am so honored & excited to be in this stage of our relationship, and am very much looking forward to the new life that God has for us.

*Photos Courtesy of ShutterSam (Samantha VanderList)*

P.S. I love my ring! He picked the PERFECT ring for me, and had it within 40 minutes of looking - further evidence of his impeccable taste (heehee!).

EMC Graduation

Well, I'm headed out to Temperance to watch these yahoos graduate:

 

It should be a blast & undoubtedly a blessing! It's been a privilege and an honor to see what God has done in their lives over the past 9 months, during which they dedicated their time, efforts, service, and love to Him. As I mentioned to Kendra, I can't wait to see what He has in store for the rest of their lives.

What Time Is It?!

It's rebate time! Hoo!

Annnnnnnnnnnd I'm tempted.

Hanging On

One more month of school, and this is pretty much how I feel.

Weekend Update

What a nice weekend! I traveled to Temperance & Toledo on Saturday, hurrying along in the morning with plans to surprise Fred for his birthday (the 4th). Little did I know that the surprise was on me - he arrived 2 hours later than planned due to travel delays.

We had a great time, anyway, and it all started with Fred opening some birthday presents. He was blessed by a lot of different loved ones, so that was fun.

Then, we went out to dinner to celebrate at Longhorn Steakhouse - a restaurant which, despite our server's "Hi-diddly-doodly!" greeting, was tremendous. Fred had "one of the top 5 best steaks" he's ever had - an 11 oz. New York Strip cooked to perfection (medium-rare, with light, savory seasonings & grilled shrimp on top - mmmm!).

After dinner, I gave Fred a painting I have been working on for quite a long time now. I forgot to take pictures of it, maybe I'll update this post some time in the future when I have taken a photo of it.

Anyway, the gracious Wagners supplied me with a soft bed to sleep in, a warm shower, and breakfast in the morning. Someone also supplied my car with breakfast, too, as I woke to find it had been egged. Hilarious, people. And how did you manage to get it to slide INTO my rear window, even though it was closed?

BCC's worship & teaching service was encouraging, as usual. It was fun to get to have Fred next to me in the pews for the first time in a long time - usually he is involved in the worship team. After service, the hospitable Flood family circus (I kid) invited me to join the Everfree Master's Commission for lunch, fellowship, and a leadership talk over at their house.

I can't describe to you the pleasure I received in their company and in Beth's homemade enchiladas & cookies. Muy bueno!

I also made a new friend, Miss Bryn Flood. I taught Bryn how to make smiley baloney.

She, in turn, tested the limits of my embarrassment with some superb questions about relationships. My favorite getting-to-know-you moment went like this:

Bryn: "Are you a kid or a mom?"

Me: "I'm an adult."

Bryn: "Oh. Well do you have any kids?"

Me: "No, I'm not married."

Bryn: "Well when are you getting married?"

Me: "You'll have to ask Fred that."

After hours of refreshing conversation with Pastor Rick & Beth, we bid our adieus and finished off the day with a light supper and quality time session with Aaron. A lovely ending to a weekend well-spent.

Captain, My Captain

My favorite brother has amazed me yet AGAIN. He is finishing out his Junior year at Hope College, and will be playing quarterback for the football team next fall in his final year of college. He was recently named a 2008-09 Co-Captain of his team, along with teammate Erik Ladomersky.

Check him out on the Hope Football web page - you can scroll down and see his mug on the bottom of the left sidebar throughout the duration of the season. It was taken his Freshman year.

Congrats, Jake!!!

Poster Panic

Just made some posters today... I got them printed for 70% off at Office Max and the quality was fantastic! These are shown in ascending order according to how well I like the image.

 

Now, does anybody have any idea where I should put these 18" x 24" bad boys? Particularly the wedding pictures... Please post your ideas!

Following Through

It's time to make good on one of my resolutions.

I signed up to take a workshop to further my working knowledge of photography. Hosted by a co-worker's ridiculously-talented daughter, I am very much looking forward to learning about equipment, lighting, workflow, starting & maintaining a business, optimally using Photoshop, portrait photography techniques, wedding portrait market, pricing for profit, and more. While at Holly's studio with up to 20 other photographers, we'll shoot portraits of each other and models - including a bridal fashion model and a real bride & groom- and use Photoshop to enhance and build up our portfolios.

Seriously - what am I not learning?

Anyway, I am looking forward to all of the information, as well as the exposure (pun intended) to other photographers in various stages of their field and business. It's going to be SWEET!

Sicko

I have a sick mind. If I want to compare it to a host of worldly things, I could probably feel pretty good about what I don't do, say, or think. I could also gain a great sense of pride from that notion, and just go on dwelling in the sickness of sin and anything less than holy.

If we use the excuse, "At least I'm not as bad as ______________," we will never grow. We will never get better. We will stay sick, and in fact grow more sick with each passing justification. Spiritual sickness manifests itself in a host of ways in this world - one of them being in our mentality and attitude. Sickness is a slow death, which God warned Adam would be the ultimate result of his disobedience. The same is true for us - the ultimate result of giving over our minds to the ways of the world is death and destruction. I really do feel that, when I am not consistent in my time alone with the Lord, when I am not trading the concerns of the world for His Word, and when I am quick to meditate on fleeting, earthly things rather than the things acceptable to God. My "sick" thoughts deteriorate my attitude, my situation, and even infect other people through my relationships. Without Jesus Christ as the consistent center and antidote for my worldly condition, I am a sicko without hope for a cure. I, for one, am sick of being sick.

David speaks of this weakness and sickness of mind in Psalm 19:8-14. It is revealed to him that God is the standard of holiness and health that we should be striving for, and that His righteousness is what we should seek.

The precepts of the Lord are right,

rejoicing the heart;

the commandment of the Lord is pure,

enlightening the eyes;

the fear of the Lord is clean,

enduring forever;

the rules of the Lord are true,

and righteous altogether.

More to be desired are they than gold,

even much fine gold;

sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb.

Moreover, by them is your servant warned;

in keeping them there is great reward.
Who can discern his errors?

Declare me innocent from hidden faults.

Keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins;

let them not have dominion over me!

Then I shall be blameless,

and innocent of great transgression.
Let the words of my mouth

and the meditation of my heart

be acceptable in your sight,

O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.

Paul brought the mental sickness of the world in us back to our attention in Romans 12:1-2:

I appeal to you therefore, brothers & sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

In Phillipians 4: 8, Paul goes into greater detail about the things we should dwell on and meditate in, the characteristics of God which He has freely shared with us:

Finally, brothers & sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

Jesus is the only Way to God, and these are the characteristics of the Father that He showed us and uses to guide us home, to make us more like Him. So, will we be part of the cure? Or part of the disease?

With God We Shall Do Valiantly

A Song. A Psalm of David.

108:1 My heart is steadfast, O God!
I will sing and make melody with all my being!
2 Awake, O harp and lyre!
I will awake the dawn!
3 I will give thanks to you, O Lord, among the peoples;
I will sing praises to you among the nations.
4 For your steadfast love is great above the heavens;
your faithfulness reaches to the clouds.

5 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens!
Let your glory be over all the earth!
6 That your beloved ones may be delivered,
give salvation by your right hand and answer me!

7 God has promised in his holiness:
“With exultation I will divide up Shechem
and portion out the Valley of Succoth.
8 Gilead is mine; Manasseh is mine;
Ephraim is my helmet,
Judah my scepter.
9 Moab is my washbasin;
upon Edom I cast my shoe;
over Philistia I shout in triumph.”

10 Who will bring me to the fortified city?
Who will lead me to Edom?
11 Have you not rejected us, O God?
You do not go out, O God, with our armies.
12 Oh grant us help against the foe,
for vain is the salvation of man!
13 With God we shall do valiantly;
it is He who will tread down our foes.

The Road Not Taken: Commitment

I was driving home tonight, and there were two different ways to get home. One is highway driving so I could drive faster but it is longer in distance; the other is more backroads that require slower driving but are slightly more direct. Both ways have advantages and disadvantages; I had to make a choice.

The thing that is interesting about this kind of choice is that it doesn't involve morality. There is no "right" or "wrong" in the choice, because there is no clear advantage to one way versus the other. In a situation like this, the morality lies in the way you handle your choice. It demands commitment, perseverance, and strength.

I made my choice to start driving down what I will call Route A, and I stuck with it. I didn't test-drive Route A, then get caught up in the thoughts of doubt. "I wonder if Route B would have been faster. The traffic is thick tonight. And that other way, it would get me home eventually, maybe even faster - maybe I should try it." How unwise to turn around, retracing steps and wasting time as I tried to go back to where I'd already been! And then, who knows? Maybe Route B had an unforseen detour, which wastes yet more time, energy, and resources.

If I was that concerned about the speed and efficiency of the route in making the decision between routes A and B, I should not have allowed doubt to come in and plague me. If doubt could not be staved off then I should have pulled over, collected my wits, prayed, and worked my way through it. The best thing I could have done if that doubt prevailed would have been to simply drive faster and more efficiently when possible; to give it my best effort to get home, trusting that I was headed in the right direction and that there was purpose in that.

While it's true that God doesn't waste anything, we humans sure can waste a LOT. Sometimes we waste it when we back-track on decisions we make without simply pausing to ask God for help or working through the situation with the utmost of integrity. It was vital to me to get home (obviously, to blog), so by working through this seemingly insignificant decision, I got home safely, quickly, and happily.

When the time comes for you to make your next decision - where are you headed? Are you committed to making it there without waste?

tag along.

Gilmore tagged me, so I am supposed to list 10 things about myself.

1. I am fairly well addicted to blogging & Craigslist. And I've never even made a transaction.

2. I really, really wish I had a Hasselblad H3DII-39. And knew how to really work it.

3. I love Jesus Christ, hands down.

4. I'm in love with FDB3.

5. I feel victorious when I win at Jeopardy.

6. I would visit all the world's finest art museums 24 hours a day if I could. Well, maybe just 12 hours a day.

7. I check various blogs way too many times a day.

8. I've been trying to finish a book I started back in January, and to be more humble. It appears I am a humble reader, so that is a good start.

9. Aside from the goals I've already reached in my life, I want to finish up on the goals I posted about earlier this year. I've made good on 3 of the 5 already!

10. I really love those strange moments of inexplicable mania, when one is filled with thought, emotion, and creative spirit. I'm talking about those sometimes overwhelming urges to write/draw/paint/compose/create.

I now tag Emily and Meghann.

Photobooth Fun

If You've Read This Far, You're Obligated

You, the reader of this blog, are stuck. You cannot turn back, and you cannot turn away. You are reading my words and the further you go, the farther it is from where you feel that you can stop or turn back. Every word you have read so far has influenced you and have created a conscious decision to go forward, to read on, to finish the blog. Perhaps you started reading this portion thinking that it would amount to something, and perhaps it will. I make no promises. Regardless, you're in this for the long haul.

Whether you are a first-time passer-by, a frequent visitor, a devoted reader, a comment-bearer or a silent stalker from afar, your obligation is the same.

COMMENT ON THE FOLLOWING:

What should I be when I grow up?

I've been doing a lot of thinking about this lately - probably because I've reached my quarterlife crisis (thank you, John Mayer, for coining that phrase for me). Anyway, leave me note of some sort that speaks to this topic. 

Now. 

Because you have to. 

Because I said so, and you read so.

Thirsty in Temperance

This weekend I had the privilege of visiting Bedford Christian Community Assembly of God, where I attended a "Dwell" worship service. Dwell is a time set aside by the church to worship Jesus in song, prayer, and reflection, it is a time to dwell in the presence of the Lord. The church was set up just enough to offer a myriad of options to personally worship God, but without unnecessary distraction (except for a meddling photographer, ahem*). Several communion stations were available, a free-standing prayer wall was poised to accept the written prayers of attendants, another wall offered existing prayer requests for intercession, and the altar was open for business.

The theme of this Dwell service was "Thirsty," and I have to admit that's exactly how I came into church that night. Though I wish it weren't so, it's not often that I take time to reflect and acknowledge how desperate for God I am. It was a divine night of freedom, where I was reminded of my freedom to exist and worship God - what a supremely big deal that is!

I had a great time meeting many new people and was offered a lot of grace throughout the whole weekend - thanks be to God! And thank you, too, BCC.

       

I Can't Relate

I am a pretty slow reader, I tend to take my time through pages (even if the book or article is particularly fantastic). Presently, I am still reading Hind's Feet in High Places and I am really enjoying it. On the spiritual level of life, I think it is very well-written because it can apply to so many different people's situations.

I was once talking to a friend of mine who was going through some struggles and who got upset with me for saying, "I can relate..." when she insisted that I couldn't fully. Thankfully she's a dear enough friend that we overcame that, but recently we did agree on this:
Every person's life and situation is different, such that nobody else on earth can truly, fully relate to it. We can be sympathetic, but not truly empathetic of anybody's whole life situation. BUT (and that's a big but! ), Jesus Christ can fully relate. In taking on human flesh and taking our sin, He can relate (and more) to every situation we go through. What's more, it's important to recognize that the situations we "go through" are not arbitrary nor by chance, they are gifts from God. I think life situations are constant opportunities to both grow closer to and give glory to God, and they are provided by Him in His sovereignty - so God provides situations that will grow every single part of us closer to Him.

I'm pretty sure this is true because I can take whatever situation I am given - whether I deem it good, bad, or neither - and glorify God with it. That is a big deal! The problem is, I mostly just go through my days "getting through the day" until I can relax at the end when I could be determinedly glorifying Him throughout EVERYTHING I do all day and then relax in His presence later. It's clear to see which one is easier, which is unfortunately but honestly the one I end up choosing more than not. I have hope that the Lord will change that in me as I set my heart on Him more decisively each day - I want to change for God's glory!