The Wedding

It was absolutely beautiful in every way! The bride was beautiful, the flowers were beautiful, the ceremony was beautiful, even the programs (is that what you call them in a wedding?) were beautiful... well, you get the picture. =)

"Dearly beloved, we are gathered..."


"With this ring..."


My favorite part was the hour I spent doing the bride's hair and getting her ready for the happiest day of her life (so far). We had a room in the church all to ourselves for wedding preperations, and the other bridesmaids did not start arriving until after I had finished her hair, so we had a quiet, unstressed hour together (the last time I would have with her before she became "Mrs. R").


K did an amazing job with all the flowers, from the bouquets to the boutonnieres to the arrangments in both the church and reception hall. Yeah, she's pretty much a rock star!

There are days...

when everything is just wrong, and all you can do is hope that forgiveness is still available (though undeserved).

Falling, falling, sinking down, doubting in despond.
Is their hope will I live, is their life beyond?
Dark the night, hard the fight, shadows closing in.
I am sinking underneath this burden of my sin!

Then a light split the night, I heard someone say,
"I have come to lift you up, help you find your way!"
Then he drew me from the mire, helped me learn to stand.
Glad I am that Help was near, reaching out his hand.

Then he drew me from the mire, helped me learn to stand.
Glad I am that Help was near, reaching out his hand.
~ Judy Rogers

Why are you cast down, O my soul,and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God. ~ Psalm 43:5

With all my worldly goods, I thee endow (except the bamboo bookcase)

I think I am officially homeless (or as homeless as one with lots of family and friends can be). My Mom and two little siblings helped me move out today. Everything I own in this world now occupies a small corner of "the girls'" three-car garage. It is a rather odd feeling to know there is really no place on earth that I can go and say "this space right here is mine." Even when I shared my bedroom with my sister, growing up, my bed was my own. It was the one spot I could tell my sister not to touch. We respected each other's bed space. =) But I don't even have that anymore. It's a very strange feeling - not bad, just strange...

I just want to leave already!

I wish that I could fly
Into the sky
So very high
Just like a dragonfly

I'd fly above the trees
Over the seas in all degrees
To anywhere I please

I want to get away
I want to fly away

~Lenny Kravitz

A thought for all my dear friends and family who are hurting right now

I know I'm broken
But You alone
Can mend this heart of mine
You're always with me

And even though I'm walking
Through the valley of the shadow
I will hold tight to the hand of Him
Whose love will comfort me
And when all hope is gone
And I've been wounded in the battle
He is all the strength that I will ever need
He will carry me

And even though I feel so lonely
Like I have never been before
You never said it would be easy
But You said You'd see me through the storm

And even though I'm walking
Through the valley of the shadow
I will hold tight to the hand of Him
Whose love will comfort me
And when all hope is gone
And I've been wounded in my battle
He is all the strength that I will ever need
He will carry me

~ Mark Schultz

Wishing I felt the freedom...

Turnin' molehills into mountains
Makin' big deals out of small ones
Bearing gifts as if they're burdens
This is how it's been
Afraid of coming out of my shell
Too many things I can't do too well
Afraid I'll try real hard
And I'll fail
This is how it's been
Till the day You pounded on my heart's door
And You shouted joyfully
You're not a slave anymore!

You're free to dance
Forget about your two left feet
And you're free to sing
Even joyful noise is music to Me
You're free to love
'Cause I've given you My love
And it's made you free
I have set you free!