Pre-Marital

So I'm not sure we were properly warned about pre-marital counseling... Or maybe I was so certain our engaged bliss would continue through the wedding that I ignored it?

Anyways, we began premarital counseling 2 weeks ago with Sojourn,  our church here in Louisville.  Sojourn does something so powerful: instead of us meeting with the pastor for the  5 or 6 sessions, we are matched up with a married couple from the church that they have trained up to counsel us.  We meet in their home one night a week for 6-8 weeks.

We were matched with Josh and Beth.  They are 30ish (but look our age), have 3 girls that are post-card-adorable,  a gorgeous homey and inviting house and really are just perfect.  I take that back, they are a family committed to serving Jesus and the beauty of the gospel seems to propel their family.  It has been such a blessing to have them invite us into their home these past 2 weeks.  They are able to put meat and flesh on the scenarios and hypothetical circumstances talked about.  Beth is able to speak to me on what my role as a Godly wife is and Josh is able to speak to Chris about what it's like to be a husband after God's own heart.  And we believe them because of how it seems to have worked for their family.

HOWEVER, no matter how much of a blessing Josh and Beth are, pre-marital is tough.  It's forced Chris and I to see where our assumptions differ, how selfish and sinful we are, the weight of how serious joining ourselves in marriage is and lastly, it's forced us to learn to communicate on a hard level.

I don't care how hard we tried to have deep and meaningful conversations before now, it is almost impossible to do on our own.  But with Beth and Josh asking questions like, "Jenny, what do you think it looks like to submit to Christ" and with subjects like money, roles and responsibilities being brought up, it's impossible for us to not have serious conversations.  Thanks be to God every icky conversation we've had have all ended wonderfully with each of us clinging to Jesus more and more.   I really think that is due to the fact that Chris seeks out Jesus and I think really does fully feel the serious weight of the colossal task he has in leading our family.  I'm not sure I could be with a man that better humbles himself before the Lord to seek direction.  The beauty of Chris is that when I point out things he does that hurts me, he immediately takes it to the Lord and seeks change.  Now this is not boldly apparent.  Instead it's painfully subtle.  Usually I'll be thinking he's upset with me because he's so quiet when in reality he's just seeking counsel from the Lord.

So, we're only on week 2, and tomorrow is week 3.  We have a lot more territory to cover so I am sure we have a lot more icky conversations to have, but my prayer is that through each of them, that I point Chris to Christ and that I cling to Jesus as my Savior and ultimate answer.  I have to remind myself that as beautiful and wonderful as this marriage looks like it's going to be, it's a blink of the eye when compared to the eternity I'll spend with Jesus in the Kingdom....

Happy Sunday everyone! Hope your weekend was fun!

XO

Saturdays

I love Saturdays.

I love it most when I don't have any commitment until after 1pm so that I can be ultra lazy and still cook a yummy Saturday morning breakfast. 

Today I don't have that long for my Saturday Morning bliss.  But I do have 30 uninterrupted minutes of coffee, a smore poptart, blogging and snuggling with my baby Annabelle.

Why isn't every day Saturday?!

. . : :BaCheLorEtTe Weekend: : . .

Last weekend was the best weekend of my life.  It was my bachelorette weekend!  I can not tell you HOW perfect the entire weekend was!  The girls went above and beyond the ENTIRE weekend to ensure it was the best weekend ever :)  Here are a select few pics of the PERFECT weekend!

Waving goodbye to Port Canaveral!

First night dinner!

My gorgeous and kindest girl in the world MOH

Cheers to the 1st day at sea!

Nassau Bahamas!

The girls who made the weekend happen!

Ship in the background!

Gamma Phi!

Senor Frogs- had THE most fun!

The last night out!

Jenny's Crew!

Coco Kay!

Team Effort!

I'm learning that weddings are SUCH a team effort.  

Today, my "team" stepped up too the plate!

All the DIY's and Pintrest projects I plan on doing for the wedding, I planned on doing this break... More specifically, this week!

My BFF/bridesmaid Katie came in last night from Jax to help get the ball rolling and boy did we get the ball rolling!

We made list after list on what I wanted to do/make and what we needed.  Then we spent the morning shopping: Hobby Lobby, Office Depot & Sams, with a lunch break with mom and RObbie at Chick fil a in the middle :)  Annabelle joined us too!

No we did not plan on being twins!

When we got home we got to the crafts! We painted, crafted, and most importantly, were accompanied by Carrie, Charolette, Miranda and Samantha.  For Jenny and Katie, wedding projects mean SATC.  

Throughout the day we recruited others to help with the festivities! MOH Carla came over for a bit and helped, Mom did some sewing for me, and dad came to the rescue with his wood cutting ability/tools and was able to cut out some things we'd traced on! 

She's the best!

Crafts Galore! 

It was such a fun day!  Thankful to have the love and support I do!

Last Days of Panama

The last 2 days were wonderful! We continued to hang out on the beach/pool at our condo.

We went Horseback riding on the beach :)

I had the sweetest horse :)

The whole clan and our horses on the Pacific Coast!

:)

We went to Coconut beach.

Coconut Beach

We went to the boarder of Costa Rica and shopped some

New Years Eve Fireworks

New years day we spent the morning at the pool/beach.

Then we packed up and drove into David to catch a flight into Panama City. 

The plane we thought we were going to take :(

 Long story short, the plane had a malfunction, the replacement place they sent didn't fit everyone and so was going to take 2 trips.  We were supposed to be on the second trip but there was bad weather in Panama Cty so they cancelled the flight and rescheduled it for the morning.  But taking that flight, we wouldn't make our flight from Panama City to the US.  SO, we rode a BUS from David to Panama CIty!  It left at midnight and we arrived at 6 am. 

Robbie waiting for the bus 

 Monier met us there and brought us to our hotel room we were supposed to have the whole last night.  We ran up and showered real quick, then headed to the airport.  

R & R clean and showered

We made the rest of our flights successfully and now are waiting on our bags in Destin Airport!  

What an awesome family vacay! I could not have asked for a more perfect last hoorah of bonding with dad and the boys! Here are some last pictures :)

Thanks dad for an unforgettable and wonderful vacay! Love you!

Where I spent 65% of my time!

Pacific Sunset

The broskies and I after they came in from surfing

Love em :)

2011 In Review

Chris proposed to me :)

Right after he proposed :)

The blanket he spread out to ask the question :)  I called being engaged "Step 1" and marriage "Step 2" so we never had to say scary words when we discussed the future ;)

Seriously an amazing night!!

He had all of our families waiting on us at a restaurant when he had finished proposing!!

I became a mom to the most incredible pup ever

Annabelle when she was a baby puppy!

"Mom! Taking my picture again?!"

She's my girl!

Annabelle brought us so much joy in our move to Louisville!

Stood beside a best friend of mine as her MOH as she married the love of her life!

I got into graduate school and started studying Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at University of Louisville

We moved to Louisville

I fell even MORE deeply in Love with Chris

I had Katie, Kirsten, Mom, Robbie and Dad visit me in Louisville

K and I in front of a Louisville Bridge downtown

Mom, Robbie and I at Ramsi's Cafe!

Katie and I at Louisville SLugger Museum

Dad and I at dinner with the Louisville skyline in the background

I ran my second half marathon and beat my pr by 16 minutes!

I picked out my wedding dress :)

Visited Panama

Made bunches of new friends in Louisville

And thanks to Krista from One Beautiful Life, here are some questions I used to help me think back on 2011 with a broad perspective:

1.What is one truth you learned? 
God is bigger, better and more mighty than I could imagine


2.What is something that you did that you are particularly proud of?
I am proud of the rich, joyful life I've started in KY.  I'm proud of my graduate program, the church we've become a part of, our small group, the group of friends I've made, training Annabelle, learning to cook, and training for a half marathon, all on my own (well, all with Chris ;) )


3. What was the hardest thing that you had to do?
I had to set myself free to be truly loved by Christ.  This allowed me to let myself be truly loved and sometimes taken care of by Chris. 


4. What is something that you changed to improve the way you live?
I think I allowed myself to slow down.  Before, I was afraid to because I was afraid to have time to deal with hard things I was going through.  Speeding through life, filling it in with activities is one way to live, but being able to sit and soak in certain moments, good and bad, has been very good for my soul :)


5. What was your favourite Arts and Culture discovery (this could be a book, movie, song, etc.)
Definitely the Actors Theater in Louisville! What a GEM it is!  I also fell in love with Lady Gaga ;o)


6. What was something new you tried?
Cooking!


7. What experience did you appreciate the most?
The couples small group Chris and I joined  God blessed us with and brought us to and the friends we've met through it.


8. What did God surprise you with?
This is corny, but God surprised me with Chris being even better than I'd ever imagined. And he continues to out do him self in loving me and in the ways he wholly seeks the Lord.


9. What was something that inspired you?
I think going to school at the UofL Health Sciences Campus has inspired me to make a difference.  To use the blessing of my brain and the education that I'm receiving to do something good in the science/health field! Everyday that I walk to class I walk past 3 research buildings, 2 hospitals, a dental school, and a med school. Lives are being saved as I'm walking and I want to be a part of that!


10. If there was one word to describe 2011, what would it be? 
Exciting :)

Panama Day 4

Yesterday was one of the most relaxing, best days I've had.  

I slept in late, then walked over to the restaurant for breakfast.  I drank my coffee, read my book and took in the peacefulness and beauty around me.

My view

Yummy Breakfast

Then my brother Robbie joined me and we sat there for another long time while he ordered and ate his breakfast

Love this boy!

THen we played a family game of monopoly.  

3 hours later I was first to loose.... (Don't bring it up) and so I began my afternoon of sitting by the pool reading:)

Rossy and I

Before their last surf trip of the day

It was heavenly!

THen when the sun had set, we went to a new local restaurant

The outside....

My meal

Needless to say we were still hungry when we left, so we went to the original restaurant for dessert :)

Dessert!

It was a truly lovely and peaceful day!