Wow.

So I just merged my old blogs (from my time in Israel and Korea) into this one. I went back and read some posts from that first blog, as I was getting ready to leave for Israel and... YIKES! I am aware of my heart's tendency to be selfish, but as I read through just a handful of posts I was fairly appalled at a few things:

1) My naivete - Without that, I can't imagine I would have actually set out on the remarkable journey I experienced. At the same time, the grown up, more experienced version of me wishes I could go back 6 years and shake that slightly oblivious, ill-prepared me.

2) My selfishness - Arguably the fruit of a young and immature college kid, I am still appalled at how clearly I lived as though the world revolved around me. Truly, I don't think that changed much until after I got married. Thank God for marriage for so many, many reasons!

Though it may seem unrelated, I am really thankful for our church! God has changed this stubborn, selfish heart so much through the wise, loving, faithful instruction and correction we have received at GCC. The ladies there have been so sweet and loving, willing to invest in my life, correct me, and be such wonderful examples.

I need to go start lunch in the crockpot. I just needed to post a new post to celebrate the joining of my blogging past here at this one central location. Yay for blog merging!

Kitchen Re-Decoration

Dining room furniture, before and after. Imagine a large table (seen below) and 6 chairs in that color, with all white walls, and the honey colored cabinets. With the high ceilings and everything, the room just felt large and WHITE. Like a white version of a black hole. You walked in and it felt like it swallowed you. Well, perhaps less dramatic than all that, but still VERY bland.

The accent wall with the stained table and chairs. (We downsized to 4 chairs, because the table really wasn't made for 6, and it looks less crowded this way.

The other decorations. Even the towels on the handle of the oven have patriotic stars on them. And, as you can tell from the 24-pack, I still am addicted to diet coke. :)

I just posted a few of the pictures taken by Bethany and Anna's cameras at our wedding. They have both seen the pictures taken by the professional photographer (as the photographer is Anna's bro-in-law), and they said that they were all amazing. I can't wait to post those pictures. In the meanwhile, these pictures will have to do.

It was so amazing. It was an amazing amazing wedding. It was absolutely everything we wanted it to be and more, the perfect ceremony. We went to Daytona Beach for our honeymoon, and spent three nights in an awesome ocean-front timeshare. It was incredible - we could open the doors to the patios and hear the roar of the ocean. (HA! I accidentally typed "rear" instead of "roar" at first. That's hilarious!)

Anyway, I currently have strep throat, so forgive the somewhat disjointed nature of this post. Enjoy the pics though, and please leave me lots of comment love. Love you all!

My wedding shoes
Another pic of my wedding shoes
The best friend a girl could ask for
The kiss!

Wedding Pictures!!!

Bethany (my maid of honor), me, and Anna (bridesmaid)
Me and Abi
Me with my flower - they were paper flowers, handmade by yours truly (from a template)
Mike and I (we took pictures before the wedding for the good light)
Walking up the very blurry aisle (me w/o glasses)

and I am most certainly as happy as I look here

Good Times

This would be last Sunday - our pumpkin carving day. I won't even embarrass myself by telling you how long it took for us to decide what we wanted to carve on the pumpkin. But eventually we did decide... And, as you can see, it ended up looking either like it is a little handicapped, or like it is about to sneeze (so says Jen). Regardless, a good time was had by all. This picture is pre-scar - Mike felt the need to carve a scar (a very impressive one, BTW) on the side of the pumpkin. Maybe THAT is why he looks so stoned.
The loves of my life...need I say more?

Mike took Daive and I out to Memorial Park yesterday afternoon. We sat on a blanket, he read to me from the Bible, we were pelted by acorns from the trees above, and Daive nearly lost her mind wanting to chase and/or eat the squirrels that were everywhere. Clearly, a good time

was had by all. :)

It's us! This is actually our first picture together. Awww...

*sigh*

Good stuff. Good times. A good book in the background.
Life is good.

Okay, this is going to be a painfully fast update.

I got the apartment. It's tiny, but awesome. A perfect home for me and the dogs.

The job is going great. I've never worked with so many women before, and it's kind of frightening how catty some of them are, but overall, it's a good job that I enjoy.

The boyfriend...wow, now HE is more than great and awesome. He is just amazing. There is so very much I could say about him, but lack the time. I know it's the early giddy nearly-high stage, but I honestly never knew a relationship could be like this, that it could be this good. Mary, I will call you sometime in the next week. :)

I don't have internet in my new apartment yet, by the way...that's the cause of the oh-so infrequent postings. So there you have it. :) My life in a nutshell. Until later...