We Have a Wedding Plan

I know many of you out there are wondering what's up with Carrie and Joel's wedding.

Here it is 3 months after we got engaged, and still no announcement of a date.
To put it simply: planning a wedding is complicated--even when you're trying to make it simple!

Joel and I decided we wanted to have a laid-back wedding somewhere memorable, unusual and exotic. Rather than expect a host of guests to follow us, we opted to have only our immediate family attend the ceremony. Joel and I each have two parents and an older brother who will join us.

After much deliberation and shuffling over schedules, we have confirmed June 17, 2008 as our wedding day. The location for the ceremony will be this lovely little church in Hanalei, Kauai. The officiant is the church's pastor, Kahua Alpha.

I've purchased my dress from the Galina collection at David's Bridal. Thankfully it was not a difficult decision, and I found exactly what I wanted right away. Shopping can be torturous for me. (I still remember how I spent weeks searching for the perfect 8th-grade graduation dress.)
I'm still in the process of choosing flowers and church decor, but I really like this bouquet with lots of bright colors.

The mothers have coordinated their dress with aqua colors, and we're thinking the guys will wear khaki pants with white shirts. We will probably do the traditional Hawaiian leis. One of the most important details for us is good photography. I'm really excited about working with Rachel Robertson (check out her website).

There are so many details involved. Honestly, we've been a little overwhelmed--but excited! We really are not into all the hoopla that can go into such an event. The multi-billion dollar wedding industry and all the peripheral junk that goes along with it kind of makes me sick. Yes, the start of a marriage should be celebrated and commemorized, I think, but do you really need a $50 cake-cutting knife? Ok, I'll get off that rant.

Though we're not doing things "the traditional way,"we still want to involve others close to us in the festivities. Our community of friends and family is important to us and we want them to be a part of not only our wedding, but also our marriage.

So, we're planning a reception here in Colorado Springs (or vicinity) on Sept. 13. We like this day because it will be my parent's 39th anniversary, and we can have a big ol' celebration of marriage. We know that's quite some time after the wedding. If you could look at our summer calendar, you would understand (I hope). We also want to give those who will be attending time to plan, book flights, etc..

By then we should be fairly well settled, so people can come visit our abode. Several have asked where we will make our home. Here's a picture of Joel's house, where I will move in once we're married.

Despite the hecticness of it all, we're enjoying the process, and Joel and I are very much looking forward to the future.

Freaky Be

This morning as I scanned an e-newsletter, I came to the following quote: “You must be the change you wish to see in the world."--Mahatma Gandhi (Indian political leader)

Immediately, I thought, “What a coincidence! Yesterday I heard a song to that affect.”

And right as I thought it, that very song [Eric Bibb's "Spirit I Am"] came on my iTunes and the lyric, “Am I the change I long to see?” played.

I’ll take it as a sign and a challenge. How can I be the change I long to see?

Believing the Best

Do you ever doubt that God of the universe could love you?

Though I could look you in the eye and truthfully say, “Jesus loves me,” my actions communicate I don’t really believe God truly loves me, or that others genuinely do either.

Recent interactions have reminded me how far I have yet to go in believing the best about God (that He has my best interests at heart) and believing the best about others close to me (that they really like me and value my company and wouldn’t want to intentionally hurt me).

I wonder, why is believing the best so difficult and/or risky?

Dancing With God

My mom sent recently this to me. I don’t know who wrote it, but I like it:

When I meditated on the word Guidance, I kept seeing "dance" at the end of the word.
I remember reading that doing God's will is a lot like dancing.
When two people try to lead, nothing feels right.
The movement doesn't flow with the music, and everything is quite uncomfortable and jerky. When one person realizes that, and lets the other lead, both bodies begin to flow with the music. One gives gentle cues, perhaps with a nudge to the back or by pressing lightly in one direction or another. It's as if two become one body, moving beautifully.
The dance takes surrender, willingness, and attentiveness from one person and gentle guidance and skill from the other.
My eyes drew back to the word Guidance.

When I saw “G” I thought of God, followed by “u” and “i.”
“God, "u" and "i" dance."

God, you, and I dance.
Dance together with God, trusting God to lead and to guide you through each season of your life.

Even cake decorators need editors

Wal-Mart Employee: "Hello 'dis Walmarts, how can I help you?"

Customer: "Yes, I would like to order a cake for a going away party this week."
Wal-Mart Employee: "Whatcha want on the cake?"

Customer: "Best Wishes Suzanne."
And underneath that, "We will miss you."

Health

Today I’m thankful I have a healthy body, and that my most of my family and close friends do too. When I hear about friends of friends who are experiencing extreme health struggles (cancer, strokes, paralysis, etc…) I realize how often I take for granted my lack of maladies.
Though I’m tempted to complain about how a new prescription is affecting my body in odd ways, I realize how much worse it could be, and how much worse it is for many. Then I remember to pray for them and to do anything else I can to help. I also remember how much better it will be in heaven where there is no disease, no pain or suffering.
In the meantime, between here and heaven, I ask God to comfort the hurting, heal the sick, and bind up the brokenhearted.

excuses, excuses

I know, I know! It's been like forever since I updated this blog (and I've completely let my other one go).
Well, since I got a couple complaints from people who may actually want to read the thing, I'll take a stab at some excuses, or explanations, if you will.
I'd like to be better about blogging. But understand, I have some perfectionist tendencies and if I don't feel like I can do something well, I may not do it at all.

So, it's true, being engaged (and consequently planning a wedding) is exciting and wonderful and takes up much of my time and attention.
Also, some other life changes to note: I'm now working 24 hours a week, though doing the exact same duties, at my job.
I'm taking two classes at UCCS to prepare for graduate school and still doing a fair amount of freelance editing.
Then, there's the balancing two different small-group Bible studies, premarital counseling homework, spending time with my man, catching up with friends and family, starting to train for a 100-mile bike ride, and writing etc...
These are all wonderful things! I'm just trying to figure out how to do it all, and realizing sometimes I can't. That's when blogging goes.
But don't worry, I'll be back (hopefully soon).

Announcing Hearts for the Homeless luncheon

I received this press release today, and thought it's worth passing on to a few who may come across my blog and be interested in helping homeless children. I haven't heard of this organization before, but it looks interesting:

Interfaith Hospitality Network of Colorado Springs is pleased to announce their annual Hearts for the Homeless luncheon and auction on Sunday, February 10th at noon at the Marriott Hotel, 5580 Tech Center Drive. IHN provides shelter, meals, hospitality and case management support for families with children who find themselves in a homeless situation.

Jan Martin, Colorado Springs City Councilwoman, and Regina Lewis, CEO and Founder of ReginaSpeaking, will be featured speakers. In addition to featured speakers, congregations that have been in the Network helping IHN provide shelter to families for the last ten years will be honored.

The price for the luncheon is $35 per person or $300 for a table of ten. For further information or to purchase tickets for the event, please call IHN at 329-1244.

Friday quote

"Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let each new year find you a better man."
--Benjamin Franklin,politician, inventor and author

We're engaged!

On New Year's Eve, Joel Bradley, a most wonderful man God has placed in my life, asked me to marry him.

Joel and I met Aug. 15, 2007. Mike Braun (a former CBA coworker) was living in Joel's house at the time. Mike thought since Joel and I have a lot in common (love for Jesus, hiking, skiing, biking, music, travel, etc...) and our personalities are very similar, that we should meet. Turns out he was right!

Though we have not known each other long, Joel and I know we want to spend the rest of our lives together. We've been talking about this for awhile, so the proposal didn't come as a shocking surprise—yet nevertheless delightful.

Joel had planned a New Year's Eve (NYE) ski getaway in Winter Park (WP), where he owns a townhome. Though we invited some friends and family, he told me we'd have a romantic dinner alone on NYE.

The two of us drove up Sun. Dec. 30 with the others to follow later in the day. However, soon after we arrived in WP in near whiteout conditions, all the mountain passes and I-70 closed. Close friends, the Thompsons (who have a place nearby), had made it to WP, so we did a late-Christmas gift exchange there. Impressively, they all knew what was to come (including 3 young-ish boys) but didn't say anything.

Monday, Dec. 31, we woke up to sub-zero temps and high winds, so decided not to brave the ski hill. We opted for a short cross-country stint in the afternoon—after Joel did some errands. He had a good excuse to get out of the house and not take me, since the fire alarm downstairs had been chirping incessantly the day before. Unbeknownst to me, he picked up flowers and delivered them to Devil's Thumb Ranch, where we'd be having dinner. He also called my parents (which wasn't difficult for him since we'd spent Thanksgiving together) to officially ask permission.

Devil's Thumb is a rustically beautiful, picturesque lodge. We sat down to a 5-course meal. I could tell he was nervous, but we conversed with relative ease. After our dessert plates had cleared, Joel confessed his love for me and said he'd vowed never to tell a woman that unless he wanted to marry her. After many other kind and sweet words, which I'm not currently able to quote verbatim, he asked me to be his wife. Of course, I said yes (with glee and glimmers of tears)!

The ring he gave me originated with his great-grandmother. It was passed through generations, and his dad gave it to his mom upon their engagement. It's a spectacular solitaire diamond set on white gold. Its history and longevity as a symbol of lifelong commitment bring great privilege and responsibility, and I'm honored to wear it.

The wait staff subsequently brought out the flowers and two glasses of Champaign. We raised glasses again at the Thompsons, where a neighborhood crowd had gathered to congratulate us (and ring in the New Year).

We are excited about the year to come, and talking about a late-summer wedding. To see more photos, go to Joel's web site: http://www.houseofjoel.com/houseofjoel/photos/personal/2007Engagement/.