Saturday morning there was a bridal shower for me given by several of my good friends. All the days leading up to the party, I kept thinking "Yay, Saturday I get to go hang out with 'the girls' and have some fun!" But it wasn't really until Saturday morning that it really sunk into my head that the party was for ME. I'm just not used to be the center of attention for anything (which is fine by me). Anyways, the whole party was just a great time. I got to wear a wonderful red apron with miscellaneous utensils attached to it, eat some yummy breakfast food, answer some questions about my husband-to-be (I'm proud to say I got almost ALL of them right) and open gifts.

I guess the part that really got me though was the realization that I am so amazingly blessed with friends and family in my life. God has been so faithful to answer the cry of my heart for REAL people to connect with in the past couple of years. People who aren't just needy and want me to listen to them without really getting to know me in return. Everytime I've felt really alone and in need of a true friend, when I've cried out to God, He has answered me. He's brought people like Laura, Khela, Audre, Chelsea, Crystal and Darla into my life (just to name a FEW because there are more). And of course, how could I forget Mark?! He is a huge answer to prayer. God knew that I needed someone exactly as Mark is in my life. He is so good for me and balances my personality completely.

The point of my rambling blog I guess is that WHATEVER it is that you feel you need at the moment...God hears you when you call on Him and He cares about all those things you care about...no matter how small and insignificant you may think they are. I want to thank God for caring so much about me and thank the people in my life for listening to God enough to be my friend and reach out to me when I need it the most. I love you all and honestly couldn't make it through this wedding planning process without all your support!

PS - In case you're curious about the "boxer" part of the subject...my soon to be mother-in-law and sisters-in-law gave me a "spa package" for the shower. It included soaps, lotions, stuff to do pedicures, a robe for me and boxers for Mark...as if he'll be wearing boxers on the honeymoon!! lol ;)

Boy, I tell ya, Christmas tree hunting isn't all that it's cracked up to be. Well, I shouldn't really put it that way. It's just that this year I had an experience unlike any I've every had while getting a Christmas tree in the past!

So, this year I went with Mark's family - The Jeans family (that's his last name!). There were 8 adults and 3 kids along for the adventure. We went out to a spot somewhere by Rochford, got out of the vehicles and started looking around for good trees. Someone (pretty sure it was Mark's dad) had the bright idea of scaling the steepest hill in all of the Black Hills (serious on this one) to find the "perfect" tree. So we all proceeded to climb the hill. Now, that wasn't the hard part. I actually enjoy a good hike. But of course we get half way up and realize that there are no trees worthy to be put in a living room. Besides which, I'm not sure how they planned on getting it down once a tree was found up there! Now that we had decided to go back down and look elsewhere, we had the problem of HOW to get back down. It was way too steep to just walk down, plus we had kids with us (3, 4 and 6 year olds) who couldn't just go down on their own. I sat down, with a child on my lap, and started scooting down the hill inch by inch. It was going great until I hit a patch of pine needles and nothing to grap onto to stop from sliding. I slid about 15 feet on my butt, the whole time the little boy on my lap yelling WEEEEEE! While he thought it was great, it scared the holy begonias outta me! Plus in the process I ripped a huge hole in my new and favorite jeans. After recovering, all I could think about was my jeans and how I ruined a good pair. When the initial shock wore off though I realized that something else was wrong. Not only had I cut a hole in my pants, but also my underwear. And if I cut my underwear, what else do you suppose got cut? Yep, that's right, I also cut a big gash in my tooshie! And it's not even a battle wound that I can show everyone...unless I wanna wind up in the slammer for indecent exposure!

I guess the one consolation I had that day is that I did wind up with a beautiful Christmas tree to take home. It is now sitting in the window of my apartment awaiting the lights and decorations to make it complete. So, there ya go...if you're looking to cut your butt while getting a Christmas tree, you now know how!

I've figured out that love really is a choice, not just a feeling. In the beginning of relationships there's always the period of everything being exciting and new and "oh so wonderful"...but that newness definitely wears off. I can remember when the newness started wearing off in my relationship with Mark. I was pretty bummed because I really liked that feeling...wanting to spend every moment possible with each other...couldn't wait to talk to him or see him...and him being the same way about me...being interested in everything I did and had to say. But as the newness wore off, something even better took it's place. A comfortableness and familiarity with each other...him truly being my best friend...feeling safe sharing anything with him and not feeling like he would judge me or not like me for whatever it was. Yes, we definitely have our issues. I get frustrated with him more anyone else in my life. He does let me down and hurt me at times (as I'm sure I do with him). But I know it's not on purpose. The thing is, God has called us to forgive each other as Jesus forgave us. He laid down his life so that we could have forgiveness. If I choose to not forgive Mark because of some little hurt, how am I being an example of Christ's love? I make the choice every day to love Mark, no matter what. Actually I make that choice in every relationship I have...I CHOOSE to love my friends, family, even my co-workers. It's all in my own attitude. Do I want to be bitter and resentful over something? or let it go and forgive and then find my joy again? Not a hard choice at all really! No one in this world is perfect. The only one who will never let us down is God...I need to look to Him to fulfill my needs. Everyone else that I am blessed to have in my life is just a bonus that He's given me. So...to you, all of my wonderful friends...you are blessings in my life and I love you soooo much!
"Love is like a mountain, hard to climb, but once you get to the top the view is beautiful."

I recently read a column in the paper that talked about appreciation and just wanted to share it with you all...

The Art of Appreciation
Appreciation is part of the art of human relations. Yet the whole subject can be condensed into one sentence: The only way to live happily with people is to overlook their faults and admire their virtues.
Don't be self-absorbed in your dealings with others. Be alert and alive, show interest, give sincere praise. Then see how eager friends, relatives and acquaintances are to reciprocate, perhaps exceed, your generosity and attention.
Learn to appreciate people, and theyll show up in a new and wonderful light. Theyll become more valuable in your eyes. And theyll actually grow to meet your ideal of them. All because you practice the art of appreciation.

I really believe firmly in this. Sometimes it's so easy to look at people and see all that they do wrong, that we don't see all of the good things they have to offer. I certainly don't want everyone picking me apart and pointing out my faults...I'm hard enough on myself the way it is! And I know that if I think the best of someone and continue to tell them that, they are more liking to become what I speak about them.
Anyway, I want all of my friends to know how much I do appreciate them. Love you all!

 The Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.  - 2 Cor. 3:17

some days I feel so bound by the attacks of Satan and the things he tries to keep me under. wow...he's so tricky...he knows exactly what my weaknesses are and how to keep me feeling depressed. he uses my mind against my heart and spirit so easily. and some days I let him and other days, I know exactly how to fight him. but, God's word says that where the spirit of the lord is, there is freedom. I KNOW for a fact that God's spirit is in me...has been since the day I was saved. and if that's a fact, then I do have freedom. freedom from the tricks of satan, freedom from my own mind, freedom from the things of this world that would try to keep me bound. I just need to stand strong in that and know that everything that I go through will pass, I will continue to run toward the goal that god has set before me and I WILL NOT fail!

Lord: thank you soooo much for caring enough about me to give me this word this morning. I know I am your child you think more of me than I could ever imagine. Help me to continue to go to you for my strength and security, not to other people. You guide me through this life and know me better than I could ever know myself. Help me to trust in your wisdom more and not doubt the things that you've set before me. I love you Lord!

Yesterday, as you all know, was Valentine's Day. Well...it's been several years since I've actually had a good one - one to share with someone I love. But this year was sooo different. It was better than any I can even remember from previous years. My boyfriend, Mark, is a wonderful man. I am so blessed that God brought him into my life. In talking about Valentine's Day, he mentioned that he didn't want to go out to eat...you know, too many people, busy restaurants, waiting for a table, etc. We wanted more privacy than that so we could enjoy each other's company. He suggested cooking for me. Now what woman wouldn't go for that!? So he made hamburgers & chicken strips with TGIFriday's Jack Daniels sauce (that he made himself) and french fries. The fun part though, was WHERE we ate and spent the evening. He lives with 3 other guys so we knew we still wouldn't have much privacy. Well, he has a 1975 motorhome camper parked in the driveway that he's been working on fixing up. So we decided to eat in there! I decorated it up with window coverings, candles, etc. to make it nice & cozy. He brought his laptop out so we could play some romantic music and we just enjoyed the evening there. It was great! I'm so glad that I can enjoy the simple things in life and be content. God is so good to answer prayers because I'd been praying for a man like Mark for years. I guess it pays to be patient. Anyway, hope everyone else had good Valentine's Days and thanks to all my friends who sent me greetings. Love ya all!