Remember

"The mind, once expanded to the dimensions of larger ideas,

never returns to its original size."

                                     ~ Oliver Wendell Holmes 

I  began the day with the Good Friday service at St. Pat's. I love this time of year....it is a good time to be Catholic and to think about why I have allowed being Catholic to shape my life.  However, I can't help but feel a tinge of regret year after year, knowing the many opprotunities I have missed through this holy season. So after the service God and I had a little heart to heart in the empty church...what does He want for me.

God had huge plans for me. I know this beyond a doubt just as I beleive He desires amazing things for each of His children!! But He will not force this or any of His Gifts of me or any of his children. He offers them, than wait for me. My move. My Yes, just like Mary.

I hope that I, that all of us, won't miss the point of Lent. To just go back to our former habits, thankful that we can eat candy or watch TV or whatever it was we gave up. Instead, let us live as Resuraection people through this next phase of the church year...and of our live. What bad habits still need changed? What good habits can be imporved on? What can we do to let our "yes" to God resound even louder.

Happy Good Friday....Happy future.

Yet it was our infirmities that he bore, our sufferings that he endured,

While we thought of him as stricken, as one smitten by God and afflicted.

But he was pierced for our offenses, crushed for our sins,

Upon him was the chastisement that makes us whole,

by his stripes we were healed. 

We had all gone astray like sheep, each following his own way;

But the LORD laid upon him the guilt of us all. 

                                                     ~ Isaiah 53: 4-6

Married

Soon

I can totally do this!

Seventeen days, but who is counting. Yesterday we had a phone meeting with our DJ, I talked with the florist to make sure we had the order right and were all paid up, and worked on the contacting people who have not RSVPed so I can put the final order in for food and linens. Talked with Lisa about some things she is doing for me for decorations. Talked to Theresa about the dresses. Updated all to do lists. Every day we are getting closer.

Impatient.

I am giving up stress for Lent. That sounds a little silly, maybe. It isn’t nearly as concrete as giving up chocolate or Facebook. But I thought a lot about what would help me grow closer to God, which is the point of a Lenten sacrifice, after all. So stress it is. I’ll work on loving better, too. And prayer…daily morning prayer. It will be a good, fruitful Lent, I think. Thank God for renewal!!

Our Story

I have been wanting to send info to CatholicMatch.com about how Landon and I met since we got angaged, and finally got around to it a few weeks ago. They just posted our success story on their site.

I'm happy.  26 Days!

Smiling

After looking at this peice on etsy for over a month, I caved and bought it. It will fit right into our black, white, and red living room. I am sooo excited!! Own only things you love.

I am bursting with joy and pretending that I am not stressed to a point to exhaustion. One month until I’m Mrs. Coate.

I'll be tackling the honey-do tonight. Slowly Landon’s is looking less like Landon’s and more like Our’s. It makes my heart flip a little. I’ll work on the kitchen and living room tonight, putting things away and making sense of the messes. Oh, how I wish I was more domestic. Is that a learned trait, I hope? Until then I will try to pretend.

Jerk Streak with homemade Mango Salsa for dinner. That should be convincing. J

Loves

If and when I have my way, I will spend ridiculous amounts of money on lovely things that make me happy. A goal of mine to only own things I love. Until then, I will work on winning something from Lucky Magazine!

Honestly I am starting to get closer to that already. I’m going through everything I own slowly, getting rid of things I don’t want to move to Landon’s apartment. It is so fun to be setting up house…I’m so ready! Counting down…

Leaving on a....oh, never mind...

I should be working, but my mind needs a break. I’m too distracted….too many wedding thoughts on my mind!

37 Days!!!

I’m especially excited for the weekend…I’m flying to VA tomorrow after work for all my pre-wedding parties! Saturday we’ll have my shower at a Tea shop, and that evening head into DC for Buca Di Beppo’s and my Bachelorette Party.

My list is starting to get shorter. All the big things are worked out now, which is a hug relief. Now it is time to start working through the DIY projects!

Happy. Tired. Excited. Impatient. :)

Never Going Back To Ok

...This past weekend I had the honor of being the Spiritual Director for the woman’s CRHP retreat. I am surrounded by so many inspiring women. Glad to be accompanied on the journey!

Glamorous Decor

Slowly I've been adding touches to Landon's apartment to turn it into OUR home. :) My funky bookshelf is there, some of my books, zbra throw rug, and etc, have been popping up all over.

Today...I bought the bathroom art! Thank you Esty!!

I've Got Momentum, Baby!

What a weekend! We booked all the hotels for our honeymoon, went to our last NFP class, planned out all the prayers and readings for the wedding ceremony, and cleaned out the storage closet and moved all of Landon's clothes into it (to make room for mine in the bedroom pretty soon! ;)) And that was just Saturday!


Sunday his family came over, rolled up their sleeves, and cleaned, organized, and moved things until everyone dropped. They put in the new (to us) stove, moved over a few of my furniture pieces, took over a truck load of things to store until our spring yard sale, and did an overhaul of the bedroom, bathroom, and living room.

I think that getting everything done is possible!

Phew!

Yesterday I worked on the DJ contract, the registry, table linen rentals, and finding jewelry for me and my girls.

Tonight I will take a nap. ;)

Yay. Two months and one day and I'm the little Mrs.

Amazing

Blessed to be in this field...I have so much to learn!

Music makes me smile

Firework by Katy Perry

Do you ever feel like a plastic bag

Drifting throught the wind

Wanting to start again

Do you ever feel, feel so paper thin

Like a house of cards

One blow from caving in

Do you ever feel already buried deep

Six feet under scream

But no one seems to hear a thing

Do you know that there’s still a chance for you

Cause there's a spark in you

You just gotta ignite the light

And let it shine

Just own the night

Like the Fourth of July

Cause baby you're a firework

Come on show 'em what your worth

Make 'em go "Oh, oh, oh!"

As you shoot across the sky

Baby you're a firework

Come on let your colors burst

Make 'em go "Oh, oh, oh!"

You're gunna leave 'em fallin' down

You don't have to feel like a waste of space

You're original, cannot be replaced

If you only knew what the future holds

After a hurricane comes a rainbow

Maybe your reason why all the doors are closed

Is so you can open one that leads you to the perfect road

Like a lightning bolt, your heart will blow

And when it's time, you'll know

You just gotta ignite the light

And let it shine

Just own the night

Like the Fourth of July

Cause baby you're a firework

Come on show 'em what your worth

Make 'em go "Oh, oh, oh!"

As you shoot across the sky-y-y

Baby you're a firework

Come on slet your colors burst

Make 'em go "Oh, oh, oh!"

You're gunna leave 'em fallin' down-own-own

Boom, boom, boom

Even brighter than the moon, moon, moon

It's always been inside of you, you, you

And now it's time to let it through

Merry Christmas To Me!

From my love. Happy, stylish sigh. Now I'm really for my Italian Honeymoon!! :)

The Future is Here

It was a long weekend of self-reflection, inspiration, and decision making. Nothing changes if nothing changes, as they say. So what needs to change? And why?

"If one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams,

and endeavors to live the life which he has imagined,

he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours."

                                                            ~ Henry David Thoreau

So what are my dreams? What am I moving towards it? It is a goal, or a wish? Where will I be in a year or five or ten if I don’t change anything I’m doing now? It seems like a rather daunting thing to begin to worry about, but truthfully, why wait to think about it? The longer I wait, the longer it will be until I’m my very best self. I’ve been thinking about why I want to work on myself. My self esteem is a big part of it. I don’t want to be constantly bombarded by thoughts of self doubt, loneliness, disappointment, and stress. There is so much good in me, but I can’t notice it because I am habitually focusing on all these negatives. For now, the knowledge that a happier, more confident woman of strength is in my future is enough for me to push forward!

Today is a good day.

Moving along...the wedding!! It was a productive week. We sent out the straggling invites and have begun to get them back. I planned out about 80% of the music for the ceremony and got some of the decor for the church and reception hall ordered. Worked on the honeymoon a bit, too. Things are falling into place and little by little the list is getting shorter. Thank goodness for my Man. He’s helping. J

AND…..Here is something for the wish list!! J

Life is Like a Box of Chocolates

"The indispensable first step to getting

the things you want out of life is this:

decide what you want."

                                                    ~ Ben Stein

Happy 2011. This is the year I get married. :)

Christmas week was spent in Virginia with family and wedding venders. Big strides were made in the areas of the website, food, decorations, dresses, cake, and invitations. I was even able to take a few deep breathes and sit doing nothing for over two seconds. It was wonderful.

I have the very best man. Unfortunately my very best man has been moved to second shift at work. Boo. Adjusting my mindset on “normal, daily life.” We’ll work it out.

My big plan for the weekend is to Dream Big. I’m rather excited about that.