One month ago today,

We were united in marriage!

God has been so good…  There are so many reasons to praise Him!
We are enjoying settling into our new home and
seeing the Lord faithfully provide for us. 
Our love for each other has grown each day, and we are looking
forward to walking through life together as we follow our Savior.

“And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us
and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice
to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.”
Ephesians 5:2

Bridesmaid’s Dinner (l-r, Kristen, Kirsten, Abigail, Lauren me, Mom, Mrs. Wessel, Rachel, Joslynn and Heather)

Lauren & Melody

Kirsten modeling the Bridesmaid dress!

All four Grandmas!

My (ahem) wedding dress. Made out of toilet paper!

Shower

Lauren, Joslynn, Abigail and Rachel cleaning our new house!

Melody, Rachel and Heather

…I will have a new last name.   

What an honor it is to be Josiah’s bride!

Over the past few weeks, I’ve slipped in a little reading here and there. 
Mostly books on marriage, of course :)  
My favorite so far is by Gary Thomas and is called Sacred Marriage. 
This book was recommended to me by a number of ladies — and how 
surprising it was to have Mrs. Tumino share with me from this very book
last night at a bridal shower!  Here’s a little taste of Mr. Thomas’ book:

“The first purpose in marriage… is to please God. 
The challenge, of course, is that it is utterly selfless living;
rather than asking, ‘What will make me happy?’
we are told that we must ask, ‘What will make God happy?’  And just in case we don’t grasp it immediately,
Paul underscores it a few verses later: 

‘Those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.”
2 Corinthians 5:15
–Gary Thomas, in Sacred Marriage

In case you are wondering how I have time to blog so much lately, let me relieve your mind by sharing what I have discovered…
when sleep evades, blog posts appear!
:}

Stay tuned for bridal shower photos…

Jesus came to actually save us from our sins not to just forgive us in our sins!
The popular Christian bumper sticker reads, “Christians Aren’t Perfect We’re Just Forgiven”. Now, I’m fine saying that Christians aren’t perfect but, “Just forgiven”? Just forgiven? The angel did not say that Joseph was to name the child Jesus, “For he shall just forgive his people from their sins.” The angel said, and I imagine with a smile on his face, “He shall save his people from their sins.” Praise God!

You have been washed, but not “just washed”; you have been sanctified, but not “just sanctified”; you have been justified, but not “just justified”; you’ve been forgiven, but not “just forgiven”. And on top of all these things you’ve also been adopted, delivered, altered, translated from darkness to light, changed, set free, and brought form death to life. You’ve been born again! You are not what you were!

That is the Gospel! And that is good news!

“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Romans 6:23

 –Read the rest of this article here: http://braveheartedgospel.com/Blog/Entries/2009/7/10_what_is_the_gospel.html

 …Josiah and I will be united in marriage!

I love you so much, Josiah, and I cannot wait to become your wife! 
The Lord is pouring out His love upon me through you in so many ways.  I am filled with joy at the thought of life at the side of such an honorable man…. 

When you say you love me
The world goes still, so still inside and
When you say you love me
In that moment, I know why I’m alive

When you say you love me.
When you say you love me.
Do you know how I love you?
-Josh Groban

“Love is patient, love is kind…”
1 Corinthians 13

There is nothing–no circumstance, no trouble, no testing–that can ever touch me until, first of all, it has gone past God and past Christ right through to me.  If it has come that far, it has come with a great purpose, which I may not understand at the moment.  But as I refuse to become panicky, as I lift up my eyes to Him and accept it as coming from the throne of God for some great purpose of blessing to my own heart, no sorrow will ever disturb me, no trial will ever disarm me, no circumstance will cause me to fret–for I shall rest in the joy of what my Lord is!–That is the rest of victory!

-Alan Redpath
(found in the book The Creative Counterpart, by Linda Dillow)

“Do not sorrow,  for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”
Nehemiah 8:10b

Here are some photos from the show “There’s No Place Like Home”
Certain people have been asking to see them :)

Visit www.praisehisnamewithdancing.com for more information about the school.
Thanks to many different photographers for the photos…

And I had to include a photo with my favorite tech guy

Here are some of my sweet, sweet students…   I had a wonderful year with them!!

“Let them praise His name with dancing…”
Psalm 149

Happy Birthday Josiah!!!

May the Lord continue to bless you and cause His face to shine
upon you…   Your delight to do the will of the Lord is
something that I really admire.

I’m so, so thankful for you — how good the Lord has
been to bring you into my life.  I love you, Josiah!

“Many, O Lord my God, are Your wonderful works
Which You have done…”
Psalm 40:5a

(this is belated as Josiah’s birthday was earlier this month)

On this Friday, June 12th,
Daddy and Mommy will celebrate their 26th wedding anniversary!!

May our gracious Lord Jesus  bless and strengthen you both in the coming year.  Kenan, Elijah and I are so blessed to have you as our parents!  We hope you have both have a very special day…       I love you, Daddy and Mommy!

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 Also….  I want to wish Mommy a (very belated) Happy Birthday!!!! 

Mommy, have I told you lately how much I want to follow in your footsteps?  Your example is a huge blessing that I thank God for….

…and I’m asking Him to continue working on changing my heart into one like yours–a heart filled with patience, wisdom and graciousness.  Thank you for continually trusting in the Lord with your whole heart no matter the circumstance.  I’ve seen you do this for a long time and I praise the Lord for it! May Jesus’ presence be close beside you in this new year.  I love you!

I just wanted to pass along the word of an opportunity to give financially to a family in the body of Christ. 
Visit www.littletait.com to read the story of this sweet little boy…

There are only 14 days left before his medical bill
will be greatly increased.
My name is Tait Zimmerman Jr. and I am a little baby boy who, without the help of modern medicine, dedicated care and God’s hand, would not be alive today! I was born 3 months before I should have been and am miraculously doing well today. I spent the first three months of my life in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, cared for by some terrific doctors and nurses! Now my mommy and daddy have to get creative to pay the hospital, doctors and the whole team who took care of me. They have included a lot of information for you on this site about me, and our specific needs. Thank you for your considerationand support!
–from the home page of www.littletait.com