A happy little list

Although the public my mother has been clamoring for my long-awaited return to the blog for quite a while, I've been lacking a bit in the motivation department. However, the mood finally struck me this afternoon as I've been doing matronly, house-wifey things. Without wanting to have to post a novel to catch everyone up to speed (I am planning a recap of the days prior to and immediately following the wedding), I decided to post in my blog form of choice: the list. So journey with me as I revisit some random thoughts on the past 3 weeks of married life...

1. Our 2 bed/2 bath apartment is finally starting to look like home since Z and I spend Labor Day laboring on it.

2. There are probably only 5 cardboard boxes of junk visible within our house which is a huge accomplishment considering 5 days ago there were probably 20.

3. I have *almost* found a place for everything which is definitely something I'm proud of.

4. Z and I scored $200 worth of Bed, Bath, & Beyond items yesterday for FREE (when we combined our gift cards and coupons).

5. As I type, Z is at the DMV fighting the war attempting to obtain his Texas DL (he still has one from AR which he moved from many moons ago)- which expires in less than a month so I warned him of letting it expire since anyone who knows me knows all about me having to take the written and driving tests since my out of state license expired before I got my TX one last year.

6. Z and I are officially on one insurance policy-thank goodness.

7. Since we have no tv service at the moment (and haven't for the past 5 weeks since we've been in the new place) we have successfully watched 2 1/2 seasons of The Office. And he's learning why I'm so addicted :)

8. I'm happy to announce that ALL wedding gifts & paraphenalia have been put away or put to use and I couldn't be happier! Now if the rest of those pesky little thank you notes would write themselves... (I don't mind writing them-enjoy it actually-but when you have 125 to do, completion of the task can seem a little out of reach.)

9. In the first 3 weeks of married life, Z and I have conquered some major obstacles that come with living together and getting adjusted to each other. Although I sure haven't maintained the same title, he has really been the 'angel-pie' that his grandma thinks he is. I certainly couldn't ask for a better husband...

10. There are some good job leads that I will be hitting tomorrow and I am excited about my re-entrance into the 'rat race'. I always thought I would enjoy being a housewife (and I do) but I need a little part-time something or I will go crazy!

And that, friends Mom, is my "Top 10 Happy Things About Married Life Off The Top Of My Head".

Hope you enjoyed and tune in again soon for another update on the 1st year!

Blessings,
B

3 Days til Mrs. Parker

What a wedding rollercoaster I am on! It has twists and turns, ups and downs, slows and fasts, but this rollercoaster never stops!

I seriously doubt that anyone will check this before the big day Saturday but just in case I thought I'd write another quick post. It's funny how I thought I'd be all organized and prepared and have plenty of time to write a post each week. I laugh at myself for even thinking I'd come close to that. Between moving, church things, traveling, planning, troubleshooting and trying to rest somewhere among all that-not to mention spend quality time with Z-I have barely had a moment to breathe.

We got semi-settled into our new luxury (i.e. brushed silver fixtures, spacious, granite-like countertops, 11 x 14 bedroom, limited cabinet space) apartment and I like it-surprisingly. I was so afraid of getting in and finding out we don't have enough space or could hear our neighbors or had to worry for safety. But I'm finding that if we sell the stuff we don't need, keep our corner unit (which is a blessing even in spite of the traffic), and are friendly to our neighbors-we should have it made. We have everything set up except for decorations and even though the 2nd bedroom FULL of boxes to go through, I really think we'll be happy there. Another youth pastor Z knows lives upstairs with his wife and we are in a GREAT location. Add to that a very nice swimming pool and a great clubhouse for youth parties, and I think we'll be very happy. I just can't wait to get home and 'womanize' it-make it pretty. Then it will be even more like home.

The wedding plans are coming together a little slowly now but well. I flew into NC Saturday morning and what a trip that was. We left Tyler at 3:30am which should have been plenty of time to make it to the DFW airport. However, I didn't anticipate feeling extremely nauseous on the way so we stopped and got breakfast. When we were almost at the airport, I began looking for my flight confirmation so I could know which terminal we needed (DFW has 5) but couldn't find it ANYWHERE. I knew I was flying either United or US Air so we stopped at United at 6:05am (keep in mind you must check in more than 45 minutes in advance) and it was the WRONG ONE. So as I swiped my debit card to check in with US Air at 6:17!!! I was informed that I would need to be booked for the next flight. And so I was booked on the 8:30 direct flight to Charlotte and my bag was processed.
As Z and I took a seat (and I'm bawling because HELLO!?!?!? I have to be in Eden at a bridal shower for myself by 2pm and my flight would not land in Charlotte until 12pm and it's a 2 hour drive to Eden from there) I noticed that my boarding pass had an incorrect name-it showed P. Nacido as the passenger. Now I'm not up to date on all FAA regulations but I was pretty sure I'd never make it through security without having a boarding pass to match my driver's license. So Z went back to the counter to inquire about it. As he returned, he motioned for me to come. I was very confused but he explained that the desk rep told him the 8:30 flight was having maintenance issues and so he was letting me go on the 7am flight. I didn't understand it but Z just explained that 'God showed me favor'. At 6:31am I got in a security line that weaved itself 4 lines deep and had serious doubts that I would make the flight. But somehow, I was waiting to board at 6:50 and they had just started the boarding process. I had made my flight.
But my luggage did not. I landed in Charlotte 15 minutes late and upon inquiring about my luggage at the US Air desk, discovered that the 8:30 flight had been cancelled-God had surely answered a prayer. For the 2.5 hours of the flight, I contemplated what I would do if my luggage didn't make it. I was wearing gauchos and a t shirt and NO makeup-there was no way I was going to a shower in my honor looking like that. When I arrived, my nightmare was true but I was informed that it was very likely I would receive my bag within the next several hours. Positive about that possibility, we left on our VERY FAST trek to Eden where I stopped in Wal-Mart & Cato to grab the essentials-toothbrush/paste, mascara, blush, a dress, shoes, earrings and a bracelet (an entire outfit which cost me $36.00) and off we went to the shower.

And what a shower it was! I saw faces I hadn't seen in YEARS-former church members, old friends from church & school, and even a former teacher whom I have really grown to respect and admire! It was absolutely a fabulous party-and I didn't even care that I didn't look my 'best'. I got SO many compliments on the dress pictured here (me and some of my FAVORITE friends):


The shower really was a blast! I so enjoyed catching up with old friends and loving on people I miss so much in my life. It really felt like a reunion and honestly, I wish people got married more often so those kinds of reunions could happen more often. The food was YUMMY (all homemade except for the Biscuitville biscuits-which I had been craving) and the fellowship was incomparable. I am sooo blessed to have such loving and caring people in my life-I couldn't be more humbled by their generosity and acts of kindness. Thank you Ginny for being the brain behind such a fun celebration! YOU are the woman! (And sure enough, in the middle of the shower the airline called with news that they would deliver my bag to our house near Hickory...and I sang the Hallelujah Chorus!)

After the shower, we attended the wedding of a childhood church friend that Dad performed. He did a great job and despite the heat, there were lots of laughs and lots of good memories made. And after making a couple stops at my parents' friends houses and a slight delay by one of NC's finest state troopers, we arrived at home around 12:40am. Since I was pretty awake at that point (even though I'd slept maybe 20 minutes in almost 24 hours), I opened several wedding gifts that Mom and Dad had kept for me. That was exciting and so afterwards, I finally crashed. Having to be up at 9am the day after such a trek (and in singing condition by 10) proved a challenge but I survived and was in decent singing voice for my 2 songs. After homemade lunch and a quick nap, Mom and I set off to run wedding errands which we've also done yesterday and today. I finally got some good rest last night and am feeling the best I have all week.

We've hit it pretty hard but have gotten a lot done. So far we've purchased ribbon, picture frames, bridal portraits, sign supplies, gifts, and groceries (to feed the masses).There's still a lot left to do (pick up my dress, finalize programs, wrap gifts, assemble guest book, etc., etc., etc.) but I know that it will all come together. (At least that's what everyone keeps telling me.) Our wedding company starts arriving tomorrow and I'm getting more and more excited. Freak out mode hasn't set in yet although I'm sure it will pretty soon. But in all honesty, I can't wait! A lot of thought, a lot of tears, a lot of laughs and a lot of prayers have gone into the preparation for this special day and I am trusting God to bless our day and our marriage that we may be a portrait of His love for us, directing others to Him with our love.

For all our guests, when you arrive Saturday, just ask the gate guard for a map and watch for the hot pink signs for the Pearce-Parker Wedding. Parking will be available in the east lot next to Mountain Laurel (the hotel) and a shuttle service will be provided to the ceremony location-Rutland Chapel. Afterwards, please join us for the reception in the Holly Ballroom in the newly constructed Johnson Springs conference center. Our special day will be so enhanced by the presence of our friends and family and I cannot wait to share it all with you!

May each of you have a blessed rest of the week and I look forward to seeing you Friday and Saturday!

Blessings,
Bethany

Big Town: Day 1

This Monday morning is quite different from my standard Monday morning. Usually, I am arriving home at 1 or 2 AM to sleep for a few hours and then rush into work. Or I awaken at 4:30am and drive from Big Town to Tiny Town, Texas to rush and get ready for work only to arrive 15 minutes late and totally exhausted from such a wild weekend. Then I spend the day miserable wishing for a huge cup of caffeine or my bed. Mainly, my bed.

But this morning, I awoke and got ready for the day and have spent the majority of my time at my church in Big Town. Yep, the official transition has begun. I'm staying in town this week and will be moving all my worldly possessions from Tiny Town to a storage unit in Big Town this Friday. I can't put into words how awkward today has been. While I appreciate the time off, I do not appreciate the lack of a paycheck. But the time had come. The time for me to leave and step out in faith. I had finished my work in Tiny Town and have been ready for a few weeks to make the move but the timing wasn't quite right.

Today is a new day, a new season, a new chapter. Today is the day I begin my life with Z in our new town working together and just being together. (That is still such a strange concept since we're so used to being at least 2 hours apart.) So today as I start my new life here, we start our new life together. We have so much to keep us busy but I look forward to being busy with him instead of apart from him.

This new chapter is already full of new people, new places, and new experiences. It will most assuredly be full of new words, new stories, and new feelings. And even through all the changes, the loss, and the gain I know this will definitely be one of the best chapters of my life!

Blessings,
Bethany
There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven. Ecclesiastes 3:1

***BAP News Update***

Wow...I think this is the longest stint I've been without writing in a LONG time-and I can tell. For me, this is more than just a blog. It is a safe haven, a place where I can unload and unwind and share my thoughts, feelings, and opinions. Writing is my stress reliever just like coloring is used to be when I was younger. And since it's been so long, I have no idea where to start...

How about with my and Z's trip to NC? While we were there we...
~met w/the event planner at the conference center where we're getting married and got LOTS of ?s answered.
~met with a baker who makes AMAZING cakes and decided on ours (I got to design it myself-yay!). (And since I am addicted to cake, you KNOW it will be delish!)
~ate at Zaxby's.
~met my older bro for lunch.
~ate at Moe's for Z's 1st meal there.
~attended a wedding rehearsal.
~attended the rehearsal dinner in my hometown where we gave Z the 30 minute highlight tour which translates to "we showed him the whole town since it only takes 30 minutes for the grand tour".
~attended the wedding of one of my best friends in the world.
~ordered my wedding dress. *BIG smiles* :)
~made a quick stop at Hobby Lobby w/my parents.
~had Cinnabons TWICE.
~spent a lot of quality time w/my parents which I desperately needed.
~stayed up too late and got up too early for too many nights.

And upon our return we had a quick meal with his parents and arrived back in Tyler at 2am-on Daylight Savings Time weekend. Talk about not a fun Sunday. Those kids at Youth Bible Study got the Mr. Hyde of my personality that morning even though I tried to be as nice as possible. I slept so hard during my Sunday afternoon nap that I don't think I actually woke back up until about 1/2 way through our evening church service. But afterward, we took the kids bowling and ended up having a great time. As of today, my body still hasn't figured out the whole jet lag/daylight savings time so I'm still staying up WAY too late.

Work is getting increasingly harder-not in difficulty but because I desperately need to move. There is barely enough work for 1 person (and certainly not full-time at that) so to have 2 of us is really uncalled for. So I'm back to an interview blitz on Friday and am determined to find a job if it kills me. I am so beyond ready to be moved and living the next stage of my life-with Z, with the church, in a bigger town, establishing myself. I'm praying for God to do a quick work and am believing for Him to be faithful as He always is.

Wedding planning is coming along really well. As I mentioned before, my dress is ordered and we have a cake and have confirmed the location for the ceremony and reception. At first, there weren't any room available in the hotel at the center and so our guests were going to have to stay in other locations on the campus. But we got good news that the group that had reserved 96 rooms in the hotel had cancelled so there were now plenty of rooms for our event. This is wonderful not only so our guests can have really nice accommodations but also because the hotel is connected to the reception location (a brand new conference building). I am so excited about everything coming together. We've requested pricing for our menu so we'll see what can stay and what must go but I'm extremely excited about all of it! And I must thank my parents for being so supportive and standing behind me through all of this. They have truly shown 100% support of everything and I will be forever indebted to them (though I already am).

This post really wouldn't be complete without mentioning a very special person who has been the 1 factor of stability in my life for the past 8 months. Z, thank you for being my other half. Even though I am a complete person, you only enhance me and make me want to be better. I could never thank you enough for your devotion and support. You are my one true love, the only person who truly "gets" me and continues to put up with me. My gratitude is eternal and my love will last even longer. 'Thank you' could never begin to repay you for all you've done for me. I look forward with excitement to growing old with you by my side and hope you are always certain of my forever love for you. You are the other half of our 'Dynamic Duo', the man who I respect, admire and have given my heart to for all of eternity. Tu eres mi corazon y te amo siempre.

Blessings to you all!
~B
From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another. John 1:16

Our greatest plans...

often go awry. Unfortunately, that's been the motto with my blog as of late. I've written 2 posts but after clicking the 'Publish Post' button, Blogger decided to erase significant chunks of my writing both times. The 1st I edited the content back in after an e-mail from my mother. The 2nd I have yet to correct and re-post (so it's sitting in my draft list) because I just haven't felt like recreating almost half of the post. One day soon, I hope but that explains my absence.

Yesterday dealt me an ugly blow by my despised enemy Mr. Reality regarding my personal life. I knew this day was coming but I was doing all I could to run the opposite direction. But I just couldn't run fast enough and he caught up with me. Thankfully, good can come from bad and God does make messages out of my messes. I am definitely learning total dependence on Him through this situation. When you've reached the end of who you are and what you have, there He begins. And the funny thing is that He wants me to reach for Him first to begin with, which I fail to do so often. I've been in similar situations before but never with such pressure that I feel now.

The irony is that lately my daily e-mail devotions have been dealing with God being faithful and working things out for me. He is my Shield, my Protector, my Defender, my Provider, my Way Maker. I especially love that in Romans, Paul asks us that if God gave us His most prized possession, His Son, so why would he withhold anything else from us? My God is faithful and always shows up on time and I know He will in this situation as well. And if it causes me to be drawn closer to Him, bring on the struggles.

On the positive side, Zeb and I have grown closer through this, as we always do during trials. He has, once again, proven himself to be the best blessing I've ever received. I am able to be 100% completely honest and he continues to love and support me as best he can long distance. Today he even e-mailed me a "Prayer Time" playlist for me to use while I spent some MUCH needed time in serious prayer. My life is blessed to the utmost because of him and I would never want to even try to find someone to compare to him-I know I'd fail miserably. He is sensitive to my needs and knows exactly what I need to feel safe and when I need a spiritual kick in the tushie (and how to say that without feeling like I'm being kicked). He really is my soulmate and that surprises me and makes me grateful beyond measure every day.

For now, I am choosing to be thankful for my blessings. Even with hardships, I am blessed-with a fabulous family and friends, job security, an amazing fiance, a progressing church, a dependable car, a nice home with all the amenities I need, and more food and clothes than I need. I realize that I am unworthily blessed and have decided to live accordingly-walking in confidence and gratitude that the Lord of creation is not just my Best Friend but my Daddy.

Blessings,
B
He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Romans 8:32

O How I Love Thee, Little White Box!

It is amazing how this little white box evokes such an enthusiastic response from me. I've been itching to write for the past couple days but haven't had anything of substance to write about. I still don't know that I do but I'm attempting a post anyway.

Ok, I DO have something to mention-someone, rather.

Z & I celebrated Valentine's Day over the weekend & part of his gift to me was a surprise morning of pampering at Jessica's Massage Spa where he had purchased a 1 hour full body massage. Normally, I would have completely FREAKED OUT but since my mind was so busy, I had absolutely no time to even blink an eye at the thought of another person touching my tub o' lard squishy body.

Friends, I have NEVER felt more relaxed or at peace than I did when she finished that massage. I didn't care that she (Jessica-the owner) had talked the whole time I was being rubbed down. I didn't care that I had a million things on my to do list. I didn't care that my wedding was quickly approaching and I had accomplished nothing for it in the past few weeks. That massage definitely goes down in the books as one of the BEST gifts I've ever received. And if you haven't indulged in such luxury, I encourage you to do so. Stat. You owe it to yourself. Since I was pretty out of it for the rest of the day, we took it easy and stayed low key the rest of the day. It definitely made me super tired (so if you get one, get it as late in the day as possible) but we made it to a Mexican dinner and a quick Wal-Mart run before finishing the night off with dessert and a movie.

So for that, my fiance goes down in history as the most thoughtful man in history. And when I told him that he shouldn't have spent the money, his reply was, "Well, I wanted to spoil you." Yeah, basically the sweetest man on planet earth. And this weekend, I'm making him he's offered to help me with wedding planning stuff. Sometimes I'd swear he's too good to be true. But back off ladies, HE'S ALL MINE!

It's funny how I can't wait to write but then when I actually sit down with that intention, words fail me (which is shocking in and of itself). So I'll be back soon, hopefully with more entertainment!

Blessings,
B
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 1 Corinthians 13:4-7

Z

A quick post before I try to find sleep...for the 2nd time tonight. The 1st time was no prob since I was on the couch & had just eaten. I definitely accidentally slept for 2 hours. Seriously, I MUST stop the evening naps.

Anyway, I just wanted to share how proud I am of Z. The past 6 months have been a whirlwind ride for us both and I never thought we'd be where we are today both geographically and relationally but I'm really glad we are. We've both seen hard times in those 6 months but we've seen each other through them and are both stronger for them. And now we're on the precipice of a brand new chapter in both of our lives, an important one for our life together and even though I'm scared, there is peace that passes understanding.

This new step has been in the making for months now-from the engagement to applying for positions to talking with pastors to traveling for interviews to being vulnerable with people and the Lord to LOTS of prayer time to stepping out in faith and accepting the call. And I can honestly say that I've had little to nothing to do with this whole process. I just showed up when I needed to and said prayers of faith that God would work it out. Of course, we sought His will and felt a certain connection with the people and church in Tyler so it wasn't such a hard decision to make but it was still a giant step of faith and true test of our commitment to each other and to follow Him wherever He leads.

But Z has been more than wonderful throughout the whole ordeal. He made the e-mails and phone calls to speak with pastors. He put himself out there for others to critique and question. He considered the pros and cons of each church we applied for. He recognized the sacrifices required yet still proceeded and answered 'yes' when the call came. And I know that even though the timing was right for him to break away from his family and start blazing his own trail, a lot of the reason he even ventured to seek a position was for me, to prepare for our future and secure us a place in ministry.

Looking back, I see God's hand working throughout this step in the journey (as I always do) but this time, I'm looking back on a step in the journey of my future husband's faith. He has willingly laid down his desires and comfort zone to do what he knew God was calling him to and what was best for others that would be affected, namely me. He is such a self-sacrificing young man and his attentiveness to me astounds me every day. There has never been a time that he hasn't asked my feelings or recognized a change in my attitude when something is wrong. And there has also never been a time when he didn't do everything in his power to reassure me, comfort me, and allow me to lean on him-even in his times of doubt or concern.

Though I may be biased, I believe God created the best man in the world for me to marry and share my life and love with. He is more than I dreamed I would ever have in a husband and I'm reminded daily that I am blessed beyond measure to have an intelligent, moral, funny, charming, handsome, adorable, hard working, GODLY future husband. And although hard times are inevitable (especially in ministry), I am certain that he and I are destined to spend the rest of this life together as we hold hands with our Father as He leads the way.

Z, I love you and respect you as a man of God and the love of my life. Your sacrifice is great but your reward will be greater. You are God's chosen servant and I am privileged to share my life with you. My love for you is eternal and unconditional. I look forward to the memories we will make and the impact we will have on our world. You have my heart forever.

Blessings,
B
Do not arouse or awaken love until it so desires. Song of Solomon 2:7b

I Got Some 'Splainin' To Do

As Ricky Ricardo would say.

A few days ago when I made my list of all the things I'd accomplished as of late, I mentioned some things that need a bit more clarification. This post is only 1 of those. More will follow...

I'm ENGAGED!
Yes, Z popped the question on October 25th and I of course, said yes. It's funny because the start of our relationship can be traced through this blog and now here we are planning our wedding! Here's the story as adapted by our wedding webpage at The Knot.

*************************************************************
Z and his family had invited me down for the weekend since they were planning a family BBQ on Saturday. Not out of the ordinary, I traveled to Arlington Friday, October 24th after work. Zeb & I chaperoned a youth outing that night and the next morning enjoyed just being together.

After the mid-afternoon BBQ, Z then rushed (for the 1st time I'd ever seen) to get us to the Dallas Arboretum before it closed at 5pm. He said he knew how much I wanted to visit a pumpkin festival and Autumn at the Arboretum was occurring through the following weekend. Upon our arrival at 4:20, the ticket lady made sure we knew we HAD to leave at 5pm because the entire facility (66 acres) had been rented for 3 weddings. I tried to talk Z out of paying so much to go in for only 40 minutes but he persisted. So in we went.

The gardens were beautiful and pumpkins lined every walkway. I loved every display and snapped as many pictures as possible during our time. Z kept suggesting we visit different spots and so we managed to wander through much of the gardens. A certain flower Nazi (aka facility security woman) unsuccessfully attempted numerous times to usher us toward the exit. Z repeatedly asked if we could just take "one more picture" and we continued to peruse the gardens.

Finally, at the top of a tower-like spot that overlooked a grassy lawn and the lake next to the gardens, I stood at the edge taking as many pictures as possible before we were forced by the flower Nazi to move along. Z stood behind me and made the comment "I love doing things like this with you" to which I replied "Me too. It's so fun.". As I finished snapping pictures, Z took my camera and asked if I was done taking pictures. Though I found it odd, I said yes and so he put the camera in his pocket. As he pulled me in to hug him, I rested my head on his chest and could hear his heart pounding a million miles a minute and became worried, thinking something was wrong. He stepped back, pulled the ring box out of his pocket and knelt down on one knee. The following was our exchange in that moment:

Him: Bethany Pearce,
Me: Zeb Parker,
Him: Will you marry me?
Me: Are you serious???
Him: Yes.
Me: Yes. YES!
Him: (smiled and stood)
We embraced
Me: Thank you!
Me (repeatedly): Oh my gosh! Are you serious??? Zeb Parker!

*******************************************************
And so goes the story of our engagement. It was really sweet and SUPER unexpected although I did have a feeling something was going on. Over the previous 2 weeks or so he'd been asking for my ring size because his 'sister had a ring she had bought me for my birthday that needed to be sized' but I couldn't let her know that I knew about it. He did ask me twice which raised my suspicion and I thought there was an odd-shaped box in his pocket when we left for the Arboretum and he did rush for the 1st time EVER but even so, it was a surprise. Definitely a moment I'll never forget.

Afterward, we went to The Highlands (a very pretty outdoor shopping district) and sat on one of the park benches there just to revel the moment. :) As storybook as it sounds, we heard several love songs over the radio they had playing throughout the 'park' area as we sat on that bench in view of the creek and greenery. After 'When A Man Loves A Woman' played, we headed to Borders there in the shopping center and both bought wedding books by The Knot. We returned to his house, prayed and then celebrated with his family (who all knew it was coming). We had sparkling grape juice and chatted and took pictures. It was great!

Now I know what most of you are thinking, "When did she call her mom and dad? I'm sure they did that right when it happened. She must have skipped that part of the story." I'm sorry to disappoint you but we did not call my parents that day. Or the next day. Or the next. No, we waited until we were in person with them at Thanksgiving (yes, over a month later) to officially tell them the news. Can I just TELL you how hard that was? Everyone and their mother knew (including my brothers, several friends and co-workers) but not Mom & Dad.

Needless to say, the past month & a half have been bliss for me & Z. There have been stressful moments but overall, the first part of our engagement has been very exciting. We have a couple of dates in mind but haven't settled on one yet-we're planning to decide by Christmas so I'll keep you 'posted'. Ha.

In the midst of all of the engagement hype (and slightly prior to it), Z has been pursuing a youth pastorate position for us to take together. Another exciting adventure! And I sincerely mean it. I don't have time for the details on that journey now but will write about it soon. Let's just say I only thought Paris was country.

And so my friends, here's the 1st of many 'catch-up' posts giving you a deeper glimpse into my little corner of life. The holidays are soon approaching which means 1 of 2 things: A) I'll be bored so I'll have more time to write, or B) I'll be super busy so you won't see me for a while. Only time will tell but my calendar is looking a bit full.

Blessings to you & your family for a joyous celebration of our Lord's birth!

~B

P.S. One of my favorite passages of Scripture in regard to Christmas is Mary's song.

And Mary said: My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me— holy is his name. His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation. He has performed mighty deeds with his arm; he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts. He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble. He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty. He has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful to Abraham and his descendants forever, even as he said to our fathers. Luke 1: 46-55

What A Man, What A Man, What A Man, What A Mighty Good Man

Yes, he is y'all!

Ok, I know I talk about him quite often but I'd like to take a quick commercial break from our regularly scheduled blog to dote about my boyfriend, Z.

(Mom and Dad, sit down.)

I have never been more sure of anything in my life when I say that I know that Zebulon Albert Parker is the man God created for me. He exceeds all my expectations and is so much better than I ever dreamed a man could be. And is certainly 1,000 times better than what I deserve.

Why am I so head over heels for him? Well, let me just tell you about his latest romantic gesture. I had a bad day today. When I say bad, I mean one of Alexander's terrible, horrible, no good, very bad days. My emotions had been a roller coaster wreck all day and I had an extremely painful afternoon (for my heart, not physically). But I determined within myself (and with Z's help) to go to church and make the best of it. So as I'm sitting in service at approximately 6:40 or so, in walks Z who proceeds to sit down beside me on the pew as if such an act were absolutely normal. That would be normal except that he lives 2 hours away and had brought his mom with him. So after a couple passed notes during the sermon (sorry, Lord), he told me that he had come to make sure that I was ok and that his 'soulmate was hurting so he was hurting'.

Can I tell you how desperately I just wanted to grab ahold of him as tight as I possibly could and cry at that moment? But I didn't because he had also written [Don't cry.]. I'm telling you this man is amazing. So after church and a dinner with him and his mom, we came back to my house where we sat and chatted for a while. It felt so good to just sit and be myself as we laughed and talked together. After his mom went out to the car to give us a few minutes of privacy, he held me close and told me that he would always be there for me. And no matter what time it was or what he was doing, he'd always just be a 2 hour drive away.

There was lots more mushy stuff said but I'll spare you. I just basically wanted to share that I have the most amazing boyfriend in the world and no, you can't have him. I can't believe how blessed I am for God to have brought him to me and will never give him up.

Ok, so there's my nomination for the Best Boyfriend On The Face Of The Earth award. And in my eyes, he's already the winner!

I love you, Z!


Blessings,
Bethany
Delight yourselves in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37:4

Time Flies...

So how is it Wednesday already???

I can't believe how fast the weekend flew by and now here we are, in the middle of the week. So much has been done, doing so much & so much to do.

I enjoyed a fabulous weekend with Z and his fam Friday and Saturday. When I arrived Friday, Z & I headed to the church to chaperone a trip to a 'Hell House' (Christian Halloween event depicting influence of the devil and reality of hell and heaven). The line was so long (I mean, HELLO this is a big city, not your tiny little farm town, Bethany) so Z and I headed to dinner at the fabulous Macaroni Grill leaving the kids with the youth intern. Now before you think we're terrible youth chaperones, there were only 6 youth and they were simply going to be standing and waiting in a contained line. So see? We're not THAT bad. I absolutely adore the Grill and I enjoyed my first dinner eaten beside my boyfriend instead of across from him. I guess we just wanted that physical proximity rather than being 10 feet apart as the table appeared to be that wide.

After stuffing ourselves with Italian food (and being gone for almost 1 1/2 hours), we headed back to the line where we waited another hour or more with the kiddos. It was a bit chilly and by this time, my feet were KILLING me (I had worn low-heel boots that I thought were comfortable) so I pretty much leaned on Z for the rest of the wait. We finally made it inside the building after being driven by hayride to the site. The scenes were pretty graphic and very powerful-rape by meeting an online friend in person, a school shooting, an accidental pregnancy resulting in an abortion that killed both mother and baby, death, heaven and lastly hell. I've not been to such a detailed hell house before and it made me say the sinner's prayer again. I especially enjoyed the young man (Vic was his name, I believe) who wrapped everything up. He got the kid's attentions (there were approx. 25-30 people in our group) and held them as he discussed influence and doing our faith instead of just having it-which, as my faithful readers parents know, is a subject very dear to me.

Afterward, we delivered kids to their houses and headed back to Z's where we chatted with his parents and siblings. I was EXHAUSTED since my old body is not used to being out til 1:00AM but we were up until around 3 I think. Needless to say, I was NOT happy when my body woke me up at 8something because it needed to be...*relieved*. But luckily I was able to re-nest for a while longer until Z came in. Poor guy-he sleeps in the floor so that I can sleep in his bed when I visit. (And yes, I DO feel very bad about that.)

We were lazy for most of the morning and at 2:30 or so we sat down to a fabulous and famous Parker BBQ. There was so much food I could hardly take it all in: pulled pork, ribs, cheeseburgers, hot links, potato salad, baked beans, cole slaw, cheesecake, a chocolate something-or-other that I'll have to get the name from Z, and my german chocolate upside down cake. Needless to say- We. Were. Stuffed.

But even so, Z and I set off for the Dallas Arboretum and Gardens. And it was SOOO worth it!!! As you can see from the pictures, the place is beautiful. Z had known I'd wanted to go to a pumpkin patch or festival or SOMETHING fall-ish so he found out they were doing Autumn at the Arboretum. It was phenomenal and here are a few photos to prove it!

Afterward, we spent a little more time out and then headed to his house to spend time with his family. We had dinner and started watching Saturday Night Fever but I was out like a light before long. I guess a full belly and cuddling with Z were the perfect combination to get me snoozin'. I headed to bed shortly after that and left at my usual 5:30AM on Sunday.

The first few days of this week have been fairly uneventful. My Pastor is in the hospital due to complications from a kidney stone (prayers are appreciated) and I've been very unmotivated to do much of anything. I have GOT to get back in the gym or walking or something. I also have GOT to start cooking healthier and drinking more (water please!) or I'll never get back to losing weight. I'm happy with what I've done (35 lbs.) but there's so much more to go. Hopefully soon...

Oh, before I forget: the big news for this weekend has been postponed to next Thursday so I'll keep you posted then.

As seen by my Twitter status, I scored a new coffee pot from the office as they bought a new one after thinking that the old one was broken. After bringing it home and cleaning it well, I've got it making the perfect pot of coffee again. :) Yay for free stuff!

I'm not going to make a speech about politics but let me suffice it all to say that I'm ready for this election to be over. Even though I know there will be disputes and bickering long into their presidency, I'm ready to just hurry up and vote and get somebody in there.

Ok, I'm tired and getting groggy and that means soon, I'll be incoherent. So I better end this while I am still speaking somewhat consciously. :) Blessings to you all through the rest of your week!

~B
Yet the LORD longs to be gracious to you; he rises to show you compassion. For the LORD is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him! Proverbs 30:18

I Think I Have Slight Paranoia

It's official.

I do NOT know how to be in a relationship.

Does that annoy anyone else besides me and my boyfriend? Probably not. Well, maybe my mother since she tends to be the soundboard for all my drama-especially the self-inflicted kind. Sorry Mom.

I have this problem with internalizing EVERYTHING. Which isn't a problem when it's just me I'm internalizing things about. But when you're in a relationship, internalizing things about the relationship is not good.

(And that's when those of you who have been in a relationship longer than me=more than 3 months-says DUH!)

So last night I got upset over something semi-trivial between me & Z. His decision was made out of pure intentions and would even give us a glimpse into our future. Why wasn't I happy with that??? Because I'm a little lot selfish and sometimes usually only think about what is best for me. But I realize now that this task Z signed us up for is key for us getting a taste of our future in ministry together so I'm more than happy to accompany him. The problem is that instead of sharing my feelings of frustration last night, I internalized them and he had no idea that I was upset. Not healthy for a budding romance. And not fair to him either. We've been EXTREMELY open in our communication up to now and it wasn't fair for me to keep this from him.

So I came clean this AM and being the absolute doll that he is, he acted in total forgiveness and grace. So we've cleared things up. I just need a little Relationship Fairy that will tap me on the shoulder to let me know when I'm doing/saying things that are detrimental to my boyfriend.

Anybody know one that's looking for work since I'm pretty sure Tinkerbell is booked???

And I Think To Myself, What A Wonderful World

Another week has started and I've made my first 'To Do' list of the week. Luckily it isn't too long but it is growing by the hour. It's funny how randomly I think of things to add. That's not the only thing growing either. My grocery list is getting a little lengthy but I'm trying to hold out until the next payday. Times are tight and I must conserve where I can. Good thing I love brown rice-I have a brand new box of it. Another good thing? Gas is at $2.61 here which means I can fill up my tank for about $30.00. YAY!!! As a co-worker stated-maybe our prayers are working. And since I serve a God who hears our prayers and does answer, that is a definite possibility.

I enjoyed a great weekend with Z. We spent some quality time with his parents. They took me to Zaxby's for my birthday and I enjoyed being with them. They are very kind and generous people. His gift to me-Willow Tree "Promise" figurine. His parents' gift to me: Willow Tree "Love", "Peace", & "Joy" figurines.

We were up late Friday (as usual) and so we got up late Saturday. Headed straight to lunch at an amazing pizza place (BJ's) and then Z and I spent some quality time together just walking around window shopping and laughing and talking. That was probably one of the best days I've spent with him ever. There was a rhythm to our relationship and we just enjoyed being relaxed together. I will say, he is a patient shopper. I doubt he was enjoying it at all but he never let me know it. I think we were both just so grateful to be together after the emotional rollercoaster of last week. There's just something pricelessly soothing about having face time with a person.

So after walking around for a while we went and saw his mom at work and she was generous enough to buy me some great clothes and earrings. I owe her big time. We headed home and got there just as his dad and brother were finishing feeding the puppies they have. Their female hunting dog had puppies 3 weeks ago and then died a few days after giving birth so the puppies (there were 9, now there are 7) have to be bottle-fed. They are so cute and small-I can't remember the last time I held one but it definitely brought back memories of my childhood.

Z and I then had some PT during which he opened his birthday gift from me. After we celebrated a bit, we spent some time with his fam and were up late talking...again. But I don't mind the sacrifice since I don't get to see him much. I left around 5:30 Sunday morning and came home to 2 awesome church services, a good Sunday School class, and an excellent drama rehearsal. God is so good and I am amazed at how quickly He can turn things around. I truly believe that since Z & I worked through some issues and are getting our focus and priorities in order, God will recognize our efforts and reward them. I am just so thankful that I don't get what I do deserve (mercy) and I do get what I don't deserve (grace). I could not possibly be more blessed.

So with that, I'll sign off. More updates throughout the week. May each of you experience His presence in a new, exciting way this week.

Blessings,
B
Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere; I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked. Psalm 84:10

Birthday Blast

I am officially old. Or at least I feel old.

When I celebrated my quarter-century birthday Wednesday, I was still pretty sore from my fall at Grandmother's. So I felt a little older than I actually was. But in spite of my body making promises it couldn't keep, the birthday was FABULOUS!

Yes, I showed up to work late. But that didn't deter the celebration. My co-workers had decorated my work space and had red velvet cake waiting. YUM :) They even bought me some pink tulips that were beautiful. Not to mention, the 2 people I work with in commercial lines were gone to CE so I had the back office to myself. (I had told the girls I wished for a day of peace and quiet and I acutally got it.)

Mom, Dad & Grandmother showed up at my office with 25 pink balloons and a birthday brownie.
Not for me but for my co-workers (the brownie that is).


Dad toured the office while Mom & Grandmother sampled the brownie and then we came to my house. They unloaded the car and checked out the place and we just kind of hung out for a bit. Z showed up and we headed to lunch. 24th Street was great-as usual and afterward we picked up the cake. It was sooo pretty-I just adore A Piece of Cake! Definitely the best bakery in town.

After coming back home, we spent the afternoon just chatting and spending time together. Since Z was just meeting the 'rents for the 1st time, we thought it would be good just to take it easy. So while Grandmother napped, we talked. Then Dad, Z & I headed to Wal-Mart and picked up a few things. After we got back, Mom prepared the biggest birthday spread I've ever had. We had breaded chicken, hash brown potato casserole, steamed broccoli, butter beans, fried okra, crescent rolls, and strawberry pretzel salad. It was all SOOO tasty and I am just finishing up the leftovers today. Afterward we enjoyed cake and Braum's chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream and just relaxed. I took Z over to Dustie's, where he would spend the night, and Dad & I went and saw the church as he hadn't seen it post-renovation. We returned home and headed to bed.

Well, I was headed to bed until Matt called. We talked for a couple hours and it was so good to catch up. Though I know I'll never go back to the Cleveland area, I sure do miss him. We had such good times together and I'm grateful for our friendship. Hopefully a reunion is in the near future for us-Texas style. :)
*************************************
I'm sad for Mom & Dad to return to NC today but know that change is in store for all of us. More on that in a later post. It was such a refreshing time to have them here. And they officially have won the Best Parents of the Century award. I mean, do you know any other parents who would take a week of vacation to drive halfway across the country just to celebrate their daughters' birthday? Even if you do, they aren't 1/2 as cool as my parents. :)
*************************************
Z's birthday was yesterday. He had put in to be off from work from the 1st through the 4th and so he was able to stay here until early yesterday morning. I love him so much. After meeting my parents, I can't tell you the relief I felt and definitely feel things are heading in the right direction. We have some praying to do about the future but I trust the Lord has a divine plan for both of us.

Reasons # 5,814,927 & 5,814,928 why I love Z: his ipod tutor session w/Dad, he & Dad doing the dishes from dinner...
I dare you to tell me I don't have a perfect boyfriend! Love you Z!

Ok, I absolutely MUST sign off. I have a Sunday School lesson to prepare, nails to manicure, gifts to prepare, and a house to straighten. My prayers are for the Lord's blessings to overflow on each of you tomorrow as we gather in our individual houses of worship to praise the Ancient of Days. To Him be all blessing and honor and glory and power forever!

~B
He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, "He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust." Psalm 91:1-2

Days 19, 20 & 21

I'm baaaaack!!!

So here I am, ready to report from the weekend. It's been wild since Friday and I owe you, my faithful readers Mom & Dad, some details & a little TI30 action. So without further ado, here we go.

Friday, September 19, Day 19

1. I'm thankful for getting to see Z again. It had been almost 3 weeks and I never want to wait that long between visits again. He has become my best friend and I have missed him so much. It was sooo good to be with him in the flesh again and no, Mom, I don't mean "in the flesh", just "in person".

2. I'm thankful for driving time. Traveling so often (usually 2-3 weekends a month), I log a LOT of time in the car. I spent about 6 hours in my little CRV over the course of the weekend and driving time is the perfect remedy for a chaotic week. There is plenty of time for me to mull over the happenings of the week and process everything, making appropriate conclusions and allowing myself the opportunity to peruse things through my mind. Unfortunately, I sometimes take this time as extra worry time but I try to keep it as prayer time after I think through everything. The time Z & I spent traveling around also gave us a chance to just talk and spend some good quality time together. It was great!

3. New restaurants are always fun as well. Since my town has very little variety, going out with Z is always a treat because he takes me places I've never been before. Friday, his dad actually wanted to take us out and we ended up at Pappadeaux. It was wonderful! Minus being the loudest restaurant I've ever eaten in, it was very tasty food. We had great service, I tried some excellent mango tea, and ate the best cheesesticks and chicken tenders I've ever had. I even tried crawfish & didn't hate it. YUM! :) If you ever get the chance to try it-DO! Just a bonus to having a boyfriend who lives in a big city...

Saturday, September 20, Day 20

Saturday was a BIG day.

1. Oh my GOODNESS! I've been waiting for this experience ever since I moved from TN over a year ago and it finally happened. About 15 minutes from Zeb's house is perhaps my favorite restaurant in the world. There is only 1, lone location here in the huge state of Texas and my boyfriend was sweet enough to take me there. What am I making such a big deal about? ONLY the best chicken tenders & fries on the face of the planet: ZAXBY's!
This place is incredible! SO YUMMY! And I finally had my favorite chicken finger plate in my new state. YAY!!!

2. While there are plenty of perks to living in a big city, after enduring all the traffic Z & I sat in on Saturday, I am thankful for my small town life. I want to live near a big city but not in one. Even if the people in my small town aren't the best drivers in the world (which I'm sure is what they think of me).

3. So the hot air balloon festival is obviously the highlight of the weekend and the City of Plano didn't disappoint. There was so much to look at and enjoy, the weather was perfect and Z & I had an absolute BLAST! :) By unanimous vote-best date EVER!

Sunday, September 21, Day 21

I woke up at 5:30 Sunday morning with a VERY sore throat so needless to say, my drive home was not as enjoyable as hoped. I made it to church that morning-even taught Sunday School-but felt AWFUL afterward so I ended up laying out that evening. You know I'm sick if I'm missing church so it's serious. But even with being sick, there are things to be thankful for.

1. The 64 ounces of Pepsi I bought for $1.80 to keep me awake on the way home. I never knew they made cups that big but I'm so glad they do. That lasted til I got home and gave me enough caffeine to make it through church. I used to have an addiction to Pepsi way back in my middle/high school years and though I'm not revisiting that era, it was SO good.

2. The Hispanic family that has been coming to our church on Wednesdays for the past few months. They are the kindest people with the most beautiful children and sweetest spirits. I had a long talk with their oldest daughter, 13, who is dealing with some adversity at school and it felt so natural to chat with her about her decisions and influence. She longs to make a difference in her world and it was so fulfilling to help her understand that her light shines brightly in the dark world of her school. I felt both honored and humbled to be able to share with her. She is a precious, strong young lady whom I know God is raising up to be a mighty leader of her generation.

3. Z. I know I talk about him a lot but to me, I can't express how thankful I am for him. I'm just glad he lets me be me-nothing more, nothing less. I don't have to pretend to be something I'm not. I'm just me-and he loves that. We had a really long, good talk Sunday night and I remembered all the reasons I've fallen in love with him (as if I needed reminding). This relationship that we've developed is truly unique to me-I've let him see all the different facets of my personality and he hasn't run away yet. I'm so thankful for that-never thought it would be found. More on him later... (oh, stop groaning-you just wish your boyfriend was as fabulous as mine)

Ok, this has been weekend update with yours truly, B. (I should've pursued that SNL offer.)

More TI30 soon. Still trying to gain some energy & get over this sickness.

Blessings to you all,
B
Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
1 Thessalonians 5:18

Another reason...

why my boyfriend is better than yours...

:)

Blessings,
B

I thank my God upon every remembrance of you. Philippians 1:3

Day 5

Though this is posted on Day 6 of my month, it is Day 5's Thankful in 30. Given the time, I'll make no small talk. Today's list:

1. A Pastor who loves and cares for his sheep and handles all other church responsibilities as he is the only paid staff member but yet will stay up until the wee hours of the morning conversing and strategizing over things with his CE director. I have the best Pastor!

2. Music-it speaks the words of the soul as can been seen by the lyrics to the song (shown below) sent to me by my bf today.

A Summer Song by Wavorly

Spread the blanket on top, and I'll turn off the lights
And we'll gaze at the stars
With you by my side, the moon set to the right
It's incomparable so far

I haven't stopped falling in love
Haven't stopped falling

Two years ago, I had no idea that you were so perfect
As we wait so long, until we join hands
You make the wait worth it

I haven't stopped falling in love
Haven't stopped falling

Now years down the road
Still hasn't gotten old to sit and laugh the day away
There's one thing you should know
My love for you grows even more every day

I haven't stopped falling in love
Haven't stopped falling in love

And the day that I finally can take you home
There's no way that I'm ever, ever letting go
We'll be ok, though miles may separate
There's no space between our hearts
And this day, I choose to keep loving you
As if it were a choice, I can't stop falling…

I haven't stopped falling in love

Spread the blanket on top, and I'll turn off the lights

3. 3 children who have greatly improved my quality of life and help me keep my life in perspective. They are spectacular and always have me smiling & laughing!

I love you Hannah, Elijah & Gabe! :)

Baby, I'm the lucky one

Yes, that's a throwback to some old school Amy Grant. And here's why.

More later...

Blessings,
B

When I Fall In Love

Growing up, every little girl dreams of when she'll be able to sing that old Doris Day song and know that she's found that forever love. I know I've spoken of it quite a bit but I do feel that I've found mine. And it all changed in an instant.

Z and I had been "officially" dating for 5 weeks and had known each other for just under 2 months. Things were moving fast-faster than I was comfortable with and I knew that I wasn't just falling-I had fallen. At this point, I had been to Arlington 3 times and Z had come to Paris twice. The second time was the weekend right after the first time he visited and it was a total surprise. He showed up at my house on a Saturday evening just as a friend and I were getting ready to go to a concert here in town. I had just stepped out of the shower and was applying my makeup. The doorbell rang, my friend answered it and there he stood. I thought she was kidding but she told me to put on some clothes and come see for myself. So I threw on a tank and my pj bottoms and she was right. It was him. That was the start of the change.

He stayed through the weekend and into the first part of the week, not leaving until Tuesday evening. Those two weekdays were special-I'd go home for lunch and he'd be there. We spent one evening visiting a newborn church member in the hospital, eating pizza & ice cream & watching Madea. Tuesday evening before he left, I came home from work and he had folded the laundry, done the dishes and cleaned up the house. (Now do you understand why I love him so much ladies?) So we were able to just enjoy each other's company before he had to head home.

After he left, my pastor's wife called to see how I was doing. We made small talk for a few and hung up. Her daughter (who is like my sister) called back minutes later, inviting me over to watch a movie. I agreed since I was pretty bummed about Z leaving so I arrived and we (me, Pastor, & PW-pastor's wife) sat and chatted in their living room. The kids were busy "cleaning" (aka playing) so we were able to have some adult conversation. After discussing all the likes and dislikes (though those were few) of my situation, I could tell my heart was changing. Pastor & PW know me the best of anyone outside of my family (especially spiritually) so I value their opinions. They both gave Z the stamp of approval (not that it was needed but I felt better with it) and we chatted about other random topics. After PW & I talked his ear off, Pastor went to bed-it was late when I got there-but PW and I continued our discussion of the situation. At some point during the conversation, I began to cry and when PW asked why, I had no good explanation. I was scared but not enough to cry so hard. Once I began to contemplate it, I realized why I was crying and exactly what was wrong:

Now that I had found the one I believe God made for me, I didn't want to be alone anymore.

See, up to this point, I had enjoyed my independence, my freedom. I liked living alone, having my space, not feeling pressured or tied down. I didn't have to ask anybody's permission to do anything and I didn't have to feel guilty for doing what I wanted to do.

But now, I had met this man. A man who I wanted to be with, who I wanted to ask permission from, who I wanted to be tied to. A man who made me feel like a woman, who treated me like a lady, and who respected me as a sister in Christ. And that enjoyment of freedom was snuffed out-in the blink of an eye. In fact, the average person on the outside looking in would have never noticed anything different. But that night into the early morning hours of August 20, 2008 there was a 180 degree change for me.

So now, here are Z & I-struggling to follow God's will for us; wanting to press the fast-forward button on our lives but knowing we should cherish every here-and-now moment together. And that's just what we plan to do-for the rest of our lives.

I love you, Z.
Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the LORD deal with me, be it ever so severely, if anything but death separates you and me. Ruth 1:16b-17

Blessings,
B
And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
1 Corinthians 13:13

Day 3

Thankful in 30

1. The couple at church who volunteered to teach the 9-11 year old class on Wednesdays. I love my kids but will be glad to be able to be fed on Wednesdays. (Yes Mom, this means I'll be able to have dinner w/you on my birthday.)

2. Cooler evening temps announcing autumn's impending arrival.

3. An amazing, funny, intellectual, devoted, loving man of God who I just happen to call my boyfriend. (And whose birthday is in exactly 30 days.)

4. Productive days at work when I can catch up.

5. Calendars.

************************************************************************

In other news, this presidential race just got interesting to me tonight. On Friday, when I heard of McCain's choice for VP, my immediate first thought was, "He is such a fool!". (I literally said that out loud.) Over the past few days, I've seen any chance of a Republican continuance of power dwindle especially after the story about her eldest daughter surfaced. But after her speech tonight, all I can say is, "Wow." I see now why people love her so much. Granted, I'm not sure if any of them knew why until tonight but she really worked the crowd, gave an outstanding speech and portrayed herself as a strong, resilient lady, ready to serve. And so, the plot thickens...dun, dun, duuuuuuunnnnnnn.

Let me also take this opportunity to say thank you to Z:

You have changed my life in so many ways. I never dreamed a love like yours existed but I am so thankful it does. Moreso, I am thankful God is allowing me to experience it. I don't know how He did it but He brought us together and I've found a once in a lifetime love. Words will never adequately convey my feelings but they're all I've got. Thank you-for loving me just the way I am and inspiring me to better myself each day. Just as with God's love, I am so unworthy but thank you for being His hands, His feet, and His heart to me. I love you.

The End.

Blessings,
Bethany
Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
1 Thessalonians 5:18

Speechless

A quick update about my Friday:

This morning was pretty dull. (I know that makes you want to read more, right???) We found out some news in the office but other than that, things were pretty much on the same monotony level as they usually are-BORING! While at lunch, I ran an errand and then went home to gather my stuff for my trip to Grandma's. Z & I texted while I was gone and as usual, he had me beaming from ear to ear. I'm telling ya, when you decide to wait on the Lord to send you the right one, you better get ready because when He does it, He does it RIGHT. So I get my things together and, running about 10 minutes late, make a quick tomato sandwich (which I've had every day for lunch this week and I LOVE) and head back to the office. As I'm coming in, a co-worker who's leaving for lunch says "I know something you don't know" and that scares me to death. I'm one of those people who imagines the worst possible thing that could happen so I'm anxious to get back in the office. When I walk through the door, I look at my desk and there they sit:

A dozen red roses.
My heart is pounding and I'm glistening (as we Southern girls do) and I read the card as everyone ooo's and ahhh's over them and it is the sweetest card with the perfect note from Z. I can't believe he sent me flowers-roses at that! I don't know what I did to deserve them but appreciate them so much. More importantly, I appreciate him-the way he treats me like a lady, respects me, wants to do for me, accepts me just as I am. Those of you who know me know I've never known a man like him who treats me the way I feel I should be but Z is definitely that man. I am overwhelmed with gratitude for having him in my life and though we took a huge risk even meeting each other, it's a risk I would gladly take again and again. Knowing him is worth it.

So I just wanted to share how blessed I am to have such a wonderful man in my life. Z proves that it's so worth it to wait for what God has destined for you. Sometimes He has to use incomprehensible ways to get it to you, but He will. And when He does, be ready to be overwhelmed!

Blessings to you all,
~B
The LORD your God is with you, He is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, He will quiet you with his love, He will rejoice over you with singing. Zephaniah 3:17