Last day of August

You have translated
pieces of my heart that I
have never understood.

— tylerknott

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 Moving forward moving forward. :)

7/11

So some number fun - J has 7 more days of work before the wedding, I have 11 days, and there are a total of 18 days left before the wedding. Fun right!

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we stagger and stumble
in whispers and bliss...
  

as days turn to decades
bookmarked with a kiss
(kylie johnson)

Decorating my new office

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Happy Monday morning! Last one in August this year. I'm thankful we didn't get much damage from the hurricane - just got things done, lots of down time, and lots of needed fiance time. I'll be holding on to that weekend all week!
And actually, I've technically been in this office before, but it's revamped with a new wall, new gray and blue walls, and it feels different for sure! I'll be getting daylight bulbs soon, and I get to figure out what to put on the walls, where to put my plants, and where things should go in order to keep things as efficient and organized as possible :)
  

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Weekend Plans

Hello low-key weekend. Keeping the list short :) If we could get all these done though, I would feel very accomplished.

   

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Make our cake order with our bakery. (Wednesday)

Customize our guest book.

Finish painting our bathroom.

Get in some sun time. (okay, unlikely with Irene) (yay!!!!)

Start printing programs/direction cards. (Monday night)

Trim Sully's nails.

Get Joey's final haircut before the wedding. (Wednesday)

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this is it

via Last night I went shopping with my maid of honor. It was great to shop with her - she's one of my favorite people to shop with, and I don't shop often anymore. I left in a great mood, but also reflected on the fact that my wedding is almost here. Overall, I'm excited, and I know everything will go fine, although there's still some checklists to work on. I realized something else though. I remember thinking throughout high school and college, that I'd be my best on my wedding day. By that, I mean absolutely superficially. The toned, tanned, long-haired version of myself. Know what I'm saying? It's weird to be at the point before my wedding where I kinda have to except, this is it. This is about as long as my hair is going to get. I'm not going to alter my dress anymore, so this about the size I'm going to be. Etc. It's really weird, and slightly, I don't know - confidence knocking? And then I feel weird that I'm affected by that.. cycle continues until after the wedding when I'm not a wreak anymore from trying to push myself to get everything done, be a good employee, a good friend, etc. throughout the process. Not long :) 

23 days

Love is passion, obsession, someone you can’t live without. If you don’t start with that, what are you going to end up with? Fall head over heels. I say find someone you can love like crazy and who’ll love you the same way back. And how do you find him? Forget your head and listen to your heart. I’m not hearing any heart. Run the risk, if you get hurt, you’ll come back. Because, the truth is there is no sense living your life without this. To make the journey and not fall deeply in love - well, you haven’t lived a life at all. You have to try. Because if you haven’t tried, you haven’t lived.

— Meet Joe Black 

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 *this picture actually looks a lot like Kara and her husband to me.

Every day is one day closer. 

Clean Slate

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I'd like to start today over. 

Happy 2nd Sully :)

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Today is Sully's 2nd Birthday! I can't believe he's only that old. While he still acts like a puppy sometimes, it kinda feels like he's always been in my life. He came at such a good time in my life and has brought me such joy. I definitely see God's hand in that decision and responsibility. The best birthday gift I could give him is a new dad :) and maybe a sibling someday. Sully, you're so cool and you don't even try.
  

 

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Inbetween

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I almost said Happy Wednesday today. Woops! It's going to be a great Tuesday though! We had a our last premarital counseling session last night. Looking forward to seeing all the girls at Bible Study tonight and seeing my old manager tomorrow, when she comes in for a visit. 25 more pre-wedding days!

*neither Bible Study nor my manager visiting happened, but I did get a much needed night at home and quiet day at the office, so it all worked out :) 

There's no place like home

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But  tonight…the lion of contentment has placed a warm heavy paw on my chest. -Billy Collins

My weekend ended up being a bit more.. exhausting than I had imagined, but we got a lot of walking in, a lot a girl talk, and maybe some dares. While I was out, my fiance recruited some help and got our downstairs furniture put into place. Rugs are moved, the table and chairs are in from the garage, the tv is off the fireplace and onto its stand.. etc. It was so wonderful to come home to! I so appreciate his and our friends' effort this weekend! I can hardly wait to come to our house and him every day! 

  

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Time for a Girl Trip

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Celebrating with high school friends in DC this weekend. Kinda my bachelorette weekend, but also celebrating a new move, another new engagement, and all turning 25 this year. It should actually be a tame weekend, with sightseeing, good girl chat, and dinners out. Very fun. I'll miss my fiance! Especially as he's having his bachelor party with the guys!
  

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She loved life and it loved her back.

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This week I've switched to an earlier work shift. Overall, it hasn't been bad, mostly good actually. But I do find myself exhausted sooner. And I felt a little disconnected from my family at my sister's birthday dinner, just being tired and my mind half listening to what I want it to do. Which kinda stinks, but I think it'll be fine when I'm not stressing about planning and juggling and moving in/out. I choose to move on to today, focus and be nice, and give it my all. Tomorrow belongs to the Lord.

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ONE MONTH

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There is officially one month left until my best day ever! Literally 31 days. I'm so excited to reach that day. And yet, there's still so much I want to do. While I know I plan to be (and think I will be) completely relaxed and enjoy the day, I'm a little jumpy with my mind always busy. While I'm at work, I stress slightly about all that I need to get done at home or doing errands. While I'm doing errands, I slightly stress about wanting to spend time with my fiance or family or friends instead. When I'm with my fiance, or family, or friends, I slightly stress about whether I can multitask with them there and if that still counts as quality time. I slightly stress about trying to sleep enough so that I'm more patient, etc., yet I try to fit in as much as I can before I have to get in bed. It's so weird feeling.

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 Last night in Bible Study, we talked about being content with ourselves. As in, our physical appearance, personality, abilities and character. Namely the first 3 since we can't do much about them. I've struggled more in the past, and while I know a lot of it is accepting this is who God made, it tremendously helps having a fiance (and friends and family) who surround me and accept me. When my fiance accepts me (which is literally like all the time, it's impressive) or is proud of me, it's so much easier to feel that way about myself too. Which then frees me up to focus on him and others instead :)

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ANNND Happy Birthday to my lovely sister who is crossing that fantastic threshold out of her twenties and into her flirty and thriving 30s :) 

Mid-week Prayer

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This weekend my mom and I went and got pedicures. It was her 2nd ever, and it was really fun to share with her. Still makes me smile. I'm looking forward to another week of Bible Study tonight!


Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.  
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;  
where there is injury, pardon;  
where there is doubt, faith;  
where there is despair, hope;  
where there is darkness, light;  
and where there is sadness, joy.
O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand; to be loved as to love. For it is in giving that we receive; it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

-Prayer of St. Francis

 

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HB

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Tell me, what is it that you plan to do with your one wild and precious life? - Mary Oliver

This is it! It's my 25th  birthday. My last "single" birthday, and halfway through 20s. It's been a low-key, productive (largely wedding, thanks to my mom) weekend, and I get to celebrate at the beach today! My fiance and maid of honor are going with me. Tonight, with my family, we get to try a cake from the bakery we're using for our wedding. It's a great start to a new week, and a new year :)

in the middle

- painting a bathroom
- learning to cook
- growing my hair out
- 4 books (one of which is one of my very favorites)
- moving in/out
- a movie (I watch while getting ready for the day and for bed)
- getting 10,000 steps a day
- a glass of water/drinking 8 of them or so a day
- like 3 bottles of lotion
- like 6 chapsticks/glosses
- my engagement period
- two to-do lists

Working on embracing peace, embracing a positive outlook on all that's going on.

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"6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things."

-Philippians 4:6-8 

Wedding Wednesday

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My wedding shoes are the cheap version of these. And I'm so excited to wear them on our happy day :)  

 

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say yes

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I mostly have had a great and productive day, and then I accidentally snooped, and I feel funny about what I found out. I wish I wasn't so curious.

Hello Monday

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While we didn't necessarily do everything on our list (curve ball - the sectional/chair didn't get picked up, therefore the floors weren't clear, etc) we still had a very productive weekend. My brother and sister-in-law showed up at a very opportune time and were a big help. Yesterday I stacked meetings with my make-up lady, florist and dress alter-er. It's so fun to have my dress back! It was great to listen to Josh McDowell, and eat home cooked meals :) It's been fun to work on our future house and lives together, and work on wedding planning - 40 days to go!

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Weekend list

It takes courage to grow up and turn out to be who you really are.

— e.e. cummings

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Make a trip to Trader Joe's. 
Appointment with DJ and wife. 
Play with Mary-Kay make-up samples. 
Take apart old dressers.  
Unlock door so guys can take old sectional and chair away.
Wear that sequin skirt that I think about during the week, but forget about on the weekends. 
Visit with make-up lady. 
Flower appointment with Mom and Marsha. (MEWS-Design)
Clean out kitchen cabinets - put in new stuff (yay).
Move clothes, etc. boxes upstairs.
Clean floors downstairs.
Spend some sun time outside. (note: don't burn nose)
Plan out a beach trip. (next weekend)
Try a crockpot recipe.
Couple time in the form of run or bike ride. 
Sing in the rain :) or kissing would count.
At least get my mom's apple pie recipe. 
Start checking up on tardy RSVPs.
Get something fun for Jenn's birthday.
Call Dayle of Fairmont to get song approval.(Got her number though!)
Pick out ties for Fathers Of and Ushers.
Find out more about Disney Halloween Party tickets.
Pick the next room to paint.
Pick out guest book - start customizing.
Cafe picture to laundry room - get frame for it if needed.
Drink smoothies and watch something fun!

This weekend should be fun and productive yet again. ;)

Happy 1st August Friday

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What an interesting day it's been! Keep a thankful attitude, keep your mind open - you never know when a learning opportunity might arise, don't take offense - people do not really know how things sound, with their word choice and tone - be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger (James 1:19).

I so loved having a list to focus on last weekend, that I'll make another one, throughout the day. The old sectional couch is being taken away tonight! I'm so excited for the weekend, and to spend a whole day and a half with my fiance :) He teaches me so much about love. I love it!