Wedding planning = A New Awareness of My Inner PK....

PK = Pastor's kid. Duh.

I've noticed over the past two weeks, that this challenge of planning a wedding is a revelation of my inner rebellious spirit (okay, maybe only kind of "inner"...).

Whenever I'm told/informed of the "right" way to do things during this process, it pretty much immediately makes me want to do the opposite, or something totally different.

I don't mind following basic tips for the big day... those I find helpful. In fact, I'd say I have a new appreciation for those tidbits of information passed on by friends that save me hours and hours of research.

But I'm finding that when approached with issues that are more formulated to fit others' expectations, ("others" being the whatever the norm is for said issue, not actually people in my life:), I really really REALLY don't want to follow.

It truly is amazing how our culture forms these "norms" for things like this that really aren't rooted in much but tradition.

Don't worry, not planning a hippie wedding out here on the island, (though I wouldn't be the first if I were). Just confessing my irritation with the "should do/have to/need to/etc.'s" of this wedding planning journey.

Luckily I'm just stubborn enough to fight for some originality without (hopefully) horribly offending anyone along the way:)

And that is all she wrote...

Got engaged. Check.

Hello all (or Sarah and Courtney who read this:),

I wouldn't even know where to start to give an accurate update since the last one.

Got engaged. Check.

Totally exhausted already. Check.

Trying to get realistic expectations for this wedding and all thats involved. UNCHECK.

What?!!!! You mean I can't have the perfect pre wedding week where everyone I love that is coming to celebrate with us has the perfect time and I'm there sipping a pina colada and completely relaxed the whole time????

Damn.

There is no real room for complaining... which I am fully aware of.

After all I get to marry the greatest man I know on a beautiful island.

So yeah, smack me if I (when I) lose sight of this. (NOT really Sarah!! Geez...).

Which I'm finding is easy to do if I don't watch it, (lose sight that is).

It's easy to be overwhelmed by details, other people's expectations, and  my own perfectionistic ways.

And I suppose that is part of the fun/challenge. All of the excitement, all the fun things to plan, etc. etc. etc. They build up, and build up quickly.

But goodness gracious I hope that I can continue to "get a grip" on a daily basis. Because frankly, I would hate to miss out on the joy of this time because I'm too focused on the wrong thing.

Story. Of. My. Life.

In my heart of heart's, I just feel overwhelmed by God's blessing and goodness. I can't really explain enough with words how spoiled I feel by my heavenly Father.

Obviously life will bring a million different seasons, but I just feel so blessed and loved by God during this time.

Blessed with His love and provision for me. Blessed with the ways He continues to hold and fill me. Blessed with His presence. Blessed with his grace as I so often fail. And blessed to be His.

So that's what's up.

If I'm honest, I sort of laugh at how much I wanted all this to happen when I first moved to Hawaii, and how SO VERY thankful I am that it didn't. Holy moley, there is NO way I could have handled that transition and all of this at the same time. No way.

Once again... glad God doesn't give me what I want when I want it all the time. His ways are so much sweeter.

All praise to Him.

Rain, Sprain, Go Away...

In the last month I have:
- gotten a cold virus
- sprained my ankle (story that will be a lot more hilarious when I can run again!)
- made my sprained ankle worse by trying to walk on it too soon
- gotten food poisoning
- seen more rainy days in Hawaii than ever before
- had work cancelled seven different days for random reasons

I have also:
- not exercised
- watched every season of "How I met your mother", except the current one
- cleaned out my house multiple times out of boredom
- played way too many games of Words with Friends
- talked to my parents on the phone far too much
- bought way too many magazines
- gone through A LOT of ibuprofen

Not sure if God is trying to teach me something, buuuuuut I can't help but think "SLOW DOWN"... is the theme for this month.

I thought it had been the theme of me moving to Hawaii... then I got injured and realized there had been nothing "slow" about my life or schedule up till last month.

And it's official, Richard has seen me at my lowest, (that would be the food poising day...). Nothing says romance in paradise like 24 hours straight of running to the bathroom with a gimp foot. (TMI? my bad).

.....

That's the update. Okay okay, I'll admit, I'm actually really enjoying some things about slowing down. Seems to be easier on my emotions, (minus the days when I could really use a stress-relief run), and help me be more diligent with my quiet times. Also seems to help me be in the moment. All things I recognize and I'm thankful for.

Saying that... anytime this ankle wants to heal would be good with me!!!!

:)