And so it begins!

The planning has commenced:) The dress has been bought, and the bridal party chosen, most of them have been asked to participate-just one or two more to get in touch with at this point. My friend Candice gave me some wonderful advice prior to John and I getting engaged; She encouraged me to choose attendants that were an active part of my spiritual life, people who were ecouraging me and keeping me accountable, and that would continue to do so in the future.
I had always planned for my brother Randy to stand beside me as my man-of-honor, and he seemed very pleased to have been asked. I promised that he wouldn't have to throw me a personal shower or walk with a dude, and he laughed and told "ok, cool. Whatever you want babe!" .....That's why he's my favorite:)
I also chose a matron-of-honor, my friend Candice. She has been a source of great spiritual encouragement, wisdom and advice during the dating relationship, and I'm confident that our friendship will continue as she counsels me thorugh marriage too:)
I chose my best friend/housemate/sister Alicia, who is so very much like me, yet so very different. We have always said that we should have been sisters, but if we had been, we would have killed each other. So God made us wait till we were each more sanctified!
I chose my sister Allie, who is more like me than I can imagine sometimes. She has a very kind and servant minded spirit. She is developing her sense of humor; so sometimes she is less than funny, and sometimes shockingly hilarious!
I also chose Anna Payne. She has been a dear friend since God impressed on her heart to talk to me in fall of '06. God has orchestrated the events of our lives so that we are always experiencing the same trials or joys at the same times, or very close to it,the same spiritual dryness, or quenching. When I informed her that there would be a married woman in her bridal party ( she's getting married about 3 weeks after JOhn and I but has been engaged since Christmas ), she was giddy and giggly as she told her fiance, Stephen. Once again God has allowed us to experience a major life change together, and I'm thankful for her unslefish attitude towards me. I knew when I told her that she would not think I was stealing her thunder or anything like that, and promptly offered me her decorations that she would use after me....What a blessing she is to me.
I have chosen one other, but as I have not had time to talk to her about it yet, I will not mention her name. But she is a sweet godly woman, who has mentored me and allowed me to be part of her family's everyday life. And continues to encourage me from a distance.
Monday shopping trip with Momma; God was so kind!! We headed to Michaels and Hobby Lobby to get ideas. We found ALL the flowers for bouquets, table arrangments, ribbon for bouquets, grapevine wreaths for decorating, ivory tulle, a cake topper and flowers for the cake,and the supplies to make my veil and headpiece for less than $200. The flowers and wreaths and ribbon were all on sale for 50% off. We have found the perfect venue, but are still waiting to hear back from the renter. It's not a very popular venue, and not advertised, so we're praying that God opens this door for us too. It's absolutely perfect. It'll seat all of our guests, it's very rustic....makes me think of home.
My biggest concern thus far has been more spiritual than monetary issues or planning. It's our desire to accurately display Christ's pursuit and love for his bride, the church, through our wedding ceremony. But if my attitude is not right during the planning, then the ceremony is less effective, maybe even hypocritical. So I am asking prayer for myself as I plan this wedding, that I would be gracious to others, that I would trust God's sovereignty as He already has my wedding planned. Pray that I will be kind and selfless, and bear in mind my true goal;to make Christ look big, beautiful, and wonderful for who He is and what He has done in my life.
Another food-for-thought moment; I have already been in a situation where I feel torn between making my parents happy and appeasing my soon-to-be-husband. I literally felt like I was being torn apart inside. While I marveled at how God created the human body to feel emotional distress, I was reminded that I was made in His image. I wondered if perhaps that how God feels when I sin......Is He ever torn between punishing my sin and showing me grace??