wedding remorse

This weekend I'm going to be in my best friend's wedding. My daughter is the flower girl, I'm a bridesmaid, and Daniel will be reading scripture. I'm really excited and happy for her.
It's made me think back to my wedding. I was 19 and really didn't know much about how weddings went or what options I had, so I kind of just did what people told me to. I would change a lot now, if I had a chance to do it over. And because I know you're all interested to hear it, here's what I'd change:
6 bridesmaids instead of 3. I wanted to have my best friend from high school Twan, be a bridesmaid, along with Emily my friend from church, and Becky my cousin, but my mom said it would be easier to just have the girls who lived nearby be bridesmaids instead of trying to get them all fitted for dresses and stuff. So I just went along with it. Daniel didn't have six guys to be groomsmen so I didn't want to make him pick some random people that weren't really good friends. So I had 3.
Music - I would have picked musicians who would actually show up at the wedding instead of calling two days before and canceling. I would have made sure that someone lifted chords for the song I wanted to have. If I could have known the future then, I would have made my sister-in-law (who wasn't related then, but was asked to play piano) play instead of the girl who quit.
Photography - I would have gotten someone with a nice camera to take the pictures.
Family - If I'd had six bridesmaids, I would have asked if my brothers both could have been groomsmen, and I probably would have had my sister (who was only 11 then) be a junior bridesmaid or something.

Everything went fine and we had a nice wedding. But I think some people ended up resenting me for not having them included. and I didn't really want that. I wish I could have known the future then. Oh well. shoulda woulda coulda.

Blogging

I love reading peoples' blogs. Sometimes I stumble on one so interesting, I just sit and read through it all. I mostly love reading my friends' blogs that are just about the things happening in their lives. So since I feel like writing tonight, I'll just give a quick update on my life. Because i should be in bed, but I'm doing this instead.

I've been working on devotionals for theatrical camp. Every year, my mother-in-law helps direct a camp for two weeks at church, where 5th through 8th graders put together a musical to preform. I've always helped in diffent ways, but for the last three years I've written devotionals, which go as homework. The kids bring them back and get points and then they can spend them at a store. Typical sunday-school style reward system. I reallyl enjoy writing the books and exploring the subjects that are in the musicals. This year it's about the book of Exodus. The Ten Commandments and Go Down Moses and all that. I've been having a hard time with the material for some reason, trying to find the right passages to use and some how make them relevant. I think the trouble is there is so much to pick from, and narrowing down what I want to say gets tricky.

My brother is home from the cruise ship tour for three months. His girlfriend Gabi is back with him this week, so I've been hanging around them a lot with the family. My whole family will be home this summer. Good thing I have my own house. We're having a good time right now. My parents just left for a 2-week trip to the Czech Republic.

Other people are back also. My brother and sister in Law, Nathan and Shelly, are back to have a baby. So we're just going to be busy all summer. I don't like being busy, but I like seeing friends and family who live far away.

I finished the book "Christy" and recommend it. I'll probably make a post about that.

I have nothing really intersting to share here. So I will post this and go to bed.

D-Day

D-Day

(In honor of Alvin Rustebakke, 28th Division, Second Ranger Battalion, WWII)

sixty-five years have passed
since the frightful day
when he struggled across the beach
dreaming of home in those Montana hills
saw the world as it was, the horror and agony
the price
paid in lives of friends--these soldiers straggled along the sands
but he saw God that day.

And he’s had a hard time of it
in those years since the war
and I wonder if it might have been different for him
if the ugliness and pain hadn’t come so early
Who can offer insight
into what changed that day in his heart and mind
all the reality
and the faith to back it up

but now his children
live in that freedom
an electrician, a veterinarian, a farmer and mechanic
their children making lives of their own
engineers, architects, psychologists, housewives
mothers, fathers.
new soldiers, fighting in foreign wars
and none will know the hardship he did
So for him the war is won.

In case you wanted to know

Babies don't have knee caps. But they cry a lot.

10 Reasons I love You

Today is my 8th anniversary. I'm so happily married it's ridiculous. To honor my husband, I've composed a list of things I love about him and because I know you all care so much, I'm going to share it with you. [Warning: major sappiness included]

1 - He's compassionate- a trait which I lack in so many forms, but which he helps to complete me. He sincerely cares for people, from faceless victims to closest family.
2 - He's deep. I've always loved that he is capable of thinking hard and analytically about things, and is able to discuss them, presenting his point of view respectfully and clearly.
3 - He's fun. I enjoy being around him, because he can make things funny that aren't funny. He can liven up conversations, and he remembers all of the stupid jokes we have between us. He thinks of creative ways to enjoy life.
4 - He's smart. He wouldn't say it, but he is. :o)
5 - He's a good dad. I'm not just saying it because I'm supposed to. He's so good at making teachable moments, disciplining with love, and being self-controlled. He plays with the girls and genuinely enjoys watching them develop and learn.
6 - He lets me have "me" time. Almost whenever I ask, no matter how stressed out or pressured he is, he's willing to let me do what I need to do, taking care of the kids and putting aside his projects.
7 - He watches chick flicks. And, often enough, likes them!
8 - He's strong. What girl doesn't want a guy who can lift a toilet all by himself?
9 - He knows something about everything. I don't have to use an encyclopedia terribly often because he can answer my questions. And he knows really random things like how to install a refrigerator. He's so useful.
10 - He's spiritual. He really cares about pleasing God and discovering theological truths.

To sum it up, he's everything I want and need, and I don't know how I ever managed to get someone so perfect. Happy Anniversary, Daniel!

9 Years ago... commencement.

I went to a local school's commencement ceremony this weekend, because several kids I know from young life were graduating. I couldn't believe how similar all of the ceremonies in my town are for each school. It was like sitting through my own commencement all over again. Minus being with friends and listening to people I know talk on stage.
It got me thinking--remembering, and it's put me in this nostalgic place all weekend.
My senior year was awesome. I liked my classes. I had lots of friends at school. I had a job but no living expenses, a car I could drive wherever I wanted. I was taking piano lessons, and helping out with stuff at church. And I had a great boyfriend. STill, I don't think I'd go back, except maybe to figure out how to keep my friends longer.
Nine years ago, I sat in the same place as some of those kids at graduation, thinking that the world was ahead of me, and SO GLAD to be done with high school. I thought my friends would be my friends forever. I planned so many things. But the things I planned didn't happen, really, mostly. And the friends I had in high school arne't really my friends anymore (save a couple, and I'm not saying I don't wish the other ones were still my friends because I love them all).

Better things happened. Because the plans I make aren't always as great as I think they are.