EB

For over 30 years, I've been Erin Elizabeth Bredin.
I've been linked to a great heritage of people who have loved Jesus, served Jesus and given their entire lives to be in the ministry.
I grew up as a pastor's kid. I was known by my last name especially with the church people. I was loved and supported by hundreds of people because of whose daughter I was. I just recently looked through some old bins of notes and cards that I have had since high school and found SO many encouraging letters from so many people over the years.
I went to Prairie Bible College, and most of my friends from their call me EB. (Thanks to Britt! hahaha) My identity their was almost all from the people I hung out with. A few people knew my family and there were a few traveling missionaries or old family friends that I met up with, but I was largely unknown until I found my community of friends.
Living on PEI, you are always, ALWAYS asked "Now, what is your father's last name?" almost anytime you are meeting someone for the first time. I've been shamed into admitting I'm not an Islander! hahah But I always qualify it with, if Anne of GG is an Islander then so am I! I am definitely an Islander at heart!
As a sub teacher, my name around the school out of most of the kindergartner's mouths is "Miss Bumble-B". The older kids call me Miss B, and that is how I am known by the kids and if I slip up and say my name is Miss Bredin...they immediately call me out and tell me that my name is MISS B!!! haha

All my legal documents say Erin Bredin.
My doctor and dentist know me as Erin Bredin.
My landlords receive their rent from Erin Bredin.
My driver's license says Erin Bredin.

I'm Erin Elizabeth Bredin.
For about one more week.

I can't even begin to understand what a BIG BIG MOMENTOUS occasion it is to GET MARRIED, CHANGE YOUR NAME, MOVE IN WITH YOUR BFF and START A LIFE TOGETHER.

I've been reading some really amazing blogs lately about people in all different stages of Love. I know Danny and I are in a very specific stage that could never last forever. There is this THRILL of excitement when I get to see him, even if it was just the night before that I saw him. I even get excited sometimes when he goes outside to do something and then comes back in the house! hahah Every night when I have to drive back to my own apartment, it just feels weird. Its starting to feel strange when I don't see him at the end of every day, and I haven't really started many days with him so I can't wait until that happens.

But I am realizing that soon my identity will be Erin Elizabeth Stretch. It feels like I'll be a whole new girl. That I will be stepping into being a grown up after all these years. That I will finally get to be a wife. That I will finally get to look around my HOME...not just an apartment or a place I'm living, but a home where I belong!

I am excited for the seasons to change and our relationship to strengthen. I know we have so much to go through and so much to grow in as our hearts continue to submit and love each other as a husband and wife. I am sad to give my name up a little...but I love my new name.

Stretch. This is a name that is known on the Island. There is a huge heritage here. This family has such a great reputation for being hard workers, detailed, helpers, givers and God-fearing folks! I am proud to become a Stretch, although it is intimidating at times to feel like my personality is completely opposite from them. But I know that I will be better for it. I am already learning (haven't quite mastered this yet!!!) to be more patient, take better care of details and to work hard without complaining!I hope that I can share with Danny the amazing qualities I bring as a Bredin. We have a reputation for being food and coffee lovers, investing in people/relationships, givers, encouragers, and God fearing folks!

I am proud of my family and I am excited to have a whole new family to add to it!
So for one more week, you can call me a Bredin....and I will cherish that name.
But after that, I'll be Erin Stretch!

Moms

I love Mother's Day. I am glad we take a day out to celebrate both of my parents around this season. Its the perfect excuse to have a family meal and buy a special present and write a meaningful note to my Mom. I was thinking alot about that John Mayer song (Daughters) and that it is true that our parents do alot to form who we are...and YES, its very important to be good to your sons and daughters...but I was thinking about the legacy and the heritage I have and then thinking about (forgive the song reference...) but the "mazes" Danny has had to deal with from me and it usually does have "nothing to do with him". There's alot in my heart that has been built up with love and grace from my parents, especially my Mom...who my sister worded well, did most of the raising, rearing, disciplining and building up in our home (due to my Dad working full time as a pastor and being committed most evenings to church things). But there's those OTHER things that are deep in my heart that cause stress and strife in our relationship that also impact Danny. He is the most constant and intimate male relationship I've ever had and he wants the best for me... so more than any other male in my life he works really hard to address things and talk it out and listen and make things work for us. Because we are so different, this has caused more stress and pain and conflict then I even want to begin to think about...especially in the past 4 months, unfortunately. We have had to deal with some really big things and are slowly coming up over the hardest part and starting smooth sailing again but the fact that my man has NEVER given up on me even when I had some of my hardest and most difficult moments and didn't always show my best side to him makes me feel so utterly safe and secure. I know he loves me, and it still flabbergasts me why sometimes, but I know he does and he will stick by me to the end.

Its not just Danny though. My friends and family who have supported me in the past few months really don't know how that has helped me. When I think of my line up of 7 bridesmaids...theses are the girls that have had such a huge impact on me.

 Jodi and Kristin: my school years wouldn't have been the same without them. We formed a spiritual friendship from when we were teens and they are two of my inspirations and encouragements in maintaining a daily quiet time a midst the chaos of raising children, running a home and loving their husbands. Kristin, of any friend I have, you do the MOST to maintain connection with me. I feel pretty guilty sometimes with the amount of effort you put into me. I know you love me and want to know about my life and I am so thankful that you have that gift of keeping in touch. I know we will be friends until we are old and gray!

Brittany and KT: my Prairie years wouldn't have been the same without them and even after that...living in Japan with KT. I know so much of my spiritual friendship was impacted by journalling with Britt, talking out life with all the Prairie girls, driving to church every Sunday with KT (blaring TuPac the whole time) and seeing Jesus in them. I am so proud of who they are and they continue to inspire me in so many ways, even though I don't get to have the every day life lived together I'll never forget the days that I DID have that privilege.

Julie: my life AFTER university wouldn't have been the same without her. I met her 10 years ago at Kristi's wedding. We drove to New York many times and she has impacted my life as an UTTER servant and caregiver to children. I have watched her loving children and giving LITERALLY every penny she has for the joy of others. She has sacrificed so much and there is NO cost that is too high that she wouldn't give to ANYONE. She inspires me with her giving and her patience and her ability to THRIVE in chaos. She is perfect for what God has chosen her for and the kids and the people she impacts will be lining the hallways of heaven to give her tributes someday. So proud of her.

My sisters. Well, since one reads my blog and one doesn't I'll just put this in a general way. I am blessed to be raised in a dysfunctional family of 5 kids. We grew up in a home where there was a huge RANGE of ages. And I have always been the middle child...hahah. I have two older sisters and two younger brothers. And I know the relationships we have with our siblings are far different then any friendship. My Mom has always had this burning desire for all of us to be close, and in our own way we certainly have come a long way from those days of fighting over 5 dollars of gas and who's turn it was to wash the dishes. We still fall back into our roles at family meals...well correction: I Do. I am probably the one that acts the "youngest" when we are all together...but I do love my siblings. I love the family nights we are blessed to have together and I am grateful that there are 4 other people in this world that I don't have to explain my family issues to. They get it. We all get it. We all have our own perspectives, but there are just certain things you can't really put into words sometimes. I am so grateful for my sisters. I am thankful that I have sisters to show me through their experiences of marriage of what I want for mine. There are things in their lives that aren't perfect but I have learned about the priorities I want in my marriage.
Kristi: You have taught me to love your husband first. You adore Jason. You miss him when he's gone for even one night. You go to sleep at the same time every night and pray together (even when one person falls asleep). You serve him and give him a good life. You are an amazing cook and your home is filled with peace and love. Its one of my favorite places in the world and it DEFINITELY is the place I would call a safe haven for me. When I'm upset or sad, I always feel a calm there and your boys give me so much joy. So well done! You are doing it.
Lori: I know that your life is different than you imagined. You have been blessed with four amazing kids who are so different but so smart and talented. You have given them so many opportunities to do sports, travel, be part of church and school and community life. I remember when you first got married how you decorated your apartment and how you made such fancy meals for Brian. I know that newly wed stage doesn't last forever but I remember watching you and Brian falling in love! I know we are similar and I know Danny and Brian are similar. I thank God that he blessed us both with men who can fill our gaps and show us alot of grace, kindness and patience.

I have so many girls that have sent me emails, sent me packages, called me, asked me questions and tried to be there for me even though time and distance often causes a separation. I have felt so supported and loved and I know that I am blessed.

To wrap up this little blog: I want to go back to that song and I love it. I just realize so much about the HUGE impact we have on each other. I am so thankful for all the people who have inspired me. I want to be the best wife to Dan. I want to be an amazing Mom. I know I won't be perfect but I am so glad that I have such a HUGE wealth of people I admire that I can look to.

So Happy Mother's Day. You are doing a great job. Thanks for showing me what good mothers look like. Thanks for being honest about life and keep doing what you're doing!

House Tour!!!!!

Well we looked at so many (well in reality it was probably only a handful) of homes trying to figure out what we wanted and what would work with our budget. There was a little house out in the country that had a really private backyard surrounded with trees...but it was over a 100 years old and we had a few red flags with some different details...but I was really set on the location. But we looked on...

We found a few in the Cornwall area...but there was some that were too high, yucky basement, unfinished basement, bad location on the highway, so we looked on...

 

We found 46 Hilltop Drive on an email from another realtor and looked at it the same week and we were pretty excited because it suited alot of our needs! Someone told me this week that women are usually won over if there is a nice kitchen...and I'm not saying this kitchen is amazing but I did like the cupboards and it seemed to suit me just fine! The other thing we were looking for is a way to convert the basement into an apartment and since there was already a bathroom down there and a private entrance (and a BONUS: private little deck) we knew that it would take a little work but we could fix it up just fine!!!

Laundry Room! (can't wait to brighten it up and paint the floor over and add some color)

We may convert part of this room for our basement apartment, but I'd also love to have floor to ceiling shelves to organize storage!

This shot is a little blurry, but there's a little stove and a good sized room! We may make it into a bachelor but we will also try to have a little kitchenette/fridge/sink! There's a little mini bar already set up so we can use the counter and chairs for this!

Weird Curtain thingy, but hopefully will be our office/video game central! HAHA

Little Bedroom beside our room. Jonah calls it the Cousin's bedrooms! He would love to have some bunkbeds for sleepovers! haha

Full back view, with someone creepin in the bushes! (me!!)

Sweet bike I added to our agreement! Wood Garage floor? Weird, no?!

 

Sweet little workshop area for Danny to build me some furniture!!! or surf boards!

Our little kitchen! (some wall paper to tear down, hoping to paint a little darker but brighter green!!)

I do love the cupboards! In great shape and Danny and I have cleaned them with some Magic Erasers and I have all our food set up and whatever we own is tucked safely away..dishwasher has a few spokes missing but we had our first successful run and dishes came out sparkly and clean! Love the floor too!

A little rickety, but sweet little private place for our renters!

A little pink carpet in our Living Room! There's also a bay window that Danny has freed from behind the lace curtains so now we get tons of natural light coming in through the front! I was thinking to have a shade of blue gray for living room and then using the furniture/pillow/curtains to add shades of color...not sure what yet! We are debating on the floor! Any suggestions? We may spring for expensive flooring but may do a different shade darker! Would that look weird?

Can't wait to sit on my window seat! But we have a little work to do to extend it...or it just may end up holding some flowers or something who knows!

Master Bedroom! We already took down border and Dan ripped up the carpet! We are thinking to have a really pale green (sage or some other lighter shade) and then have a nice bright quilt or duvet to brighten the room and add some color! We will probably get cheap click flooring thats on sale right now and I would like it as dark as possible! Love dark floors!

Main Floor bathroom! Small and cozy! I already scrubbed some rust spots out of the tub but will have another go at it! We may convert it in the future by taking out a closet and extending it but its not top priority for us at this point! I am thinking to paint it a pale color of aqua or pale blue and have the shower curtain brighten it up with color! (Dan says I can have polka dots! I can't help but love polka dots and want to add them wherever I can! lol)

Well thats it for now! I am really looking forward to before and after pics! I love looking at other peoples renos and feel so inspired to work hard and try not to complain or be grumpy about all the work that there is to do! I have never done this so its a HUGE  thing for me to take on and I do get overwhelmed but I am looking forward to doing this with Dan and having lots of projects to work on to make our little house a home filled with peace and love! Will update with more pics as they come!!!

HO....HEY!!!

I belong with you, you belong with me, you're my sweetheart
I belong with you, you belong with me, you're my sweet

Read more: THE LUMINEERS - HO HEY LYRICS 

Oh love songs.....you get me every time. Especially listening to THIS VERSION OF THIS SONG! (CLICK TO ENJOY). After an intense week, I am filled with love and a calm and just a feeling of satisfaction. Everything is the way it should be. Things are moving forward, things are looking brighter. I belong where I am and I would not change a thing in the world.

I was wondering this week where I belong. Things are so up in the air. I'm a sub teacher that moves along from classroom to classroom every day. I have tupperwares stuffed under my mom's stairs, inside their barn, in Kristi's barn, and in every nook and cranny of my apartment. My church has broken up and things are changing all around me. 

But when I listen to this song it reminds me that I DO belong somewhere! I belong with Danny. Wherever he is, will be my new home. And we are actually closing on our very first NEW HOME today! Today we will have a place to put all our things and to start our new life together. 

But beyond that, even if we DIDN'T....I do have assurance that even when things all around me are uncertain I am secure in the love that I am in CHRIST and HE is in ME! So often I have looked to Danny to {Complete me...thanks to Jerry Maguire}....and I've looked to my friendships, work, church, or even being financially secure as ways of feeling like I'm on a firm foundation....But this week I was reminded through sermons, books, and conversations that no one and nothing can complete me or satisfy me except for GOD. And once God is in His right place...then everything else falls in line and things make sense again.

So I am grateful for the gift of belonging. 

Philippians 4:7 Contemporary English Version (CEV)

⁷ Then, because you belong to Christ Jesus, God will bless you with peace that no one can completely understand. And this peace will control the way you think and feel.

These days...

We have to pray with our eyes on God, not on the difficulties.” 

― Oswald Chambers

Its hard not to read a blog or see a post on FB that doesn't mention Boston. Its so hard to know how to react and how to help. I loved my friend's post (Link Here) who reminded us to look for the helpers. And we are blessed to have those heroes that step up in those moments. The Firefighters, the Doctors and Nurses, the Police, the Brave and the Good who are there and willing to protect and serve.
So for Boston....for the places we don't hear of as publicly that are also suffering...and for the individual people who are hurting for all kinds of reasons--- we do remember you.

I'm thinking lately as the days tip toe closer and closer to a momentous and special day for me!!!( 40 days away now) that there are always things on peoples hearts that are large...even if its just to them... and through the past few months I've had these big things on my heart that have been so large that I haven't been able to see past them very easily. I was really reminded-- when some of it was blowing past---  that when I take my focus OFF myself its such a relief to look around and hear and listen to people that I care about. Even those I don't really know sometimes can teach and widen my eyes and views and relieve some of the worry and pressure I put on myself when I am only looking at myself.

There are so many things I am thankful for in the past few months that (yes, have been hard) so I will say a few things that have been very good:

• Sunday School. I always look forward to telling Bible stories to the kids. I got to share about Palm Sunday and Easter this year. I love looking at their faces and seeing that they are really interested and retaining the information! I love asking them questions and hearing them talk about God/Jesus! I love that.
• Art Gallery Parties: I have recently retired from this position!!! which frees up my Sunday afternoons, but I have enjoyed completely the opportunity for the last few years of doing birthday parties in our gallery and leading a craft. This helped me develop my method of teaching Art and also exposing children to our amazing Gallery we have so close by.
• Family: April and May are very busy months with a lot of birthdays, anniversarys and special days for our family so we start having get togethers and organized meals alot more at this time of the year! I look forward to and sometimes (Dread!!!) the chaos that ensues when we are all in the same room. But more and more when I realize the GIFT it is to live so close to my family. I am so blessed that I see my siblings at least a few times every week and and my other sister usually comes down a few times during the month...I wish my Grammie and Aunt and my cousins lived on PEI...but I have always been really blessed to have a few siblings close by!
• My apartment. I will be SO sad to leave my little haven by the river. I seriously am still THRILLED every morning when I look out and see such a beautiful view. I have been so blessed to have a roomie that I have NEVER fought with even once! I love living here and will miss it soo much when I move.....
• Speaking of moving....Danny and I have found a sweet little house up the road in Cornwall (conveniently near most of our family as well) and we will be closing on this house this Friday!! I can't believe it. We looked at lots of houses, but really we only looked for about a month or two before finding this and have an extremely fast closing so Danny will be able to move in a month before our wedding and we can start working away at it! I am so relieved we have a place to live that is ours and we have lots of plans and goals to making a rental basement apartment to help with the cost!!
• Friends. As I have made our wedding guest list and finalized who our bridal party is I am honestly in AWE of the kindness and help that people have given us in these past few months. We got engaged in December. I was overjoyed that I could finally be married...but honestly...even on that night I had this sense of dread and wondering HOW CAN I PAY FOR THIS WEDDING!!!! It seemed like an impossible dream because I wasn't getting steady subbing and my car died....and I just have these student loans and debt that I can't seem to pay down very easily...but in so many circumstances (some from my sweet fiance himself) I have been utterly blessed with helpers.....people have come along side us and offered (insisted!!! and sometimes FORCED) us to accept help...and I am so excited to see how things will turn out. If I had my way I'd be paying for all my guests travel and buying extravagant gifts for my attendants and going all out with flowers and decorations...but I am reminded over and over through Danny and through my marriage books and through a still, small voice in my heart that my wedding isn't about STUFF and THINGS and FOOD...but about vows, and witnesses to support our marriage and about Danny and I committing to a marriage for life. So the details aren't my favorite but as some of the stress is relieved, I am finding joy in planning even those little things like seating charts!! 
• Subbing. Oh dear. I am the girl that drives to work hyper. I have had weeks that I only had one day booked and lately (since a very popular sub went off on maternity leave) I have been booked even more! I have had the past three weeks of full or half days for most of the week. So when you come from last month of having full weeks off due to March Break and Easter....I am so relieved that I am getting more work at this critical time right before my wedding....plus I also LOVE teaching kids. I have got to teach so many kindergarten classes too which are my fave!
• Sunshine. It's bright out these days. My favorite time is twilight and I have been enjoying driving to Danny's after work for supper and seeing the sun still up in the sky! I love spring and I love the bright sunshine and clouds and the green that is poking through that dead brown grass! Yay for Spring!

So there is always good. (Always "gifts") and I'm so glad that I've had so many GREAT things in these past few months and I am thrilled to get married. Honestly! I CANT BELIEVE ITS SO SOON!

Here's one of my favorite pictures from our engagement shoot:

Soon I will be a wife!

I can't wait to be a wife. I feel like I've waited for alot of years for this and sometimes I can't believe its actually happening! I am just finally getting used to the idea of having a BOYFRIEND. That has been fun and hard and challenging....but exciting!  Wedding plans are starting to fall into place...after weeks of procrastinating and avoiding and distractions....I've said it before but I'm VERY thankful for my trusty Pink Binder of organization 

that my very organized Bridesmaid Kristin sent to me after I got engaged!

 

I've been reading a very insightful and encouraging book lately by Tim Keller called 

and this book has helped me navigate some of the toughest days of our dating lives together yet. I would love to share a few little gems of encouragement and always do benefit from hearing the advice or insight from people who are married and finding out what works for them....so leave a comment or two if you want!

• Marriage is "two spiritual friends helping each other on a journey to become who God designed them to be"
• Nothing can mature character like marriage
• Marriage is "two flawed people creating stability, love, consolation" in a safe haven
• Marriage remakes your heart
• The resources we need to be a good spouse is to worship God with our whole heart
• "Those who stop concentrating on how unhappy they are find that their happiness is growing"
• When the gospel is in our hearts "We find the power to serve, to give and take criticism well, to not expect our spouse or our marriage to meet all our needs and heal all our hurts."
• Weddings aren't primarily for how you feel now but a promise to be loving, faithful and true in whatever circumstances come in the future
• "We are never more satisfied and fulfilled than when affection and action are joined in us, when we are serving someone we delight in."
• "Your marriage must be more important to you than anything else. No other human being should get more of your love, energy, industry, and commitment than your spouse."

These are only a few of the treasures and the teaching I have received through this book, but I have also been listening to his sermons on marriage for years so a lot of the content is very familiar to me! I really admire and appreciate the teaching on this subject that he does with his wife Kathy. 

One thing he has said in his sermons and through this book that has helped me is that when all around you things are bad and your marriage/relationship is strong....then you feel strong. But if all around you things are good and your marriage/relationship is weak...then you will feel weak. This is a struggle for me and Dan as we are learning to form our own union and bond in these days leading up to the marriage. One of my friends told me that she found engagement a hard time period as you were stuck in that limbo space of building bonds yet also having boundaries that you haven't crossed yet financially, emotionally and physically....but that's why I'm glad my engagement wasn't longer than 6 months...its been a rush to plan things but I think the timing gave us lots of time to learn and grow but I CANT WAIT to be married! Its coming so soon!

 Whether you are in a relationship or not I do recommend this book to you. I have been listening to these marriage sermons for years and Tim Keller also always prefaces that these teachings are for singles and married couples as we can create those foundations and teachings to prepare our hearts to serve and love people in whatever stage we find ourselves in.

Happy Weekend to Everyone!

HE is the Center!

Oh this past little season in my life has been an "interesting" time to say the least! There have been moments of awareness and present-ness....of feeling like the moment would NEVER pass...that the pain and uncomfortable conflict would just continue to build like those waves that just won't let up...

and then seasons of trying to push it all away and cover it with something...ANYTHING....maybe it was watching a full TV series of Drop Dead Diva....thats right...SERIES....It got me through some dark days! (funny show too!!!)

...and then days of just pure Joy and Excitement and just feeling connected to the world and the community and people...hearing from friends and connecting with acquaintances ..and sharing hearts and learning how to encourage people in the ways that really reach past the surface conversations...

This season has brought me into being counseled in my finances, marriage, friendships, church relationships and at times...even dealing with some dysfunction in friendships and family relationships!!

Some of this season has been just building really strong bonds and ties with my best friend Danny. Building memories, sharing meals, playing video games, spending time with Dan's (and mine almost) new nephew William, playing with other nephews, going to church, skipping church one week, buying a new car, rescuing that new car from the ditch mere hours later from a black ice scare (ABSOLUTELY NO DAMAGES...Praise the Lord).....Knowing Danny has made my life fuller and better and harder....but its even beyond THAT.....

This is a season that Christ has been present. He's been there hovering near and standing beside and encouraging from within and leading in front and protecting from behind and holding my hand and listening to my prayers and seeing beyond my selfishness and through all the places this season has taken me---- He's Here. He's Alive.

It's almost EASTER. I love Palm Sunday. I had the privilege of teaching this beautiful story to the kids in Sunday School this week. This story is so precious to me. Our Saviour had His OWN seasons of discomfort, of dysfunction within His family and friends, of encouraging masses and being hated by masses, of acceptance of a few and total rejection from many.
Palm Sunday shows that His humility is what separates Him from all other gods and idols that humanity worships. He came on a donkey's colt. His donkey walked on top of palm branches and people's coats and He was celebrated by people who would turn on Him days later. He accepted their imperfect worship even though He knew who and what they were truly made of.

I am not the center of my story.....(even though I often let myself be....)
HE IS.
HE IS HERE.
HE IS RISEN.
HE IS TO BE CELEBRATED.
HE IS THE CENTER.