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!