The dress update:

I am back to feeling totally confident in my dress! My mom and sister think the dress is great, and my wonderful big sister worked some magic to make me feel better about it. So, after loving words from the Boy, reassurances from my women-folk, and baking a batch of rainbow chip cupcakes, (Yes, I gave in, but I figured I deserved them after my emotional meltdown earlier.) I think I am back in the land of the sane.

tissue paper tears

Most of the time I think I am a pretty level-headed person and it is rare that I get worked up about anything, much less something trivial. But today I found myself sobbing as I drove away from picking up my wedding dress. Not mushy sobbing, but 'oh-my-gosh-I'm-going-to-look-horrible-on-my-wedding-day' sobbing.

I don't know if it is my hormones (I admit to a case of PMS), or if it is all in my head, but when I put on my wedding dress today it did not fit right. The hem was perfect, and the bustle was fine, but the bustline, which wasn't altered, just isn't right. The neckline is too high and my breasts can't be pushed up that far.

Stupidly I forgot to bring the correct bra to the fitting, and the alterations lady told me it would fit better once I had the right bra on. Even without the bra, she insisted that the dress fit exactly as it was supposed to and that it looked beautiful. Another girl said that if I was worried I could stuff the dress or my bra to get it how I wanted it!!! Hearing that brought tears to my eyes and I've been crying on and off about it ever since.

As soon as I got home I tried the dress on with the right bra and it still doesn't look quite right. I can't believe that I am actually crying over a dress! Every other time I tried on my wedding dress, I felt beautiful in it and so excited to show it off. It is disappointing to feel awkward and silly in my own wedding dress.

Thankfully, my mom and sister are going to look at it with me tonight to see if the dress really needs to be altered again. I'm hoping they can cheer me up or that the ladies over at Renfros (where my sis got her dress) can fix it. Until then, I am just going to have to get a grip.

The wonderful world of Weddings...

I love how creative some people are when they plan their weddings, and how they include little personal touches. As I work out the final details of my own wedding, I continue to find some great ideas from those who have gone before. Here are a couple of this weeks finds:


My sister should totally steal this idea of having felt and button bouquets, rather than fresh flowers. They are totally her style (the girl spins her own yarn!) and they can be displayed in her house for ages. How cute! Thank you Princess Lasertron for your creative ideas (www.princesslasertron.com).




This fun and thoughtful idea comes from a wedding featured on the blog OnceWed. The bride thought a word search at the reception would entertain guests. I think it is an adorable idea, especially for word lovers.




I've never understood the point of a wedding guest book. Just having a list of names seems like a waste of money and shelf space, so I am desperately trying find a way to make this tradition better. Using a typewriter is a different twist on an old tradition and it may just have potential...

Mourning the Loss of Life as I know it...

I am so excited about marrying the Boy in a mere 52 days! He is just an amazing man and I could rave about him for ages (but I won't because inevitably people will start gagging from all the mushiness). But honestly, I can't wait to start our life together.

Today I started the unenviable task of sorting through my crud. Since I will be moving halfway across the world, I can only bring so much with me. As I was going through my clothes I realized that 2/3's of what I own are summer clothes and that I will never have need for them in Scotland. It made me realize all the more, how different life will be, but more importantly that I am going to have to learn how to abide wearing close toed shoes!!! My poor toes are so used to living free in flip flops and sandals, and now after 23 years, they will be forced into a confined world of darkness, blisters and socks.


Now that I my wedding dress is altered (I pick it up on Friday!), I am feeling the pressure not to gain any weight. Of course, this means that I am craving all sorts of delectable and fatty foods. Normally I eat pretty healthy, but knowing I can't afford to gain weight triggers every naughty craving; brownies, cupcakes, and all things chocolate haunt my dreams. For like a week I have been eying a box of rainbow chip cake mix. While I resisted making the 24 cupcakes, I already gave in and ate a spoonful of the rainbow chip frosting.

I'll just have to make due with my 100 calories of carrots and hummus...

100 Calories

Since I have nothing to do most days but wait for wedding vendors to return my phone-calls, clean out my room, and put together wedding invitations, I find myself surfing the web more than I ever did before. I have to say, there is some really random stuff out there.

However, sad and boring my life may be it has given me time to read up on things I never would have if I, you know, had a life. For example today I took the 100 Calories Quiz from the Women's Health Magazine. Here's what I learned:

18 Rold Gold Pretzels = 100 calories
1 Tbsp peanuts + 2 Tbsp dried cranberries = 100 calories
1 cup baby carrots + 2 Tbsp hummus = 100 calories
1 1/2 cups strawberries + 3 Tbsp Cool Whip Free = 100 Calories
2 Sargento light string cheeses = 100 Calories
10 Peanut M&Ms = 100 Calories


Also, a new study recently discovered that childbirth was painful for Neanderthal women. Seriously, this is a new discovery!? I could have saved them years of research by explaining that it is ALWAYS going to be painful to push something large out of a tiny hole. By the way, this study was researched and published by males.

Thank you Yahoo! and Google for allowing me to blow hours everyday reading pointless articles. Without your wealth of information, I might not know that 3 tomato slices with 1 1/2 Tbsp feta and 1 ½ tsp olive oil = 100 calories.

Fruitcake and Ice Cream

Recently I saw a sermon preached by Louie Giglio, entitled "Fruitcake and Ice Cream". I totally recommend this video to anyone. Go watch it and be encouraged.

I love Louie's focus on the importance of grace and the results of grace in our lives. He points out that we often think that the Gospel (eternal life in exchange for belief and trust in Jesus as our Savior) is too easy, when really it was the most difficult thing ever accomplished. We, the recipients, often forget the cost of grace and minimize what should be a completely life altering truth:

"He made him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him." ~2 Cor. 5:21


In the moment of the crucifixion the greatest transaction ever took place. God took all of my sin and put it on His perfect son, and took His righteousness and put it into me! The Gospel is not about us; it is about what God has done. Amen!

I need to be reminded of these awesome truths more often.

Pesach

It finally hit me how much needs to get done before the weddings. There is only two months left and my growing To Do list is now 3 full pages. Just as I was starting to freak out about it all, my time with the Lord brought me back to reality.

This week we celebrate Passover and Easter. When I consider the significance of these days it is difficult to worry about wedding decorations. And I am so thankful the Lord had the foresight to make us set aside days just to remember.

"And Moses said unto the people, Remember this day, in which ye came out from Egypt, out of the house of bondage; for by strength of hand the LORD brought you out from this place." ~Exodus 13:3

Since living in Israel, Passover (Pesach) has become one of my favorite holidays. Passover is a celebration of redemption, and all of it, from the food to the readings, points to Christ. For believers in Yeshua, Passover is also special because He chose this festival to establish His New Covenant. The Last Supper was a Passover meal, where Jesus revealed to his disciples that He would be the ultimate sacrifice.

Take time this week to read through Exodus and one of the Gospels. You will be totally refreshed by the truth of what we have in Christ.

Chag Sameach!