get me to the church on time

We got to go to a wedding last night of two of my camp staff from 2009. Jon and Jessi had a beautiful ceremony and the reception was wonderful. They asked me to pray before the meal, and I was so honored to be asked. It's a big deal for me to get to participate in these huge, momentous, life-changing days and I spent a lot of time thinking about what specifically I wanted to pray for them. This is a fantastic couple and I'm excited to see how God moves within their marriage.

A few weeks ago, my friend Meta wrote about her experience as a new pastor officiating at weddings and leading couples through marriage counseling. Meta writes with honesty and articulation and I always look forward to her new posts. I hope you enjoy her writting today.

***

Side story: I had written down that the wedding last night began at 5:30. We arrived at 5:01 and Rory told me that I am a little to eager to certain events and that it is not necessary to show up 30 minutes early. So to kill some time we took a few pictures outside of the church, documenting my belly. Then I started to realize no one was getting out of all of the parked cars around us. I got nervous and said we should go in and wait in the church. When we walked in we were quickly ushered to our seats and sat down just in time to watch the groom step out in the front of the church. Wedding was at 5:00. Close call.

Documenting Gretna

Here's something to add to my little-list-of-things-to-do for the weekend. I'm going to become a tourist in my own town.

Things I want to document:
*The Gretna library
*Motorcycles on Hwy 6
*The cobblestone streets in town
*Our church
*The tornado sirens
*The view from our deck
*Sonic frozen lemonade (which means I'll have to buy one...)
*Our door knocker
And hopefully a whole bunch of other unexpected photos too.

organized nesting

My "nesting" period has definitely begun as we prepare to move out of one nest and make arrangements for moving into the Minnesota nest. Because I can't lift heavy things (splendid timing, I believe) I have created a system that should make this move as smooth as possible. Each box has a nametag on it telling which room, and often times which part of the room I want it to end up in, as well as a list of what is inside.

I know everyone labels their boxes when they move, but honest to goodness, the picture above just makes my heart happy. Something about the uniform nametags and the obvious contents written on each one... I am an organized girl, and I love a good system and this move is fulfilling both of those loves.

(This picture was taken a week ago. Believe me, this pile of boxes has grown and will continue to grow with more lovely-labeled boxes.)

good neighbor award

I found this on my counter when we returned from our week vacation in Minnesota. Joan is our neighbor lady who came by our place occasionally to play with our cat while we were gone, and she's the kind of lady who keeps you in mind even while she's at a garage sale. Now I've got the stuff to make more alphabet crayons! She also reads my blog. (Hi Joan!) Joan has served as my Nebraska mom and saying goodbye will be hard. She is also the one who gave our cat, Toonces, a new nickname. She said once, "Sometimes I can't remember his name so I just call him Tuna."

(here's the cat Toonces is named after.)

30 weeks!

Today I am 30 weeks pregnant and I feel like celebrating. Seems like a big milestone, a good landmark-type number and another week closer to baby.

I got to go to a baby shower yesterday for a girl at church and I realized that attending a baby shower when you are pregnant is similar to attending a wedding when you are engaged. I was so excited for every gift she opened, so interested in what was given and what it is used for, so happy for her and her baby girl.

While we were there a church friend started talking about Kelley Ryden. Kelley is a local Omaha photographer who specializes in newborns (thanks Stacy for the link!). Check out the picture above! I don't even get how this is possible...to have newborn arms support a newborn head?!! But apparently lots of babies can do it because she has lots of pictures (AMAZING pictures) on her site. Check out here site here and her blog here. Wowza.

***

Yesterday, Rory and I watched Father of the Bride 2, the one where Annie and her mom are both pregnant. At one point, Steve Martin is having all sorts of flash backs of his little girl throughout the years and realizing that she is now going to have her own little baby. Rory was looking at the screen and remarked, "this could be touching if it wasn't so cheesy." And then he looked over at me, a mess of crocodile tears, falling apart before his very eyes. I felt so busted and we laughed good and hard...and then my laughs turned back into tears. I ended up crying through the rest of the movie with Rory giggling and telling me repeatedly how he loves the pregnant Becca so much.