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1 2 8   m o r e  d a y s  ||

I haven't written much about being engaged. It's absolutely amazing to me how fast time goes by. It feels like just yesterday Jamey was getting down on one knee asking me to be his bride. And now, we are only  one  hundred  twenty-eight  days away from starting our lives together as husband & wife. There are moments where it seems years away, and then moments where I feel there won't be enough time to get everything done! But through it all, each day, I have fallen more in love with Jamey than ever before.

We've been able to get a lot done for the wedding, which I am really happy about! We're staying organized and detailed, and we have a plan for just about everything! I have never been OCD about anything, but when it comes to really important events, I thrive off being organized. I created a wedding binder to keep all of our lists, contracts, ideas, etc. all in one place, separated by categories. I was so excited to show Jamey, and he said, "I didn't realize I was marrying Monica (from Friends)". I laughed so hard. It's really not like me, but I care so much about making this day, our day, so special.

One of my favorite things about being engaged, has been our premarital class. We are doing premarital counseling in a less traditional way. RockHarbor Church hosts a premarital class twice a year, and around 100 couples go to the class. We have both grown so much since taking this class, and I can already see the fruits within our relationship. It's taught us to communicate better and to understand each other more. We only have two more classes left, and to be honest, I think I will miss it! But, I know we will take the tools we've learned in class with us for the future.

Taken at our friend's wedding, 

shortly before we became engaged.

As I write this post on Valentine's Eve Day, I am humbled by how blessed I really am. I've spent many Valentine's Day solo, and have made the most of them. But, deep inside of me, I was always aching to love & be loved for forever. Now, I have found him. Jamey has my heart, and I am so glad I have his.

For those of you who are flying solo this Valentine's Day, have heart, love will find you soon enough & your story will be so perfect. For those of you who are sharing tomorrow with your love, embrace them & remind them that they make your life that much sweeter.

XO,

Brenda

just because

I feel like I have more reason to blog than ever before, yet I place it so far on the back burner that I never get around to it.

This has been my favorite season of my entire life. Bold statement? I believe so. The wedding planning, being engaged to my best friend, discovering more and more how I am wired & designed... it's all such a beautiful thing. Right around the new year, I revisited some old blog posts of mine, specifically from the last two New Year's. I am so glad that I blogged during those years. I am able to look back and reflect at the dark season I was in, for many years, and then to see where I am now. This New Year's Eve was such a great one! I spent it with people I love, and was able to look ahead into 2013 with a bright smile. I am so excited about where my life is headed. But, when I find myself in a moment of excitement about where God has me, I stop to remember where he once had me, and I smile about that too. You see, it's not just about the exciting seasons in our lives that make life taste so sweet -- it's about the dark times as well. If I never walked through the rugged path I was on, I would not be the woman I am right now. I wouldn't have the ability to love Jamey the way I love him now. I love him with a sincere, grateful heart. When I hold his hand, I don't hold it loosely, because I know what it's like to not have him in my life. When I am with him, or even when I am not, I try to remind him of the reasons why I love him, instead of just saying "I love you". I do this because I know what it's like to not have a consistent relationship with him. 

Now, we are 5 months away from being married, becoming one. Neither of us thought we would be here, but for some odd reason, God's grace abounds so much more than our own. 

I'm not sure what the purpose of this post was, but I wanted to write. So, take what you may from it. Maybe you're in a dark season, and you're fed up with where you're feet are planted. I encourage you to move. Take steps, whether they be large steps, or maybe even the tiniest of baby steps... move. The only way I got out of my dark season was because I took steps forward to making myself healthier. 

Maybe you're in a bright season; one full of joy when you lay your head down to when you wake each morning. Embrace joy. Don't question why you are in a good season, I did that at first and it's pointless. God just wants to bless us sometimes! Think about why you're in such a good season -- is it someone in your life? Remind them that you are grateful they are there.

Wherever you are, I hope you know you are loved.

XO,

Brenda

Christmas & Engagement

This Christmas was the by far the best one I have ever had. I've always dreamed of the day that I'd be able to celebrate with the person I love, and have to divide our time up between our families for the holidays. It sounds stressful, but it really isn't. I think it's a beautiful image -- two people in love starting their own family, then celebrating with each other's family. I love it so much!

Since this was our first time doing that for Christmas, it made it even more special. I love my family, and I love his. We all celebrate Christmas differently, but I loved everyone's different traditions. It will be even more special next year when Jamey & I get to start our own traditions as a married couple. There's really nothing better.

                        

Top Left: My cousins & I

Top Right: The Price's & I

Bottom: Jamey & I 

Another amazing part of this season is that Jamey & I have December 22nd-January 2nd off from work. Biola is such a great place to work, and the best part is our time off is paid! Such a blessing. Because of this time off, we have been able to get things done that we've been putting off and also spend quality time together. There are so many times when our time spent together is rushed, or cut short. Anytime with Jamey, makes me happier and more full. But, it's just so much better when there's no time schedule or interruptions. I just love him so much, what can I say!?

We were able to do our official Engagement Photo Shoot with our  >>incredible<< wedding photographer, Sarah Shreves. Gah! She is seriously amazing. Having spent the afternoon with her was just a glimpse into our big day. We could not have chosen a better photographer to share our special day with. Here's a preview of some of our favorites. Check out her site for more. Thanks Sarah!!

At our favorite record store in Long Beach, CA [Fingerprints]

Some random house in Naples -- Belmont Shore, CA

Near the spot where we had our first kiss  // Downtown Long Beach, CA

That's all for now! I am so looking forward to celebrating New Year's Eve with my closest loved ones. Ringing in the new year with great company, great visions for 2013 & great drinks. Could I ask for more?

I   a m    b l e s s e d .

XO,

Brenda

on being a bride-to-be

Thursday marked two months of being engaged (whoo-hoo!). It honestly gets more and more exciting each day. We can't wait to be married! Despite a few bumps along the way, we have remained pretty stress free. We were afraid of being buried in piles of stress and to-do lists, but we have managed pretty well so far.

So far these are the things we are able to scratch off our check list:

• Venue & Date (JUNE 22nd, 2013)
• Photographer
• Baker (we are only having desserts)
• Bridal Party
• Colors 
• Honeymoon (Victoria, Canada)

This is all so exciting because it's only been two months and we feel we've made such great progress! Today, I'm going to highlight one of the big things I checked off my to-do list: bridal party. Asking my girls to be in my wedding was a very exciting thing. I wanted to make it meaningful and intentional, so I put a lot of thought and time into making it perfect. I wanted to capture the friendship that I had with each individual girl. I am all about photos and reminiscing, so I definitely knew I wanted to incorporate that. I looked online but I was just not satisfied with a lot of the ideas I saw. Here is an example of the way I asked my friend Alex:
*each of them were the same set-up/structure

I took a thin piece of wood and put adhesive stickers on it-

then I painted directly over it-

after it dried, I peeled off the adhesive stickers-

then I drilled two holes on the top and put twine through them-

I made a book of six photos, making them consecutive oldest to newest-

(The rest is self explanatory...)

Then I wrote a letter explaining how much they meant to me
and why I chose for them to stand up there with me on our special day-

Then I packaged it up and watched them open it! :)

& that is about it! I was so honored that each of my bridesmaids said yes. It's such an exciting, life changing season for me, and I could not imagine going through all of this without them. 

To my beautiful bridesmaids (Becky, Al, Megan, Bea, Nicole & Tran), I can't wait to continue walking through this season with each of you and celebrate like crazy on June 22nd, 2013!!

XO,

Brenda

creating traditions

Being engaged is the most exciting season I've experience yet. There's always something new to discover, or new to discuss. At times it can be stressful, but God has been using these events to draw Jamey and I even closer than we were before. Wedding planning can be exhausting, even though it is such a beautiful season. One thing we have committed to since we started dating, and we've carried through engagement, is weekly date day/nights. In the midst of planning, working full-time and having outside lives, finding time to get together can be so difficult. But, we find it to be so vital to keeping us strong, so we make it happen!

This last week, it was my turn to plan a date night, so I made it a surprise! We have been wanting to go to a Pumpkin Patch for a few weeks now, so I thought that would be a good idea. I researched some local Pumpkin Patches in Orange County, in hopes to find the best of the best. I read great reviews about the Irvine Park Railroad Pumpkin Patch, so that was the winner! We had SO much fun! It was so neat walking around looking at all the little kids and their families, and they had it set up really well. We searched for the perfect little pumpkins to take home with us to carve, and we of course, used it as an opportunity for some awesome photos! 

I just kept thinking how awesome it was to use this time to create traditions for the two of us. We are engaged to be married, and what that means to us is that we are months away from beginning our own little family. That brings so much joy to my life! 

So, here's to continuous seasons of joy, new traditions & the fall season.

Classic fall photo.

He's the cutest!

Feeling very tough with my little bitty pumpkin.

Hers & His pumpkins :)

What kinds of traditions do you have? What are you plans this fall season?

XO,

Brenda