marriage, the ultimate union

We attended our first wedding as a married couple this weekend.
It was so fun to enjoy the festivities... Especially because it wasn't our day!
The wedding was so beautiful!
Duh, I was watching one of my closest friends marry the love of her life.

This reading was included in the ceremony and I truly loved it.

Union
By: Robert Fulghum

You have known each other from the first glance of acquaintance
to this point of commitment.
At some point, you decided to marry.
From that moment of yes, to this moment of yes,
 indeed, you have been making commitments in an informal way.
All of those conversations that were held in a car,
or over a meal,
or during long walks –
all those conversations that began with,
“When we’re married”,
and continued with
“I will” and “you will” and “we will” –
all those late night talks that included
“someday” and “somehow” and “maybe” –
and all those promises that are unspoken matters of the heart.
All these common things, and more, are the real process of a wedding.

The symbolic vows that you are about to make are a way of saying to one another,
“You know all those things that
we’ve promised, and hoped, and dreamed –
well, I meant it all, every word.”

Look at one another and remember this moment in time.
Before this moment you have been many things to one another –
acquaintance,
friend,
companion,
lover,
dancing partner,
even teacher,
for you have learned much from one another these past few years.
Shortly you shall say a few words that will take you across a threshold of life,
and things between you will never quite be the same.

For after today you shall say to the world –
This is my husband.
This is my wife.

I am so grateful that I get to share the rest of my life with my dear husband.
He is so much more than a best friend, a teacher, a dancing partner.

(yep, I'm sort of freakishly short compared to J... I never really knew until I saw this picture!)

The Much Awaited Wedding Pictures!

I know this isn't going to seem like enough... And really it isn't. 

Our photographer is still editing so we got these few as a sneak peak. 

Oh how we love them already. 

And here are two from the photo booth which was by far the BEST idea. 

When we get all of the photos from our photographer you will probably get an overdose of our day. 

It turned out so perfectly wonderful and was a night we hold so dearly in our hearts. 

(I can't wait for you to see all the little details!)

It's a Family Affair

So turns out that getting married isn't just about J and I. Well, I knew this, sort of. But yesterday, dear sweet Mama Bird day, God revealed to me that J and I are not just making our own family, but in fact, bringing together two families into one.

Yesterday was going to be a day at the zoo with Mama Bird and her boys, J and I... Then his step-mom extended a dinner invitation to my family and I. J was really excited about it so I reluctantly passed the idea by my mom. (So often there are so many reasons... Baby Bear doesn't like to sit still through dinner and is a picky eater, the house would be full and noisy, Popsicle gets confused about what's going on and that can stress us all out... and the list goes on) To my surprise, Mama Bird said yes, let's do it.

And from here the night went wonderfully!

I have never been in a house full of so much love and happiness. We laughed. We prayed. We fellowshipped. We bonded. We grew, not as two families, but as one.

I knew J was perfect for me just six short months after we started dating, but last night, God affirmed that knowledge. He showed every one of us in the house that not only did J and I love each other, but everyone was enjoying the love.

"So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore what God has joined together, let no man separate." -Matthew 19:6 

Through the course of the next four months (and one day), God is not simply bringing J and I together, but instead, He is bringing together our entire families... A safety net where any man who should try to break us apart can become tangled because of the bonds between our family. I'm excited to grow more wrapped up in J and his lovely family!

I Want to be THAT Kind of Wife

Growing up in church I always heard about the Proverbs 31 wife... She is a precious woman who knows what it means to be kind, trustworthy, a good steward of her faith, husband, and family while providing compassionate, generous help to those around her. Yeah, I want to be like her... But there's another woman that I hear about often and would love to be like.

Two Simply Sweet Note: I didn't get this off some random site... I made it myself! Go ahead and borrow, just remember to give credit where it's due!

The Country Song Wife

There ain't nothin' not affected when two hearts get connected (Brad Paisley) 

Because I win and you win when it's who loves who more  (Thompson Square) 

But you know we're gonna make it, that's a pretty safe bet (Thompson Square)

She's small town from the country, she ain't big time, but she could be (Rascal Flatts)  

I still remember you came by my trailer with some chicken legs and homemade wine.  

(Steel Magnolia) 

And when I got home... before I said Amen, asking God if he'd play it again  

(Taylor Swift) 

Mama, you taught me to do the right things. (Carrie Underwood) 

And the most beautiful girl holding both of them (Lonestar) 

And his heart belongs to that sweet, little, beautiful, wonderful, perfect, All-American girl. (Carrie Underwood)

Then she walks up behind me and throws her arms around my neck (Rascal Flatts) 

The love for me, girl, I see in your eyes... That's beautiful, beautiful every time. (Lee Brice) 

My oh my, you're so good-looking, hold yourself together like a pair of bookends (Blake Shelton)

And I, I, I gotta believe, there has to be a you for every girl like me (Sugarland) 

And the heart of a faithful woman, who never let him forget (Lee Brice) 

You'll always be my angel no matter what you do, cause you take me to heaven just by being you.
(Steel Magnolia) 

She's my kind of rain like love from a drunken sky (Tim McGraw) 

Oh if you could read my mind, you'd know you're everything I need (Tim McGraw)

That little girl smile, that woman in your eyes (Brooks & Dunn)

I ain't saying I'm perfect, but I promise I'm worth it (Sugarland) 

Cause I heard Jesus, he drank wine and I'd bet we'd get along just fine (Miranda Lambert) 

Country (shoot) from her cowboy boots to her down home roots, she's country from the songs she plays to the prayers she prays ( Jason Aldean) 

I've got myself a wonderful country star worthy man 

(if only his voice matched his amazingness - wink, wink).

I just hope I can be the country babe he deserves!

184 days, 6 months, 1/2 a year

Yep, that's all that stands between Minegar and Thomas. That's the time left between single life and life as an official wife. Holy smokes, that's not that long.

I know it's not going to be all fun and games, romance and flowers... But I also know, it's going to be the most exciting, amazing adventure I could possibly dream of. How do I know this?

Well, so many reasons!

1. Genesis 2:18 - "Then the Lord God said, 'It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.'"
I don't think God wrote this to mean that woman was just going to walk around with a to do list for her man... But instead that she'd be the copilot on the crazy flight that's married life! Oh my, I do hope that it comes with a barf bag for the aerial acrobatics. ;)

2. Genesis 1:28 - "And God blessed them. And God said to them, 'Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth...'" 
Cue bow-chicka-wow-wow music. If you haven't read this post yet, J and I are saving ourselves until marriage... But that doesn't mean we aren't looking forward to it!

3. Ecclesiastes 9:9 - "Enjoy life with the wife whom you love, all the days of your vain life that he has given you under the sun, because that is your portion in life and in your toil at which you toil under the sun." 
Well, enjoy life with your wife whom you love... How can you ignore His great commands?

This was by far the biggest fish I've ever caught and it kept moving on that chain thing and freaking me out!

I have quickly learned (ok, not so quickly but over the last fifteen years of church going...) that God's promises are FAR greater than I could ever imagine. So, my dear J, I'm all in for a lifetime of complete chaos all in glory of Him.

Why We Waited

True love waits. 

I remember seeing this three word phrase on bracelets and rings that many of my friends -male and female- throughout high school. But I never quite got it. True love waits? I feel it would be better said, "Wait for True Love". For love given to you and your spouse by Him. Not for love you deem is true.

What in the world am I talking about? (I know, vague, but you're interested!)

J and I have waited. We have remained pure and will do so for just 205 more days. Although most people just respond with NO WAY?!? Their second question is "Why wait?" While there are a variety of reasons and justifications, J and I have been very honest with one another and very diligent in our efforts to save ourselves for one another.

I grew up in a Christian home. I attended purity conferences in middle and high school, but I always left feeling guilty. I left thinking God would be mad at me for the litany of crushes I had, for the boys already kissed, for the dates I longed so desperately for in a school girl way. I beat myself up for forgetting that there was something better, greater, far exceeding the ridiculous high school boys. But, I remained pure.

I've said empty "I love you"s to too many. I've longed for more sweet dates than I can name. I've kissed more boys than I'd ever want to admit. But, J, he is the only man that will be my first. He is the only man that I will share all of my being with. For all the regrets I can name, I have one success that easily outshines them.

J didn't date much. In fact, he had one girlfriend before me. He didn't kiss many. He didn't grow up in a religious household. Actually, his "V Card" (as he called it the first time he nervously admitted he wasn't exactly the frat boy I originally thought) was still in tact for reasons he wasn't exactly sure of when we started dating. But after talking about my values and months of going to church together, J said he got it. He had always wanted to save himself for his wife, but he didn't know exactly why that was important to him.

God had protected him in not giving him many girlfriends, even when he wanted them. God kept his purity safe and sacred for me many years before J and I could have comprehended meeting one another.

We have waited the last 763 days because we want to be sure this extra-super-special gift we have is shared with the person God made us to complete. It hasn't been easy (have you seen how good-looking J is?!?) but we have done it with much determination and honesty with one another. Now the 205 days left seems like a mild homestretch. And God will bless us for our diligence and patience.

Song of the Day: 

Revolutionary Love 

By: David Crowder Band

Lucky Number Seven

Today is a HUGE day in my life... For so many reasons: 

1. Jason's step-brother returns from his mission in Brazil... He's been gone for two years and he hardly knows me because Jason and I were barely dating before he left so it's like meeting a whole new family member!
2. Today is my Gramcracker's birthday. Oh how her sweet self is missed today, but I know she's having a giant whoopie pie in heaven to celebrate (since that's what I'm baking this lovely morning!) 
3. Verizon's iPhone comes out today. Now, I already have an iPhone with AT&T, but I'm so very excited to switch back to Verizon and have stellar service when my plan is up. (The trick is getting Jason to join me!) 
4. Finally, but probably the single thing I'm most excited about today: seven, short months from today I will be my Best Friend's wife. Whoa, I just get the chills thinking about it and writing it feels like heaven. I'm going to marry my Best Friend in seven months. (I just can't get enough of it!) 

I hope there is something exciting about today for you... If not, make something up. Maybe celebrate today by making Whoopie Pies and we'll all pretend it's Whoopie Pie Day!

Song of the day: Marry Me
By: Train

Oh man, hearing this sweet song just makes my heart jump and my eyes tear up thinking about what is to come in the next months. And the lyric, "You wear white and I'll wear out the words I love you and you're beautiful".

Step One to Getting Married: Check Your Ego at the Door

For some reason I thought my lessons in being a wife were going to begin after Jason and I got married. Nope, maybe my blog was appropriately named, because I'm learning them now and the wedding is still seven months (and one day!) away! Well, I'm learning lots, fast, but not easily!

I have really struggled finding a job that keeps me close to Jason and doesn't overload me with ridiculous hours. Lately this has really weighed on me because I want to be an independent, self-sufficient woman. I didn't go to college just to learn and then do nothing so I must get a good paying job to make my degree worth it.

But today, while I was running of course, God enlightened me. I cannot do this alone. In fact, God has put Jason in my life for me to lean on. For me to learn to trust and depend on. Jason wants to help me stay close. He wants to be sure I'm here with him and not away working hard, but missing his sweet self. He wants us to enjoy our engagement together not apart. In order to make this happen, I must work on dependence. 


The world has taught me to be strong, to be independent, to be sufficient for myself without the help from anyone else -specifically a man; but that's not what God asked of me in becoming a wife. In fact, He asked of me just the opposite in Genesis 2:24:

"For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh." 

He didn't put a little footnote at the bottom of the scripture that says, "Oh except Amber, she can just keep her superego self intact and take care of herself when her sweet Jason wants to be the one for her." Nope, even I, the great Amber (ok, so I'm not so great, but I like to give myself more credit than I deserve quite often), must throw off the expectations and pressures of the world and step into the His presence in order to allow Him to grow me into a stronger wife.

God writes about two becoming one (sounds like a bad Spice Girls song!) again in Mark 10:8:

"And the two shall become one flesh: so that they are no more two, but one flesh." 

In being one flesh, Jason and I must work as a unified, solid unit. My big headedness is only going to make this working together so difficult. So, here is my admission: I'm not always right. I need Jason just as much, if not more, than he needs me. God is the only way that I'm going to be the wife that Jason deserves, and even then, I'm going to fall short.

Song of the Day: Humble Me
By: Norah Jones

"You humble me Lord. I am on my knees empty."

Just a prayer from a simple girl learning to be a sweet wife:

Oh, my dear Lord, please help me check my ego at the door so I can skip so freely down the aisle to the lovely altar where the man you have made for me stands waiting to promise you to love me for all time. 

Promises with God

(Here's another engagement picture for you! Lots more to come)

Jason and I met with the pastor that is going to marry us on Friday night. He was so helpful talking with us about the logistics of the ceremony and reliving the two years that has led Jason and I to today! But in all of the conversation he said, "In making this promise, it's not to one another really, but to God in front of one another and about one another." Whoa.

I really thought that I was having a ceremony to show our family and friends how much I really do love him. But that's not what it's about, the ceremony is my promise to God to love Jason to the best of my ability for the rest of my life. Holy smokes. No one has ever put it that way before.

I love Jason. There's absolutely no doubt about that. But I'm going to make a promise with God. That's a big deal in my little book of life. He is going to let me promise to love the man that changed my life forever. What a lucky, blessed, truly grateful girl I am!

Thankfully, in all the times I'm going to fall short of being a perfectly loving wife, God's grace will shine through and provide me with forgiveness for slipping up. How do I know? He told me so!

"But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.'" -2 Corinthians 12:9

I am not a great power by any means, so I'm thankful for His strength in my many mini muscles! (Maybe I should pack up on the Holy protein?) He promises things will work in harmony for those who do His will. (Insert big sigh of relief here)

"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to His purpose." - Romans 8:28 

So, start with loving God and loving Jason will work out for good. Woo hoo! I can do this, with His help and Jason's too!

Song of the day: Love Never Fails
By: Brandon Heath

This is going to be the first song that Jason and I dance to as husband and wife. Thank goodness love never fails because we will fail one another at one point or another.

Forgetful Me!

And in all of the planning of my future I forgot to share this with you!

Here is the first of the engagement pictures that my fiance and I got done this weekend!

Our photographer was such a sport and so amazing... We climbed into this abandoned boat that was in a little bit of water and she got all wet and didn't complain a lick! Amazing! (Check her out here) She blogs too... And teaches kindergarten... And takes pictures... I don't know how she balances it all! And I promise to post more when they are done!

the wishes of my little heart

i have been running more lately and when i run more i also have more time to think about life. this week i had a huge epiphany... i think God was so proud of my genius moment because it's like a high beam lightbulb went off above my head!



for those who don't know who this precious man is... he is my dear fiance jason. (isn't he handsome!?!) jason is the fulfillment of my lifelong dream to get married. there were three conditions to my getting married that were a part of my major dream:

(1) i wanted to get married young and right out of college,

(2) i wanted to marry a strong Christian man who could lead our home,

(3) i wanted my family to love mr. right just as much as me.

well... we are getting married just six short months after i graduate with my bachelors. #1: check.
jason always wants to be at church, even when i'm tired, lazy, and really wishing we could just take a week off! #2: check.
and these photos should take care of number three...













well, not only do they love him, but they love to be silly with him. and #3: check!

you must be wondering what i'm getting at with all this talk though.... well, God put in my little heart the desire to marry a Christian man who fit in perfectly with my family at a young age (at least according to lots of critical people!). boom God's got it covered. why? because as the bible says:

"May he give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed." - Psalm 20:4

this is also echoed in:

"Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart." -Psalm 37:4

now, as i thought before this great revelation, these verses aren't being used to say be a good Christian and you'll get what you want... nope, i think it's like this, be a good Christian, and God will have the opportunity to put desires in your heart that glorify Him. in giving you these desires He can then fulfill them in order to create your life into a life of great glory for Him.

does that make sense? here's a spark note version for you:

1. you delight yourself in pursuing God.


2. He realizes your need to glorify Him in all you do.


3. He puts in your heart great desires.


4. Through fulfillment of your desires God multiples your opportunity for glorifying Him.

amen! so, delight in Him and in the desires He has placed in your heart. listen to those desires and act on them. He wants to make your life one of glory and greatness for Him.

song of the day: glorious
by: Paul Baloche

one year blogiversary (plus three days)

it's been one year since i've been blogging (plus three days, yep i'm late!). good things blogs can't get mad at you the way that significant others can if you forget a major anniversary!

here are five things that i've learned over the last year of blogging:

1. posts i think are going to get lots of comments don't... people often end up loving what i'm not stoked to publish.

2. images make everything more enjoyable.

3. keeping it light hearted makes me feel more light hearted about life, plus it's easier to laugh than cry.

4. as much as i think about taking a break sometimes, i'm addicted!

5. my mama bird really is my biggest fan!

and my thankfulness today goes to the die-hard readers that keep coming back and checking out what i have to say. i know i'm young and have lots left to learn, but you all keep coming to see what mess i seem to have gotten myself into and the lessons that i'm learning day in and day out.

it's just like God said, "before i formed you in the womb i knew you, before you were born i set you apart." -jeremiah 1:5

i'm not just a kid, i'm a kid that God has big plans for... and you all were here when it started! so, from the bottom of my heart, thank you. and of course,

happy blogiversary to you too!

song of the day: marry me
by train

with all that's happening this year, it seems like a way to kick off year number 2 with my dearest little synchronicite. from minegar to mrs. is the theme of year two... who knows what amazing things will happen this year other than i'm getting married because i said yes, i will marry.

8 months from today...

so, today is january 11, 2011. a cool date, no doubt. but even cooler is the thought that i will be a wife eight months from today. yep, jason and i will be married. i will have made it from minegar to mrs. boom. it'll be our first day as a husband and wife (i mean our first whole 24 hour period since 9/10/11 is our date!). whoa, how did i get so lucky?

the pastor at our church put out a challenge this week. he told us that every morning we need to come up with five things that we are thankful for. well, it seems so simple, but i don't want to repeat any of my five things throughout the week... and i have a hard time deciding what my five will be each day. well, here are my five for the day:

1. the june gloom lifting from my dad's overcast for much too long mind!

the doctor says that he is doing amazing and the change is evident. we are making steps in the right direction. and he will be able to laugh and dance the night away in eight months like never before. glory to God for this one. only He could pull off the miracle He is working in my dear pops.

2. getting to spend the rest of my life with a man that makes me love harder than i ever thought possible, laugh longer than is physically healthy, and smile larger than my face can contain (sometimes it hurts!)

oh, my dear jason, how i love you.
and how lucky i am to deserve a life sentence with your beautiful, and so perfectly silly, soul.

3. a mama bird that is a best friend bird more than anything.

it's not an easy road she's walking, but with such grace and honesty, she's a hero. and amongst all the other blessings born from this tribulation, our relationship has truly bloomed into something just so phenomenal. something just perfect for her to help me in all the good and bad times of being a wife. (i know it's not always easy!)

4. two brothers that are larger than life (and so good looking, yep bub all for you!)

it doesn't matter what you're talking about these two will find a way to make you laugh. and it's a God given gift... although not always appreciated fully! personalities that are larger than life... and with such sweet little faces to keep them out of the trouble their mouths can get them into every once in a while.

5. a God who endures.

i know i don't endure. i walk when a run seems much too long and my shins start to hurt. i fall asleep during movies i really do want to see. i tire of planning out the rest of my life following graduation. thank goodness He is so full of strength, might, and energy... because i can hardly make it through the day even with the help of a strong cup of starbucks!

song of the day:

love like crazy. by: lee brice.

• love's the only thing that has kept things going through all of these tough times. God's love, the love of family, friends' love supporting us... we are all so blessed.


• and to my forever: yep, we're young, some say we're dumb. but we can love like crazy. and with that i have confidence we are going to make it big.

 

jason is this girl's best friend (well plus mama bird)

so, it's been a while (once again)... but i was suffering through finals and then took a vacation to mexico with my.... well, he was a boyfriend, but now he's my...

FIANCE!

yep, we're ENGAGED!

i can't begin to tell everyone how excited i am (we are) and what a huge blessing jason has been in my life. i am still in shock that i actually get to share the rest of my life with him, especially with the blessings of family and friends that God has blessed us with.... like He says in the Bible:

"there are three things that last: faith, hope, and love, and the greatest of these is love."

-1 corinthians 13:13

God has already poured so much love on us already, our families and friends have been fantastic and so supportive... and we are ready to start this amazing time in our lives... and do it together!

please stay tuned for all of the excitement and i promise to keep things up to date on here... :)

song of the day:

love never fails

by: brandon heath

just listen to it, every single word in the song is absolutely perfect and amazing. God wrote the song for brandon to sing and it's perfect.