It'll All Come Together

My spring break started and ended with weddings. My mom and sisters hosted a bridal shower for me last Saturday and yesterday, the wedding season officially began with my friend, Cearrah's wedding.
I never thought the day would come when I felt more organized than Cearrah. I definitely never thought the day would come where I was the one helping Cearrah. Our friendship was built on Cearrah's caring for me during a rough patch my freshman year of college. Since then, we have been equals in our love of Harry Potter and books in general, with a friendship deeply rooted in fandoms, faith, and family.

Cearrah's wedding was firstly, and most importantly, a celebration of her and Tyler's vows and promises of forever. We celebrated their union. But it was not the most organized, nitpicked wedding I have ever been a part of. It was actually very scattered. And all Cearrah could say reassuringly was, "it will all come together".

"Do you have a plan for the tables?" her mom would ask. "No, but it'll come together once we're there." she would respond with an easy smile. "What about centerpieces? Do you have any particular ideas?" I ask, holding teapots and tulips in both hands. "Whatever you want to do, it'll come together." But right at one o'clock, as we settled in our seats so that Cearrah could walk to the front of the room, it had all come together. The cake and cupcakes looked great, the board games made great "centerpieces", and the guests were raving about the decorations. Because it had all come together.

I keep hearing how stressful weddings are. How busy that day is. How little time you actually get with the groom. I hear advice about delegating, about telling people exactly what I want. I spent five days of my spring break working my way through a lengthy list of wedding to-do's. I snapped at my fiance, who was just trying to help, and ranted to my maid of honor about how all I had wanted was a hot dog buffet line when we first got started. Saturday and Sunday with Cearrah really put me in my place. It'll all come together. It doesn't have to be perfect, because when it's all said and done, I get to say "I do" to Josh. Whether I have cloth or plastic tablecloths, at the end of the day, I'll be married to my best friend. Maybe I'm "more organized" than Cearrah, but she's doing it right, she's letting it come together and not stressing out about the details.

To all my brides out there, it'll all come together. We don't need to pull our hair out, we don't need to get upset. Do what you need to do to feel good about it, but don't lose sleep over the things you can't control. Order extra tablecloths if that makes you feel better. Make your centerpieces in advance. But remember, it'll all come together.

Tota tua.

Just a Little Lost...

Josh will not drive anywhere new or newish without both of our phones fully charged and at least one
GPS running. Getting lost is the best way to bring out the worst in him; our most ridiculous fights have happened when we have made wrong turns on the way to parents' house north of Kansas City, and he panics, not knowing where to go next, even though he has driven this way hundreds of times.

Which is no different than any one of us when plans go awry. Suddenly, we are a panicking mess, unable to focus on the simplest of things because we don't know where to go next. We don't get into the college or graduate college that we had hoped for, our long-term relationship ends suddenly, a sudden illness strikes, or someone close to us passes away. And we are surrounded by new surrounding without a GPS.

I think that's how Joseph felt when Mary said she was pregnant. His well-planned life with his picked-just-for-him bride was suddenly anything but that. And then, to top it all of, an angel insists that he takes her to Bethlehem, keep the kiddo, and just keep living life. How crazy is that? How hard would that be to just accept and carry on?

If Joseph can accept that his future wife is pregnant because God willed it, and then continue to love and care for her their entire lives, you can find a new path too! Maybe an angel won't scream in your ear, maybe you won't be struck by lightening like Paul, but God will give the strength and abilities to get through whatever has been thrown at you.

Tota tua,

LeAnn

Wound too Tightly...

Sometimes, you need to just step away from the planner...

It's difficult, in a world of organized chaos to not organize. I mean, how else will you know what is due or what's coming up next week? But it's important that sometimes you need to let go of that planner.

Now, I'm not advocating for you to not use any sort of organizational method, but nonetheless, it is important to relinquish control every now and again. Don't get hung up on that fact that you have to control and micro-manage every little detail. Some of us are wound up so tight that its scary when we let things unravel even a little bit. But that fear is a good thing; a good time to practice patience and a good time to trust in the Lord. He kinda sorta knows what's up...

So relaxxxxxxx, and just let things happen! 

Tota tua,

LeAnn