We Got Married!

In about eight hours it will be exactly 1 week ago that we decided to go ahead and tie that knot! We had talked about getting married before our actual wedding/reception/party later this year but had no plans yet. David's Mom, Sylvia, was coming into town and we thought, "Why not?"

Come Tuesday morning we were at the courthouse in Lancaster, PA getting our marriage license. The license became valid on Friday February 1st and we wanted to find a magistrate/officiant to marry us that day! This was surprisingly difficult. I guess, long gone are the days of just showing up to the courthouse and getting hitched (at least in PA)! You have to make appointments. After many phone calls, we made one with Robert Green, the "Marrying Mayor" of York County Pennsylvania.

Robb recommended getting hitched at Chickies Rock Park under a pretty white gazebo at noon that Friday. It was almost 60 degrees the day we planned this so naturally we loved the idea and went there to check it out. What we didn't do was check the weather for Friday... Cold. Very cold. And windy. Very very windy. With a dusting of snow.

Luckily the ceremony was short and sweet and 10 minutes long. Perfect for us. Robb was great. I would highly recommend him if you're located in southern PA and looking to do what David and I did. He doesn't charge a specific fee. Just a donation (so cool)!

My Mom, brother Andy, Dad, my Grandparents Geemaw and Pappy, David's Mom Sylvia, Katie, Michele, and TYSON were in attendance. To our family members and friends that we would have loved to be there, we apologize for not keeping all of you informed. It was planned quickly and we didn't want to take away from the celebration we are still having later this year by trying to get everyone to town and making it a bigger production. That being said, in hindsight, I would have at least made it known to all of our loved ones BEFORE putting it out to the facebook/instagram/twitter world. I just couldn't contain myself and in the moment, I was only thinking of David... My HUSBAND... And wanted to shout it to the universe!

After the short and cold ceremony, we went to JB Dawson's in Lancaster for a small celebration dinner. Champagne toast, pics (because it was way too cold do take any more at Chickies Rock), and our first dance as a married couple.

I feel blessed beyond what I ever thought I deserved. I feel a sense of peace that I've never felt before. God gave me everything and more. The love of my life, David.

Our good boy, Tyson. Yes, Dad (David) put a tie on him.

Ceremony.

Freezing. You can see my poor Geemaw shivering in the background.

The kiss.

My bouquet I made (www.etsy.com/shop/janes2daughters) and the "champagne" bubbles that our sweet Katie brought.

Bride.

Groom.

Love.

Champagne.

First dance.

I love this man.

Husband and wife.

Twirl it.

Happily Ever After...

Wednesday Walk - He knows

God knows exactly what you need. He knows way before you do.
To anyone who feels a bit lost...
To anyone who is in a very tough situation...
To anyone who feels hopeless
To anyone who feels like there is nothing than can make their situation better...
Take a day. Just one day... And put all of your trust in the Lord. Just like you would an earthly superior. Trust that He will make everything better. It might not be an instant change, but God's timing is perfect.
It will change your mood and therefore change the outcome of your day.

... Remember... When you're down, just pray.

My Hunger Game... Portion Control

So when you move around the holidays, a few days of eating crap (and lots of it) becomes about a month. Lots of Chinese take out, pizza, and David's ridiculously awesome cooking skills have stretched even my yoga pants a bit. 

Am I about to tell you about this awesome new diet I'm going to try? Um, NO. In my opinion, diets don't work. At all. I don't care what diet it is. You need will power. Will power = change. That's it, folks. 

What I AM going to practice is strict portion control. What is helping me? Healthy Choice. 

Yeah, yeah, yeah... Say all you want about frozen meals. They aren't really that healthy. We've all heard... BUT the meals really DO help with portion control. So until I can call myself a master, I'm using this method. BONUS, most grocery stores always have sales for healthy choice products. I can get them for $2 each right now with my bonus card. Eventually, I want to cook all natural organic small meals myself and stay away from anything in a box, but we have to start somewhere. 

THIS I can do. I find them to be yummy in my tummy. I'm not watching my carbs, fat (even though almost all of them are low in fat anyway), sodium, etc. I will be able to control my calorie intake by knowing exactly what I'm putting into my body for lunch and dinner. Most of the meals contain no preservatives. 

For breakfast, I'm sticking to my egg white omelettes with basil and spinach and a half of a grapefruit OR my oatmeal bars with half of a grapefruit. Easy breezy and delicious!

For snacks, I'm sticking to fruits, veggies or 100 calorie packs. AGAIN, I know they are not always the healthiest option, but I'm talking about portions. Once you eat a little 100 calorie pack snack, you're done. 

I'm ready to get back to this...

Anyone want to join in? Support group? 

Wednesday Walk - The Every Day Test

Tests. Who likes them? I know many who do, actually, but I do not. Tests make me anxious. Make me feel I'm not in control unless I know that I know that I KNOW the correct answers. 

When we walk in faith, we are tested EVERY. SINGLE. DAY. 

Tested by God Himself and the enemy. 

We have to KNOW our God and grow in that relationship to pass this test with flying colors. 

Some of us have a hard time with that. Some of us struggle day to day just to get by. Just getting through one 24 hour period to the next is tough for some people. I have had those days, but I've noticed a slow change within me. One that I have needed my whole life.

I am truly walking in faith. Every step I take when my feet hit the floor in the morning until I crawl back into bed at night, I am learning to trust with my whole heart. Trust that this is God's plan and his path for me. Its not my own. When you can really embrace that, you will see a transformation within yourself. 

For me, its been slow... I'm not going to sugarcoat the process. Its not instant for everyone. Especially since the enemy is very real. he thrives off of our inconsistency. Heck, he CREATES it. Draws our thought process from positivity and God driven, to that of worry and helplessness. Making us feel unworthy of all that God has already intended for us to have. All that He wants to give us. 

Paul's Prayer for Spiritual Growth in Ephesians 3 has helped enlighten me. I SHOULD be reading it every day for the extra boost of daily confidence (new year resolution list #537)... It says:

When I think of all this, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God's love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God's people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God. 

Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen. 

New Year... New Everything

I haven't been hiding, I swear.
I've been Living.
And as much as I like to write about life, I took a step back and just enjoyed it.
The good, the bad, the strange, the unknown. I really have been living in the moment.
Kind of like my second to last blog post! I've been discovering what God has on the horizon for me.

Don't get me wrong...
I've spent many hours being worried sick about whats to come next...
But sometimes when you really have no clue whats going on in your life half the time, you're able to throw your hands up, let go and flow.

The biggest news that I've already announced... I'M ENGAGED!
I love saying that. I never get sick of it.
I never get sick of looking over at David (my fiance) and thinking, "Oh my God. I can't believe he's going to be my husband. Thank you, God."
I never get sick of looking down at my left hand.
David catches me often and calls me out on it. At that point my 5-year-old self comes out and I'm all, "Stoooooooooooppp-aaaaaa! I like looking at iiiiiiiiiitttt-aaaa!"

In other news... A lot of people have suspected or heard through the grapevine that I have moved from Nashville and the truth is, yes I have.
I moved to Pennsylvania.
Not where I'm originally from in PA but about an hour southwest from Lancaster.
I feel great about it. Not once have I questioned or second guessed the decision.
The reasons are many!
1) I love Nashville, but I needed a change.
2) David fell in love with Pennsylvania when we went to visit last Christmas. Its surprisingly lovely to love a man who loved my home state and could see himself settling there someday.
3) As I'm growing in my relationship with God, He is changing my heart and my passions for the greater good of His plan.
4) No, that does not mean I am no longer a singer/songwriter. I will always be a singer/songwriter. Its a talent God gave me on purpose. I just think its meant to make a difference and not to become famously successful and all that THAT entails.
5) I'm still writing. Writing music, books (I have 3 ideas in the works right now that I am pumped about), and just writing to write. To get it out. That's what I'm good at. That's what I know.

So what am I pursuing now? New business ventures!
I started a new branch of a company with my Mom from a business that she has had for years and years.
Its called Jane's Daughters!
Yes, I stole my blog title.
We will eventually be branching out with different ideas, but for right now it is a custom handmade wedding decor shop!
You can find our creations on Etsy at www.etsy.com/shop/janes2daughters
It would be lovely to have your support on our facebook page as well at www.facebook.com/janesdaughters
I love creating no matter what facet of my imagination I'm tampering with!
I love the action of creating custom bridal bouquets for bride's-to-be. Especially since I've become one! AAAAAH!
If you ARE a bride-to-be or KNOW a bride-to-be, please share my shop and share my contact information: janesdaughters@gmail.com.

Not sure how many of you watched The Attempters DIY videos (www.youtube.com/theattemptersdiy), but they are coming back!
Ashlyne Huff Revelette and I filmed about 6 more home decor DIY videos that we can't wait to share with you!
Life has just been so exciting and unpredictable for all of us (that includes David since he shoots AND edits each vid) that we haven't had the time to really get them done for your viewing pleasure.
One of the videos is a tutorial of how to make my burlap roses!
That will be released soon and featured on my dear friend's blog, www.hottmessmommie.com. Check her out! She's a hoot and a half!

That's my life bundled up in a ball. I'm not sure how exciting my life will continue to read from here on out, but I enjoy writing and keeping anyone updated who cares to know!
I may not be on a tour bus traveling the country much these days, but I have a wonderful life. A life built on Christ and love.
That's all I personally need. And because of that, I get so much more.

I'm sure I could literally write a book right now and go on and on and on about my new house, living by my family again (it rocks), my dog, time change, wedding planning, my soon-to-be family, new friends, etc etc etc... But I will save them all up for later entries.

God bless and goodnight, Bloggers.

42 degrees

I woke up shivering this morning and LOVED it. I pulled my covers up over my head and stayed in bed an extra 30 minutes before getting up to pour some Dunkin Donuts pumpkin spice coffee. Yum x 100!

I wanted to share my Top 10 Fall Favorites. Some are traditional and some are new for 2012 for me.

1. Football. Philadelphia Eagles (what the heck happened yesterday?)

2. Fall Fashion Color - Maroon.

3. Fall Show I can't WAIT for - Revenge - Season 2. 9/30/12. Missed season 1? Get a recap from the main character, Emily Thorne, below. 

4. Fall beverage - Dunkin Donuts Pumpkin Spice Coffee. I'm drinking and blogging right meow. 

5. Knitting! Last year, I made an infinity scarf like the one below. I LOVE it and can't wait to wear it this season.

6. Fall Scenery. Especially in Lancaster, PA. I love visiting my hometown in the fall. Its beautiful. Truly God's masterpiece.

7. Fall boots. I can't afford these purty thangs, but they rock. Givenchy boots 2012.

8. BAKING. I'm excited to try these sweet potato cupcakes that I found on Pinterest!

9. Cozy nights in with my love, family and pets. Watching a movie. Being COVERED in blankets. Warm tea. Ah, love it. 

10. My Birthday! I get to dress up and don't have to feel like a weirdo since its the day before Halloween ;)

Wednesday Walk: Our Life Is To Be Discovered

I haven't posted in way too long. My goal was to AT LEAST continue to write my Wednesday Walk's since they are most important for me to share. After tonight's bible study, I felt the urge.

I LOVE my bible study. Miss Diane Woerner leads us each week chapter by chapter from a series she has written herself. Tonight's chapter was called, "Why Does God Let Us Suffer?"

Here are some bullet point notes I took tonight. I'll go into detail on the one that REALLY hit home for me (although everything Diane says enlightens me to be honest).

- We reach for God's love and grace MOST when we are desperately seeking relief from pain. How else do we find this unless we are suffering?
- God brings suffering not to hurt us, but to keep us from what is NOT us (like letting go of what we shouldn't be doing/holding on to/sin).
- We need to come face to face with our own weakness to fully receive the strength for the plan God has created for us.
- Embrace your pain and see if you can find God in the middle of it. Its God's problem, not ours.
- Many relate what is evil to suffering when they are actually opposite of the other. Diane's definition of evil is, "Evil is that which contradicts the nature of God." Suffering can be the consequence of something evil but not a direct connection.
- Don't worry about what is to come, for it has already been decided for us. We get to live our lives by discovering it, not creating it. God has already created it for us. 

I have never looked at life that way before. I know God is the one who has made a plan for me, but I always felt that He would give me the tools I needed and I then would go and create it. Knowing that my life here on earth is meant to be a discovery of God's plan takes A LOT of pressure off. This hit me hard. In a good way!

I'm looking forward to going to sleep tonight knowing I get to wake up to a new adventure tomorrow. Its a JOURNEY. I need not worry about the destination. I know my fate already. How about you?