Time is ticking away.

I havent blogged in a while. Sorry. Its been a bit crazy.
Im getting married in 2 weeks! Who knew that planning a wedding could be so time consuming, and also, a LOT of fun!
I have been so blessed in this time of engagement. Not only by my wonderful fiance, but also by my amazing family and friends.
I have been kidnapped and blindfolded a total of three times! Two of those times by the cutie Jessi who almost ran me into a tree on the streets of Vancouver.
My friends are incredible.
They have whisked me away to the Hotel Vancouver for a girls night(including Thai food and wine, roof-top pictures and 2am pizza, and as always, lots of laughter)





They have thrown me an incredible Mennonite-themed shower, where I had to stuff 12 pieces of Hubba Bubba in my mouth and try to figure out what kind of fruit Andrew would be and why (his answer? coconut. Because hes high off the ground...so logical). They also constructed a very flattering hat for me to wear!

They have even thrown me the most amazing tea party ever. and I do mean ever! look at this!
A beautiful place to lounge in the sun



Wonderful home-brewed teas!


An adorable place to take pictures!


Delicious food!





A beautiful table!


Some amazing friends!


and a very happy and excited Mad Hatter! aka me(Johnny Depp was nowhere to be found sadly)


I have been so blessed during my engagement! My friends are amazing and have put so much time and effort into blessing me and have made this time of engagement so special. Thanks ladies, youre incredible!

Im just about to burst with happiness and excitement! so I had to share it!
I am getting married in 45 days!
45 days until Andrew and I are man and wife! How incredible! Ive been pondering alot of things lately, how much God has changed my life and the direction it was going! I would have laughed in your face if you had told me I would be getting married in 2010! But God did change me, He took my heart and made it whole and able to love Andrew fully. In His perfect timing, He brought Andrew into my life!

Im excited for so many things to happen.
Im excited to wake up next to Andrew each morning and know that, no matter what life throws at us, we will get through it together,
Im excited to build a home with him, searching through thrift stores and garage sales!
Im excited to go grocery shopping and have to buy things like laundry soap and toilet paper!
Im excited to get to know Andrew so much better. I love Andrew now, with my whole heart, but I know that that love will increase over the years. Im excited to know him deeper than anyone elso on this earth.
Im excited to travel with Andrew, to make memories together.
Im excited to grow not only in our relationship with each other, but in our relationship with the Lord. I love praying with Andrew and knowing that he is a man of God who is seeking him actively!

I am marrying an incredible man, I am so blessed.


and Im so excited!

A day to love.

I have had many days lately that I love.
After have a couple weeks of blah, it feels great, so I though I would share some of my favorite "love things" with you.

I love sunshine and days on the beach.


I love the details that we are putting into our first home together (in 6 weeks!)




and on that note, I love thrift stores!



I love my brother (and am so glad he found Jenn to be my first sister!)


I love my best friends.



I love Andrew.


I am so blessed.

Still and Silent.

Ive been pondering this over the past week.
Be still.

I have realized that I do not know how to be still. I live in a world that expects me to be moving all the time.

Wake up
Go to work
Work
Work
Work
Sleep the bare minimum.
Repeat.

This is the expected format of my life.
But God asks something different of us. He doesnt ask us to be efficient. He doesnt ask us to go, go, go. He doesnt ask us to burn ourselves out and become zombie-like slaves to this world.
He asks...no. He TELLS us to be still. The complete opposite of what the world tells us to do in order to be succesful.
I have been learning this lately, what it means to be still.
I like to talk. To people, to Andrew, to God. I talk...its kinda my thing!
God knows this.
He loves this!
He created me the way I am, motormouth intact!

And yet He asks me to do something that is so hard. Be still. Be quiet! Instead of blurting out whatever youre feeling, just take a few minutes, a couple deep breaths, and rest in Him.
Its amazing what that does. When you rest in God and take the time to be still in His presence, Hes there! He heals you, He refreshes you.
I come away from those times with Him feeling ready to face the chaos again. The world tells you that your time in valuable and you shouldnt waste a second of it. God tells you that He is valuable, and any second you spend with Him will not be wasted.


Be still, and know that I am God.
So go. Be still, know that He is God, He is good, and He wants to meet with you.

A small green country.

Its about time that I posted some pictures of our recent trip to Paraguay! Heres a few on my favorite:
Andrew and I, at the Asuncion airport, tired but so excited!

The first beer of the trip (so cheap down there, 75 cents for a litre!)


Best drink ever! Super hard to find in Canada, so we drank as much as possible while we were there!


Mom picking limes.


Andrew, stoked to be target shooting!


And then Andrew busted his toe open, playing soccer barefoot with the cousins.


A beautiful sunrise.


Enjoying the benifits of Paraguay.


We spent the night at my uncles ranch. We went alligator hunting, shot bush hens, other birds and an antelope, fought tarantulas and befriended frogs. A typical paraguayan weekend!









WARNING! UGLY SPIDER! DONT LOOK IF YOURE SCARED (or Sandi or Michelle!!)


My adorable Oma, trying on my headband!


Andrew and I, in our usual place: the back of the truck!


A beautiful sunset.


In a country thats in desperate need of rain, we dance when it finally comes!


Out for dinner with our family, content to be together.


My favorite parrot! Gabby, she loves singing and laughing.


Yes, its a kitten, drinking from a dog. It really happens.


Ill finish off with a picture of Andrew and I with my Oma and Opa.


We had an amazing trip. Andrew and I grew as a couple and God was able to teach us some valuable lessons. We are blessed!