This Little Light of Mine

I was just outside walking Captain, and I caught the first glimpse of something that made me smile and think "summer is really here." Lightning bugs. I remember being a child and I was so enamored by them but I was scared to actually catch them in my hands. I also remember the time when I became brave enough to do so. I would peek through my fingers to see the small bug inside illuminate every few moments, and then watch as they would fly away.

I think that fireflies are one of God's coolest creations. I got to wondering about them and googled them. It turns out (I hope my info is correct here) that the females don't actually light up at night. It is the males who illuminate to attract a mate. Its like a beautiful dance. It brings to mind how I think about Brian. I am daily amazed by him. His smile and his attitude. He looks at the world in such a positive way, that I can't help but be enamored by the light he brings to my life.


It also makes me think of the light that we are all supposed to be.  In Matthew chapter 5 verse 16 we are commanded to "let our light shine before others so that they may see your good deeds and glorify our Father in heaven." We are the "light of the world." Light guides us in the dark and and leads the way. Light almost always refers to something good, and often something holy. Its easy for our lights to waver and to be blown out by the storms of this world. Its a good reminder to see the tiny, flying lights that come back year after year.


All these thoughts from a few little bugs.
 

Betty Crocker who?

Brian revealed to me today that he thinks I am unmotivated. I started to argue, then realized he may be right. My wife-ly skills, still being as undeveloped as they are, seem to be on hiatus (if that's possible two weeks in). As it turns out, cleaning is not my strong suit (anyone who has lived with me can attest to this). I definitely haven't figured out how one human being -or even two for that matter- are supposed to keep a house clean, laundry done and folded, and make a meal at the end of the day among everything else there is to be done. 

Here in lies the problem: Its all so easy in the beginning. You start dating and only see each other a few times a week. Those nights its super easy to plan a great meal, have the place tidied up, and have everything ready the second your sweetie hits the door. It turns out that mirage for Brian has faded somewhat. It also turns out that I may be the most unorganized type-A personality you have ever met- is this possible you ask? maybe not but that's my story and I'm sticking to it. 

In my defense, I did make a full dinner two nights last week. Yes, I made the same thing twice, but that was only because Brian asked me to. And yes the dishes may in fact have been in the sink until this morning (when Brian loaded them into the dishwasher)- at least I'm trying.

While I'm navigating the rough waters of wife-hood, I'm just thankful to have a husband who loves me even though I let it slip that maybe I don't really have it all together. True love sure is patient, thank God for that.

My Husband

I am so happy to finally be able to call myself Mrs. Oakes! We had a wonderful time at the wedding but personally I'm glad all of the planning and stress is over with! Week 1 of married life agrees with me very well and I am loving being able to spend all my time with my wonderful husband (I'm still not use to saying that). We honeymooned in Myrtle Beach but decided to come home earlier than we had planned. Waking up to 65 degree rainy, cloudy weather at the beach is no fun, so we called it a day a day early and got headed back home.

Now that we're back home, I'm loving decorating, organizing, and cleaning the place up (ok, maybe not the last part so much) and just making it feel like ours. Already, I'm not exactly sure how my mom kept our house clean all these years. I feel behind already! I'm also very excited to start painting- our house will no longer be filled with blank, white walls! 

Any ideas for redecorating on a budget? Or better yet, are there any volunteer painters out there?? :)

 Stay posted! More pictures from the wedding will be up soon!

Simple Things

Needless to say, my precious baby dog seems to be the only one around here not stressing out even a little bit. Me on the other hand, I wouldn't say I've been a wreck but I've been having trouble sleeping, waking up in the middle of the night, thinking about a wedding detail I may have overlooked. This wedding planning thing is hard work! Tomorrow is when we will see just how organized and planning-savvy I have been (or lack there of) and hopefully the next two days will go off without a hitch (except for my getting hitched to Mr. Oakes of course!). 

I can't wait for a week at the beach with my best friend and new husband. It seems like we have everyday up to the wedding planned out, and the day after seems to be a mystery as to what will happen, and I can't wait to live and experience everything with him! We were talking about the things that we look forward to the most about being married and we were both in agreement that it was the little things that we can't wait for: eating dinner together every night, hanging out at home, and the like. All of these simple things make me so excited to be Brian's wife and I couldn't be more excited about my soon-to-be husband.

Here's to the unexpected and all of the blessings that life brings along the way.

40 Days and Counting...

So my life as an Oakes has not officially begun- Afterall, I need to marry my Oakes man first! We got all the addresses and such together today and finished up the invitations. Its off to the post office first thing in the morning and they will be on their way. I can't wait to see who will be there on our special day. It will be good to share our new life with old friends, and to begin the next chapter of our lives with our new families. My sisters are so excited they will finally have a real brother, and I'm pretty excited to be getting some new brothers of my own, and not to mention 4 wonderful sisters!

This time is hectic and stressful, but yet exciting and I'm loving every minute of it. I can't wait to be married but I'm savoring these last moments in the house I grew up in, with my mom who still takes care of me, until the day I will be taking care of the man who will be my new family.

Stay posted for more blogging about what Brian and I are up to. In the meantime, go here to get all the latest about our wedding.

Sending love to all of our family everywhere. "I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy" (Philippians 1:3-4)  

Be seeing you soon :)