Now a Mrs.!

My wedding was as beautiful, romantic, memorable, and precious as I could have ever hoped for.

There were no, "oh no! We forgot..." moments. 

No feelings of agitation or frustration.

Just bliss.

My dad and I both cried as we waited to walk up the aisle together. He sang to me "Butterfly Kisses" as the song played all the way up to Jake. There, just before he gave me away, we had our father-daughter dance. Jake watched and waited patiently until my father gave him my hand as the song ended. Candles flickered while Jake and I said our vows and took our first communion. Then, all of a sudden, I was Mrs. Jacob Royer. 

Time flew on January 27th. With happy tears in my eyes, I can easily say it was the most beautiful and perfect day of my life. 

Its incredible how quickly life can change.

Nearly There...

Getting married presents such a strange dichotomy of emotions. On the one hand, you simply CANNOT wait to become one with the love of your life. You can't wait to be a part of everything in his world, to share each day with him. On the other hand, you realize you're leaving home for good.

Over this last year, I've been from my home-state to New York, to Colorado, back to my home-state, to Manitoba, Canada, and back home again. All told, I spent half the year away from home. But each trip was only weeks or months long at most. I always came home. Always unpacked. Always remained a Peterson.

But now I'm packing up for good. My last name is about to change. I'll not be returning home to live with my family. From now on nothing will be the same. So much has changed for me in the last year. A season in life comes to a close. Yet another one springs up in its place fresh and new and full of life. Its a very tender bud in need of shelter and care - that's what my first year of marriage will be about. God willing this young shoot will grow up into something sturdy and ground breaking as my lover and I cultivate what God has gifted us.

May God take the mistakes we've made and the one's we'll make and use them for His glory. May He grow us and change us into a team that will impact the world for Him.

13 more days....

Getting Married

 On

October 17th, 2011

My best friend asked me to marry him.

Of course I said YES.

That's just what you do when someone waits

faithfully for months while you travel. Who listens when you speak.

Who loves you so much you can't believe you're so

blessed as to be the recipient.

Its what you do when you're so incredibly, madly in love

that you can't imagine ever being with anyone else.

Our wedding date is

January 27th, 2012.

And the day can't come fast enough.

I love my "bandanna-dude" and I'm so thankful that

I get to spend the rest of my life as his helper.

Thank you Lord.

Where to Begin?

 

My last two posts talked about a sunrise of adventure on my horizon.

And it has truly been an adventure.

New life has sprouted in me. Though at times it is painful.

Though I've made mistakes. Though I've fought it, I've realized the old me...

Must fall away and die.

There have been glimpses of glory. Long hours of sorrow. 

And I'm still not through the struggles yet.

But I am learning. To love. To live. To adventure. 

To grieve. To hold on and to trust.

And with strength that only comes from Jesus

I know I will one day emerge

Victorious.

The Little House

There is something special about a certain small house.

Something cozy.

                                       Quaint.

                                                        and charming.

There is romance in history.

Its the little details that capture my attention.

What some might see as a waste of time or not worth fixing,

I see as potential. As a

 creative opportunity.

I only wish I were the one moving in.

For soon it will be finished. Something old will possess a new face.

And someone new will get to enjoy my work and I will move on to a

new adventure.

"Let us never hesitate to say, this is only the beginning."

(Andrew Murray)

For something new and exciting lies

                  just

                            around

                                                the corner.

Last Week at Ellerslie

We are down to our last week at Ellerslie! Friday we had our last family group (mine is the best by the way). We had snacks, took pictures, and sat outside under the stars praying and encouraging one another. I think it was one of the sweetest, most precious times I've had during my time here. The sun set behind the Rocky Mountains giving us very romantic lighting for our photographs. The stars came out and we all sat in a circle, huddled under blankets and giggling. Coyotes howled in the distance and I decided there is no better place to worship God than outdoors in His creation.

One week left at Ellerslie but the adventure does not stop here - in fact, its just beginning!

Free Download

Free song download by one of my favorite artists! Great song by the way - you just gotta love the passion from the new version of this band!