And still the wedding planning continues!!

Well, Chris and I are back on the wedding planning trail. We picked out the tuxes, cakes, invitations, and are about done with the catering. It's all coming together very easy. We are ahead of schedule and have more than 6 months left. We'll be putting the final touches on the invitations at the end of February and doing the flowers in June, so for right now we don't have much left. I'm still bugging some of the bridesmaids about their dresses and will have to bug the groomsmen and ushers about their tuxes in May, but other than the wedding favors, that's it for right now. Just wanted to keep ya'll updated... and yes I know Dr. Labar "eloping" would be easier but we'll have a really nice wedding and everyone should have a great time!

The Turmoil Continues

My brother has emailed me and still urges me to pray about the book of mormon and whether it is true, but I don't want to. He wants me to read passages from it, but I don't want to. I don't need the book of mormon to be true because I have the Bible. I'm scared to pray about it because I think I will see false signs. I just pray for God's will and His truth. I would like to believe that my lack of desire to pray about it and to read the book of mormon are signs in themselves of God telling me that I do not need these things. I am trying to get back to reading the Bible regularly for guidance and to keep from being deceived, but with all my other "busyness" it has been hard to set the time aside. I think if I began to pray about and read the book of mormon I would be very easily deceived right now. Just wanting to share with you what I am going through and feeling. Any input would be appreciated.

What the back of a smiley face looks like

Here's a cute link that one of my co-workers sent me. Hopefully, this will make you laugh.

One Word

Describe ME in ONE WORD...just one word! Send it to me only, then send this message to your friends and see how many strange things people say about you! This could be fun! (It could be dangerous!) Just hit reply and send me my one word back. Then forward this message on to your friends (including me) and see what they say about you! GAME ON!! Don't forget to "clean up" other addresses before you send this on to protect my friends' names. Thanks!

I received this email from a friend... I'm interested to see what people say.
The pic is of me after the Alumni game... that's why I look so rough and hungry!

Baby Rap

Here's a funny baby rap a friend emailed me....
Laugh away.

God's Boxes

I have in my hands two boxes,
Which God gave me to hold.
He said, "Put all your sorrows in the black box,
And all your joys in the gold."

I heeded His words, and in the two boxes,
Both my joys and sorrows I stored,
But though the gold became heavier each day,
The black was as light as before.

With curiosity, I opened the black,
I wanted to find out why,
And I saw, in the base of the box, a hole,
Which my sorrows had fallen out by.

I showed the hole to God, and mused,
"I wonder where my sorrows could be!"
He smiled a gentle smile and said,
"My child, they're all here with me.."

I asked God, why He gave me the boxes,
Why the gold and the black with the hole?
"My child, the gold is for you to count ! your blessings,
The black is for you to let go."

Some pics on display for the Fall '05

Chris and I seeing my brother off at the airport. He's going to Brazil for 2 years.

Chris's sister, Melissa, opening presents at our apartment on Christmas Day.
Chris's parents opening presents Christmas Day. You wouldn't believe it was 70 degrees outside.

Aaron and Nikadian chilling after a long day at Grandpa's house.
Aaron and Geno checking out the pics Aaron took of the kids opening presents.
Quentin showing Uncle Chris how to work the helicopter.
Julie and the boys snoozing before the big day begins.
Chris and Aaron before our road trip to San Antonio, TX for Thanksgiving.
Me, Gretta, Aaron, and Carolyn looking at black and white pics of our ancestors.
Aaron and Danielle (cousin) checking out more pics after Thanksgiving dinner.
Me eating our second night in the apartment. I hadn't moved all my stuff in yet so it was pretty bare.
At a friends' birthday party with his rock band playing.
Kori and me in SC the weekend of the SWU Alumni softball game.
Chris and me at Kori's parent's house the same weekend.
Chris and me on Halloween. Sorry about the lighting putting a funny glow on us.

Aaron in Brazil

Well, my father and I watched my brother get on a plane to Brazil on Tuesday at 11:00 am. Aaron is a mormon and is going on his mission for two years to Brazil. We will only be able to talk to him twice a year, on Mother's Day and on Christmas Day. Aaron is only allowed to call my mother but if his mission president is nice enough he may let us all talk to him as long as we're there when he calls.

Aaron wrote me a letter to read once I got home Tuesday afternoon. In his letter he told me his testimony about when he prayed about the book of mormon and whether or not it was true. I'm sure this experience was very real for him. He then asked me to put my faith to the test and to ask God to reveal to me the truth about the book of mormon. Here I was hoping for a letter that would tell me that he was going to miss me and he loved me, etc.

Aaron and I do not usually discuss the root of our beliefs because he gets very defensive and it's not worth it to me to have our relationship strained at this point. Aaron believes in God and believes that Jesus is God's Son and that He died for our sins but after that his beliefs differ to small or great degrees. Where is the line drawn? To what degree can you falter in your beliefs but still go to heaven? Aaron thinks everyone is going to heaven except purposefully bad people like Hitler and Sadaam. Then what's the point? Why are we Christians here? I've quoted him verses and he'll say oh, it's not talking about this or that. My hands are tied.

I've committed to Aaron and God to pray for him every morning when I get up. I've been faithful to this so far and have found myself praying for him through out the day. I pray that God would protect him and that Aaron would know God's will and would follow it. I pray that God would challenge Aaron on his beliefs. I just can't help hoping that Aaron will come into contact with a Christian, or whatever vessel God chooses to use, and lead doubt and questions in his heart and mind concerning the mormon religion. Part of me is very scared for my brother, but I do know at this point in time God has given me peace in knowing that Aaron is following His will.