the difference.

Yesterday I sat on the floor of the living room for an hour becoming more and more frustrated with the stupid people at IKEA for telling me that I didnt need a drill to put together these evil bookshelves that Brett and I bought on Sunday, since it was obvious that I was going to need one, since the screws were not fitting the hole that the instructions indicated.... Five hours later when Brett came home from work it was with utter shame that the bookshelves were still in pieces on the floor. Luckily, I was ready with my excuse that we'd definitely need a drill to put those babies together....

Five minutes later Brett had a good three fourths of the shelves completed.
*sigh*

Anyway I'm back in the coffee house. For some reason I havent applied for the job yet. Mostly because every time I'm in here there are girls who look about 12 working behind the counter-and there is no way I'd want to ask them for a job. However, today there seem to be some more mature folks behind the counter so we'll see..

It's so odd having to start all over again on all those important aspects of life....church, friends, job. I'm currently fighting the urge to just rush into things just because I want things to be settled. Instead, I'm trying to revel in the fact that God definitely has a plan for me here.

Yesterday I went for a walk with Katie ( she's married to one of Brett's best friends here in Washington, and they live two apartments down from us.) in the park near the apartment...it was FABULOUS! I had no idea how huge this park was, or that it had a lake and what seemed like an infinent number of biking paths going off in various directions....oh! AND it has a dog park, where you can go and look at all the dogs running around....from the safe distance behind the fence. hehe. So, yes, I'm pleased that I have a quiet "rural" spot I can literally run to here....you can also see the Mountain on clear days, which I still havent gotten tired at staring at. Mount Rainier is just so impressive!

So, there are some positive aspects of Washington living. Besides the obvious one that I get to see Brett every single day I still can't get over my good luck! hehehe.

Friday? Really, its not monday?

So, today Brett and I had the grand plan of me going onto base with him before work ( at 6am thank you very much) so that we could go by and get me all "official" according the army. You know, with an ID and benefits and all that jazz....but it was once again not to be. ( we had tried on Monday but they wouldnt accept a copy of the marriage license -it had to be the real deal)...Brett's truck pretty much died on Hwy 5.

Luckily friends were in the area and a van was borrowed for the day...but I still havent heard what the results of the poor trucks visit to the machanic was, and it looks like we may be looking for a new vehicle. Of course, I don't know what we'll do in the mean time...

Things never seem to happen according to plan. Honestly, what's going to happen next?

Oh, incidently, I nearly burned down the apartment last night when I plastic lid slid down into the dishwasher and happily melted at the bottom. And I woke up this morning to a little stream of ants in the kitchen....honestly, I don't think I'm cracked up to be a house wife. So I better get a job for reals.

blog/friend

Oh man, I feel like I'm sitting down to talk to a dear friend who I havent seen in FOREVER! I dont even know where to begin!!! I hate this not being able to blog at any given moment thing, especially since its not like I have many people to talk to these days...

But, I'm sitting in this adorable little coffee shop that's within walking distance of our apartment using their free wifi and drinking ginger tea ( for my stomache) so lets get started on a REAL catch up...

First of all, its already Thursday and the apartment is still an absolute wreck. Considering "unpacking and cleaning" are my only two jobs at the moment you would THINK I would have accomplished more. Today the mess and the disorganization and the ugginess of the apartment finally took its toll and I had to run away...I suppose my biggest excuse for having not accomplished more is that I have been fighting whatever stomache bug I contracted in the Bahamas...but after a full 48 hours of only ginger ale and campbell's chicken and stars soup I am feeling semi-me again. I think this'll be a relief to all the people around me too. As in Brett. He's the only person I've seen in the past four days. Bless his heart.

For those of you that are detail types: Brett's day starts at 4:30 ( and I've been a SUPER GROWN-UP girl and gotten up with him two of the three days he's been back at work! WOOO! And the one day I didnt get up it was because I had spent the night alternating between throwing up and lying on the bathroom floor crying...so yeah, I feel like that's a good excuse.) and then Brett leaves for work around 6am...and doesnt usually get home until around six pm. Today, however, he was able to come home for lunch for about an hour which was a nice surprise. But, most days its just me. I guess this will inevitably not last ( this solitude) so I shouldnt complain. Its really not that bad-and considering I've spent the last month with an average of a four person entourge around me at pretty much all times I guess I'm due some aloneness....

Tonight, is my first official night of going to Brett's weekly bible study. I dont know too much about it, except that it seems rather intense ( as does everything associated with the Navigators from my own limited experience) but I'll let you know how it goes. I'm frankly just excited to see people and you know, have conversations. That'll be something new. ;-)

I'm already feeling a lot more energetic just typing this, blogging is so theraputic. I dont know why anyone would ever stop.
Honestly.

So, there is a little sign on the door of the coffee house that says "Now Hiring". My heart kindof jumped a beat in my chest when I saw it. Should I apply?! What do you guys think?
I'll pray about that...

reality=

I threw up in the Seattle airport. Which, to be honest, was kind of a relief since I'd felt perpetually sick all day and had fought the idea of throwing up in one of those ridiculously small barf bags pretty much all day. At least I made it all the way to a toliet. Ugg. I'm still feeling rather ill. Some sort of island sickness I'm sure.

In other news, Brett and I are off to try and get me a cell phone. And then I'm home to write down all the many things that were water damaged in my moving truck ( turns out my little move up to Washington DID NOT go without a hitch.)...so far the things I'm really sick about are some priceless books ( in my opinion because they are out of print) and my scripture plaque that my church gave my for my high school graduation...other than that-things like my bed and my bookcases...they can be replaced. right?

So, I officially live in rainy and cold Washington now. I thought they said that summers were nice?! hehehe.

Introducing Lt. and Mr. and Mrs. Wilson

So yes, Brett and I are happily living it up in the Bahamas. We've been married for three days and counting and we're pretty much the best at being married. hahaha. Of course, who wouldnt be really fabulous at anything when you're in a beautiful place like this??

More on...everything....later.

woke up this morning...

to find my parents house empty. This was odd on many fronts. Afterall, now that Carmi is officially in town, I have four fabulous girls plus parents plus me here in the house....so the fact that it was just me when I woke up....crazy..
But, I suppose I'll take this opportunity to clue in my blog, bless its heart. I've neglected it. ;-) Four day until the wedding. I'm very excited about marrying Brett. Really, I've probably never looked forward to something so much, and now that its literally upon us, I'm even MORE excited and delighted.

Yesterday I spent the day with Brett's family. I finally got to meet Brett's oldest brother Tim and his wife Amber and their adorable son Levi. Adorable honestly doesnt even cut it. He was just that cute. But, along with that meeting I also got to meet Brett's cousin Trevor and his wife Rhonda and their three boys ( also a bundle of absolute fun) as well as catch up with Brett's Aunt Johnetta and Uncle Cleo and have more time with Brett's mom and step dad and Josh ( middle brother :-) )......and I think Brett was there too. But, I felt like I didnt get to see him all day! But, I suppose since I got to talk about him to so many people that love him almost as much as I do...it was still a great day. In fact, I'd have to say it all went waaaay better than my dreams the night before predicted. hehehe. Nothing like anxiety dreams about meeting your new extended family. :-P

...

I don't even know what to say! There is so much going on in my head right now!!
I'm not even going to try. Maybe one day soon I will be able to express the bitter and much sweetness of this time. It has truly been a gift from God. And I have a feeling the next few days will only be building upon blessings.
~

in one week.

I get to marry this man.


And that's why I have that cheesy grin on my face....

time alone..

Remember when I use to live by myself...and life was all normal and nothing really ever happened? Was that really last month?

I just woke up at eight a.m.-after staying up way past my bedtime. Just because being totally by myself and checking my emails and reading blogs sounded better than sleep.

Who knew that anything would ever trump sleep?!

Almost one week until the wedding! While life is going faster than it ever has before, and I feel like I never have a full conversation, or spend enough time with the people I love the most, and that somehow I'm going to miss something in the next week that I really need to do, or should do.... I couldnt be happier that I get to marry Brett in 8 days...he's pretty much the best thing since, well, anything.

in the dark.

Everyone is asleep. Well, except for Lydia....she just followed me down the stairs a minute ago, I guess we got bitten by the same insomia bug. But, now she's headed back to bed, and here I am with you...

Hopefully, blogging will calm me down enough to sleep, like I said before...it seems that just about every year I must face my "life changes insomia"...but I suppose that's a small price to pay to have ones life turned upside down and backwards and forwards all for the sake of what you know is Right. And what is Good. And what will ultimately be super exciting.
Exciting, once you get over the giant hurtles of actually getting there.

Tonight I spent a great deal of time on the phone....but the best two conversations were with Tabitha and Brett. Both, arriving tomorrow! YAY! Two hours apart, hopefully I can sneak in one our two thank you notes ( writing them) between the two arrivals-but I highly doubt it. *sigh*

So, yes, back to the excitment and the reason why I cant sleep....Tabitha is currently in LA. She has arrived safely on American soil and already she is a fabulous traveler!!! One day when she's a missionary in some far off land, I will be able to say that my wedding got the first stamp in her passport!!

Brett, is currently finishing up last minute tasks ( speaking of tasks, I'd appreciate prayer-my things have not yet arrived at Brett's apartment, which makes me nervous. It also means that when it DOES arrive-Brett's fabulous friends are going to have to do the unloading!! So, yes, I'm a tad on the upheaval side....), doing all sorts of things before he has to get up at 3am ( ish) to fly to Texas...the last time he will fly here without being my husband.

I cannot tell you how very hard it is for my brain to comprehend the fact that I will not have to say goodbye to him again...that I actually get to keep him!! Really, its just shocking to my little system, a little system that is so use to the way things have been, the annoyance of having to say goodbye, the dreadfulness of only have the telephone, sometimes not even that, to keep in touch....its just....well, hard to believe the waiting is almost up!

But, if there was ever something I'd like to spend quality time wrapping my head around, well...this would be the thing!

Life in general is hard to get my head around, currently. But, I feel very upheld, because, honestly how else would I keep myself from crying every time I see my parents? ( it's always hard to say goodbye, but much harder when you have wonderful parents like I do.)
What keeps me from flipping out at all the little tiny tasks ( that have the annoying habit of building up into one giant task!) . Or the overwhelmingly amazing gift of having SO many fabulous visitors all at once-each one being someone I'd like to give my undivided attention to for 24 hours straight...and yet, its just not possible!
But, I feel upheld, because I come to the end of each day and it seems so clear to me that only God could have made the day tick by in such a fashion. To get me all the way to the end.

I'm excited about the future. But kind of how you are excited about a holiday you've never been on. You've read some previous testimonies from other people that have been, you look at some pictures that other people have taken, you've asked questions of all those who have gone before you, you've read the travel books.... And for all you can tell, its going to be the best trip ever. And yet, you still, after all that, can't actually picture yourself in the holiday. You're still super excited though. I mean, who would'nt be?!

I think its all they trying to picture myself in the holiday that keeps me up at night. I mean, heck, all that excitment. It would keep anyone up!!


So, yes, I keep thinking about that verse that says, "For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark..."
I don't know why it keeps coming back to me. I guess its just that I never knew how ALL CONSUMING my wedding would be in so many ways...and that ultimately, like never before have I desired so much to have my mind on eternal things. My days are full, but are they full with eternal things?! So, even as I continue this two week long party, as I spend my days with family, with friends, with the Love of my life....I would only desire have my heart with Him who made such a life even possible. That I am forgiven, that I am loved, that I am the Beloved daughter of the most High, those are glorious truths that are only possible through Jesus Christ. Yes, I am getting ready to be married to the man I love, and my prayers are for the Most High God to come back tomorrow if that would bring Him glory. ( of course, if not-I'd have Him hold off until at least August. )

Well, I think just maybe this baring of my soul has done the trick and I just might be able to go to sleep now....

one day...

things will slow down and I'll have time to really and truly give you a blog post you can be proud of, but, until then just know that as of yesterday it is TWO WEEKS until the wedding, I have TWO international visitors living with me right now, and TWO more wonderful people coming in on Tuesday...oh, and I still have a lot of things left to do.

Went to Jordan and Heather Yerkes wedding yesterday. It was really great. But, of any wedding I've ever been to, it was the first one where I was thinking about my own wedding waaaaay more than I was about theirs ( sorry guys!). However, it was kinda nice having it so close to when mine is because I got to talk to a lot of people that I KNOW I wont get to spend as much time talking with at my OWN. So that was nice :-)


Em and Lyds are watching a movie with my parents downstairs. I've been talking to Brett on the phone. I suppose I should go down and join them now.