A Shower For A Cold Day

<---Me opening my gifts.



My one and only bridal shower was on the 10th.The weather was dim and coldish. But still pretty. Yay now the only thing left to look forward to is the wedding itself. I'm excited. The shower was not what I always thought it would be, but that's not always a bad thing. The Lord was good to me and work out all the kinks :) I baked a lot of yummy things and they where a hit! I made a personal size molten chocolate cakes with whippy cream frosting and a fresh raspberry on top...mmmm I enjoyed it myself. I wish so many of you could have shared the fun. I know many couldn't come for various reasons.
----I'm thanking the Lord for his wonderful blessing in my life.
Aaron and I have climbed some good steps together, now we await the most joyous one of all!

<----Team #1

(Sorry it's sideways)

<---we played toilet paper bride...each team had to create a wedding gown. I was the judge.

Enjoy the pictures.

<----Team #2

Doing Things Together- Or Not!

Volley-ball & Painting our table.

Aaron and I love doing projects together. This is such a good way to bond with your partner and learn how to work together. Thankfully Aaron and I have the same way of getting things done. I have seen in couples that don't have things in common really struggle in this area. Because they each have their own way of accomplishing a task. Having nothing in common isn't always bad. But it will only work if each person is willing to allow the other person space to continue in there interests. I have found Aaron and I don't love all of the same things. That's not surprising. But I see that we both have made a commitment to give balance between us both.Right now the only thing we want to be doing is spending time together! LOL. But there will be a day when he needs a afternoon to hang at the gym with the guys...and I might need a few hours to go shopping or to the library. I don't see that happening for some time, but it is only natural. I would encourage those that are in a relationship to talk with your partner and decide where and how much you want to make balance between each persons interests and hobbies. It has helped us so much to be able to talk about these things. Being open and honest will help you understand how to please the other person. And yes it might take humility, but it will strengthen your relationship.

-Here comes Foot-ball season, then next is Deer season! If your expecting me to say " get ready girls" then you didn't read above... if you already worked these areas out with your partner you will know just how much time he or she needs for them selves in areas like ...car shows, or pampered chef parties.

By giving support in the interest of the other person you gain a closeness you wont discover in any other area.

I'm so blessed to have Aaron, he doesn't make this difficult by any means.

How many times have you heard... " relationship is all about sacrifice"? Well, yes sacrifice is a BIG beefy key to many things in your relationship...however it is not just the only thing.

But we could be safe in saying what I have been talking about here has a great deal to do will a personal sacrifice, but it won't hurt you a bit. LOL no one ever died from having a self sacrificial attitude.

So the Lord has shown me to do things together with Aaron and grow in love during projects or cooking or driving from point A to B or walking or working out or in worship or with family or even just watching a movie. You can grow together in everything you do together.

He also showed me to not be afraid of the separate time of growth. I can grow and so can he during the separate times. When hes watching the game...I can handle doing something else...or even joining in. It is special to Aaron that I do join in on things like that because they are important to him, and his heart shows me he wants me of all people to share that with him! That is special to me. I know he's my best friend because he wants to include me in the special things in his life.

Moving In

I miss Aaron. But the trip to move my things into the apartment was great. My parents came and helped a ton. We got to "set-up house" a little. I"m so glad everything is moved and all we have left is wedding things. I can hardly believe that in January I felt like November would never arrive. But now we are only two months out from our date. And these months could droll on or stay steady. I pray steady. Aaron is coming to see me the 19th for a few days then there is only two weeks left in September and in October we have my bridal shower and revival at Bethesda, then our annual family camp at Old Paths. So there is plenty to keep us on our toes, and pass the time. Aaron and I couldn't be more happy. Thank you everyone for your prayers and support during this time of our lives. The big event is getting close! God has prepared us over the planning year of 09 and we are grateful but feel so ready for marriage.

Nothing left but excitement.

Yummy Chicken Cordon Bleu! Simple and easy for the biginner cook!

I thought hey it would be fun to include a recipe to my blog. I am actually eating this right now! So try it out because it's so yummy and cheap(depending upon the price of chicken at the time) :)

here goes!
PREP TIME
10 Min
COOK TIME
35 Min
READY IN
45 Min


INGREDIENTS
4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper
6 slices Swiss cheese
4 slices cooked ham
1/2 cup seasoned bread crumbs

DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Coat a 7x11 inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.
Pound chicken breasts to 1/4 inch thickness.
Sprinkle each piece of chicken on both sides with salt and pepper. Place 1 cheese slice and 1 ham slice on top of each breast. Roll up each breast, and secure with a toothpick. Place in baking dish, and sprinkle chicken evenly with bread crumbs.
Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until chicken is no longer pink. Remove from oven, and place 1/2 cheese slice on top of each breast. Return to oven for 3 to 5 minutes, or until cheese has melted. Remove toothpicks, and serve immediately.

Moving in

Aaron gets the apt. on the 15th!

Under 100 Days

Well it's Finally here...the under a hundred days mark! Aaron and I both talked about what it would feel like "Baby can you imagine when we are to 99 days?" LOL We both thought that day would never come. Of course it has, and we couldn't be more excited. We are still counting down that is just something both of us can't avoid. I'm sure he'll be standing at the altar looking at his watch waiting for the big hand to catch up to the little hand on three. Wait what am I saying...he'll be looking at his Blackberry...hehe. That's so my Aaron... he doesn't even have a watch, he's so modern and un-apologetically. I love it.
Thanks to everyone for counting the days with us! These last few will be just as interesting as the others.

Saying goodnight from far away.

Goodnight my friend,
With all my heart.
I tell you this so when we part,
To each our chambers of
Sleep and slumber,
We'll still be close to one another.

How much can I Love?

First of all, let me start by saying that I dare not assume to be an expert, or even experienced in this subject. However, an insight given to me by a friend, I thought to be worthy of writing about.

Growing up, I have had friends and family whom I love, and some so very dearly that I felt their pain , cried their tears, laughed their laughs, and lived their years. I have a God whom I love so much that I try every day to emulate him, and live a life that honors him, and brings him glory. I now have a fiancee, that I love deeper than I have ever loved before, and we smile one smile, sigh one sigh, love one love, and live one life.

I was talking to a friend about this, about being able to love more than I have ever known was possible, and finding every day that I can love Jenna more than I did the day before. I had a sad thought, what if one finally reached the pinnacle of love, and couldn't learn to love any deeper. My freind gave me a thought - "what if, since God is love, and he is perfect, and we can never be perfect, (until heaven) we never reach this so-called pinnacle of love?" WOW. Did you folow that? I am really excited, because their is no limit to love, and we will spend all eternnity learning to love God more. Until then, I will do my best to love Christ above all, my perfect Jenna, my family, my church, and life itsself until He comes to perfect us in his love.
.....and yes, I know I'm weird. ;)
~erd

Gift of Giving

Aaron got me two things for my upcoming birthday! One is a violin...and the other was web cams so we can see each other...I have not seen the violin yet(I'm sure it's amazing) but the web cams are awesome. Now I can talk to him and see him. It's so nice to see his face...it's only been 4 weeks and a few days since I was there...but it feels like months.This is just one way my Aaron is perfect and so sweet to me.What a great idea for long distance engagements!
-Thanks Baby

" The perfect dress"

I have always heard that a bride to be will try on a ton of gowns ...but when the "perfect" one is put on she will know! Well...It's true. I did my dress shopping with my sister last weekend, she is also my matron of honor...so I had the privilege of making her try on a bunch of ugly dress' also! :)
I think I put on about 12 gowns. And the one I chose was third on the list I think. I put it on...and my jaw dropped! Yay...I love this one! It is strapless but I'm getting sheer 3/4 sleeves put on. It's ivory with a simple lace on one side peering around the front under the bust, there is lace also on one hip that wraps around toward the back...the lace is so delicate I liked it...and there are a few beads also. The lace looks like it is stitched with a champaign color. And that makes it look antique. Around the bust the material is gathered vertically. And then around the waist it wraps two directions down to the skirt. And there is a bunched type gather for the back/hindquarters down to the tiny train. There are mock round buttons down the back.

-I'm choosing a medium Vail in Ivory (I'm not doing an un-vailing) so it is just behind in my hair.

My Shoes are amazing! They are a pointed toe with a diamond flower decor on top and they are in Champaign color and the heel is maybe an inch & a half....strap back.

My colors are Ivory, Pewter, champaign and light peach.

Chocolate makes the heart grow fonder!?

I know ...your thinking ...what? Well, I was remembering the very first time my precious Aaron came all the way(a long trip for him) to Tn. for a visit to see me. It was a BIG DEAL! Like the biggest to us. It was our first meeting after four yrs. I can't even describe the emotions(so I won't). But it was funny, Aaron had a "surprise" for me. (he's such a sweetheart). So He arrived. And I ran down the stars down our deck off the back of the house...how I managed to do so without royally hurting my self I still don't know...oh..wait...ok "love gives you wings" :) anyway...I ran around the back to the side of the house where we park our vehicles and where Aaron parked...and I saw him going up the stairs to the front of the house...I yelled(gracefully ...kkehm...of course) AARON! And he turned and made it down three stairs not hurting him self also...and we meet in each others arms! For a split second it felt like...lol. Then we looked in each others eyes and smiled ...sigh...finally face to face. And I remember Aaron was so excited. Excitement mixed with not knowing what to do because he had never been to my house before. So he started unloading the car of his bags and gifts. He is so dearly funny. He gives his gifts away so fast! And now you probably guessed...yep chocolate. It was Govida chocolate. I thought that was it ya know, one gift...chocolate he's wonderful...then he pulled out my converse "Chuck Taylor's" I was almost in tears. Give a girl chocolate and shoes...all in one day...almost to much to handle. Well my heart was fond of him, and after we sat down in the living room with my mom and started sharing chocolates and laughs it was much more of a memory. It's not just the chocolate, its the way it was given.

My house (front View) Our matching Converse shoes~

-Chocolate and shoes before I do's!- LOL.

Comedy of errors

So each day is. In it's own way. Aaron's bmw is in the auto mechanic shop..and so he has been praying his way, to and from work...a strange way of events took his car there and we now chose to move past that. So we where given a word of advice today to sell the car and find another! As hard as this is for Aaron I'm sure...(because he is attached to his Beemer) he called me and said "well babe, don't get down!" What a blessed spirit he carries. He truly has learned to rely on God. It's a comfort to know your companion has this fruit already tackled and learned going into marriage. It tells me that no matter what I can count on Aaron to already trust God and have faith... I don't have to worry about when we get married if something goes a'rye that he will doubt God, thus causing heartache and stress to our lives!
- Young men! Learn to trust your saviour before you meet your mate...it will give her and you a comfort in life that only Christ can allow. A girl wants to feel secure...and this is another way that I TOTALLY do with Aaron.
And don't forget to laugh...The errors of life can be a comedy.
-Thank you Mr. & Mrs. Burks for teaching your son to love, honor and rely on Christ. :)

Departure

When your heart is breaking and your soul is weak, your mind is clouded with doubt and defeat, there is a inner power that brings you relief, it also brought you there and keeps you..... It's love.

So because of this great emotion leaving the one you love is hard! Aaron and I where talking on our last trip to drop him off at work on Friday before I left. We started to think about how people deal with departures from their loved ones...it became a deep thought. Some people don't show their emotions. We think they feel love just as strong as anyone but just don't express it the same. Others shed tears and heart felt words... ( Aaron and I:) Departing for us is a wounding pain but somehow we always find a positive outlook to carry us through the departure. The Lord is a comfort to our hearts and we focus on all his blessings in our lives. To shed a tear for a loved one is not a disturbing thing...it's good for the soul and if a partner sheds a tear of emotion and love it indeed shows the other how much love they are being shown! Aaron is a wonderful sentiment of love and emotion he always shows me just how much he loves me...and he always comforts my heart it trying times. We must have a inner sensor that knows when the other person is weak it makes us strong and visa versa. We have seen this so often! It's a relationship blessing . Another way God put his hand on our lives.
So in our thought we decided that everyone deals differently but more importantly we learned our way. And God has a lesson in distance.

One Of Our Songs!

Saying I love you is not the words I want to hear from you.Its not that I want you, Not to say, but if you only knew.How easy it would be to show me how you feel.More than words is all you have to do to make it real.Then you wouldnt have to say that you love me'Cos I'd already know,What would you do if my heart was torn in two? More than words to show you feel,That your love for me is real...What would you say if I took those words away?Then you couldnt make things new,Just by saying I love you! More than words,Now I've tried to talk to you and make you understand...All you have to do is close your eyes,And just reach out your hands and touch me. Hold me close dont ever let me go! More than words is all I ever needed you to show,Then you wouldnt have to say that you love me ' Cos I'd already know.What would you do if my heart was torn in two? More than words to show you feel,That your love for me is real! What would you say if I took those words away? Then you couldnt make things new...Just by saying I love you, More than words!!!!!!!

To Aaron

I love you friend I can't explain

I'd give the world to say your name.

A friendship true is hard to grasp.

So please my friend don't ever ask

What word i'd use to define

A friendship, just like yours and mine.

With all my love ~ your Fiancee Jenna

Working With Work

Hello Readers,


Well the title should explain, but I will add. to it. The work -field. In a relationship work so many times will come between two people. The stress and disappointment, most generally faced everyday at the job. How to handle this? Well I'm not an expert...but I can say I know " Let it go". This has become many of Aaron and mine conversations since we have been together and while he has been working at CHASE. I love that he has a good job. But if we don't learn to let the stress die at the door of the company we will build a hardship between our own hearts. No one can avoid stress on a job. But how you deal with it is up to you. Another step in "becoming one" you become a part of your partners hardships. Visa Verse with us...we both endure each others work issues. And that's how it should be. I learned sometimes my problems are not the most important(even though they seem to be at that very moment) so looking through an others eyes and not only your own is yet another grave part of "Becoming One".

Becoming One

Hello Everyone,

This blog is going to be about the updates and events of two people becoming one. Aaron and I before we met lived both very seperate lives, without much interest in relationship so indepth as ours. Happly engaged now we are learning that life changes so vast and fast! In ways you don't expect. But with God's grace you learn to be less selfish and more intune with the other person. We have wonderful relationship...only we see as heavenly i'm sure. However hope to keep you updated as are wedding date gets more close everyday.

Jenna