June 27

Last night we had our good friends over for dinner John, Leanna and Lily. I've known Leanna for years and she and I were roomates a few years back. It was fun living together because it was right around the same time that she met John and I met Andy, who knew just a few years later we'd all get married and be having dinner together, with the addition of sweet Lily!

Check out their blog...www.machadominute.blogspot.com/...you HAVE to watch the video of Lily laughing!!

On a side note, I'm reading The Shack, an amazing book! The main character looses a child to a brutal abduction and "The Great Sadness" has overcome his life and God invites him to this shack to simply love him and talk with him. It is a profound depiction of what our relationship is like with God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit when we choose trust over control of our lives. I have to share this part of the book with you, at the time a few days ago, it brought tears to my eyes, he is in the shack with Papa (God) and they are talking about "The Great Sadness." I'll change the name from Mackenzie (the main character) to mine, "Meredith, I know that your heart is full of pain and anger and a lot of confusion. Together you and I, we'll get around to some of that while you're here. But I also want you to know that there is more going on than you could imagine or understand, even if I told you. As much as you are able, rest in what trust you have in me, no matter how small, okay?"-God

I wanna live my life in that sentence, I want all the pain of my family junk to be OK because of that sentence. I want to trust more and control less, I want freedom and silliness and playfulness, but I feel like I can live in fear, doubt, anger and clutching to anything that brings me quick satisfaction when I'm not trusting Him. God I want to trust you more.

PF Chaings

Last night was a fun evening with an old friend. Her name is Katie, we've known each other more than 10 years now, it's fun to have friends who have known you for so long and still want to be friends!! We were celebrating her very overdue birthday dinner. Being adults now we both lead very busy lives but always find the time to catch up where we left off. We began the evening with a movie and then dinner at PF Chaings...I hadn't been there in ages! I love the food you can always count on ordering a good dinner. This time I ordered the Tam Tam Noodles, a new favorite. It had these big round things that looked like potato slices but where actually noodles....mmmm...so good, Andy already ate my leftovers!

We discussed books, work and the Myers Briggs test, you should all try it. I am an ESTJ, which means extrovert, sensing, thinking and judging. We boiled it down to I was a person who is very black and white about the world, easily distracted by objects or people while in conversation, that I make decision based on thinking through my options...I think that one is wrong and if you know me...you'd probably agree I like to make hasty emotional decisions, which isn't always bad but too many of those types of decisions and I get myself into a mess! It also means that I am an extrovert, really me, and extrovert, I'm always the quiet one sitting in the corner...HAH!

Today is father's day. Andy and I are gonna see "The Happening" and then head over to my parents house for dinner. I wish there was a daughter's day. I would like to make a "shout out" to my good friend Shawn...it's his very first father's day!! Happy Father's Day Shawn!! You are an incredible daddy! I'd feel safe leaving my children with you, in fact when I do have children you can watch all of them while Nicole and I go shopping! Deal?

Meredith

something learned

So I already learned something about blogging...one must proofread! Sorry for all the spelling/grammatical errors, my grade school teacher Mrs. Burke would be so disappointed! Oh well...

My first blog!!

So I start my first blog. I was inspired by the Thompson family...I love reading about Emolyn...I know I'm not a cute little baby but maybe, but I thought I'd give it a shot!

I'll start by explaining this picture, cleary not much needed to explain, but that was one of the funnest days of my life!! It was so beautiful! I love the way Andy is looking at me in this picture, I really just love how he always looks at me, he's so sweet and gentle, things I learn from him!!

The day started, if I remember correctly, going to breakfast with Andy and Nicole. I then went to the Soleil Luna Salon where I got an amazing massage, my hair done and my nails done! It was a perfect day, my good friend Nicole was there to support, love and celebrate with me. It was so special. The picture below is at my shower when I found out she was coming to the wedding!!

So back to the wedding day, after getting all dolled up at the salon, we went back to the hotel to get in our wedding clothes!! It was so relaxed and fun!! Then my dad picked Nicole and I up and off we went to the beach! I don't remember much about what John said but I just remember thinking, I can't believe this is actually happening, up until that point, I truley believed it would never ever happen. But God knew different, He knew my heart, He formed that desire, and then at the right time allowed me to marry Andy who was created for me. I felt so loved by God that day, it was so sweet!

Ta ta for now!! I think I'm gonna like this!