So Thankful

After a 6 week seperation from Matt, I got to spend this past weekend with him. My family and I went to Warsaw to attend his sister Lindsay's wedding. It was beautiful!!! It was a PERFECT fall day, the whole ceremony and reception took place without any complications. Lindsay looked simply stunning, all the bridesmaids looked beautiful, Antonino (the groom) looked handsome and all the groomsmen looked handsome. It was such a joy to be a part of.
Before the wedding, Lindsay had emailed me to ask if I would be willing to help serve at her reception. I was overjoyed to be asked and of course said yes. When I arrived to the wedding I found myself recording the entire ceremony as well. I had known that there was going to be a family pic taken at the wedding that they want to use on their Christmas cards this year and that Lindsay and the rest of her family wanted me in it. But I was very touched, as I watched the photographer help capture the joy of her special day,to hear Lindsay say to the photographer: "Could we get a pic with Nicole and Matt real quick? I think this would be a good time for that." Talk about feeling special! I have never felt like Matt's family doesn't accept me. They always have and I truly feel that I fit in with them. But on Lindsay's wedding day, I felt more accepted and more a part of the family than ever. It was such a wonderful feeling! Lindsay even gave me a wonderful thank you gift basket for my help. I am so thankful to know that I will one day be an offical part, of such a wonderful, loving family!!
The day after her wedding, Matt and I made our way to my house. We went to church with my family that night to attent communion. In the time of sharing that usually takes place after the congregation has taken the elements, Matt shared something with the church family. He said that his sister's wedding was really nice and it was a joy since they had been engaged for 8 years. Then he proceeded to say that the message given during their ceremony, that had pointed out how a marriage depicts the relationship of Christ and the church, had really touched him. We moved into a time of prayer after that and I couldn't help but cry. To hear him say that something like that was touching to him, touched me. This is the man that I'm going to marry. The man I'm going to spend my life with, that I will let lead me and that will help to guide and direct me through our life together. It is such an encouraging thing to know that he realizes what his duties will be. That he realizes he is supposed to love me, care for me, and lead me as Christ loves, cares and leads the church. It is a comforting, wonderful feeling to know that I will be marrying a godly man, that I know will strive to be the kind of husband that God desires his Christian men to be!
Over the last weekend, I was just reminded again how BLESSED I am to have Matt in my life! I am truly thankful to God for him!
Lindsay's wedding did make me a little antsy to really begin planning mine, but even the antsy-ness is a joy to have! I am excited to plan for the special day that God has ordained in our life. I'm excited to share my thoughts, ideas and visions of that day with Matt. I am SO thankful to be in the season of life!!