20 days until our wedding...yes, I'm counting!

This has been such a busy month, what with finishing up school and work, graduating, and moving away from Concordia, there has barely been time to breathe!

Jesse left for handbell tour two days after we graduated. I miss him so incredibly much! Planning our wedding is taking all of my spare time, and I'm thankful that I don't have time to be moping around missing him, but at the same time, this busyness hurts too. It's hard to plan the wedding--our wedding--without being able to go to him for his input. I know weddings are kind of known as the bride's show, but I've been so thankful for the part that Jesse has had in planning our wedding. I love that it will reflect so much of both of us--as individuals, and as a couple. That is so special!

Wedding planning is such a joy. I'm so happy to be home now and to be able to put my own touches on things. It was hard to be planning while at school, with my time evenly distributed between classes, homework, and my little ones at the preschool. Laura (my sister) and I went to Michael's Crafts the other day and I spent about 2 hours just poring over all of the wonderful ideas there are in that store! I bought a book called "The Do It Yourself Bride." I'm so excited! It has ideas for making unique gifts for attendants, putting special touches on wedding favors, creating beautiful programs for the ceremony, even a time capsule for your guests to take part in! I love that I'm able to do that sort of thing now.

But then questions fly at me about what format the ceremony should follow, what the boutonnieres should look like, what colors the cake should be, how we're going to get from the ceremony to LAX for our honeymoon...and I wish I could run to Jesse for help.

He calls me every night--my highlight of each day! I'm able to share little bits with him, but I can't overwhelm him when he is states away! And tomorrow, he heads into Canada. I won't be able to talk to him again until he comes back down. I hate the thought of tomorrow without a phone call from him!

And then I remember how blessed I am...and what a wimp I'm being. We've been together in school for 3 years. I've been able to see him every day. We're getting married in 20 days, and we'll be together for the rest of our lives. I should be able to make it a few days.

I received a letter the other day from Mr. Bayles. He was an elder at our church for as long as I can remember, and moved a few years ago out of state to live with his family. His note said that he hoped that this stage of planning and preparation was a happy time. "Penny and I didn't get to see each other much before our wedding," he wrote, "the war prevented that."

How easy I have it!

Another sweet friend just had to say goodbye to her husband yesterday. They've been married for less than two years, and he is being deployed for another 6 month stretch leaving her and their brand new son at home.

Count your blessings, Bethany Elise. Jesse will be home in 6 days!