Wedding planning update & randomness...

Soooo..... Tomorrow is my 22nd birthday... :) I don't guess it's going to be a big blow out, but I guess at least, God willing, I'll be alive to see 22. :)

Matt and I had been in a rut trying to figure out who was going to marry us. Our main possibility was going to be our college pastor since he knows both of us. Our major concern with that one was that he and his wife are expecting their 3rd child the end of May, beginning of June and I was not going to be the one to take his away from his family at that time. So, Matt and I were trying to figure out who other possibilities could be. We talked about several of the pastors in our home church, and tried to figure out who'd be best or who could actually do it. Then, we got some disturbing news that none of the pastors from our church can even come to the wedding because of a Vacation Bible School kick-off going on that the rules are no one can get out of being there unless there's a death in the family. So, that really hit us hard, and toyed with the idea of a pastor we'd thought about after the situation with our primary pastor choice. But the only problem with that pastor is that he is out of state, and we were concerned about the Marriage Counseling that we wanted to take place before getting married. It was such a hard decision to think about, because neither of us have the money to take time off work and go to South Carolina. I think we even JOKED abuot getting Matt's brother to get ordained and marry us, but we didn't want to have to put that on him because we know how busy he is! It was just a funny idea if we couldn't find anyone else. We eventually just said we'd see what we could do about Dave, our college pastor, and talk to him to see what we could even do as far as seeing is he could do the wedding or whatever. We finally got to talk to him Wednesday night after church. He didn't even think he was going to be the one we wanted to do the wedding! Which kind of made me sad, but completely understand since it's taken so long to even ask him... he said that 20 people had asked him if we was doing our wedding, so that puts it into perspective of why he should be the one to do it! He was actually pretty shocked when we asked him what kind of possibility it would be to get him for the wedding, and informed him that we did factor in Baby Odom #3 and the VBS thing and completely understood if there was just no way. But it was encouraging that he said he was see what he could to make it happen! That lifted about as much weight as finding my dress did! haha! I really thought I was going to be in my jeans and a t-shirt for the wedding!
So, now we just have to see what the "boss man", the senior pastor Mike, says about him missing the VBS ordeal and what his wife thinks about him doing the wedding so close to the baby's due date. We're just praying! I also want to thank Emily & Joy for your encouragement during this process! I appreciate it very much!! :) I'm just going to keep the though "We'll be married at the end of the day, no matter what" in my mind! It's just stressful trying to keep up with going to classes and doing homework, and working on top of all the wedding planning and decisions I have to make. I know I have become somewhat a different person fromt his whole process and am very sorry for how I have acted and let my stress get the best of me. It's hard, ya know? But, I'm getting through it with the best attitude I can, and I think I have actually gotten better since I have my dress ordered and have a pastor pretty much locked in. :) God will show us what's best for us and our wedding, and we'll just do it in His best intentions! :) I just can't wait to be married to Matt and live the rest of my life with him. It's going to be a breath of fresh air to be able to have him there anytime I need him! I'm just glad he hasn't decided that this form of "Kristen" he's seeing through this wedding process hasn't pushed him away or want to stop the wedding! He's hanging in there with me and trying to help me keep my head up! I'm so lucky to have him by my side throughout this whole decision process and not being like the normal guys who don't want to have to deal with anything wedding related! He's a GREAT fiance' and I love him more and more each passing day! I can't wait to have the honor to call myself HIS WIFE! :) And, I'm so thankful to have the friends I have! I couldn't ask for anyone better! I love you alll!!! I wish I could show my appreciation more and in better ways, but that will come later hopefully!!! :)

TOMORROW: HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!!! :) <3