A Castle and a Cake, too

Wow.

I am typing this on my last day of summer. I remember when all my friend's summer started before mine I joked that maybe mine would last longer because I could just not land a job. I didn't think that was true... but it was. No job this year for me. Somehow, though, it is all working out anyways. And as it turns out, I think my summer ended up being almost exactly the length of my friends if longer than only by 4 days!

So here is where summer brought me:

At the end of the school year I was unemployed. I am now a tutor for the school district in which I live. The pay is, I believe, less than 1/3 of what I was making in my district, but the commute is also 1/3 of what I used to drive. This is not the job I pictured in my head, but God was faithful and as usual, He is giving me what He has seen for me and not what I had seen for myself. I believe with all my heart that He is working on me through this experience and I am excited to see the results! Also, I'm just excited to have students again!

At the end of the school year I had only picked the church which I was going to get married in- which was really decided the moment I laid eyes on my groom. How can you meet in a church and yet not get married there?! Any ways, now we have the church, the reception location (Which includes catering), the cake, the florist, the photographer (oops, I had that one before school was out too) the DJ, and the dress is picked out and waiting on my check. I also have my ceremony musicians who are my very talented friends! So basically, I have all the big stuff reserved and can now focus on work and my house and take on little projects here and there (registering, picking bridesmaids dresses, save the dates/invites). All and all, I would say I had a very productive summer!

At the end of the school year I had just walked away from a house I was only days away from buying. I went through a summer of waiting and finally found the house I wanted, then it flooded and I had to have it redone on the inside. Now I am typing to you from my office which is light and airy and homey and perfect.

And as far as operation ripped and famished goes... well, nothing really changed there. It is still on my "to list".

God blessed me and Gavin this summer in a multitude of ways. Our relationship was strengthened by the trials life threw at us! I noticed something though, we take turns being the stressed out one and the calm one. I am finally understanding what people mean when they talk about couples that "balance" each other. I hope we can maintain this balance as we continue our adventure towards the aisle and eventually walk down it next summer! I can't wait to see where God has taken me by then!!