Number Crunching

There is a reason, I'm not an accountant. I've been reminded of this again and again.


The fiance and I *really* want to spend at least half of our budget making the cermony itself really nice. We'd like some excellent priests there, good music, nice floral arrangements, etc.


The meal is significantly cutting into our budget. Ironically, October is still considered "prime season" out here. This would never happen in the Midwest! So, we're looking at prime prices.


We would still love to have our reception at a barn, overlooking rolling hills, if for no other reason but that it would be fun!

From An Unnamed Sister

This came with a letter in the mail a couple of days ago - unprompted. It reminded me of how blessed I am. It also reminded me of how much the right person can touch the lives of all of those I love!:

[Your fiance] is such a great guy. You are so lucky. :) If God wants me to be married, I would totally want someone as much of a gentleman as he is.

Happy Mother's Day!

My sister says it best!

My Hero!

I really hope that I can love this much! And we've already decided that Gianna will be one of our girls names if we are blessed to have a couple.

In 1961, St. Gianna became pregnant with her fourth child. When a fibroma (benign tumor) developed on her uterus two months into the pregnancy, doctors gave her the choice of abortion, a hysterectomy or surgery to remove the growth. She chose the surgery rather than sacrifice the life of her tiny baby. The surgery was successful, but a difficult pregnancy lay ahead. Before delivering her baby, St. Gianna firmly instructed the doctors to save the life of her child over her own life. A baby girl was born on April 21, 1962, but St. Gianna died a week later due to complications from an infection that developed during delivery.

Story Credit: Catholic Exchange

Compatible?

The fiancé and I took our FOCCUS assessments yesterday. They were incredible enlightening. We both (but especially he) discovered a few things that we needed to discuss after answering 164 questions independently. When we meet with our priest, he'll have more for us to discuss.

I was surprised by a couple of things that were important to him that I hadn't considered. We also were able to solve a couple of concerns each of us had with the other based on some earlier miscommunications. I feel as though I understand and appreciate him a little more now.

I am so grateful for my Catholic faith at times like these. We are being provided (through several priest friends and the priest who is officially preparing us) with some great resources for establishing a solid marriage. I'm really excited about working on this with my fiancé!

It's the Little Things . . .

. . . that make me really, really happy!

Rejuvenation

Just a word on cheerfulness. Often times, I think this is an undervalued virtue. That is especially apparent in the Washington, D.C. area where people get ahead by identifying their opponents' weaknesses and exploiting them. An unfortunate system indeed.

Recently, someone directed a snide comment, about my being mushy/gushy about my engagement, at me. I, of course, was overly sensitive and felt hurt. It really bothered me. Really.

Finally, I asked myself why. Why does it matter what other people think of me? I know that this relationship is an answer to years of prayers and novenas - not just of my own, but of my roommates, my parents, family, and friends. Marriage, when understood as a vocation - something God specifically chooses one for with a specific other person - is incredibly significant. I can't help but rejoice! It's so unfortunate to me when others don't realize or want to partake in that joy.

However, that is not my problem. I didn't rest in this until I pulled out my Magnificat (a Christmas gift from the roommates) and took more time in prayer and solitude. Suddenly it dawned on me that the rest of my life may be like this: reexamining my priciples after receiving external pressure. If it's not my current joy now, it will be how to arrange the flowers later. If it's not the flowers, it will be raising children. If it's not raising children, it will be how to relate to my husband. In the end, what matters is that I am the best person I can be so that I am bringing something of value to my fiancé.

I absolutely love my Magnificat and don't know how I ever lived without it!