Joy.In.Simplicity.

I fear I have become "that" blogger. The one who starts a blog and writes in it religiously for a month or two and then moves onto the next impulsive phase of life. I promised myself this wouldn't happen...so I refuse to let it. I am back & ready to blog...regularly!

I have come to use this blog sort of as electronic accountability. As a general rule...the more I'm writing=the more I'm growing. Posting helps me process what I'm learning, and allows me to reference back to these times of growth, in detail. Even after only a few months, to look back over these beginning trials & triumphs has been so helpful in the spiritual preparation for my marriage. Over Thanksgiving Break I was faced with several trials as a bride-to-be. But one challenge has stuck out: Finding joy in simplicity.

During this detailed process of planning a wedding, it is truly my heart's desire to find happiness in every step. Our society has made wedding planning expensive, and extensive. There are tons of ways to spend tons of money, and while there are ways to save--they are far less glorified than opportunities to overspend. I want to take steps to simplify my wedding & find the joy that comes in wisely using resources, and adding my own personal touch to certain elements of our special day.

As I simplify my wedding, I am challenged to simplify my life in general. I would love in the coming weeks to "de-clutter" my heart. I believe that Christ sees value in the simple. He appreciated Mary, and her simple act of worship as she sat at His feet while Martha remained consumed with life's busyness. He valued simple obedience from His disciples, and used simple parables to convey mighty truths. Furthermore, as Christmas approaches, I notice the simple way He entered the world. But how joyous was that day. What is that song we sing each year? Oh yes...

JOY to the world.

I pray that I may recognize what brings Christ joy, and that would in turn bring me joy. May I use the next 7 months to recognize happiness in simplicity. I want to simply love God, and simply love Walker, and simply love others. May my heart become less cluttered with the whims & wishes of society, and more stripped down so it may see the value of  grace and love. May Walker and I both experience the true, freeing, contagious joy that is found in simply living, and simply loving...as we plan our wedding, and as we live out our lives together has husband and wife.