Haha, it’s been a while since my last post! Now I’m posting as Mrs. Olson Married life is wonderful!!! So far, we have painted the kitchen and our bedroom (last night we stayed up to paint our bedroom, put together our new bed and 2 “dressers” they’re kinda like mini-dressers - they fit perfectly in the space) We are both very excited about our new home, and slowly it is becoming “our” home. Oh! We got a really good deal on a KitchenAid mixer, of all the things I wanted in our home a KitchenAid mixer was WAY up there on the list! We had waited, and waited - not exactly sure why (heh) AND on a whim after taking care of all of Buddy’s (Mom and Dad O’s - really Kristy’s dog) information to fly him to Hong Kong, we decided to go to the Coast (yes the “Coast” not the “beach” or the “shore” - if you’ve been out on the West Coast you understand there is not as much beach as rocky coastal area.) Out by the coast there is an outlet mall with a Kitchen Collection store, the mixer was on sale on top of on sale - We got a nicer mixer than we expected to get at a cheaper price then the cheaper mixer!! Praise the Lord! He is so good to us, I don’t even understand that. So many times I think “Lord, why are you so good to me (us)? I don’t even serve you adequately. I know I could do more, I want to do more, but so often I fail - Why would you bless me anyway?”…..Mind boggling. He is worthy to be praised!! Praise be to the name of the Lord!! What a good God. Again I am reminded of a much earlier post as I reflect on my failure to praise our AWESOME, POWERFUL, MAJESTIC, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS CREATOR AND GOD as I ought! He is SOO good!! He does everything for our good and His Glory - How often I fail to see my Majestic Creator’s Mighty hand in my life. Praise be the name of the Lord.

Here are some pictures of our mixer AND our HOUSE!! I can’t wait to get some of the new bedroom pictures up! We are very excited about the way that turned out

Well, the wedding is only 18 days away… I can hardly believe that it’s true! I also can hardly believe I will be married soon! It seemed like forever and now it is a little less than 3 weeks away. I am ready to begin my new life with my soon to be husband! The long distance stuff was good for us, but I am ready for it to be over. God taught me alot and I know that I never want to be apart from him again! - I miss him more every single day… it’s getting ridiculous lol. Saturday my wonderful, awesome, great, adorable fiance is coming to see me!!!! Then, he will not leave me anymore! Always together!! It is totally lonely being without him. I love the time with my family, don’t get me wrong, it is incredibly awesome to have this time!!!!!!!!!!!! BUT nobody else is my Andy - and my Andy is my other half. So I need my other half to be whole! - Well, now that I got all that out!
Wedding plans are going well!!! Praise the Lord everything is falling into place, infact other than calls I do not have to do any other wedding plans until after Andy arrives………… Praise the Lord! It was fun planning the wedding, but it can become stressful too!
What I have left to do is to print the programs, get our marriage license, go to premarital counseling, meet with the baker, meet with the florist (my aunt), meet with the emcee, talk with the pianist, double up on some reception things, and settle an exact time with the hair dresser. So, basically it’s alot of communication - ALOT OF TALKING!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I think I will just give a HUGE sigh of relief once all of the planning is finished!! (Just in time to enjoy the BIG day right??) I hope so! I plan to enjoy my 13 days with my Fiance once he gets here! I accomplished all of my goals I planned to complete before he got here - So that’s GOOD!! I want a stress-free, enjoyable time with the man I will soon marry!
I also realize it has been MONTHS since I last posted - and I know that it will probably not be until the next month after our wedding when I post again - BUT when I do post again I am sure my wonderful new husband will help me put PiCtUrEs up!!!!!!!!! The REAL fun part of bloggin!!! It’ll be great!! So catch me in August!!!

Andy will be with me in 11 days!!!!!!! Yay! Friends of ours are getting married, and both Andy and I are in the wedding, so it gave a good reason for Andy to come out. I can barely wait until he does!! Anyway at some point I will figure out how to add pictures, and put up what I can, maybe I’ll be able to put up pictures from our friends wedding…Maybe I’ll ask Andy to help I’m just very excited that I will get to be with him for a few days I’m sleepy, so I think that’s all I will write for now…

I had SO SO much fun with Andy this last week! We registered, we packed, we watched movies, we drank coffee, we shopped, we laughed, we just flat out enjoyed eachother’s company! My life is so blessed by Andy’s presence! I love him! I can’t wait to become Mrs. Olson So crazy, because that is what I call his mom and that will be my name. We’ll have the same name! hehe. When Andy came out we exchanged Christmas gifts, and he got me my one wish I asked for! (which totally seemed impossible) I got the necklace I will wear at our wedding! That’s all for now, I’ll need to post later, but it will be definately later.

Finals are over, and so is the first semester of my SENIOR year in college!! Wow, how the Lord has brought me through. I could not have done all of this without Him. He has truly grown and changed me this year in ways I never thought possible. My faith and resolve in the Lord has grown to higher degrees of dependence on Him. I truly enjoyed every class I took. It was alot, but it was SOO good. I would not have traded this semester for anything. Honestly, it was VERY VERY difficult to be away from my sweetheart, Andy, but yet I knew and have come to see it true that the Lord would do great things this year in our lives to draw us closer to Him and prepare us for marriage. I know it to be true in my life, and in Andy’s as well. I have seen such growth in his life and I am so thankful for a willing, loving, godly man that too as I believe that marriage is for the rest of our lives. Only death will break the bound of marriage, where forever we will worship the Lord! I just try to keep life in perspective. He’ll be my husband in due time - and in the mean time I can enjoy all of the people and experiences God brings my way. I LOVE MY FAMILY AND MY CHURCH FAMILY! (Of course, I have 2 church families - 1 at home and 1 at college, plus a college family) People have just become so important to me, more than ever before. 1 person can make such a difference in another’s life. We just had our cantata at my home church (Bensalem) tonight…One of the themes of the cantata was to love and be giving toward others. I feel sorry for those who love no one but themselves - they MUST be miserable. I get so much joy and fulfillment by loving others. It’s like a hug - You don’t give one without getting one back. So often when you show joy and kindness to others you can’t help but get it in return. Even from the gruff people - I love seeing a hard person soften! It’s so wonderful. Everyone needs to be loved!!!!!!!!!! And of course during this Christmas season people are more tender being reminded of Jesus Christ, God, coming to earth not to live, but to die and show the ultimate love for human kind! He died for ME! He died for YOU!!!!! But He didn’t just die! He rose again and is my Savior! (John 3:16, Acts 16:31, Romans 6:23, Romans 10:9-10) Truly it is a gift (Ephesians 2:8-10). Never again will a lamb have to be slain to picture payment of my sins. “It is finished!” Just as He cried from Calvary. How POWERFUL my Savior is! He is LORD! He is KING! He is Eternal! Just as Isaiah 6:9 says that His names will be “…Wonderful, Counselor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace…” How amazing is the Lord of Glory!!! - Christmas time is a great time to think about what God did for us! I am so glad that I get to be with my family this Christmas! I am very excited that I get to see Andy not this coming tuesday, but next tuesday. In seven months I will be married and looking forward to a lifetime of love with my love of a lifetime! That is SOO exciting!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Many wedding plans to be accomplished during that time! But I will make sure it is a good time of fellowshipping with him as well! I think that is what I miss the most about him not being with me, just good old talking! No problems of time zones or school work! I will blog more tomorrow, but I need to get going - I don’t think I even wrote about the things I planned to write about, but that’s quite alright, because I enjoy far more thinking about God, and thinking about Andy and my family. So, that’s all for now!

Have I mentioned I love my family?? Agh! They are so wonderful. I am home for fall break, and so totally happy to be here! I have such a wonderful family. I spent the past 2 days hanging out with my mom doing the “necessary” shopping bit while I am home… So fun! We got those little 4 long pictures you get in those “picture fun” booths in the mall. Totally fun, and wonderful memories. Well tomorrow I get to hang out with John and Ruthie - Can’t wait!!! (and Erin’s coming to sleep over tomorrow too!!!) THEN on Saturday I get to spend MOST of the day with my FAMILIA! We have so much fun together, and to echo Tim’s one about having fun with the family. We certainly do, they laugh like crazy. Good memories, I will certainly miss my family when Andy and I move to Oregon. However, I am thankful that the  Lord is allowing us to be near his family. As obviously such a family person, I need that line in my life for now anyway (hence why He’s allowing us to). If God so chooses to move us away I am so thankful for the strong ties He’s given all along. I love Andy’s family so much, and can’t wait to officially make them mine! What a blessing to find the man of my dreams and get to marry him! Even on top of that to be joined into his wonderful family just thrills me! Blessing abound in God’s will. It amazes me how everything in my life, and everything in this world just completely points me back to my Great Almighty God! I was telling my mom today, I just am so amazed how God made this world to point back to Him. We were actually talking about parents making sacrifices for their children, which obviously took me directly to God’s sacrifice for me of Jesus Christ (God) on the cross. Wow, what an amazing God. Ok, now I am totally distracted, got talking with the family, and watching “Deal or No Deal” anyway…I’ll write more later!

Well, I unfortunately do not have time to write today as I thought I would. I guess writing will have to wait until Fall BrEaK!!! ( 2 days from now!) Well I need to go study for my 2 tests Monday and my last midterm on Tuesday - 8a. I love you all and will talk to you SOON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! yipee!! Fall break came precisely at the right time. God is so wise, He knows what we need and when we need it.

College is still going well, but I see the great need to spend time in quiet communion with God. I thank the Lord for good friends at college who stand by you and can understand the so called “silly” things we struggle with. I have come to realize (<—I find my self using this statement more and MORE!) that the world, the flesh, and the devil lure me most when I have just come to make a decision toward godliness! Suddenly it’s harder to get up in the morning, suddenly i want things i don’t need, and sin seems so much more appealing. But why should that suprise me, the Bible is full of “mountain top” experiences followed by trials/ tests. Life just is that way….. I am so undeserved of all I have.. I am SO thankful for the wonderful loving family God has given me. What a blessing and priviledge! I am overwhelmed by the sweet heartfelt comments that those of my family share with me. They mean so much to me, and I am glad to have the relationship with each one of them that I do. I am, who I am in great debt to my family. Their encouragement and needed rebuke at times, helps me grow to be more like my Savior. I am so thankful to be able to say that my family is a godly one, and full of love. True love, not selfish love, the kind of love that can rejoice with one another, sorrow when the time comes, and rebuke and exhort during those needed times as well. I feel that words can not say what my heart feels after reading the beautiful comments left by my loved ones. THANK YOU ALL PERSONALLY FOR THE ENCOURAGEMENT YOU’VE BEEN TO ME ALL ALONG. I could not have made it through the three, coming four years of college with out you all. God truly used and uses you in my life. I guess that is something God has been showing me lately, especially with the thought of getting married and leaving home, that my family means SO much to me. I can stand alone with my husband-to-be because of the base laid in my life by my family. THANK YOU! THANK YOU! I love you all. Oh, sweet memories, I can’t wait to go through all the pictures for my and Andy’s (lol mom) video at the reception. What fun memories to relive. Most people don’t have this sweet relationship with their family, and for that I am truly grateful! Wow I miss you all!! However, I get to see you in THREE weeks!!! Yayy!!!!! Well, that’s all for now!

Yay! Less than 10 months till my wedding now!! it was 10 months on the 13th. I really enjoy this blogging thing! Neat idea whoever thought of it….Anyway, I am so excited about all of the great opportunites the Lord opened up for me to participate in this year at school (Youth Group (GO Nu Delta!!) Leagues, Prayer Captain in my room and lots of chances to be an example to those around me.) And of course with all of these wonderful priviledges comes much responsibility. It is humbling to be put in places of responsibility, it really makes you, well me anyway, realize what you do really does affect other people. If I don’t spend time with the Lord in the morning I can’t be the effective witness, and encouragement I desire to be for those people God puts in my path, also if I don’t pray for those God has placed around me, then I do a great disservice to them and God. The main thing, most definately, is that I am not spending that time of sweet communion and intercession with my Master and my Friend, but also then I am not as aware of the needs and feelings of those I fail to pray for. Wow I think this blogging thing is a good way to clear out my mind and heart, and helps me remember who and what I am in light of eternity. Just a servant of the Great and Mighty King Jesus! My Savior and my Lord! - Wow I believe the GREATEST lesson I have learned as of this beginning of the school year is that praising my Great God just adds depth and meaning to my relationship with Him! He is Almighty, Powerful, Wonderful, Counselor, The Mighty Prince of Peace, the Everlasting Father. I can completely understand why so much of the Bible is filled with praise to our God! I get so overwhelmed at the idea of His love for me! I GET to praise His Holy Matchless name! WOW!!! The more you praise the easier it is to continue praising…I could probably keep going on but, as usual in college, time is short and must be spent wisely…well I TRY to spend my time wisely….I must go study for a few exams and write later! Thanks for reading and Hope all is well with you all!!!!!!!!!

P.S. John and Ruth got COUCHES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! HORRAAAYYYY!!!! hehe Can’t wait to come home and see!!! Love you all!

Whew, I just got back from the beach and seeing my brother in MD. I think since Andy came out here a couple weeks ago, I have literally seen all of my family…. It’s wonderful!! I love my family! It has also been very tiring. Flying from here to Or. and back, then Kansas and back, and driving to the beach, then MD and back, Suprisingly I do not feel tired right now. I would not have traded this last month of summer for anything. My family is so precious to me. It’s amazing how important people you love are. - That will be the most difficult thing about moving after Andy and I get married. I’m such a family person, but of course I’d rather be such a godly person, and I know this is God’s will and plan for me, so I know I can do it through His strength. I know I don’t have the strength, so I’m so glad I can just depend on my God to supply all my needs, and strengths. Life is so awesome, and it has definately turned out differently then I suspected it would. I’m so glad, God’s ways are definately so much better than our ways. It just cracks me up how silly I (and all people) can be. I mean it’s pretty obvious we don’t know what we are doing, and God knows everything we are and should be doing, so what’s the fear in trusting. Well I better go make sure everything is packed for school, I’m off to another fun and exciting adventure!! I’ll try to blog during school months, but this may have to wait till October! We’ll see!