Can You Believe it?--29 Days to the Big Day

Well, saints the glorious days is quickly approaching. Darron called me this morning at work to tell me that we are exactly 29 days out from our marriage union. Glory to God, forever! Even his colleagues at work are counting down for him.

Our motto has been, "No stress!" And we've done pretty well at keeping the tension down and resisting the external or internal pressures that come with wedding planning. You know the temptations. The temptation to try to "outspend" the Joneses so that your wedding can be listed in "People's" Magazine or something. I got the greatest advice. One from Jennifer O and another from Candria. Jenn dropped the vision of a chapel into my spirit...the wooden pews, the ambiance that is associated with grand structures, etc. I'll never forget how I teared up as she described what she wanted in a wedding venue. My response was a quiet testament to my own secret desire gently revealed. I knew that's what I wanted.

Then Candria, at breakfast one morning, told me to pick my Top 3 Must Have's and to not compromise on them one iota. She asked me to discover Darron's as well and to make a commitment to "make that happen"...everything else is unimportant.

What were my Top 3?

1. The Chapel
2. The Photography
3. The Ring/Dress

I can say with brimming pride and a skip in my step, that all 3 desires have been met.

Now although I have been asked about little niceties such as food, invitations, or party favors, because it's not in the Top 3, it won't receive the focus of my energy and time. As a couple, we have committed to ridding ourselves of the shackles of debt and to do so we must start with what is immediately before us--the wedding. Wise financial stewardship goes a long way and will only add to the peace and stability we desire in our home. And while there are gorgeous invitations out there, the primary purpose for an invitation is for the dissemination of information and not the wowwing of guests.

We can't break the bank to keep up with the proverbial Joneses. It's like what Pastor John Osteen used to say, "Those people who feel they have to keep up with the Joneses don't realize the Joneses went broke last week!"

I love that line! And by the way, our last name is not Jones, it's Anderson!