You know what I love?
Being... ordinary.
That's right... all lower-case, ordinary.
I didn't always feel this way. In high school, I remember striving towards an unachievable status. It was silly, really. My mindset was that if I wasn't rich, stick-skinny, and "successful" and if I didn't marry an upper-class, gregarious smooth-talker by the time I was 30 then I'd be settling for less. And by settling for less, I would consequently be less happy.
Let's just say I am SO glad God snapped me out of that mindset.
Sometimes it takes getting little tastes of all the things you once desired to finally realize the grass isn't always greener on the other side...
God's plan for my life is blossoming into something much more beautiful than my teenage mind could have fathomed. If someone had told me at 16 that I would be getting married at 23, with countless uncertainties ahead, and NOT to a man loaded with money... I probably wouldn't have believed it.
The truth is, however, I love my ordinary life! It reminds me of that old Alan Jackson song, "It's alright to be little bitty."
Really, though.. I'm happy being little bitty!
I love my humble, handsome fiance, who is just as inexperienced in life as I am.
I love that we are both broke and that we'll have to budget like crazy.
I love that we'll be starting out in a tiny, little place.
I love that our marriage will be filled with sanctifying trials and difficulties.
I love that the pretty, little ring on my finger is little.
I love that Eric doesn't care that I shop at shrift stores and don't keep up with the latest styles.
I love that the most special moments I've had with Eric have been little moments: the special little "just because" gifts he gives me, the spontaneous "I love you"s, the inexpensive dates he takes me on, the chivalry of opening the door for me without fail, and the way he smiles at me and says, "Wow, your eyes" while admiring my tired, no-makeup face.
I didn't settle for less, I settled for more.
Next week I am getting married. My wedding won't be the wedding of the year, nor will it be perfectly Pinterest in every way. But you see, that's not the point. My wedding won't be MY wedding. It will be OURS.
This is our story. Our itty bitty story woven perfectly into an extraordinary, BIGGER story written by our wonderful Maker.
Being ordinary is so beautifully exciting.
I love that we'll be starting out in a tiny, little place.
I love that our marriage will be filled with sanctifying trials and difficulties.
I love that the pretty, little ring on my finger is little.
I love that Eric doesn't care that I shop at shrift stores and don't keep up with the latest styles.
I love that the most special moments I've had with Eric have been little moments: the special little "just because" gifts he gives me, the spontaneous "I love you"s, the inexpensive dates he takes me on, the chivalry of opening the door for me without fail, and the way he smiles at me and says, "Wow, your eyes" while admiring my tired, no-makeup face.
I didn't settle for less, I settled for more.
Next week I am getting married. My wedding won't be the wedding of the year, nor will it be perfectly Pinterest in every way. But you see, that's not the point. My wedding won't be MY wedding. It will be OURS.
This is our story. Our itty bitty story woven perfectly into an extraordinary, BIGGER story written by our wonderful Maker.
Being ordinary is so beautifully exciting.
