Beth's Photos

My dear friend Beth is a very gifted photographer. Last week, she gave me my wedding photos. I am so impressed by the beautiful detail and personality she captured. Here are a few favorites.

"No I cannot babysit today; I am getting married!"

My mother brings out the dress

My beautiful mother

getting ready with the girls

the beauty of age

I needed a kiss from Grandma before I would leave my bridal chamber.

the beautiful church

Flowers

Action shot

A sweet moment

My daddy...
dear friends...

Precious new life

Icing makes kisses sweeter


A tale as old as time...

And they lived happily ever after...

I really miss writing.
Not writing like this- I can always do this, tho sometimes it is hard to find a topic or a purpose.
I miss writing because I have to, because my grade depends on it, because someone is expecting a story to read the next day.
Today the Governor of Delaware came to my office. It was supposed to be a press conference, but not too many (if any) members of the press were there. So I quickly asked one of my marketing friends to grab a pad and pen for me, and as soon as I had it, I was furiously scribbling my notes. I tried to capture the excitement in their voices, the integrity in their words, the joy in their tones.
After I was back at my desk, I typed up my notes, which were full of incomplete thoughts, my own shorthand and then stared at them looking for my story. What was the lead? What part do I focus on? Whose quotes do I emphasize? How do I turn these thoughts into coherent sentences? How do I get this quote accurate based on memory?
When I was done, I had a story. Not a terribly interesting one, but a story just the same. I breathed a sigh of relief, placed the story in the hands of those who can do something with it, and waited. I am still waiting, but I feel like I accomplished something small. I was able to document a small piece of my company's history. I was able to summarize an hour into a few words. Other people can read it now.
I wish I could do that always.

I am not a very good blogger.
I am so torn between writing thoughtful spiritual things and my daily musings. Both take more effort and thought than I am often willing to give. Shame on me.
I am frustrated in general with one aspect of my life, namely the fact that I have a job that I dont love. Dont get me wrong, it is a WONDERFUL company with amazing people. My boss is kind and my coworkers are becoming dear friends. But I am doing a job that is pretty mindless and not using my degree. That is hard on me since I worked so hard to get a degree and finish college. I also feel like God wants me to be more directly serving others and impacting lives. I have always been a relational person- and my job requires a lot of time isolated in a cubicle. Please pray for wisdom. I am in the process of inquiring about/applying for graduate school for a MA in teaching. Please pray that door is either opened or closed clearly.
My dear friend Kristy once encouraged me to write down my blessings so that I can ponder them and consciously thank Jesus for them. Here are a few (trying to be specific):

-My husband is still amazing. See my post from a few back. I absolutely adore him and being with him every day is nothing short of a dream come true. He takes care of me so well and loves me so well. *Sigh*
-My best friend Diane from IUP is coming to visit me tonight (well providing my check with some gas money arrives today. Otherwise she may have to hitchhike and who knows when she will arrive.) I miss her terribly and cant wait to spend three days laughing with (and at) her.
-I have flowers in my house. Currently there are three vases, though all three are nearing their ends. Still, the very fact that they are there makes me happy.
-I have read about 6 novels in the past two weeks. I know that is kind of sick to some, but it thrills me.
-I have actually gone to the gym twice this week. Go me.
-My friend Elise who just came to Jesus last month is growing daily and daily sharing her new joy with me. It is so encouraging to have a front row seat to this amazing transformation.
-Elise also has a baby. His name is Vinny and he is so darn cute. And he loves me. I am his fake Aunt.
-I love that my dear 2-year-old friend Karlyn can say my name. She calls me Ina and calls Allen Ayen. Close enough. But it warms my heart to walk into church and hear "Ina and Ayen!" Please pray for her by the way. There is a chance that her spine could naturally straighten and she wouldnt need more back surgeries. That would be amazing. (she has spina bifida)
-I have been reading the Sermon on the Mount and have been seeing things I never saw before. God is so kind.

I will update more later. Until then, I leave you with a picture from my sister-in-law's wedding last weekend.

Please pray for my friend Ian.
He had a terrible car accident almost 2 years ago. His life is miraculous, but he still has a long way to go. He is in a wheelchair and unable to verbally communicate. While we know he is in there, his family and friends miss him very much.
I so admire his girlfriend, Larissa. She has stuck by him through this whole journey, never leaving his side. She says she will be his girlfriend until God tells her otherwise. She is such an incredible testimony of love.
Please pray that God would heal Ian. Also please pray that someday, he and Larissa can get married. I want that blessing for them more than anything.

Pray For Ian: Pics

My wonderful husband

I have not yet been married a month, and already I know I have the best husband in the world. biased? Perhaps, but with good reason. He is not just wonderful because he has gotten me flowers twice since we got married. Not only because after I was so tired yesterday I came home to find him already cooking dinner so I could lie on the couch and read. Not even because of the wine and candlelight.
I adore Allen Robert Paisley because he points me toward God. I have had some discouraged days lately, and when I am discouraged, I often email him from work. Instead of ignoring my emails (even though he totally could because he is so busy) or even writing me back with lots of compliments from his own mouth, he responds with an email or call quoting scripture. He digs in the Word, finds something encouraging and then passes it my way. I love that he values my relationship with our Father so much that he would rather my focus be on God then on him. Because let me tell you, I love to focus on Allen. And the coolest thing is, he has been doing this through our whole dating relationship. When we were dating and he was trying so hard to guard me and my emotions, he would say "I have so many things I want to say to you, but I want to guard your heart, so here is what I think God would like to say."
And the thing is, my heart is his now (second to being God's) and he doesnt have to "guard" it anymore, but he still points me to our Lord.
How blessed I am.
Thank you, God, for my husband

Can you see how much I adore him?

love

Song of Solomon 2:10-13
My lover spoke and said to me,
"Arise, my darling,
my beautiful one, and come with me.

See! The winter is past;
the rains are over and gone.

Flowers appear on the earth;
the season of singing has come,
the cooing of doves
is heard in our land.

The fig tree forms its early fruit;
the blossoming vines spread their fragrance.
Arise, come, my darling;
my beautiful one, come with me."

ps-- my friend Beth is a genius photographer!

Wedding Pictures

april 19, 2008
allen and diana paisley
perfect day. so blessed. God is so good!
more pics to come!

Waiting for the big moment
My little sister, my mom and I
(arent they beautiful!!!)

I love my flowers!

In the chapel

my husband and I :-)

My bridal party
i know it is big, but i love them all :-)

mr. and mrs. paisley

my girls
top: rachel, diane, jackie
bottom: justine, christina, me, megan, heather, serra

mom and rachel fixing my veil
cake on the face!