Welcome Back (with Big News!)

Hi everyone! I'm sure (well, I hope) you noticed I've been away for  while. It's been killing me but now I can tell you. I've been holding back from all forms of social media for a while because I had big news but I didn't want to say anything too soon and anyone who knows me knows that I can't keep a secret to save my life!

Firstly, I passed my driving test! Yaay! After a lot of hassle and very nearly cancelling it last minute after a few issues with my instructor, I decided to just take it as a practice test. No pressure and I had no intention of passing at all - imagine my shock when the examiner congratulated me!

Secondly, and more importantly, I'm getting married! 
 
Riki and I have been planning it on the quiet for a couple of months - as I've said in a previous post, we knew from the start that we were going to get married so it wasn't a surprise, we just couldn't afford to until after we'd both graduated university and settled in full-time jobs. We kept it quiet because as much as we knew we were going to get married, he's a romantic and he wanted to give me an actual proposal (I'm so blessed and I thank God for how wonderful he is!)

So we're getting married in March and I can't wait! We've made all kinds of plans and booked pretty much all the necessities.

If you've read about my journey, you'll know I grew up in a small Baptist church. As much as I adore my current church and feel that it's where I belong, I'm going to be getting married at the Baptist church. It's been a difficult decision for a few reasons:

• I don't attend this church anymore as I feel more spiritually "fed" at my current church
• It's not the prettiest church - in fact it's just a little square building which looks more like a community centre
• I don't want to offend or upset my Pastor or any of the church congregation

The reasons I did choose to get married there are:

• It's my "home" church - I grew up there and was there before it was even built, when we met in a tin hut!
• My Grandparents still attend that church and my Grandad has Parkinsons which is exacerbated by new and unfamiliar situations - I want him to be comfortable. Also, my Grandparents don't like my church, they say it's "too bouncy" - they came for my baptism but it was too much for them (and I fear it will be too much for some of our unsaved friends/family)
• The minister is lovely. She is happy to divulge my crazy organisation needs and will allow my Pastor to be involved if he wishes!

So I think I've made the right decision. It's not about getting married in the prettiest church there is, it's about making a commitment to another person, before God and friends and family.

Which brings me on to my next point, the Vows.

Why are so many people obsessed with taking out the "I promise to obey" vow? I think I'll go into this in a bit more depth at a later date but I'm going to follow Ephesians 5:22,

"Wives, be subject (be submissive and adapt yourselves) 

to your husbands as [a service] to the Lord. For the 

husband is the head of the wife, as Christ is the 

head of the church" (Amplified Version)

Anyway,that's my news, and don't worry, I'm not going to go all bridezilla on you! My posts will get back to normal but I'm just excited so I hijacked this one! I've truly been blessed this past few weeks and I'm glad to be back.

See you soon, and I hope you've all been blessed recently, too!
-Lisa