Starting the New Year with a BANG

First post of the new year! WWHHHOOOOOO!

I know this is quite a few days late due to some super fun wedding stuff Graym and I have been working on, but Happy New Year! 2012 is gonna be one awesome year. I do get married this year after all :) (Yesterday marked 8 months til the big day, and needless to say we are STOKED that time is going by so quickly.)

We were able to start the year off in what we thought was the best way possible: marriage counseling! Since both of us had a long weekend for the holiday, we made our way south to North Carolina where Grayms aunt and uncle welcomed us with open and loving arms. Uncle Coty is our officiant, and he and Aunt Beth take the time before our wedding to partake in 5 marriage counseling sessions. During our four day trip we had two sessions, and boy were they wonderful! Graym and I were truly blessed by the fellowship we shared with his aunt and Uncle. We have been reading a few books by Paul Tripp and John Piper, as well as packets written by Uncle Coty himself, and through our discussions of the chapters read and the insights we gained, we were able to grow as individuals and as a couple. We learned the depths of Gods plans for our marriage, what He desires for our hearts, and how we can love and serve one another so we can proclaim Christ through our relationship. We learned our individual and communal roles as husband and wife, and that we must look upon one another with grace and forgiveness just as God does with us. We know that we will always fall short, but everyday is another day to live for our Lord and proclaim His gospel with our covenant-keeping marriage.

We are very much so looking forward to our next counseling sessions (love and intimacy) and all that we'll learn through our readings and discussions. Graym and I pray and hope that we see everyday as another opportunity to grow, learn, and love. These sessions are surely going to aid in that ambition and until sessions 3 we will be preparing our hearts and minds.

Less than 8 months! Ahhhh!!! ♥♥♥