Romance And The City ~ A Wedding Day To Remember

I haven't had a chance to post about our beautiful time in New York City!

Darin and I ran off to NYC to get married and it was PHENOMENAL!!!

Our hotel looked over Time Square.....it was amazing!

We enjoyed the food and the people!  It was all so amazing!

Some of our favorite places were China Town, Gray's Papaya (the BEST hot dogs EVER), Central Park, Grand Central Station (where we had our wedding portraits taken, and of course the excitement of Times Square!  I fell in LOVE with New York city.  I did NOT want to leave!!!!

We celebrated Darin's birthday on Feb 25th, got married on the 27th, and celebrated my birthday on March 1st.  So, we spent some special days in NYC.  It was the best!  Our wedding day was magical! Getting married in NYC, just us two, was romantic and peaceful and just all out AMAZING!!!!

First Valentine's Together

The month of February was a special month for us!  It was our first Valentine's together and we had an awesome day!

We exchanged gifts....

Decorated his living room with cute "love" signs all over.....

And enjoyed the day together!  We went shopping and out to eat!  We made it pretty low key seeing as we were getting ready for a wedding in just a couple of weeks!

Set My Heart On Fire As We Set The World On Fire

I spent the majority of this morning talking back and forth with my sissy about the greatness of our God and it got me to start looking through old blog posts.  I wanted to go back and just really review what all God has brought me through.  As I was looking through old blogs, I ran across this one from October 2011 and my heart completely filled with so much thanksgiving.  Wow......so many people said I was TOO PICKY in my dating life.  Thank You Jesus for making sure I was!  I.AM.LOVED.

October 11, 2011 - Old Blog Entry

I went on a jog with my good friend Anant today and we were discussing relationships. He asked me the big question....the question I have been asked so much since being single. Anant's exact words were, "Crystal, you seem to find something wrong with every guy you date....you haven't been dating for a while so what DO you want in a man?" This has been a very popular question for me over the past few months. Friends are shocked when I say "no thank you" to very eligible and handsome bachelors who seem to have it all. I have yet to answer this question fully. I simply just shrug my shoulders and say "he isn't the one", "just not interested", "he goes out too much", "he doesn't love Jesus", "his breath stinks and God does not want me with a stinky guy", "he doesn't like dogs", "he has yet to call me and ask me out on a proper date", "he believes a relationship is based on text messaging", "his idea of a first date is a movie at his place and I know that that means," and my list goes on and on and on!

So, here it is, all wrapped up in one. :)

Most importantly, I want a man who loves Jesus and prays every day! Somebody who's whole faith is in Him. I want somebody who seeks God in all. Somebody who will travel the world with me and make it a goal in life to set the world on fire for Him! Somebody who actually prays for me and for the relationship. Somebody whom I can trust to lead my home and the relationship because I KNOW that he is led by the spirit and who yes I know will make mistakes from time to time but who will always lead with the right intentions. The trust I will have for him to spiritually lead and lead in every way will be because I KNOW that he is selfless and decisions are based on God's guidance and not what is just best for himself. 

I want somebody who takes the time out to get to know something about me every single day for the rest of our lives. Somebody who seeks my heart and wants to know every detail of my life. Somebody who is truly curious how my day went or how my tennis lesson went or how much I adore spending time with my big sister. Somebody who spends time nourishing the relationship and spends quality time with me and who makes this a priority.  Somebody who adores the fact that I love the color pink and that I have a button nose and that I don't wear make up and I like having my hair up in a ponytail more than anything. Somebody who allows me to love them with all that I have with no fears and not just because they want to be loved but because they want to be loved by ME. Somebody who enjoys life and has fun and can laugh at the little things. Somebody who can be goofy and who can just get up and go and enjoy life. Somebody who will adore Daisy like I do and even will comment on her outfits. HA! I just want somebody who doesn't take life seriously BUT who does take the love of the Lord seriously. Somebody who can communicate and love and can be romantic when it's least expected. Somebody who will send me flowers just because and ok, I do like flowers on special occasions too. Somebody who will text me when they think of me just to let me know. Somebody who calls me beautiful even when I'm not looking good at all, which rarely happens.....ok, fine, it happens a lot! Somebody who encourages me in my walk, with my career, with my friendships, just with life in general. Somebody who will make the effort to get to know my family and friends and not just get to know them but who will love them! 

Do I think this is too much to ask for? Nope, not one bit. I know that I am capable of all this and more; therefore I know it is possible and I know that with God and with love, anything is possible! I also know that ultimately God will choose the one for me. God is and will be the author of my love story. I believe that! 

Ladies, place your heart in the hands of God and He will place it in the hands of a man who He believes deserves it. :)

Is This What Marriage Will Be?

I told my husband-to-be that I needed to get some new contacts. 30 min later he called me with an appointment time with an optometrist. If this is what husbands do, why didn't I get married sooner!!!?? #swoon #spoiled #hetakescareofme

Saturday Six ~ Road To Addis Countdown

Saturday Six One:

Darin and I booked our flights to NYC and our hotel rooms for our wedding day in NYC!!!!  WOOHOO!!!!!!

Saturday Six Two:

Got our engagement announcements in today..... they came out so cute!

Saturday Six Three:

I have been sick since Thursday and so thankful to have the most amazing fiance' ever.  He has been running around for me and taking such great care of me.  I slept a lot today and woke up to a fridge full of veggies and Naked drinks.  I love this man!  So blessed!

Saturday Six Four:

I talked to NYC Shops for my wedding bouquet today.  Everybody has been so nice and helpful!  It's so cool to know that in 27 days, I will be in NYC saying "I do!"

Saturday Six Five:

I snagged a new client today in photography.  She owns a business and asked me to take pictures for her web site from time to time!  Score!

Saturday Six Six:

I'm happy.

I'm really really happy and it is such a great feeling.  I don't have everything together and things aren't always perfect but I'm happy.

I Want To Receive His Heaven

"To know God's will, we must totally surrender to God's Will." Max Lucado

Lately I have been faced with many amazing changes in my life that have continued to bring me to my knees both in seeking guidance and praising Him for His blessings.  Recently, I have battled fear and worry and have had to hand it over to Him completely in order to not get caught up in the enemy's plan.  At the same time I have also come face to face with His grace and divine intervention and most importantly transformation.  He has poured His love and guidance over me so powerfully but it has taken an emptying of myself in order for Him to be able to change my heart. 

To know Him and to be sensitive to Him, we have to totally surrender to Him.  We have to seek Him in prayer and ask to be sensitive to His voice.  See, often times we go to Him in prayer with a handful of choices that we want Him to decide for us.  God, should I take job A or job B, should I move to state 1 or state 2, should I get married, should I stay single, should I have a baby or travel the world.....the list goes on and on of all that we bring to Him.  We say, "Lord, this is what I want but I don't know which one is better, You pick." 

It takes more than that.  We must learn to enter His presence with empty hands, no hidden agendas, no multiple choice test for Him.....we must go to Him completely empty.  We must go to Him with a total willingness to do whatever He says.  We must surrender our life and our will to Him and trust in the desires He has for us.  We must empty the desires of our hearts and allow Him to refill our hearts with all that is Him.  

I'm getting married in 27 days and where this is the happiest of moments, it is also a very scary one.  I have been battling insecurities and wondering if I will be a good wife.  Will I love him the right way? Will I fail him in any way and if I do, will he leave me?  Will I always trust him and honor him?  Or will I become naggy and argumentative and God forbid, would I ever want to leave?  The fears and the questions go on and on yet in the midst of all the shouting fears and questions, I hear the small yet powerful whisper from the Lord telling me, "do not fear, I am here."  See, I have prayed and prayed not just for my future husband but for me as well.  I have left all of these questions and fears at the cross and I have to make a choice to leave them there.  I have to surrender it all to Him and trust Him! 

If you haven't listened to the Jeremy Camp song, "Empty Me", I highly recommend this song.  This song explains exactly what I am saying.  It gives me chills every time I listen to it.  We need to be emptied in order to be refilled by Him.  Emptied, not just by our wants and what we think we need but emptied of everything.  Emptied of shame, unforgiving thoughts, bitterness, things of the world, tomorrow's to-do list, yesterday's failures......everything!  We must be willing to surrender our whole world in order to receive His Heaven!

http://youtu.be/TWk42LFOQXM

Holy Fire burn away, 

My desire for anything

That is not of you and is of me.

I want more of you and less of me.



Holy Fire burn away,

My desire for anything

That is not of you and is of me,

I want more of you and less of me, yeah.

Empty me,

Empty me, yeah,

Fill, won't you fill me, 

With you, with you, yeah.



Holy Fire, burn away,

My desire for anything

That is not of you and is of me.

I want more of you and less of me, yeah.

Empty me,

Empty me, yeah.

Fill, won't you fill me, with you, with you, empty me now.



Well won't you empty me, well won't you empty me now. repeat x2

I want more, I want more, I want more of you, Jesus.

I want more, I want more, oh.

Thank you, Jesus. 

Thank you, Jesus, oh yeah, 

Thank you, Jesus, yeah. 

Holy Fire, Holy Fire, Holy Fire, Holy Fire

High Five For Friday ~ Wedding, Snow, and Girlfriends

High Five Number One:

I made my first bridal appointment in search for the perfect dress today! My heart about jumped out of my chest when I hung up the phone!  I get to marry my best friend! EEEEE!!!!!!!

High Five Number Two:

Have you ever had that moment where you felt at complete peace with where you were?  Like you just know you are smack dab in the middle of His will for your life?  Well I had that moment today and it felt so peaceful and amazing and I could just feel His arms around me!

High Five Number Three:

It snowed this week!!!!WWWEEEEEEEEEE

High Five Number Four:

God is working in my friendships and it's awesome!  Some old friendships are flourishing and new ones are starting.  I have been praying for restoration in one and I feel it coming soon!  God is totally preparing my heart for it and with that being said, He amazes me so much! I fall more and more in love with Him DAILY!

High Five Number Five:

I get to see my sissy soon!  She will be able to meet us in Amarillo to go dress shopping and I'm so excited!!!!!!