I'VE MOVED

That's right. I've moved my blog to Wordpress.

My new address is www.maryblaustone.wordpress.com

Come visit me there real soon!

Blessings to all, and goodbye for now, Blogger.

mary

Countdown Wedding Day

Wedding planning has been a daily task these days. We are down to the last 2 months. Invitations are out. Venue is booked. Dresses are being made, suits are being rented, photographer is booked, and the D.J.'s ready to rock. We even chose the cake at a wonderfully, delicious cake tasting last night. I can't tell you what it is because we want it to be a surprise. The above picture should give you a hint. And I have two words for you....YUM!

In light of all the tremendous progress we've made in planning, there still seems to be a million things left to do. Linens and chairs to rent, finalizing the food, taking candles over to the fire department to have them fire tested and approved for use, hiring security guards for the reception (what do they think we're going to do for heaven's sake?). And then there's the flowers. We still have to get the flowers. And the decorations, and...oh dear...I still don't have a dress. Friends, as well as my mother keep asking me, "What are you going to wear, Mary? Have you gone shopping for yourself yet? Whata ya mean you haven't gotten a dress yet? You can't wait till the last minute!" For goodness sake people...I haven't had a chance to think about it. Who knows, maybe I'll just pull my own wedding dress out of the box and wear that. It still looks good.

But in all seriousness. This truly has been an amazing experience. I already feel like I could write a book on what to do, and what not to do when planning your only daughters wedding...and I'm not even finished yet. The time I've spent with Natalie in the planning and preparation has been so precious. I treasure every moment. She won't be here much longer; in our home that is. The very thought of that...well, I just can't imagine it. How blessed I am to be so intricately involved in the planning of this glorious celebration. Stress and all...I wouldn't change a thing.

Trying not to countdown to quickly,


The Mother Of The Bride

My dear friend, Kay Moja sent me this quote today.


"There is nothing – no circumstance, no trouble, no testing – that can ever touch me until, first of all, it has gone past God and gone past Christ, right through to me. If it has come that far, it has come with a great purpose, which I may not understand at that moment. But as I refuse to become panicky, as I lift my eyes to His and accept it as coming from the throne of God for some great purpose of blessing, to my own heart, no sorrow will ever disturb me, no trial will ever disarm me, no circumstance will cause me to fret – for I shall rest in the joy of what my Lord is. That is the victory of faith."

Alan Redpath

A day in the life

I haven't really used this blog as a means to let people know of the everyday events of my life. Not that that's a bad thing. It just hasn't been the direction I wanted to take.


But that's about to change...at least in this post.


Here's a brief, and in no way complete, recap of recent events in my life.


My children are growing up


And talk about anticipating the empty nest. It's happening as I speak. I'm planning my daughters wedding, as well as getting ready for Nate's graduation from High School. The two of them are gone more then they are home. What with school, work, girlfriend, fiance...you name it and it'll take them away from home. At least my baby boy, Zach, is still around. But wait! He's turning 16 this summer. He'll be getting his drivers license. And he too, being the skater dude that he is, seems to be gone more and more these days.

And Mom just watches. Sometimes helplessly, but not hopelessly. I believe this is what we raise them for. We pour ourselves into our children, teaching them to the best of our abilities to be respectful human beings, good communicators (at least the Blaustone's do), competent in their abilities to take care of themselves and to be financially responsible. Then, as always...you pray, pray, pray. You let go, and let God work in and through their lives. But I have to say, my heart still hurts these days.
























Chris in Sedona

Chris took a trip to Arizona to spend some time with his mom. Carol has been fighting the battle against cancer for almost 5 years now. She gave up a lung the first time around. Now she fights with one. Her chemo has been changed to a pill that she will take once a day, every day...probably for the rest of her life. The goal is to shrink the tumors and provide a remission.

Carol Blaustone is a fighter though. She's a little spit fire who loves to talk. Let me say that again. She loves to talk...which sheds a little more light on my husbands passion for gab. She has been through so much over the last 5 years. The first lung removal, radiation, and then chemo. After this last remission more cancer was found and a second, little surgery happened. When you have one lung you can't just remove it, or pick at it for that matter. After this, another round of chemo. And now the once a day chemo pill. But like I said, she's a fighter, and she's strong. She blows everyone in the family away in that regard. I love her dearly.


To get a job, or not to get a job...

That is the question. I had the fun privilege of working at a Christian book store for over a year. I hadn't worked in a number of years before getting that job. I ended up quiting back in November and have been jobless ever since.

Now, the thought of going back to work isn't the most appealing to me, but it is necessary. I mean, hello...wedding. So, needless to say, I NEED direction. There aren't a whole lot of jobs out there these days. Not to mention that making more than $8 an hour would be special ;-)

Anything else?

Lets see. It's very windy outside. And, I'm going to see Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull tonight!

I said it would be incomplete.


Blessings to all

Quote for today...

"Christ died for men precisely because men are not worth dying for:

to make them worth it."

C.S. Lewis