I'm sitting here on the couch in mom and dad's living room. It's my last Saturday ever living with my parents. I've talked about how I wanted change...how I was so ready for it...Well, change is here! Not only have I fallen in love with an amazing man, I'm getting married in less than a week and moving almost five hours away from my home in Kentucky, to a small town in Illinois. I kind of feel like I'm in the middle of a whirlwind, but everything feels so right. Everything is finally coming together for me. That doesn't mean that this change is easy. No. Saying goodbye to your family, your friends, your church...that is definitely not easy. I've been youth pastor at this church for over five years now. I've seen this group of kids grow up, grow in God, and now they're getting ready to just explode...and I'm leaving. I've been so proud of them this past few months. They are still seeking God. They're still coming to youth. They're bringing friends...They are awesome! Man, it's going to be so hard to let go and just trust that God is in control. I've had Jeremiah 29:11 in my mind all week, and I have to stand on this:

 “I know what I’m doing. I have it all planned out–plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for. When you call on me, when you come and pray to me, I’ll listen. When you come looking for me, you’ll find me. Yes, when you get serious about finding me and want it more than anything else, I’ll make sure you won’t be disappointed. I’ll turn things around for you…You can count on it.”- Jeremiah 29:11 The Message

I love that last line...You can count on it. Isn't it wonderful that we can count on our future with Him?  I used to worry and doubt that maybe His plans weren't working out the way they needed to, but this past year has been more than enough proof to me that even when we don't think things are working out the way they should, He is working. His plans are perfect! 

So, I have to trust that God already has a plan set in motion for the people I'm leaving behind. He's going to do awesome things in their lives, just like he has done awesome things in mine.

If anyone happens to read this tonight, just say a little prayer for me this week as I put the final touches for this wedding together and say goodbye to life as I know it.  Tomorrow is my last Sunday at my home church. I've been at this church since I was ten years old....and 17 years later, it's time to move away. As ready as I am for change, I know tomorrow and the rest of this week will be very bittersweet. 

I'm leaving you with my favorite picture of my fiance and me:

Aren't we cute???  :)

DIY Floating Candle

I haven't posted on here in awhile...got so much going on! I'm in the middle of putting finishing touches together for my wedding which is in exactly 8 days! So, I have been trying to plan a wedding on a budget, which is incredibly difficult. There is such a crazy market on all things wedding. I'll have to post all the other diy things I did, but today I'm sharing probably the best idea I've gotten so far. I have been wanting to make something like this for my centerpieces:

However, floating candles are very overpriced. So, I started looking online for a good budget friendly way to make some DIY floating candles. I went to Big Lots and found 150 tealight candles for $6.00. I had finally settled that I was just going to go without floating candles because I couldn't pass up that deal on candles. I started looking online for ways to make floating candles out of tealights...found it! Take your tealights out of the metal casing they are in and melt candle wax on top of the bottom where the little metal tab is.

Then just let the wax cool and stick your candle in water:

I tested my candle in a glass of water..haha. I'll post pictures of the completed centerpiece look once I get everything together! Just thought I'd share!