God is a Giver!

My mom's house at Christmas The Brooklyn bridge picture

(with a glimpse of my new shoes) Me pointing out the UN which I could see from QueensMy wolf coasters My mom and I at Nick's parentsNick's parents and grandparentsThe comforter from Nick's Aunt MaryOur future family vision The beautiful blanket from Lauren and Brandon There's just something about Christmas. Last Sunday was the first time I've been in a big church for Christmas in a long time. We combined services so there were people everywhere, decked out in red and green, handing out Christmas cards and hugging each other a little tighter than usual. We sang "Silent Night" together, the choir belted out an amazing new song by Ogechi and Pastor George read the Christmas story. Add a spine-tingling solo of "O Holy Night" and for a moment, I had a glimpse of what heaven might be like. As Pastor George said, God is the ultimate giver who gave the very best gift of Jesus so we could be His children and be joined to each other as family in the kingdom of God. He said that even as the unbeliever rushes around without a thought of God, something inside of them wants to be like God and give. I'm so thankful that God revealed that truth to me fourteen years ago and it is still as real to me today as ever. My mom has always been one of the greatest givers I know but I think she might have met her match in Nick. My mom cooked Christmas Eve dinner and gave Nick and me some beautiful frames and a photo box that matches my furniture, along with many other special things. She also found these amazing wolf coasters that I've wanted for 6 months but never found. That way, the Wolf name can live on in our house :). Nick gave me a binder he had made with our testimonies, the meaning of our names (both meaning "victory") and a picture of our favorite bridge, the Brooklyn bridge. He also gave me some super cool running shoes because I'm always trying to keep up with him on the many walks he likes to take. They didn't have Asics brand in my size so he gave me New Balance, the NB standing for Nick Babinetz (Yes we're corny, but we're allowed to be:) ). I did get to throw in a surprise of my own. I found a painting of the Brooklyn Bridge almost exactly like the picture he gave me earlier that night. It also has sailboats which I've loved since my dad owned the "Sea Wolf", the sailboat we had when I was young. The picture is meant to go in his dining room and match the blue in his countertops. It also has a view of South Street Seaport where I had a fun night with the Chen dynasty girls last year. The matching picture, for his living room, has the United Nations on the left and the Chrysler building on the right. Since I worked on 69th and York (the UN is on 42nd and York (or close) ), it almost looks like I'm walking home from work when I see the picture. So I may have left New York but New York hasn't left me. I'll see it, and often think of many of you, every time I walk in my door! The next day, my mom and I drove to Nick's parents for a lovely dinner and more time with the family. Everyone is so kind. They are great givers too and I appreciate all they gave to us. Nick's Aunt Mary gave us a great surprise in the comforter we very much wanted. She had actually bought the one we had registered for accidentally and had to brave the store on Christmas Eve just to exchange it for the right one. Sorry about that but thanks for persevering! As you can see, blue is our theme color. Nick also surprised me with a plaque engraved with our future family vision. His dad made it! For those of you who know how much I love vision, you know I love that gift! It starts with one of my favorite verses, Habakkuk 2:2-4. I also came home to a most lovely engraved blanket with our names on it from Lauren and Brandon. What a very special Christmas it was to have so many people in my life who give as God gives.

One Month and Counting...

The City Hall in a small town is a little bit different then New York!A cute church on the corner The horses actually come up to you Brianna , full of life and energy! Well I once imagined this blog being a great journalistic record of wedding planning excitement but I've barely been able to do everything, much less take pictures of doing everything! Today is the first day of my first vacation in a year, even longer for Nick who doesn't get his until January. I feel like I've been on a roller coaster since January of last year and I won't be getting off until January 20th. But what a wonderful day that will be. I know it will all be worth it when the day comes but if you feel like praying for us, we'll take it! Today we did get a fun break and took a little ride to the country. A friend of Nick's from an old job is headed to Arizonian (maybe you'll see her Theresa, her name is Maria). Another co-worker was hosting a goodbye party so I got to meet some of Nick's former co-workers. They were the ones in his testimony that he used to tell that his future wife was in New York, having no idea if I really was the one or if I'd ever move back. So they wanted to see that I really exist. They were such sweet people that lived in this little town on a farm with horses and everything. It was so peaceful there. One friend has a daughter named Brianna who is full of life as you can see from the picture above. She likes to say "Yeah, Nick!" so if you hear her at the wedding, now you know who she is! If you still want some wedding planning info, we tried to register last Saturday. We got halfway around the store when our zapper died. We were told that nothing registered so we had to start over. Halfway through the next round, the whole thing froze up. We were told that again it hadn't registered! We should come back on a weekday when it's not so busy. Then we went through the whole store and wrote on paper every last thing. Two and a half hours of our lives and we got nowhere! We mustered up the courage to go back Thursday and finally finished. When I looked up the registry on the internet, we had requested 15 pillows and 3 garlic presses! (Not that I know what to do with a garlic press but Nick does). All the other times we used the zapper, it did register! Then on Friday, Nick got dishes on his door but we had only registered the night before! Turns out a friend in Delaware had asked him where we were registered weeks ago and found us online before we found ourselves. So thanks, Sara, for the great plates! That about describes many of our wedding planning comedy-of-errors but it is all good because we always end up laughing. Turns out that around this guy, I can actually be funny! Who knew? (OK, Gina used to say it...) PS for all those who know I've lived off Jenny Craig, Lean Cuisine and granola bars for more years than I can count, I want you to know I can actually cook! I did it all by myself! Nick was repainting his condo a color I like and teased his mom about driving up two hours so he could have a home-cooked meal. He would have never asked me to bring something but I wasn't about to let him go hungry. So I actually got out my Better Homes and Gardens cookbook, raided the grocery store and somehow put together Chicken Dijon and Rice Pilaf! I dropped it off and now Nick's mom doesn't have to worry about her poor son starving. So for those who always believed I could do it, thanks! For those who didn't, never underestimate the transforming power of love :). Have an amazing Christmas, everyone!

A Grateful Heart is a Happy Heart

After lunch, during a break in the Cowboys' game The beautiful clubhouse and pool

The future's so bright, we've got to wear shades

80's song- Kristin, do you at least know it?

The view of the lake from the dock

How amazing- and it's NovemberI call Nick my Boaz because he takes care of me and my mom

Thanksgiving was so beautiful this year. A relatively short drive to my mom's house, temperature in the 80's and an amazing gift in my life who did all the cooking! How good is God?!? But to have a family invite my mom and I into their lives meant the world to us. Nick's parents and family welcomed us to their beautiful home just an hour a way. After lunch, we went to the super nice clubhouse on the lake and took in the gorgeous view. After Nick beat me in foozball (thank goodness he doesn't let me win, I want to earn it!); we went home, our hearts and stomachs full.

But I never forgot last Thanksgiving. Holidays haven't always been my favorite and last year was close to rock bottom. I'm so thankful that the Lucas let me hang out with them but I only asked at the last minute. God has always been so good to provide invitations the past 4 years away from home but it was still emotionally challenging at times. Last year I realized that God did not ever want the birth of His Son to make people sad. There is an enemy of our soul who wants to use the holidays to make people feel sorrowful and alone. The truth is that as long as with live in a broken world, there will be children without parents, wives with husbands away at war and families with no home. There will never be a Thanksgiving where everyone can fill their stomach with turkey and their hearts with fellowship. But that gives us a chance to reach out, to give of ourselves and invite people into our world and share the blessings on our lives. Jesus was always feeding people's stomachs and their hearts. God blessed us so we could bless others and I hope to remember that during this season.

This year, I am beyond thankful to have my health, my parents alive and well, to be in a state I love, have a new car, a good job, great friends, an amazing church family, a wedding to look forward to sharing with and reuniting with friends and the most incredible surprise of Nick. But if I had none of those things, I would still have the love of God. I would still have the promise of eternity with Him. One of my favorite promises in the Bible is that there will come a day when God will wipe every tear from our eyes. So no matter where you are or what you have this particular holiday season, be encouraged that God loves you. He has a great hope for your future, an amazing plan for your life. He just never intended your hope to be in the things of this world. He intended your hope to be in Him. Though you may not understand what He's up to, if you just trust Him, you will find peace and joy this holiday season.

"Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured

out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us."

Romans 5:5