my last post as an unmarried woman!!

Hello my dear, dear friends! I'm sitting here in my parents kitchen before I head off to start decorating the church for tomorrow, my wedding day! Catherine is upstairs getting ready... and ohh I just had to stop for a moment and give you guys a little update before my life changes so drastically!

I know I haven't really posted anything since my prayer request for Lewis and I a few months back. Our God is so good and He hears our prayers... And His redemption is so complete. The healing He has brought to our hearts and relationships is staggering, and He has brought us to this place that we are right now... Praise Him! We have been SO privileged to be counselled by our pastor, Mark Buchanan, and his wisdom and encouragement have brought such an incredible clarity. We had our last session yesterday, and he asked us the question EVERYONE has been asking: "So, are you ready?" We have a hard time answering that question because its just SO huge that we can't really wrap our minds around it, let alone completely prepare ourselves for it and be 'ready' (whatever that means). So then he said, "Let me ask you this then... would you turn back?" And without a second delay, each of us said no... because we wouldn't. And not because we are trying to run away from anything in our past... but rather that the promises that the Lord has given to us for our future together are too beautiful and significant to ignore or deny. We want to take hold of them!

I had a lightbulb moment a couple of days ago. I was thinking about all of this stuff, trying to wrap my mind around it.... trying to fight the doubt, anxiety and fear that so quickly come upon me. And then I thought about my Kaleo name... "Ellanora the Brave".... oh my dear friends, how this has become such an incredible word over my life, you have no idea. Every day, with every experience, the Lord is giving me such courage and BRAVERY, praise Him!

So, tomorrow morning I will pledge my life to this wonderful blessing of a man, Lewis Jones. And while I am of course nervous, its not taking away from desire to walk CONFIDENTLY into my wedding day. My heart is opening up so wide to the mightiness and strength and love of our God... please pray that this would continue. Please pray for Lewis and I, the beginnings of our marriage over these next couple of weeks, for God's provision, and that He would give us courage to trust Him.

I should head off now my friends!!! Thank you for your prayers.... really. The Lord is so good to us for giving us community.

I love you and will post plenty of pictures soon!
Love, Ellanora the Brave