"it takes a whole village to raise a child."

i stood in my parent's dining room this morning before i left for work - crate and barrel boxes, tissue paper, rubbermaid . . .

and i remembered standing in our place after the michigan shower and looking at all of the platters, pots and towels . . .

and i was listening to our first dance song while i was driving to work, going over my to do list in my mind . . .

and i thought about all of the plans i had for the bundt pan and the blue towels . . .

and i got to thinking - it takes a village to raise a marriage.

we have been so nourished by the people around us, emotionally and spiritually - i've said it so many times, but ariel and i have the best friends in the whole world. and now, after both of our showers are said and done, so many of the staples of our home are gifts from people who love us. so many people have helped us build up our home to make it into what it is now - we could not have done it without any one of them, we really can't take the credit for it at all.

we are so blessed. i feel that the closer we get to our wedding day, the more and more the Lord has been pouring out His visible, physical blessings on us. and we are so undeserving - the Lord called us, gave us the grace to do His will, gave us the means, and is giving us everything that we need - and we have done nothing at all. it truly is through Him, with Him and in Him.