So...first off, I'M ENGAGED!! What?! Two Fridays ago Kyle took me into Floyd to go to one of our favorite restaurants, Dogtown Roadhouse. We had a 60 minute and a veggie pizza and it was every bit as lovely as it sounds. Kyle was pretty adamant about catching the sunset up on the parkway after we finished dinner. He popped the question here:
And I obviously said yes and he gave me this beautiful ring:
God has blessed me immeasurably. Kyle Inlow has been the biggest blessing to my life and he is truly a daily reminder of how deep the father's love for me is. April 14, 2014 was one of the greatest days of my life and I cannot wait to tie the knot with this man. I wouldn't want to do life with any other person.
On a different, but similar note, on my way down to Radford that weekend I was blasting some Lecrae and some of his lyrics hit me pretty hard. At the time, I didn't realize how incredibly applicable they were going to be to my life until recently.
Amidst the hectic-ness of grad school, work, and planning a wedding, my thoughts have been incredibly crowded. I feel like my brain hasn't had time to rest and I'm spinning in this tornado of plans. Plans, plans, plans. I'm type A and I am all about some plans, but I absolutely recognize my need to let go of control. This has been a common discussion between Kyle and I recently. I am desperate to be more laid back and to just loosen up the reins.
I caught myself doing the dishes the other day and going through this series of thoughts:
Where are Kyle and I going to live?
What am I going to do?
What is he going to do?
How are we going to get all of our stuff to wherever we move?
If we make this much money we can pay this, this, and this, and have...$0 left over.
How am I going to write a thesis, defend my thesis, and get married one month later?
How am I going to help my mom plan a wedding during my second year of grad school?!
Do I really want to get a PhD?!
*Relax. "And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?" (Matt. 6:27)*
I have to tell myself this constantly and it gets easier. I can let go. It isn't up to me to decide. Whatever my plans may be may not necessarily be what God has in store for Kyle and I. That is okay.
The lyrics that were playing on my way to Radford that weekend were from the song Background. I am so into planning every move that I could possibly make so that I am never surprised and always prepared. This song has become my daily prayer, these words in particular:
I know I'm dangerous when I trust myself, my vision blurred
And I ain't got no time to play life's foolish games
Got plenty aims, but do they really glorify Your name?
And it's a shame, the way I want to do these things for You, yet
Don't even cling to you, take time to sit and glean from You
Seems You were patient in my ignorance...
I could play the background
I could play the background
Cause I know sometimes I get in the way
So won't You take the lead, lead, lead?
So won't You take the lead, lead, lead?
And I could play the background, background
And you could take the lead
Here's to learning to play the background. There are nothing but exciting times ahead. His plan is infinitely greater than anything that I could ever conjure up and that is all the peace I need.
Happy Good Friday, friends.
