THE week

I love Jason. And it was meant to be! God even wrote it on this sandstone rock for me at the beach! (Yes, I just found the rock this way!!)

I'm still getting used to the idea that my wedding is within sight. It's not that I thought we wouldn't get married or anything. It's just that our wedding has always been so far off... Remember when I had a celebration cause our countdown was finally out of triple digits? Now I'm so close I could start counting the hours...which would be approximately 159. That's how close I am to taking on the married status, becoming a "Mrs.", being called a "wife", sharing a bed, paying bills, buying groceries, and cooking meals. And you know what? I'm crazy excited! It's going to be such an honor to be Mrs. Koemans, to be Jason's wife, and to share life with him. The thought of being a wife absolutely thrills me!

On a slight rabbit trail... My ring finger is kinda sad now, because I've gone back to wearing my old purity/promise ring - the matching band to Jason's. Now don't get me wrong, I love the meaning of my purity/promise ring, but I miss this pretty thing:

(Pretend my nail polish isn't chipping off...)

This beautiful ring is at the jewelry shop getting soldered with its gorgeous partner--the wedding band!! And in 159 hours Jason will place it on my finger as a symbol of forever--we will be soldered together!

This brings us back from the rabbit trail to the main topic-- I'm see my marriage to Jason as "limitless." Many people have been asking me questions like, "Lauren are you nervous?" or "Lauren are you ready for the big change in your life?" Yes, I wasn't born yesterday. I realize marriage is one of the biggest choices you make in your life and that it takes work. But I'm completely thrilled to be married and to work at it! I'm looking forward to these changes! These changes mean Jason doesn't go home at the end of the night. These changes mean I have the opportunity to love, bless, serve and satisfy Jason in a way that no other earthly person can. These changes mean we can embrace life together. These changes mean we can grow old together. The best is yet to be!

**All pictures by the great Mel Haidle, taken at Lincoln City beach in Oregon on a very fun trip with the distance girls! Someday I hope to post more of the pictures with the girls!