It feels like forever since I've posted on my blog...and then when I look back, it really has
been forever!
Before Halloween in fact.
I've almost missed out on a whole holiday! Thanksgiving will be here before I know it, and I have so many great Thanksgiving posts to share with you, {including lots of free printables}!
...and so much to be thankful for.
It wasn't a conscious decision to slow down on blogging, it just happened that life got
really busy all of a sudden...in a good way :) For those that already know, this won't be
new information, but for those that don't know, here is a peak into what what I have
been doing lately.
My home church,
Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, acquired a new venue...Rancho Capistrano in San Juan Capistrano. Since I am the current Wedding Director for Saddleback Church {and have been since 2002} I have had the good fortune to be involved in helping develop policies & procedures, doing demographic research for cost analysis, composing a new brochure, and interviewing preferred vendors. It has been a wonderful experience to be on the ground floor of something so amazing.
Also, we recently held an open house ~ a full week ~ of days welcoming the community to our newest venue. I was blessed to be a part of the open house each day as part of the wedding ministry, and spent a lot of time at Ranch Capistrano meeting amazing couples that desire to be married on our campus.
Initially I thought that I would be "giving something" by being there; whether that be my experience with weddings in general, my familiarity with being part of the wedding ministry at Saddleback, or maybe to help inspire couples to make changes in their lives and start doing things "God's way" so that between now and the date of their marriage they are honoring God by the way they conduct themselves in their relationship.
But the truth?
The truth is that I was incredibly blessed by the time I spent at Rancho Capistrano. To be a part of something so magnificent, and represent a ministry that God has shaped me for, was truly a gift. And what I didn't expect is that the stories that I would hear, the people that I would meet, the lives that would be changed, and the extra-ordinary work God is doing through ordinary people would bless me. I will forever be changed, and am incredibly humbled by the experience and the time I spent serving God and His people through the open house at Rancho Capistrano. If you haven't been to Rancho Capistrano, I encourage you to take the time to experience it! Services start on Christmas Eve, 2010.
I've also been doing a lot of wedding & holiday party planning, as well as doing ordinary life while trying to be the best wife and mom I can possibly be to my family.
Anyway, back to blogging about party planning!
Found via Half Baked, this amazing Thanksgiving DIY Printable Package is FREE from Carli at Dimple Prints as a thank you to all of her loyal customers {including me!} This party package includes everything you'll need to dress up your Thanksgiving! You'll find a menu, food cards, pie bunting, banners, favor tags, patterned paper, cupcake wrappers, party hats, water bottle wraps, straw flags and much much more, all ready to be downloaded and printed!
