We HAVE Wedding Pics! {Part A}

I may or may not have been STALKING my mailbox every single day since January 2, waiting for our professional wedding pics to arrive. Ryan's mom did such an amazing job taking pictures before the wedding and she even sneaked in a few during and after, but we wanted her to be able to enjoy the actual ceremony, so we hired Stephen Rudd to be there just for a couple of hours to take pictures of the wedding itself. And finally, this week, we arrived home to find a box in the mail!! OUR PICTURES!!! Thought I'd give you a bit of a photo essay of them today!!

There are kind of a lot, so I'll do one grouping today and one tomorrow. And I promise to {try to} keep commentary to a minimum.

Heading to hide in the weeds {or cove - whichever you think sounds classier} prior to the start of the wedding. 

 My best Jackie-O look with my best friend.

 Seeing the part of the wedding I missed...Jeff escorting Mom to her seat.

 Ryan escorting his mom to her seat. I asked Nita later - what is that, a bodyguard behind you? Ryan's stepdad, Allen, looking quite professional! :)

 My gorgeous niece, Cassie, carried in our bears that represented my nephew, Kirk {her brother} and my roommate, Angela, both of whom passed away prior to our wedding.

 Adam and Sara walking in...

 Mark and Lynnette walking in...

 Know what I love about this pic? It was right after I told Dad he could sit down, and I was drinking in Ryan's song to me and looking totally toward my future...no looking back.

 Ryan looking at me as I'm hearing his voice sing to me.

 So handsome. How in the world am I this blessed?

 Trying really hard NOT to cry as I listened to him sing. {I had worked so hard on the makeup...} I do wonder who the swimsuit lady is in the back!

 Loved this fish bowl setting he used a couple of times. Our little wedding party!

 Praying together. {Or else we were very tired. NO...I'm kidding. We were praying.}

 Oh yeah. That's my husband.

 Our little bears.

 This did NOT go well. He had to finish putting the ring on himself. But at least we got a photo.

 I'M GETTING MY WEDDING RING!!!!!!!!!!!!

 All married off!!

 All our guests...

 Our wedding party. Man, they look good.

 My girls. We were gettin' sassy.

 And the handsome men.

Can you stand just a little more...tomorrow?

Random

Every now and then, my brain gets packed with random {mostly useless} bits of information that need to escape to {hopefully} make room for useFUL bits of trivia. So today I share a brain dump with you because frankly...I need room for more helpful intelligence in the ole noggeldy-noggin.

* I am occasionally mocked for my fear {initiated by YEARS of watching Criminal Minds, SVU, and CSI...} of randomly being shot. This fear was especially prevalent at my old job in Financial Aid. People get really cranky about their money. And by cranky, I mean absolutely irrational. I always had a small worrylet floating in my brain that one day, some parent would go nuts on me and shoot me. Only once did that fear feel really really real. I ticked off a mom within driving distance of the school and I looked around really carefully as I left work that day. Anyway. Turns out my fears might not be so unfounded after all. Heard this week that a Financial Aid Administrator in St. Louis was shot by a disgruntled student. I'd like to say...it's just money, people. Just money. Not shooting worthy.

* Our church is doing a study based on Kyle Idleman's book Not a Fan. Really great study...but I was reminded as I was filling out the accompanying participant journal that I have an inability to leave any lines blank in a journal. Thank you, OCD. Yesterday a question deserved only one line for an answer but gave about five, so I followed up my one word answer with a reason why I said it...so I could fill up the rest of the lines. Moved on to the next question {with four lines below it}...explain your answer, it said. Sigh.

* The difficulty difference between Level 1 and Level 2 of Jillian Michael's 30 Day Shred is significantly more pronounced than I remembered from my last adventure with this video. I declared to Ryan that from this point forward, I need him to be home when I do the workout so he can push me forward in it. You know I'm secure in his love if I'm inviting him to view my workout.

* This week on the morning show, the guys said they read a report of things restaurant servers hate. Among them...couples who sit on the same side of the booth. This is one of Ryan's biggest pet peeves. He HATES it. So...all you servers out there...thanks for loving us more! :)

* I heart....HEART...my new Kitchen Aid mixer that we received as a wedding gift. My baking life has been completely revolutionized. I've wanted a mixer for years, and it turns out that was a wish totally worth the wait. We named her Miss Mixy and I just love her.

* I'm 3 years late to the party, but as of this week, I am completely enamored with Downton Abbey. I watched the first episodes and wished for a way to just cancel life for a few hours so I could keep watching. Having said that, I'm eternally grateful that I do NOT live in an age sans air conditioners and with corsets. Oh those poor people.

* I bought a new Essie polish this week and was also given a second bottle as a gift. Since I know you've been eagerly awaiting the update of my Essie collection, I thought I'd let you meet the two newest members.

* I am addicted to Honeycrisp apples. This is all Sheryl's fault. She fed them to me at lunch and now...addicted. Of course. I would become an apple snob to the only apple that costs three dollars and stinking fifty cents a pound. (And I think every apple is right about a pound. NOT kidding.) But oh my goodness. So good. Almost as good as a frappe. GASP. What has become of me??

 Thanks for reading along! My mind feels clear enough now to focus on more important things...like ummmmmmmm......

Our wedding pictures came!!!!
I suppose you want a preview.

Okay fine. Since you INSISTED...

(photo by Stephen Rudd Photography)

Holy {Conviction}

I have a confession to make.

Please promise to still love me after you read this.

I really don't like David Crowder's music.

{Hiding from your look of utter horror and disdain.}


I do believe I am the only person in my age bracket to have EVER uttered these words, and I've tried ever so hard to refrain from putting them in print for two reasons. 1. I'm afraid David will Google his name and find this blog post...and let's face it. No one wants to read that someone isn't a fan of their life's passion...and 2. I work at a radio station, so I always feel extreme guilt anytime I don't care for an artist. I feel a sense of necessity to love all music equally because of my job.

But I am making the confession today because of something that happened Sunday...that I felt was worthy of a blog post.

Now and then, we sing some Crowder songs at church and I'm typically the one who just stands quietly during said songs because...you know...not a fan.

Sunday morning, during worship practice, the team started belting out his Holy song...and I shot Ryan a look from my spot in the front pew, where I was journaling and reading blogs. He flashed one of those smiles I can't resist and I rolled my eyes.

And not ten minutes later, they were working on a second song...one that has currently escaped me. Really? Two in one practice???

When church began, our worship leader, Sara {the same Sara who was in our wedding} stood before us and asked us to be brave enough to let God interfere with our worship. She had an empty chair placed at the front of the church and asked us to imagine God sitting in that chair...and asked us to worship Him in whatever way we felt led.

Then she returned to the piano and began to play Holy. In typical Bekah-rebellion, I stood quietly in my pew, not singing along...but to honor her request, I did listen to the lyrics as I stood.

And suddenly my eyes were full of tears and my heart was overrun with warm Presence and conviction rushed through me. I could hear so many voices {many were probably the teens who adore Crowder songs} singing loud and full...so full that it was hard to distinguish the praise team above them. My lip trembled and I bit it hard, closed my eyes, and truly worshiped.

To a Crowder song.


The song ended and I sat in my pew with my head in my hands, aware that my own personal preferences had been keeping me from a blessing...and that is a shame.

A few minutes later we stood together again and sang a hymn. I grew up on hymns. I don't even need the hymnal most Sundays because I was reared to know all four verses by heart...and yet as we sang a song I deemed likeable...I noticed the loud, full singing had dwindled to quiet murmuring and I could easily hear the worship team again. The songs people beg to sing because they're known...were delivered without much passion.

And for the rest of the service, the words to that Crowder song hung heavily over me...and I was aware God had indeed interfered with my worship...

...in an absolutely magnificent way.

SSMT Verse 2

I loved my first SSMT verse...which is also my theme verse for 2013. Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being, and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart. Psalm 51:6

Can't tell you how many times throughout the first portion of this year I have cried out this verse as a prayer...as I've begged God to raise me up into the wife He intends me to be to Ryan.

And I've been praying about where to go for a new verse for the second half of this month. I'd somewhat forgotten, from my last time of doing this Scripture memory adventure, that God tends to lead me toward verses that are...stretching for me. And stretching can be somewhat {read: extremely} uncomfortable.

But yesterday I found this verse and KNEW it was the one He was bringing me to next.

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

~ Romans 12:2 ~

I "sort of" knew this verse already but I don't have it officially committed to memory, and the internal struggles and wrestling I've dealt with in the last couple of weeks made me certain this verse was what I needed a the forefront of my mind as we head into the second half of January.

In the past couple of weeks, I've been pretty tough on myself. I'll admit that. I spend most of each day telling myself why I'm not being a good enough wife. Why I need to try harder in this area. Wonder why that part doesn't come more naturally to me. Negative self-talk takes a toll. It just does. I've cried many {needless} tears as I've told myself over and over that I'm just sub-par.

Ryan doesn't feel that way at all. When he sees me struggling, I see pain and compassion combine in his eyes and he pulls me close to him and tells me I'm a great wife. That I'm exactly what he needs. That he loves me. 

He asks what I think a wife should look like and how it's possible that I don't see myself in that.

And in those moments I know that my own lofty expectations of perfection are hurting me...hurting the man I love, and hurting the Heart of my Beloved...who made me to be the wife I already am.

And so it is that in these next two weeks, I will fill my mind with the words of Romans 12:2.

Do not be conformed to this world...to the expectations I place on my own self out of what I see around me.

...but be transformed by the renewal of your mind...I so need a transformation of the mind. An actual overhaul. 

...that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. Just as my first verse this year said...He gives wisdom in the heart. And when I throw away the thoughts I've been telling myself and replace them with His Heart's ways...I will be able to understand what He wants from me. What He wants FOR me. 

Big inhale....here goes!

A Month and Fifteen Minutes

I have a story for you today. {Stop. I heard that. You have a story EVERY day. I mean I have a truly-Bekah story today.}

So. I decided to change my last name to Shaffer. You know...since I got married and all. And you would think I was the first person to ever do this...

Here's how it went down.

Ryan and I looked online to see what you needed to take with you to the SSA to change your name. Marriage certificate and ID. So one day, shortly before Christmas, I had a day that felt just un-busy enough that I'd be able to sneak away from work to visit my friends at SSA. I went armed with a copy of the license {because after careful examination, that's what the court seemed to have sent to use} and my ID. As soon as Mid-Morning ended, I went to the SSA office in Fort Wayne.

I walked past a novel-length post of signs as I entered. No food or drink. {Bummer.} Now closing at noon on Wednesdays. {Must be nice.} No cell phones. {WHAT?!!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!!?!?} That last part was really unfortunate, as my plan had been to text and read Facebook and Twitter while I waited.

The cop at the front door directed me to sign in at the kiosk and wait my turn. I sat down next to the lady with the most handsome mustache and looked at all the obvious regulars who had come armed with magazines and books. Rookie mistake there, Bekah.

FORTY FIVE MINUTES LATER, my number was called and I walked to the window with a mostly forced smile on my face and announced to the less-than-impressed woman working that I'd just gotten married and I wanted to change my name. I handed her the forms and in one minute flat, she informed me the license wasn't correctly certified and I'd have to come back.

I managed to not cry until I got outside...where I burst into tears and did the only logical thing: headed for the McDonald's drive-thru. I sobbed my way through my burger and fries order and went back to work.

SSA: 1. Bekah: 0.

Ryan called the marriage license people and explained that the license wasn't working...so they sent a new one. It arrived right before Christmas. I had Christmas Eve off work, and after consulting the SSA website, we determined Christmas Eve was NOT one of their holidays, so it seemed best to go visit that day, when I didn't have to work. So while Ryan attended his job, I packed the car with coffee {to be consumed before arrival} and a book {because I was NOT going to stare at mustaches for another 45 minutes} and drove through the snow to the SSA office in Marion.

Which was closed.

Not surprising. But definitely frustrating. Nothing that a sweet tea won't fix.

SSA: 2. Bekah: 0.

I got smart after two failed attempts. On the kiosk, I'd noticed a question that said "Do you have an appointment?"

So right after the first of the year {plus a few days for the month-beginning people to cycle through the office}, I called the number on the Fort Wayne SSA office website.

The number you are trying to reach has been disconnected.

Not shocking.


I tried the toll free number instead and was informed that my call was very important and they would be with me as soon as they could, but they were experiencing an unusually high volume of calls at that time...and my wait time would be greater than 10 minutes.

My favorite part was this: If your matter of business can wait, it might be better to call back at another time.

If my matter of business could wait...I wouldn't be on the phone right now, Ding Dong!

So I waited...eighteen minutes according to the timer on the phone. Then Mario answered. Ohhhhhh Mario.

He asked what I needed and I told him...an appointment.  No problem. He asked my name, date of birth, SSN, place of birth, mother's maiden name, and EIGHT MINUTES and a barrage of questions later, I had an appointment for a Wednesday afternoon at 2 p.m.

Thank you, Mario.

I went home and told Ryan the happy news, and he said, Didn't you say they're closed on Wednesday afternoons?

I quit.


SSA: 3. Bekah: 0.

A couple of days later {to the SSA's credit} a woman called and said, "You have an appointment with us on Wednesday afternoon...but we're closed on Wednesdays."

Yeah. Caught that.

She offered me an appointment on Thursday afternoon instead. She asked what I planned to do, and I told her I needed to change my name. She said, "Oh that should only take 15 minutes."


Have you MET your office, lady?

So I went..with much fear and trembling...and three magazines.


I checked in at the kiosk and walked into a waiting room packed with three times as many people as the time before. Thank goodness for appointments! The only chairs left were on the front row, so I sat down, set my stopwatch on my contraband phone, and opened my first magazine to page one.

Rebekah Freelan, window 3.

So I closed my magazine and stood right back up in front of all those people who had been waiting and waiting, and silently prayed, Please don't let me get shot as I made my way to the window. {Sounds dramatic but waiting an hour can do crazy things to people. It's not out of the question to get shot for something like that. I'm just sure of it.}


At the window, the lady informed me that during my "interview," all my answers could be recorded and I needed to understand that anything I said could make me subject to perjury if I lied.

No pressure.

I answered all the same questions I had to tell Mario just to MAKE the appointment, and halfway through, the lady paused to tell the employee at the next window that she accidentally took her 2:00. Then she said, "Don't worry about it. This is an easy one."

REALLY??? EASY??? Glad it is for YOU!!

A mere 6 minutes and 46 seconds after I checked in, I stood at window three and heard these words:

One last question: Do you understand that you are changing your name to Rebekah Shaffer today?

Here's what I wanted to say:

You don't say!? Changing my name? I had no idea.

But I was being recorded and didn't want to end up in court for perjury so I gritted my teeth and said yes.

SSA: 3. Bekah: ONE!!!!!!!

And that's how I changed my name to Rebekah Shaffer...and it only took, as Ryan said, a month and fifteen minutes.

Next up: The BMV. Stay tuned.

The Shafferland Shuffle

* Last Sunday, Ryan and I hunkered down for the Colts playoff game. {Playoffs are such new things to me...} And as those of you who follow the world of football know...it was the day we folded up these shirts for good for this year.

So we got some pizza and breadsticks and worked on straightening up the office a bit more. {We are desperate to get this house in shape!!}

* Monday, before Ryan left, he told me he'd packed my lunch for me. When I opened my leftover pizza, I found this inside:

 Sigh. He makes me smile an awful lot. :) The weekend of work got the best of me, and by Monday night, I was just pooped. So we took it easy...watched TV and played on our computers.

* Tuesday I was just hopping around Twitter when I ran across this tweet from my friend, Brent Vernon: 

 It's still so strange to me to see my new name in print...and it was so exciting that he remembered the interview and wanted to revisit it!

* Wednesday night we came home to find this in our mailbox:

Our first together-scrapbook. Ryan and Bekah: the dating season. :) I still need to do the books on our engagement season...our honeymoon...our wedding...EEEEEEEEK! Much scrapping to be done. This was so much fun to read through - to relive all the joy of those early days together!

* Thursday I FINALLY had success at the Social Security office in changing my last name! I'm a real Shaffer now - and that only took four tries and what will be fabulous blog fodder...I'm just sure of it! In other news...I also am a real Shaffer now on the station photo wall!

* Friday was a long day to end a very long week. Ryan and I celebrated by having a Chinese dinner date! He brought home our dinner...and we just enjoyed the evening at home. I particularly love it that we can enjoy a great date...and have it at home.

* Yesterday was CRAZY busy - had breakfast with my friend Kari, and it was so good to catch up with her after way too long. Then last night, we had our first official Shafferland guests! We hosted the next round of game night, with my high school buddies! Ryan fit right in and we had so much fun. Food was good too - TACO BAR!!

A Honeymoon Friday

Friday morning, we had to face...going home. Sigh.

We'd packed up the car the night before so we could maximize our morning...one last trip to the beach. Our wonderful, precious beach, where we were married.

One last walk through the sand where I became Mrs. Shaffer...

One more look down the shore line...one more morning coffee while the sun came up....

We also had one last breakfast from the food cart guy who fed us so well all week! And then Ryan really had to say goodbye to the sweet little bike. We had to return her.

Then we crawled in our car and prepared to drive north.

I tried to cheer us up by pulling out another round of travel games. First up? Movie trivia! Ryan answered questions about How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days and I answered questions about You've Got Mail. We won't talk about who won. {Cause it wasn't me.}

I entertained myself by writing our Christmas letter. {I'd ordered the cards poolside earlier in the week.}

And then...oh be still my beating heart...S.O.N.I.C.

Even Ryan was impressed with the strawberry cream slush. How he ever lived a full 33 years without having one is truly beyond me and mine.

Ryan's demonstration of my car dancing.

We stopped for our first Starbucks as a married couple. A moment that deserved no less than full documentation.

I really appreciate so many things about Ryan and the way he loves me. And one thing he does so well is that he always does everything he can to make me feel loved. He wanted the trip home to be special, so he surprised me with reservations at a B&B out in the middle of nowhere in Georgia. We arrived kind of late (8ish)....

...and checked into the most darling room...little gas stove in the corner...big comfy bed...

...eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!! A hot tub!!!!!!!!!!!!!! {I love these so so much.}

And he even ordered dinner to be served in our room so we could relax and eat. We added the sparkling grape juice his parents gave us for our honeymoon...

...and I said if we had to come home...this was a pretty perfect last stop to our trip. That's for sure!!!