Wedding Watch – In Review March 12, 2010

My name is Jennifer Fountain. Fountain. It still sounds so odd, and yet so delicious, rolling off my tongue! It’s only been mine for, let’s see…about five weeks (not exactly an old married woman yet, I know). But how I love it! It means my heart now belongs to my husband; I am now part of a new family! 

The past month seems to have flown past!! One day I am cramming work and planning a wedding into an all-too-short day, and the next I am married. How did that happen?! 

Well, rewind to February 5th. The wedding was perfect – it was a dream. I woke up at my best friend Kristen’s home. Three little girls (who would later turn into fairies for my wedding) pounced on me as soon as they knew I was awake. After we giggled, I spent some time praying and quieting my soul. At that point, whatever happened along the way was going to happen. All of the planning was over. I was marrying David, MY David. And that’s all that mattered. But I wanted to start my day with Him. 

My sister arrived and we headed off to get our hair done with my mother. When we’d finished, my sissy drove me up to the building where I began to get dressed in my wedding dress. MY wedding dress! It was still just as beautiful as I remembered it being from the first time I put it on. I fell in love with it from a picture on a website. THIS was MY wedding dress – not a friend’s or in a magazine or on some blog, it was for ME!

As the girls and I got ready, the unspoken question was regarding the weather. We were supposed to get pictures done at a nearby outdoor park and of course it was rainy! Thankfully, my photographer and everyone in the wedding party were willing to brave the droplets to get some fun pictures (you can see many of them on Kristen Leigh’s blog). There were definitely memories made that afternoon!!!

Once we arrived back, the minutes flew by and before I knew it, I was standing at the back of the church waiting to walk down the aisle. I remember details so clearly (maybe it was because so many had cautioned me to NOT forget). I remember my heart beating so fast – so fast. I remember hearing the music to which I had chosen to walk down the aisle begin to crescendo. I remember my Daddy taking my arm and telling me how much he loved me and how he was rejoicing I would soon be marrying the man I loved. I remember seeing David’s face at the end of the aisle. I remember wondering if my veil would be straightened after my Dad gave me away. I remember worshipping next to my fiancé-soon-to-be-husband. I remember hearing Danny, one of my pastors and bosses, explaining the purpose of marriage. I remember seeing Benny, another of my pastors and bosses, get tears in his eyes as he led us through the vows. I remember David’s face as he promised to me for a lifetime. I remember telling David I couldn’t wait for him to be my wife – an “oops” moment that certainly brought some laughter. I remember my sister singing of our faithful God during communion. And I remember the pronouncement that we were now “Mr. and Mrs. David Alan Fountain!!!”

We were married! And within just a few moments – how incredible! The next morning we headed to Mexico for our honeymoon where we spent seven days relaxing and soaking in the sun.

And now we begin a new season – a new journey – together. We are so excited for all that God has done and look forward to all that He will be doing in the months to come! Thank you for all your encouragement along the way with these Wedding Updates! We both are very grateful!

Wedding Watch #8 January 29, 2010

This time next Friday, I will be getting ready for my wedding…my WEDDING! It is incredibly hard to believe it’s so close! I have waited and prayed and longed for this day for 29 years! And it’s here! 

Amidst the excitement and anticipation is the growing awareness of what it is I am doing. (I’m a slow learner.) With all the wedding planning and myriad of details, it has been easy to lose sight of what it’s all for – to get me married to the love of my life, the man for whom God has been preparing me. All of this wedding “stuff” is just details and fluff…it gets me to the point of being able to spend the rest of my life beside David. And every time I stop and think about that it takes my breath away. I still can hardly believe it.

So, on to the update!! We are getting lots done!!! I’ve settled on a hair style (praise the Lord!) and we have the décor for the auditorium figured out and nearly ready to go. I had a trial run with make-up (too fun!). We signed our marriage license (which, by the way, was pretty incredible to see “Male Applicant” and “Female Applicant” instead of “Party A” and “Party B” – hurray for Amendment 2!!). We finished our pre-maritals – oh, what a valuable time each lesson was!! I had my last dress fitting and now my dress is in my possession (it’s sooooooooooo pretty). 

There’s still lots and lots to do, though! I have a multitude of errands to run, thank-you notes to write, suitcases and boxes to pack, vendors to follow-up with, last appointments and meetings to attend, etc, etc. And we are praying for health and strength these last few days as both David and I have been pretty sick. But then…Friday will be here and I don’t care what happens. I am marrying David Alan Fountain!

Love, I am so looking forward to spending the rest of my life with you. The sovereign plan of the Lord had me confused often over the years as I wondered what on earth He was doing. Now, (silly, anxious me) I look back and see His hand at work in my life preparing me to become your wife – and His hand at work in your life preparing you to lead me (the harder job, for sure!). I am so in love with you.

“The time it took to find you, I’d wait again, my baby…”

Wedding Watch #7 January 15, 2010

Ok, we are on the home stretch, ladies! I will be married in THREE WEEKS! How is this possible?! It seems like just yesterday I was lamenting the fact that I was still single (of course, now I’m lamenting the fact that the engagement season is lasting FOR.EV.ER.)! Three weeks…it’s going to be here before I know it! The days fly by with such rapidity I hardly know what’s happening! It’s not four months away or even eight weeks away, it’s THREE weeks away. I’ve hit the stage where I’m just shrugging my shoulders at problems because it kinda is what it is at this point. I’d rather enjoy these last three weeks as much as possible without stressing about minutiae. Ok. Well, that’s my goal, at least!!

We’re down to our last two pre-maritals and finalizing all the details…things like making sure all the vendors have deposits and delivery confirmation, finding people to assist with the myriad of tasks the week of and day of the wedding, writing my vows, shopping and packing for the honeymoon (which is a surprise!!! I know it’s a beach-y place, but that’s it!), giving head counts to the caterer, picking up my dress, etc, etc.

The list seems to keep growing, but the difference is that my wedding day is in sight!!! It’s coming! It will be here so soon and I will be marrying the man I (and many others) have prayed for for years! The faithfulness of God has been so evident to me this past year as I have struggled on a roller coaster of varying circumstances, praying through decisions and seeking wisdom on issues the Lord knew I needed to help build my faith and trust in Him alone – my Rock. I am so amazed and grateful for this gift He is giving me!

Wedding Watch #6…and Happy New Year! January 1, 2010

Happy New Year!! I’m super uber excited about this year for obvious reasons. For one, I will be a wife in 35 days (how crazy is THAT?!). I will also begin my new career of running a household (first time ever for me!!).

…but some things will not be changing. I will still struggle with sin. I will still fight to be unselfish, content, joyful, loving, patient, etc. Those things don’t change when the New Year (or a new season) rolls around. In 2010 I will be adding lots of wonderful aspects to my life but I am also learning I will be adding lots of opportunities for the sin bouncing around in my heart to be revealed in new and consistent (smile) ways. 

For this reason, I am very grateful for the pre-marital material our pastors have been taking us through to help prepare David and me for our life together. And I’m looking forward to sharing some of these things in the weeks to come that we’ve learned. 

But on to the update! Let’s see, we have…um…we did….well…it doesn’t FEEL like we got much done this month! But we DID decide on the caterer. (woohoo!) And we did work on wedding stuff…but we were also flooded with Christmas shopping, Christmas parties, wrapping presents, family get togethers, traveling “home” to Atlanta again, etc, etc. So, I guess you could say we did as much as we could while trying to enjoy our first Christmas “together.” 

And yes, it was so super fun being together over Christmas! I was thinking back on Christmas 2008 and realizing I had NO idea what the Lord had in store for me this year. So as you look ahead to 2010, don’t forget to remember what all the Lord did in you and your family’s lives this past year! He is always at work, even when we cannot see His hand moving!

Wedding Watch #5 December 11, 2009

 Alrighty, it’s time for an update! We are down to 55 days! Yep. Fifty-five. And…I’m going to have to move along before I start to hyperventilate.

So what’ve we been doing since we last chatted? 

We met with a caterer – final decision TBD.

We hit (and passed!) the halfway mark for the engagement season.

We got the invitations OUT!

We went “home” for Thanksgiving.

We finalized about two-thirds of the ceremony.

We spent an entire day (literally!) registering. 

It doesn’t seem like much, I know. But it is crazy how much goes into the planning of a wedding! And, amidst the planning, we’re trying to make time for each other, shop for Christmas gifts, do the “family” thing with birthdays and holiday celebrations…oh, and work! 

When my brain has a few moments to think, I’m caught up between two categories of thought: 1) how much I can’t wait to just be MARRIED and 2) how much I have to learn. The first is, in part, an evidence of my impatience – something I’m working on. But it will be so nice to not have to say goodbye day after day, to not have to eat every meal out (some of you moms would trade a week with me any day, I know!), to not have to deny ourselves of our growing physical desires. The second is borne from a desire to want to know how to juggle having someone else in my life all the time, how to balance both sides of the family, how to submit to his leadership, how to add caring for and maintaining a home into the mix, etc, etc. The list could go on. All this being said, pray for us? Pray that we would honor God in the mundane details (this font size or that one?) and the important ones (purity and conflict resolutions). We would both be grateful. 

P.S. Check out all the rest of our engagement pictures on my Facebook page!

Wedding Ticker from PromoteMyWedding

Wedding Watch #4 November 20, 2009

I’m not exactly sure why, but I’ve been given permission to talk about my wedding online! Yippee!! That’s like sending a kid into a candy store…or a bride into a wedding dress boutique! You get the picture, right? I’m excited. So for the next 77 days, every other Friday, I’ll be bringing you the latest on the Lightfoot/Fountain wedding. Yes, ladies, you can get the very latest right here on the Mom’s Blog! That is, if you’re interested? (Wedding Watch #1, Wedding Watch #2, Wedding Watch #3)

First off, I originally thought it would be a cinch to plan a wedding in five months (my ideal time frame for engagement)…somehow I forgot to factor in that I would also need to work full-time. Silly me. October was supposed to be the truly busy month and November was supposed to be a joy-filled month, full of care-free walks along Park Avenue and drinking Starbucks and baking and holiday-anticipation. …stop laughing! Stop!! Ok, fine…go ahead and get it out. As you can tell, November has looked nothing like I had hoped (something now tells me neither will December or January ::smile:: ). However, it really has been amazingly productive! For example:

David and I have worked with a friend and gotten our invitations designed – from the ground up!

We met with our cake-baker and designed the monstrous confection.

We traveled to Nashville for a wedding – this counts! I was on the look-out for ideas!!!

We worked on the aesthetic aspects of the ceremony and reception.

I met with my florist and nailed down flowers and more décor for the day in one delicious marathon meeting!

We tried out another rehearsal dinner location (this could be a lovely excuse for eating out at different places…I wonder how I could transfer this to after we’re married?).

We will have our first invitation-assembly-night this weekend!! (Hopefully, our last, too??)

We will celebrate our first Thanksgiving together…last year I only thought he might like me. Heehee! 

So, there you go!! Those are the big things but there are still (obviously) so many, many more details to come (and pictures with the next Wedding Watch!). The Lord is using my fiancé in many ways to help me to not only remember the REASON we’re doing this but to also enjoy the process. What a blessing to have constant encouragement and reminders and assistance throughout every step of the way! David, thank you! Thank you for helping me and leading me through this season! I am so grateful for you!

Wedding Ticker from PromoteMyWedding

Confessions of an Exhausted…Bride-to-be October 9, 2009

::yawn:: These days it seems I am just so…::yawn::…tired. It’s about all I can do to pull myself out of bed each morning. And then (after realizing what time it is) rush to make myself presentable (again!), frantically grab a cup of coffee to gulp down on the way to work, try to listen to and actually concentrate on worship music or a message instead of running through my task list or looking at a bridal magazine at stop lights, arrive at work, forward all those super exciting emails from friends who are so enthusiastically rejoicing with me to my home address so I’m not distracted at work, make a bunch of phone calls over lunch (did the shop order the CORRECT bridal gown or not?!?!), rush to a cake design appointment, check out a department store’s registry, race to a meeting with the jeweler for wedding bands, grab a quick bite with my future hubby (best part of the day), show up late at Home Group, arrive home and open my email – only to find it FLOODED and screaming for my attention (scheduling myriads of appointments, decision-making, bridesmaid dress options, etc, etc), finally fall asleep at 1:30 a.m. …Did I mention this was yesterday? 

It’s really amazing – as incredibly fun as it is to be planning MY wedding, I am regularly exhausted and overwhelmed as I try to balance work, a wedding task list, a relationship…not to mention the desire to keep up with my friends and serving in the church! I want to do it all! I want to do my job really well, plan a gorgeous wedding, spend time with my amazing fiancé WITHOUT talking about wedding details, be there for my friends to watch their precious children (or take them a meal, or catch up with them)! But I can’t.

This new season has required me to evaluate my priorities and lay some things down. Saying “no” has always been challenging for me, but with each new season the Lord leads me into I am learning the importance of guarding my priorities. Being engaged will only last for a time – but then it will be on to lots and lots of other exhausting (but incredible!) seasons like balancing work, a home AND a husband; having small children; having large children (oh the drama I was!); having no children at home but lots and lots of grandbabies! I can’t wait and am very much looking forward to all of those seasons and the pure joy that each one provides (as God intended!)…but how am I learning NOW to be careful THEN? How am I battling pride and self-sufficiency during this season? 

One way I am working to do this is by asking what the Lord’s “task list” might be for me in this current season. Am I willing to evaluate MY task list and pare away the things that are not so important so I can fulfill the duties the Lord has truly called me to at this time? Am I willing to lay down things that I want to do or things that seem so incredibly urgent to me in order to make time to have a lengthy discussion (rather than a rushed and hurried one) with David about the pre-marital assignments? 

Honestly? Many times I am not – thus the exhaustion. However, when I DO choose to lay those things down, I find there is SO much grace for the things He has called me to do! When I am walking humbly in my weakness and not in self-sufficiency, His strength is magnified and there is freedom in knowing He is sovereignly at work!!

Well, I’m off to work – a task the Lord HAS called me to and one that I am looking forward to fulfilling with the strength He has provided for this day!

Posted by Jennifer

Surprising the Fiance September 18, 2009

Well…I am not married. Yet. But it’s been fun trying to be creative in blessing David off and on throughout our relationship. He has taken responsibility for date nights and fun day trips over the past several months as he has pursued me – so much fun! And I look forward to a lifetime of those!

Still, I wanted to find some way every once in a while to let him know how much I appreciated him. It’s all been VERY simple and easy but it seems to mean somethin’ to him. Sometimes it’s as easy as showing up at his office with Starbucks (for those of you who know David – that gains me a lot of points!!). Sometimes it’s a bit more challenging, like sending a surprise ahead of him on a business trip. 

It’s been amazing to see how much I am blessed in thinking through ways to hopefully bless HIM. I think it’s well worth the small effort it takes! And, now that we’re engaged, I am looking forward to new ways to communicate how much I love him! As a matter of fact, I need to get on that! Fun!!!

 **Wedding Update**

Last night I went dress shopping which was also a lot of fun! I couldn’t believe how surreal it felt. I almost felt like I was playing “pretend” or “dress up” and at any time the consultant would chase me away, scolding me for putting those dresses and veils and tiaras on…and nobody did! Instead everyone “oohed” and “ahhed.” Girls cried. Pictures were taken. Such a fun night!

And throughout it all I was just constantly reminded of God’s faithfulness to me through answered prayer. I have been praying for a husband like David for years (as have many other VERY kind friends and family). And yet, if He had chosen to not answer my prayers with a husband at this time, I realize He still would have been a faithful God. For some reason, THIS is the time He chose to bring us together – to reveal what He’s been working on for years and years!

 …and now I am trying on wedding dresses. Yes, it’s just that wonderful.

Posted by Jennifer

Preparing NOW for Marriage September 9, 2009

Speaking of “God’s Perfect Timing”…how about getting engaged the week after the Marriage Retreat?! It’s true. I am shamelessly announcing (for those who may not have heard) that in a matter of months I will be married to the love of my life – the man God has been preparing for me since the beginning of time! Besides being able to testify to His incredible faithfulness in our lives, I am extremely excited about the retreat and how soon I will be able to put into practice with David what I heard while serving on the retreat team!

To all my fellow unmarried girlies, may I encourage you to take some time to listen to these messages SOON? With marriage looming on my horizon, I am keenly aware of how inadequate I feel to be a helper to my future husband. Most likely marriage will be appearing at some point on your horizon, too. In what ways are you preparing NOW for THEN?

As I listened to the messages I found it very curious how much could already be applied to my life – even though I am not married! While our relationships with others look differently than that of a married one, we are still called by God to walk out our days pursuing biblical fellowship with other believers. This doesn’t come automatically when you become a Christian or join a church! I’ve also heard you don’t even get “zapped” with the ability to be encouraging and humble when you finally walk down the aisle! :)

So girls, let’s be honest. It’s much easier for us to get away with sin in our own lives because we don’t have the 24/7 of a husband. And it’s also easier to be lazy and uncaring when it comes to pursuing the opportunity to encourage others and help them identify where sin might be encroaching upon them like a mountain lion. Would our friends be able to say the following of us? (adapted from the Biblical Fellowship in Marriage Assessment tool handed out at the retreat)

1. She takes initiative to communicate specific encouragement and evidences of God’s grace in my life to me.
2. She takes initiative to confess her temptations and sins to me.
3. She asks for my help to see her sin and its effects on me.
4. She communicates hope in the gospel to me when I am discouraged.
5. She corrects me while appearing purposeful in her attempts to be humble and resist self-righteousness.

Wow! These are questions that we can totally be pursuing even now, girls. What becomes habit now will only serve our future spouses and families. However, if like me you haven’t been intentional about growing in this area in relationships God has graciously provided you with, you can repent and receive grace for change! As Benny said in a session on Saturday, our hope (for change) is in the Gospel – in our lives and in the lives of those around us!

Posted by Jennifer (soon-to-be Jennifer Fountain)