Only 9 more days!! Where has the time gone?!?

Well, I was emailing my MIL this morning and I realized that the shower is only nine days away!! Yikes! It seems like I had so much time when I thought about having two weeks before the shower but now that it is under ten days, I'm kind of freaking out. I do not feel like I'm behind but I know I still have quite a bit of work to do before the shower.

Yesterday I went to Publix and ordered the cake. I went to a different Publix and I'm so glad because the experience was so much better than the ones in the past at the Publix closer to my house. The paternal grandmother is taking care of the punch for me and that takes a huge load off my shoulders. I have never made punch before and I don't have a punch recipe or a punch bowl, so it helped me that she was willing to do that for me.

My "to do" list consists of:

• finishing up the other item that I punched when I worked on the invitations
• finishing up the pinwheels
• seeing if I need more puff balls
• making felt diapers
• assembling decorations
• making a "don't forget" list so I don't leave anything behind on the day of the shower
• wrapping the gifts
• get the food
• wash the platters
• clean the basket
• firm up chairs/tables
• set up meal plans
• work on questions for game
• get baby food
• get more spoons

I'm sure there are things that I'm forgetting to add to the list but I'll start there and work through it...and add things as they come to my mind.

I'm getting so excited about the shower but I'm also finding myself very nervous. This is the first party that I am hosting alone. What if I screw something up? Sometimes I forget that it is okay to not be perfect. I feel I have struggled with that issue for a long time. I am constantly worried that I'm not doing enough or doing too much. Am I harassing my bff too much? Does she need me more? Does she know I'm there for whatever she needs? Then I realize that I'm letting myself worry.

As I ponder all this, I start my devotions this morning and both of these topics are in my devotions. Here are some points that stood out to me today:

• Regardless, of whether you are a successor or failure, regardless of what you may think about yourself, regardless of what other people may think about you, God says, “I LOVE YOU!”
• You will be able to overcome the feelings of inferiority if you understand that accepting the values of the world, leads to those feelings, and that accepting God’s values, learned in His Holy Word, takes away the feelings of inferiority.
• When our hearts and lives are filled with praise and thanksgiving, worry is a weed that will die from lack of attention. Why? Because praise acknowledges the very character of God, while thanksgiving recognizes the work of His hand. Together, praise and thanksgiving are powerful weapons against worry and important tools to help us grow.
• Thanksgiving is a deposit on the future. Praise is trusting Him for what He will do and then expecting Him to do it, understanding that today’s stumbling blocks are tomorrow’s stepping-stones. Praise frees God to work because when we praise Him, we are choosing to trust Him totally, despite the circumstances.
• Don’t let anyone keep you from praising God!
• Don’t let any circumstance deny you the joy of giving thanks!
  
• Praise is not optional in a life that wins over worry and doubt!
• Praise is essential in a journey of faith. It is a demonstration of trust and the acceptance of a circumstance without insisting that God change it. When we choose to praise God, we choose to trust Him. And when we choose to trust God, we will win over worry!
• Prayer to remember: Father, I come to You today with a sense of helplessness. I am desperate for You, Lord. I need Your strength and power to sustain me because everything seems to be falling apart. I want to be a woman of faith and stand strong when trouble bombards my life but I cannot do it alone. I am afraid and seem to worry about everything. Today, I turn to You and celebrate the truth that You will turn to me and be my refuge. In Jesus’ name, Amen!

As I studied all this today, I know that I can only be myself and have faith that I will be where God needs me to be for my bff, her hubby, and baby Lillian. I have to have confidence that no matter if the shower has no decorations and only cake, my bff will still have an enjoyable time with friends and family in celebration of baby Lillian. I also realized that all the things going through my mind are nothing compared to what she must be going through in preparation for a new baby. Her whole life will be changing in just a matter of months and I know that must be heavy on her mind. She is going to be a fantastic mom but I'm sure it must be somewhat terrifying. It puts things in perspective and it changes my prayers. I'm now changing my prayers from about me and my worries/emotions to praying that my bff is doing well with all of the change and adventure coming up and that God will guide me to be there when she needs me.

I never thought a baby shower and being an aunt would put me through so much growth. It is good for me and I pray that I continue to grow and see where I need growth. And I pray I continue to be a good friend to my bff and to be a good example for baby Lillian. 

Well, now it is time to start working on my mountain of laundry that has built up since I got sick this weekend and I need to get to work on my "to do" list for the shower...and hopefully get a nap in there somewhere since I'm still battling this stupid strep throat/sinus infection. :)