Best Late Birthday Present Ever

I came home for spring break to find an oddly wrapped package on my bed. When i peeking inside all i saw was white and pearls and sparkles. my first thought was-"oh no, it's something over the top someone wants me to wear on my wedding day!" But when i began pealing away the tissue paper i found a pearl encrusted Bible and a hankie. I wasn't sure what to think until i found the note inside.

It was a present from my Grandma Roy. This was the hankie she used 52 years ago when she married Poppop and the Bible was carried by both my grandma and my aunt Cindy on their wedding days. i almost broke down a cried. It is such an honor to be blessed with this gift; a part of my family heritage. I'm going to carry the hankie as i walk down the aisle-and i'll probably need to use it too! The Bible I am going to use to decorate the guest book table or in another important spot. 

Thank you Grandma Roy! I feel so special using these on my wedding day!

Moments of Happy

One more day...
al...most....there!

While I have been crazy busy this week, I've still been able to have my moments of happy. :) For example:
Today: sleep in an extra half hour (on accident, but i still got to class on time), one class canceled, applied for a job in the admissions office, stop by in random friend's rooms and chat, run hurdles, go to Cosco for dinner with a track friend (LOL, my grandpa loves loves loves Cosco, so i always think of him when i go there), eat popcorn, go see the play (Great Expectations) with my man, study with a friend, etc.
It's been a very satisfying day.
And now-with three tests between me and spring break and an early morning breakfast study party awaiting me in the morning- I am going to bed.
Goodnight world, sweet dreams <3

Dress Distress Update

 I finally called David's about the bridesmaid dresses, and it was easy to switch the dresses! Yay! One more thing checked off my wedding to do list!

Here's the dress all the girls will be wearing (just picture it in a darker purple)

In other news...
So only a few more days until Spring break-when i can finally breathe! I feel a bit suffocated by all the projects  due this week. That's the one thing about education majors, we always have more projects than papers. I stayed up until 5:30 am one night this week doing homework for class at 10:30. blech.


On a more positive note- it's (nearly) spring! It brings me so much joy to hear the birds singing again and to spot flowers popping up. Take a minute to spot some spring-God put it there just for you :)

Never Been Kissed

133 more days until my first kiss! 

Yes, that's right-

first kiss. 

I know it's almost unheard of, but it's true-Jeff and I have been saving our first kiss for our wedding day. And let me tell you, it's not easy, but i believe it's completely worth it. Not only does it make our big day that much more exciting, but it is aiding us as we save our selves for our wedding night.

I found that this is an incredible ministry to those around me, friends, family and even on occasion the 'stranger on the bus' who will make a crude remark about "young people." It's fun to see people's different reactions when they hear how long we've been dating {5 years} and that not only are we still pure, but we haven't kissed either. And I get to share with them the main reason why we decided to wait-

To honor God. 

What an amazing way to open a conversation about God's love, promises and hope-a personal story, a love story authored by the Almighty.

Old books+paper punch+buttons&Thread

So I found some old books in the free bin at our library. 

Don't tell the librarians, but i'm destroying them.

But it's ok because it's all in the name of art and weddings :)

So i took a fancy hole punch I bought at Michaels and punched out lots and lots and lots of scalloped ovals from the pages of these old books. {It was a bit of a pain to me since I'm going to be a Lit teacher and books are so precious} Then i stacked five ovals and sewed them together with a cute button for the center. Then I curled up the edges and wa-la! A lovely little flower made for under .10. :)

Here's my plan for all my flowers:

-flower girl hair wreath

-(maybe) the flowers for the flower girl to throw

-add ribbon wrapped stems and put in flower arrangements

-decorate the bouquets

-(maybe) make the guy's boutonnieres

-corsages for the moms

"Happiness held is the seed; Happiness shared is the flower."  -John Harrian

Lent

 

Yes, Lent is a Catholic tradition. No, I'm not Catholic. Yes, I am observing lent.

The purpose of lent is to prepare ourselves for Easter-the day we celebrate Jesus Christ rising from the dead.
Think of it this way-if you are a basketball fan you are probably getting ready for March Madness-am I right, or am i right? You're checkin' up on stats, filling out those brackets, emptying your schedule and filling it with tv time and most of all-you are thinking about it and talking about it.
This is what lent is for-a preparation, a reminder, to think and talk about and prepare ourselves to celebrate the most influential day in history-The day Jesus conquered death and rose from the grave, defeating sin and offering us eternal life! Now if that isn't WAY better than any sporting event, i don't know what is!

I'm actually giving up cereal for lent. I know- weird thing to give up. But i have found that i eat it too much, spend too much money on it, and probably think about it too much-especially when i want a late night snack. I'm also using the Live strong site (livestrong) to keep my self accountable with eating right and exercising for the next forty days. I do this to worship God by taking better care of His temple (Romans 12:1) and because every time i eat (or refrain from eating too much) and exercise, i am reminded to think about my Savior.

What are you giving to God for the next forty days?

Pampered

Myself and three of my maids {Nikki, Amy and Jenae} drove down to Springfield today for a lil' pampering. {I had won a little pampering session from David's Bridal and Mary Kay} We had so much fun! It was really nice to get off campus and out of town for a bit. We all got facials and lil' goodie bags, and Nikki and I split the cost of a microdermabrasion kit- Which is fantastic!!!
After all that fun, we met my parents and littlest sister at Carls Jr for a quick dinner and visit. It was so nice to see them! I love my family, and i get to missing them.
They also brought me my new running shoes. {which i accidentally sent home instead of to myself at school} Hopefully having new shoes will help my shin splints be less painful.
I Love Nike btw. Affordable, comfy, and super stylish!!! Take a look at my new kicks!

Wedding Planning Drama!

Well, here it is- the first piece of my planning to go wrong. I am sure there will be others, but the first is still feeling pretty daunting even without the other future dramas to back it up.
So David's bridal called me and said one of the styles I chose for my bridesmaids has been discontinued and there are no more at any of their stores in the style, color and size we need- because of course the last girl who needs to get a dress I happened to put in the dress that is now discontinued.
GRRRRRRRRR.....
Well, plan B-see if Davids will switch all the orders to the same dress
or
plan C-put Cherry in a different dress and even up the numbers
My OCD is going to go crazy trying to figure this one out! (Ok, I'm not ligitamatly OCD, but it will bother me to have 5 girls in one dress and only 2 in a different one!)
Any ideas as to what i should do?