2 Years

Life has been busy. I could write pages but I'm not. The good news is that there are only 4 days of school left (woohoooo). Even though I'm looking forward to a break from the daily grind, I will certainly miss all my students and teacher friends over the summer. I'm SO blessed to be at such an amazing school.

But the reason I wrote this post was to just throw up a few pics of our 2 year anniversary trip. We went over Memorial Day weekend since our anniversary was really Tuesday, May 28th. This year we went to Lake Lure and stayed at Rumbling Bald Resort. It is certainly a trip worth taking and very affordable. We spent most of the weekend outdoors exploring the area nearby.

First up...Chimney Rock

Our resort had many activities to keep you busy and even fed us all smores on the beach one night. If you know me at all, you know I love love LOVE smores so this was an awesome surprise. We felt like we were at summer camp considering we played putt-putt right before smores. 

Kayaking...

We also enjoyed going on a boat tour, visiting the shops of downtown Chimney Rock and visiting Asheville where we splurged on a big dinner. It was a nice weekend getaway and the weather was perfect. I can't believe it has been 2 years already! Marriage is certainly full of ups and downs but it's a journey worth taking. More on our trip (traditions) and life news to come soon!

Just for fun...May 28, 2011

For more info on our wedding and vendors, check out these blog posts by clicking here and here.

-Sara

Wedding Highlights Film

Pssss: pause the video and let it load :)

We were very excited to have Life Stage Films to film our wedding. In case you are out of the loop, the business is owned by Todd's brother, Matt. Seriously, I can't explain how awesome they are so go check out their website in your free time because you will be hooked to watching the most beautiful wedding highlights ever! I've never met any of their clients but after watching their videos I feel as if I was at the wedding and I've even cried over a few (I'm a softy).

All this to say, it was crucial to have Life Stage at our wedding. Zach and Amy were our videographers and I barely remember them being there. Our memories of our wedding day pretty much faded the moment we left for the honeymoon. In the past five months we have tried so hard to piece together memories from pictures. We have patiently waited on our video which was released today on the web. This by far was well worth the wait. I cried, I laughed and watched the video ten times to relive that special day. Without further adieu....our wedding in less than five minutes. You can make it full screen by clicking the arrows in the far right corner. Enjoy!



They did an incredible job! Better than I could have ever imagined! We will cherish this for years and we look forward to seeing the entire wedding ceremony (we don't remember much) and all the other goodies Life Stage did for us. Thank you Life Stage for allowing us to relive this day over and over and over. It never gets old.

Cheers,
Sara

Meet the Mcdonald's

Todd and Jon grew up together attending the same church, had the same friends and also contain a true love for frisbee. They were destine to be buds since they were born on the exact same day and in the exact same hospital. This past weekend we loaded up the car and headed to Siler City to see Jon get hitched. The weekend was so fun and like no other wedding I've ever been a part of. First of all, the festivities were on a goat farm! How cool is that? The farm has an historic house that serves as a Bed & Breakfast which is where all the family and wedding party stayed.

The rehearsal and dinner was so quaint and of course our appetizer was tomatoes and goat cheese. Delicious. Later that night we had a bonfire out in the field complete with smores. Since hurricane Irene was in the works we enjoyed a nice breeze. Saturday was such a chill day as the guys went on hikes and the ladies went into the town of Pittsboro to an old soda shop for lunch. I'm so thankful for both families in treating me so kind and including me in all the girl stuff since my husband was occupied. 

All the cakes were different types of chocolate and this one was the main cake. Look at those bride and groom goat toppers. So charming! And the Mason jars were etched with Bride and Groom. Melissa loves cake so as soon as the ceremony was over they cut the cake instead of eating dinner first. I love a bride who knows what she wants and sticks to it!

Todd's parents came which I now can say my mother and father-in-law and we finally got a picture together. For some reason we always forget so this is a rare thing folks. Soak it in.

All weekend we got to hang out with these cool kids. Allison is Jon's sister and Brittain is her boyfriend. They go to ASU with us and we love spending time with them. Allison was a bridesmaid and isn't she just stunning? 

Jon and Melissa met after college (UNC) through some mutual friends. They are quite the pair and we are very excited for them. Looking forward to watching them grow and grow and make lots of gorgeous children together. Congrats Jon & Melissa!

Ta-Ta!

-Sara

Wedding Pictures

I'm about to scoot out of town to celebrate Keara but I wanted to leave you all with something fun to check out. Yesterday we got our wedding pictures back! If you were there, take a look because you might just see yourself! If you were not at the wedding but want a super short version recap of the night then check out this slideshow by clicking here.

Otherwise, go see them ALL at www.orangecatphoto.com/pickpic. The password is Davis. Another big shout out to Dana, the owner and our photographer of Orange Cat. We have no regrets with hiring OC and love every single photo! Thanks again!

Happy first of July....my favorite month! Looking forward to bachelorette parties, celebrating America, my birthday, moms birthday, a bridesmaid in two best friends weddings, my second job AND the end of my graduate summer class (praise the Lord!). Whew, it's going to be a busy month but bring it on July!

-Sara

Shoutouts

Our wedding would not have been the same without our incredible vendors. As a previous employee of Shutterbooth (more on what that is in a moment), I'm fully aware of how vendors can make or break your day. I highly recommend going the extra mile and getting the best people to work with because in the end the quality of the work will be better and something you will cherish for years. I sound like I'm getting paid to write this but these seriously are just my thoughts. So here are our wedding day heroes:

Lifestage Films: Well this probably comes as no surprise considering we are related to the owners. However, I must say that I truly do believe they are the best wedding videographers I have seen. I could seriously read their blog for hours at a time watching wedding highlight videos. Don't believe me? Go check it out but just promise me you'll come back to our blog at some point in your lives. Prepare to be hooked and amazed. Matt (Todd's brother) and his team do an excellent job of capturing weddings in a modern creative way. We are proud of his business and were thrilled to use him for our big day. Matt actually had the day off to play the role of best man but two of his employees came to capture everything. Honestly, they were so quiet that most of the time I never even knew they were there! Here is the first footage we have seen of Todd and his mom doing their thangggg...



Orange Cat Photo: When looking for photography, we knew we wanted something that had a modern twist but still captured our traditional style. I found three photographers that I liked, let Todd view different sample photos and then he chose the style he liked best (he is much more in tune with photo skills than me) without him knowing who the photographers were. He ended up choosing Orange Cat which was just perfect since my sisters are close friends with the owner. I knew we would be in good hands and their work is simply amazing. I call it a hidden jewel because so many people search for photographers in bigger cities but OC is located in Hickory and travels a-n-y-w-h-e-r-e. Dana has started to post pictures on Facebook and they make me squeal with delight at how awesome they are. If you are looking for a solid photographer then hit them up via website or Facebook page (and check our photos while you are there). Thanks Orange Cat!!

Who's the Fairest?-Speaking of photos, I would not have looked the way I did without Kymm. I found her via word of mouth from the wedding industry. Let me tell you, she knows her craft and does it extremely well. Kymm is not your average hairdresser. She works in a Charlotte studio during the week alongside photographers where she does hair and makeup for models, brides, etc. Not being a makeup savvy person, I knew I needed to hire professional help so I didn't have to worry about anything plus she does your makeup in a way that is flattering to the camera. I loved my looked and felt like a princess. So whether you are getting married, want to get dolled up for a night or get a lesson in makeup...call Kymm!

Shutterbooth-Last summer I was a host for Shutterbooth. Basically this company sets up a photo booth at different events and lets people take as many pictures as they want. The coolest part is that two photo strips print so one goes to your guest and one goes into a guestbook that everyone signs. With the younger crowd we were having, I knew this would be a perfect fit to use as party favors. The company has vendors nationwide but since I know the Charlotte owners well, I can honestly say they are genuine and will make sure nothing goes wrong with the booth. Our photos of friends are hilarious and will keep us laughing for years. Also if you are looking for a part time job (mostly Saturdays) in Charlotte then give Art a call because they are always looking for fun upbeat hosts.

Hatley on Main- For our flowers and cake we chose Hatley on Main based out of Gastonia, NC. My mom and Todd's father (small world!) went to high school with the owner, Judy. Judy also did my sister's wedding and even crazier, Judy's mother did the flowers for my parents wedding! That is proof that they are experienced and will not disappoint. Picking out flowers was overwhelming (I don't really have favorite flower, crazy eh?!) but Judy helped me choose just the right arrangements. I can't wait to show you a picture of the church flowers....so stunning! I loved our cake and the fact that it had FIVE amazing flavors!

Ballantyne Country Club-Although I was a little to overwhelmed to eat dinner that night, I did snatch a few bites that were delicious. Everyone has told me the same. I can barely remember what we had but I believe it was salad, chicken, london broil, string green beans, mashed potatoes and rolls. Yum! Wish I could go back in time and try to eat more but I think that is impossible on your wedding day. The venue is really beautiful too! We took some amazing pictures out by the golf course with Orange Cat that I hope to post soon.

Mark Blanton- A Kings Mountain resident, I grew up with his daughter throughout grade school so it was special to have him be a part of my big day as our DJ. He knows our family well which helps when hosting a large event and has also been in the music industry for a long time doing such events. We had so much fun dancing under the lights with our best friends. Thanks Mark!!

In all, the day was really special and we are thankful we got to use each of the vendors above. I wouldn't change a single thing and would hire all of them again! Just thinking about the night makes me want to go live it all over again! I'll be sure to post more pictures and videos as they begin to roll in.


Happy Friday friends!
-Sara

Honeymoon Bliss

I won't share all the details of our honeymoon but I will try to give you a short version of the highlights. We left Sunday morning from Charlotte on a flight to Miami. It was earrrrrly! We left our hotel at 5:15 and the flight left at 7:30 but I wasn't even tired. The excitement was pumping through my veins. I had never left the country before or been on a cruise. Also, this flight would be our first together!

Back in middle school I was a huge Will Smith fan. Suddenly landing in Miami brought back this hot jam to my mind:



You know you dig it too. As we rode in the taxi to our port I soaked in the Miami views and secretly sang "Welcome to Miami" in my head. Yup, I'm special.

We arrived at the port, went through customs, registered and were put in a holding area along with the other 2, 998 people waiting to board. My college room mates who have gone before me (honeymooned on the same ship) told us a secret about talking the attendants into getting on the ship first. I was a bit weary but tried it anyway and it was too easy! We were immediately placed into a VIP room that boarded first on the ship. Score!

We tried to keep it cool as we passed all these people.

Once on the ship we were able to eat and beat the crowd. We ran around the ship like a couple of kids in a candy store checking everything out. Finally we were in our room and crashed!

The entire week was a amazing! We visited Cayman Islands, Roatan, Belize and Cozumel (where we bought an authentic blanket to remember our trip). My favorite stop was Cayman because the water was breathtaking. Todd bought snorkel gear at local diver shop on the island and had fun using it all week wherever we went. I seriously thought he was going to turn into a fish from how long he spent in the water.

We also had two days at sea where we enjoyed late afternoon snacks such as chicken fingers & fries, ice cream and of course sweet drinks.

I also love the upper deck which was for adults only. Here I would read my book until I fell asleep. Ahhh, where can I buy one of these at?

Each night was fun to dress up and go to dinner where we sat with two other couples. The chocolate melting cake was my choice of dessert every night and I'm about to drool on my keypad just thinking about it. Isn't my husband handsome?

During our excursion we met the sweetest family. We all became friends instantly and since they are from South Carolina, we had so much in common to talk about. For the remainder of the week we spent time with them on a private beach, soaking up the sun together and watching a show together on the last night. They also sat in our dining room so we saw them every night and they even helped Todd with his terrible sunburn. We quickly became a part of their family! Thanks to facebook, texting and phone calls, plans are already in the works to go visit them soon. Meet the Welsh family!

Overall we had a complete blast. I highly recommend a 7 day cruise! Everything exceeded my expectations and we found plenty of time to relax. I'm looking forward to a lifetime of vacations with Todd.

Afterwards we were exhausted but ready to return home to start our married life together back in the mountains! More to come soon!

Oh happy day!

May 28th was the slowest day of my life yet the fastest. Sounds crazy I know but I awoke that morning abnormally early for me at 7:00 am. Even though I slept pretty well, I guess I still had some of that "I'm too excited to sleep any longer" mentality. Just think of when you were a kid at Christmas. That is the best way to describe the feeling except this time I had several hours before the real stuff began. That morning I watched lots of TV to keep me occupied including an entire episode of 16 & Pregnant. Such a random show to watch the day of your wedding.

On the way to the church (which we had to make a pitstop by the reception venue) my brother in law informed us via his iPhone that there was a terrible wreck on 485 near both my reception venue and church. I took many deep breaths and prayed the whole way there that we could make it because the last thing we all wanted was to have to make a detour. Thankfully we made it to the venue just fine and then took some back roads to the church. Still, knowing the wreck was so bad, I was nervous that it would hold up my wedding party. However, everyone made it on time except my florist who got held up but she did make it before the ceremony started.

I was pretty quiet (in my opinion) throughout the entire process of getting ready. The day began to get fuzzy as I was nervous and anxious. I remember when my girls started getting their dresses on and thinking how beautiful they looked but my words were frozen. I was on the verge of tears, especially when I received and read a letter that Todd wrote me. After reading the letter, I was ready to roll. I fell even more in love with him in that moment and couldn't wait to see him. From that moment on time flew! Before I knew it we were lining up in the hallway and one by one my bridesmaids were gone. My dad and I were left and I could feel my heart drop to my knees. I squeezed my dad and said "let's not cry, okay!?" and then we were on our way. Walking down the aisle was a blur in itself. I didn't see anyone but Todd and we were both beaming. In fact, I think I floated down the aisle.

The wedding was everything I ever wanted and very special. The groomsmen played a "we can't find the ring" trick when we went to do our vows which sent me in a panic but thankfully it was a joke. When I saw my dad laughing, I knew it was okay. Oh and if you are curious, I successfully said my vows and there were no tears! Then a few moments later, I heard the sweetest words , "Mr. and Mrs. Todd Shelton Davis." Oh happy day!

The reception was held at Ballantyne Country Club where we ate delicious food, had fun with the photobooth and danced the night away. The reception was also a blur as I tried to talk to as many people as possible but it was just impossible. I remember asking Ashley Garbrick what time it was and she responded with 8:45! I seriously thought we had just got there and knew we would be leaving within the hour which made me slightly sad but then I quickly remembered that the fun was not over. Life was just beginning. I was going to get to leave with my husband and go on an incredible vacation. We left with a sparkler farewell in a red 1942 Chrysler classic thanks to my parent's friends, the Kerns. Such a perfect day and night!

Thanks to some friends for taking the above photos. I'll be sure to show you the professional photos as well. The ones that Dana, our photographer, has posted on facebook thus far are amazing! Can't wait to share with you about our honeymoon next!!!

-Sara

Rehearsal

I realized so far that all the wedding recaps have been from my (Sara) perspective. Todd has been really busy with two jobs but I'm sure he will post his view of things sometime on this here ol' blog. There are things about going through a wedding that everyone asks such as "did you get any sleep the night before?" Answer: yes! I was exhausted after the rehearsal and dinner. Friday was such a busy day that by the time I went to bed I passed out.

The rehearsal was one of my favorite memories of the whole weekend. It's a time that I can actually remember most of the details, even things like what people were wearing. Now ask me about that for Saturday and I'll laugh in your face because I don't remember everything. I'll spare you all the details of what people were wearing and give you more of the headliners. A big storm arrived just as the rehearsal was to start. Thankfully everyone arrived safely and we did a little practicing. I however kept getting tripped up on the vows which put me into a panic because I was nervous I would mess up on the day of the wedding. Since my dad was one of the ministers, I was able to read over the sermon the day of the wedding to visualize the words since my nerves were taking a toll on me. Ahhhh the perks of being the preachers kid. Thanks Dad!

The dinner was at the church as well. Todd's mother, Carol, and the Carmel Kitchen staff did an amazing job of recreating the room to give the feel of a restaurant. In case you are curious, I wanted a low key dinner that would house just my guests. The lights were dim, hydrangeas everywhere and soft music playing in the background. Todd and I sat at a table with our parents and I just loved sitting there watching all my favorite people laugh among one another and have a good time. Since we had 65 total, it was nice that we didn't have to all pile in cars and travel in the storm to attend dinner. Todd and I decided to make the evening personal and dedicate it to our friends & family. We ate dinner then had our guest watch a slideshow Todd made:



After the video we cut and ate the groom's cake...drums of course!

After cake we gave our wedding party their gifts. We each wrote and read aloud mimi speeches for each person that told how we met and what they meant to us. We love everyone so much and feel as if God has given us such incredible, talented and wise friends.

Only regret of the night is that I wish I had taken more pictures or had someone take my camera and do so. In the above photo my sisters and Magan are missing so I wish I had a picture of all the girls. Also we didn't get any of the guys and they looked so handsome! What a shame!

Overall the night was wonderful! The food was delicious and it was such an intimate time with our closet friends and family. We are so SO blessed! I look forward to sharing the wedding day with you soon!

-Sara

Bridal Luncheon

I spent the last two weeks before the wedding at home. It was great to spend some time with my family as well as do some last minute wedding prep. Thursday before the wedding, I was able to greet my cousins that currently live in Chicago at the airport. Lydia and Henry (sister/brother) were in my wedding and I had not seen them in almost two years. It was so fun to be able to see them as soon as they arrived and share the excitement of the upcoming weekend.

Friday, my aunt hosted a bridal luncheon on Lake Norman. We had a nice peaceful lunch which was very relaxing considering my nerves were beginning to take a toll on me. In fact, I can't tell you much about the food at all because suddenly my stomach wasn't hungry. But I loved being surrounded by my favorite women in life! What a great start to the most exciting weekend in my life!

Just as we were finishing the main course it began to rain. We all jumped up, said a few goodbyes as the rest of us headed to the Nail Salon to get pedicures. Most of the girls had already ordered dessert at lunch but due to the rain they had to have it boxed up and sent with us. We had a blast getting our nails and toes painted but one thing I'll never forget is me getting my nails painted (acrylic) and hating the color! I knew that in the moment if I didn't say something it would be one of those little regrets of my lifetime. I know what you are thinking "seriously, over your nail color?" Well if you know me at all then you know something that small would bother me. So I told the dude who very rudely took it off and repainted them. Oh well...BRIDE'S orders right?! My friends were so sweet that day to hang out with me and do whatever they could to make me at ease. I'm very thankful for each and every one of them! 

Oh the memories...another one I'll never forget is after leaving the nail salon my pregnant sister just HAD to have some Cold Stone. I graciously took her but as soon as we got home we only had about twenty minutes to change clothes and head to the rehearsal. Talk about a blur...time went by so fast from that moment on! 

Sorry for the lack of photos...I'm saving the rehearsal and wedding for another post. The cable man will be here today to finally get us internet and cable so I should be back into business by tomorrow! Love to all!

-Sara

Bridal Portraits

I failed to mention in the last post that although we are happily married, we have certainly had to snap back into the real world fast. My summer class started while I was on our honeymoon so I currently have at least ten emails about assignments that are stressing me out. Tonight I plan on getting organized and started on my reading...blah. Getting back in the groove of things is the hardest part but having Todd by my side day and night is the sweetest gift of marriage. Our house is a royal mess due to decorating and gifts but we are healthy and happy so who cares!

The last two weeks have been amazing. I figured I would start by giving you all the link to my bridal portraits. I wrote a blog post after I had them taken giving the information as to where and with whom took the photos but now I can finally release the link that contains all the pictures. Just click here to check them out. This photo below is the one we used as my actual bridal portrait for the reception. I had it framed in a 16 X 20 silver frame on canvas board which exceeded my expectations....just lovely. 

I really want to do my best to remember all the details of the past two weeks and for me the best way to do that is by writing using our blog. So many memories to share and I look forward to posting them for you all to read. Instead of doing one huge long post I'll do several that lead up to the big day, followed by honeymoon and of course life together now! Thanks for stopping by...come back soon!


-Sara

14 days

Two weeks from today I'm sure I'll have a thousands butterflies in my stomach. I have them just thinking about May 28! I'm at home this weekend packing up a few belongings for our new place (I move in Sunday, woohoo) and finalizing more details for the wedding while Todd is having his Bachelor weekend. My parents and I met with our amazing wedding director at the church last night and it truly hit me that this was happening SOON. I'm really excited about having all our family and friends in one place for one evening to celebrate our lives and God bringing us together. I really will not be surprised if I cry sometime during that day which I know is not a bad thing but with the makeup on and all, I'd rather not. I just tend to cry when I am overwhelmed with blessings. The fact is, I know when I see people at the wedding I'll I think about how much they have influenced my life or Todd's. Everyone is part of the story and that makes me smile really big and cry with joy.

Today I plan to find a new bathing suit considering the last time I bought one was High School. Ridiculous right? Okay I lie, I bought 2 one-pieces for camp but those don't count. So that is a goal today as well as pick up a few things for our townhouse such as new fabric for our dining room chairs. Pics to come of the re-do!

Sorry for lack of photos recently, my camera reader never works. Whenever Todd and I finally get to live together, I'll have his camera reader (that works so well) at my fingertips. Is camera reader even the correct phrase? Oh well, have a great weekend!!!!

-S

Try this!

Today I wanted to share with you all one of my favorite websites. I had heard about it before but was intimidated at how it worked until recently....my life is forever changed. As you all know, I love blogs. I could search and read for hours about DIY and cooking blogs. In reality, nobody has time for that! Which brings me to my new favorite website: Pinterest.

The best way for me to describe it is to imagine one huge bulletin board where everyone in the world gets to post their favorite picture. This includes pictures of food, art, photography, fashion, home and so on. Once you become a member you can also post pictures, categorize them and create boards. Making sense? Probably not, so I'll break it down into steps in case you want to get started.

1. Go to their website by clicking here.
2. Register. You will be put on a waiting list so don't panic. This is normal. Basically it's like asking for an invitation.
3. Once you have been accepted, begin by creating boards by clicking add then boards. For example, I labeled mine fun things such as: get in my belly, I think I can I think I can, stylin, warm and fuzzy...
4. Click on "everything" which allows you to view lots of random photos. Whenever you like something you can "repin" which allows you to add it to one of your boards. What is the point you may ask? Well this allows you to store ideas that you have into categories. I have so many ideas for a future home or things I want to cook that I can store on my boards so I can easily get back to them. Most are linked to blogs that give the tutorials. 
5. Cool feature, your facebook friends that are registered automatically come up as your followers so you can see what your friends are "pinning."
6. I know I know, it sounds crazy but trust me it is oh so fun. It is quick to "repin" stuff so you don't feel like you are wasting much time or having a thousand bookmarks in your internet browser. However I do have a confession, I do spend large amounts of time "pinning" but it has been so worth it. I have found the cutest ideas and recipes!

Sorry for the super long explanation but I want you all to try it. It's free and fun. Let's be followers and if you need any help just ask me and I can walk you through it via phone or in person. In wedding news, we applied for our marriage license (finally), my portraits are gorgeous and our early cruise check in is done. Now we just have to figure out how to get from the hotel to the airport at 4:30 am. Any volunteers??? ;) 

 Also, I move into OUR place Sunday so I've been packing up all day. Poor Todd, I have so much stuff. I'm really trying hard to get rid of stuff before I move! Well clearly I'm procrastinating so I better get back to business!

-S

3 Weeks!!

Good morning from Charlotte! We came into town to meet with our wedding planner at the country club to work out all the details of the reception. Now I can fully visualize where and what the guests will be doing before we arrive and know that they will all be taken care of. The place is even more gorgeous than I remember. Everything is becoming more and more real with 3 weeks to go!

Earlier Friday morning I had my bridal portraits made in Valle Crucis with the talented Eric Heistand. The Heistand family were some our first friends when we began dating and we loved getting to know a couple that were several years ahead of us. They have watched our relationship grow, given us such wise advice and have trusted me to take care of their two precious boys on numerous occasions. Although our wedding day photography is by Orange Cat Photo from Hickory, we wanted Eric to be involved somehow especially sine they are going to be out of town for the wedding. I must brag on Eric for a quick second....in 2009 his photograph won in the Banff Mountain Photography Competition that you can check out by clicking here.  The same photograph was entered in the National Geographic Great Outdoors Photo and guess what....WON. We are proud friends and I trusted Eric to get some shots of me that I know we will cherish forever.

The photo session was so fun. Getting dolled up just like I will on the big day was surreal! Mason, his wife and my friend, made my bouquet which added another special touch. The weather was perfect and I'm so glad we waited to take my pictures in May because everything was nice and green which made for a great backdrop. I'll have the pictures soon but really they will be on lockdown to keep Mr. Davis from getting any peeks. As soon as we get back from the honeymoon I'll try to link the pictures or post some on the blog. Ahhhhhh THREE WEEKS! Bring it on.

-S

Uno!

Well folks we are just one month away from the wedding! I remember getting engaged back in July and thought waiting ten months would take forever. Wrong! Time has gone by so fast but yet it has been such a beautiful time in our relationship.There is a new sense of protection we have for each other and a new bond that is forming. Not to get all sappy here but I do feel we fall more and more in love with each other each day. Also the love that our friends and family have expressed is something we will never forget. The advice is being stored in our hearts and will be treasured for years to come. I think the most fun about being engaged is dreaming. Just about every conversation we have somehow ventures into us talking about our hopes, dreams and the future. From our decorating style to what kind of dog we would want to how big is too big for a TV to where we want to live or travel and yes even parenting style (...many years from now unless God has other plans). All those discussions have been really fun to talk about and I value this engagement period.

Am I sad there is only one month to go? Nah.

It has been a wonderful journey but the time is coming to move on. We can't stay here forever. I imagine this last month will be different than the last nine. Now it's time to move our belongings in together, finish the last few wedding details, spend some quality time with our families, bridal portraits, getting our marriage license, wedding planner meetings and finding earrings & shoes (yes, I know...you probably think I'm crazy but I haven't done so yet. I think prom season has snatched all the good stuff!). As fast as this month will probably go by, I do hope I can soak it all in somehow. A new journey is right around the corner...


-S

Busy Bees

We had another busy weekend but we wouldn't have it any other way. We left Thursday and went to my parents house for the night. It was nice to spend an evening with them and open some gifts that have come in the mail. We have also started to get rsvp cards back and so that was fun to see who will be coming to the wedding.

Friday, Todd and I hung out uptown most of the day and spent some time with Heather and Josiah (former bandmate). We love hanging out with those two and are hoping to plan a beach trip in the near future. Heather and I had a little photo shoot...please excuse us, we don't get to hang out and be silly together very often.

 Saturday we woke early for a couples bridal brunch hosted by some ladies (who practically raised him) of Todd's home church. It was wonderful and we loved spending time with all the men and women that have watched him grow up. Such a special day!

Drew, a great friend that grew up with Todd and the gang, is living in Korea as a teacher right now. Unfortunately he is missing out on all the wedding festivities but since the shower was at his parents house we were able to include him in a group photo. We miss you Drew!!

Later in the day I had a bridal shower with my bridesmaids and special friends. My sisters hosted the party and it was such a sweet time with my girls. I am set for the honeymoon...if you know what I mean. Anyways, this last picture is a "you had to be there moment." I wanted to get a group photo and this is all my self timer would do. Then my camera died of course!  

What a day! In between showers, Todd and I along with my parents went and picked up a dining room table/chairs that I found on craigslist. Then after the girls shower it was time for me and Todd to head back to Boone since Todd was playing drums super early at our church. Busy busy but a great type of busy! 

Favorite part of the weekend: reading advice cards with Todd that people wrote from the couples shower we had on Saturday. The scriptures and wise words are beautiful. I cried of course. A good cry. A cry of thankfulness and blessing. I'm an emotional roller coaster these days anyways so it was no shocker. This is such a fun time and I'm trying really hard to soak it all in...and breathe every now and then...

Until next time,

-S