Holiday Season

My family is coming in today for the holidays and I am so excited! This year, we have two new additions to our family, my nephew Camden, and my fiance Thomas! There is so much to be thankful for this Christmas.

My dad is so excited to have everyone home. He went out and bought a fire pit today just so we could have a bonfire and make s'mores. Mom and I have been to the grocery store 5 times this week trying to get all of the food ready.

Christmas break has been so fun and busy. Mom and I have been wedding planning like you would not believe. I have found my wedding dress, bridesmaids dresses, and booked the church! We are still looking at reception venues but I have started the guest list. I am trying to get as much done as possible before school starts back in mid-January. Well, Merry Christmas to everyone and I wish everyone a Happy New Year as well!

Going to the Chapel...

Today we booked the wedding date! July 23, 2011 is the magical day. I cannot believe this is actually happening. Booking the church really brought the idea home for me. I am ecstatic about the upcoming months of planning. Next steps include reception venues, bridesmaids, and wedding dress shopping. The wedding ceremony will be at my parent's church. The church is absolutely gorgeous. It reminds me of the church in the Sound of Music that Maria gets married at. I love it!

Also today, I went to the fabulous world of Walmart. But a trip here is not your typical trip when it is in Sylacauga. Before I walk in the doors of that forsaken place, I bet on how many people I will see while trying to get everything on my list. Today I bet 2 people. I actually saw 3. But I bolted when I saw them. Isn't it funny how sometimes when you see people you know you hide from them for some reason? I don't know about you, but I do it because I get tired of typical conversations. "OMG, hey!! How are you? What's your major? How old are you again? You have just grown up so much!" "How's the fam? Did you notice we got a new Burger King? Ain't that somethin?" You know I love it, but sometimes I just want to get in and get out asap. So that's what I did. As soon as I saw someone I hid in the opposite aisle, pretending to look at windshield wiper blades (yeahhh real convincing) until they were out of site.

After wonder world, I came home and did absolutely nothing. It was such a great feeling. All I did was look at reception venues and bridesmaids dresses! I am starting to realize how difficult planning a wedding is. Especially when it comes to people's feelings. I do not want to hurt any of my friends. But what I have found in this process so far is there is seriously only so much you can do to try and please everybody. Sometimes details work out one way and there is nothing you can do about it, even if you hate it. I want to be a "go with the flow" bride. Stressing over details is pointless. The bottom line is who your marrying.

Have a great week!

Birthday Blessings

My week of difficult tests and comprehensive exams is almost over! I have one test at 3:30 today and I will have nothing to worry about for the next month! Well, except planning the wedding. But I don't really call that a complaint. I cannot wait to get started on that right away! Well guys, today is also my 21st birthday. I was up late last night studying when I drifted off for a little bit (okay like 2 hours). In those 2 hours, I got to thinking about all of the amazing people the Lord has blessed me with in my life. Not only do I have an amazing family, but I have a future new family that I will be adopting as my own in the coming months. I could not ask for better in-laws. Also, I have two unbelievable counsels/friends. They are my pastor in Tuscaloosa and my RUF campus minister. These two people have helped me theologically and also in life. They have answered some of my most deepest theological questions and have helped me through hard times that are just a part of a Christian's life.

I have also been blessed with my wonderful sorority sisters. To have 250 other girls stand behind you and be excited for you on your birthday, engagement, or just getting a good test grade makes a girl feel on top of the world. I will never forget the friendships I have formed through Alpha Chi Omega and those relationships will remain strong forever. It is always amazing to me how so many girls, from different backgrounds, upbringings, beliefs, and personalities can mesh to form one awesome sorority. My sorority has impacted the University of Alabama in so many positive ways. We really are powerful women that can achieve anything. I will never forget the excitement of my sorority sisters when I had my candlelight, revealing to them that I was engaged! Everyone was so genuinely excited. I felt truly honored and blessed to have them be apart of this momentous occasion in my life.

Well, tonight is going to be full of fun birthday festivities and a little partying. Then tomorrow Thomas and I are going to see Trans-Siberian Orchestra and going to Muscle Shoals to visit his familiy. Can't wait!

Driving Slow on Sunday Morning

Hello all! I am sitting in the study room of my sorority trying to cram useless info into my brains for exam week. Obviously, it's not going so well. I'm writing this post after spending 30 min on facebook, 15 minutes on my phone, and 30 more minutes looking at pictures of Jessica Simpson's hair. She has the best hair, I mean seriously. But anyways, its finals week eve, and I am so ready for school to be over. At church today, the sermon was about resting on the Sabbath. I don't do that...ever. Sundays are "lets do all of my homework and catch up on everything for the upcoming week" for me. I can probably count on my hand the number of times I have actually just took a nap, or relaxed on a Sunday afternoon. Sundays should be the best day of the week, instead they are my least favorite. I think that is so terribly wrong. God rested after he created the heavens and the earth and demands we do as well. That is one hard task for me to accomplish. I have forgotten the true meaning of Sundays.

I had a great weekend, went to a MBA cocktail party friday night, and had lunch with my sister, brother-in-law, and nephew. We ate at Brio's in Birmingham, SO GOOD. I got to love on my little Camden. He is the cutest baby I have ever seen! I know I am biased just a tad, but he really is cute you have to admit.

Involving the wedding/fiance subject, Thomas and I are currently exploring apartments that we can live in next year! It is very exciting but I didn't realize how much work it is! It's like shopping for a pair of shoes. You have to browse the whole market for a good overview of what they have, then you have to factor price, style, and comfort into your decision. It can get pretty complicated. We haven't found any place yet but we are getting closer! The other picture is Thomas and I right after he proposed! We were in the middle of calling all of our family and friends. It is one of my favorite pictures with the leaves and everything.

Have a great week everyone! Much love to ya =)