Friday's Letters

Dear Friday's Letters, I'm linking up with your owner, Ashley, again this Friday because really I can't help myself. You are quite possibly one of my favorite link-ups. I mean where else can you write letters to inanimate objects, people, etc. ?!So thank you.

Dear Date Night, I am so stinkin looking forward to you it's pretty much ridiculous. Husband and I are going to a drive-in movie for you and I'm really pumped. Going to a drive-in movie has been on my bucket list for a long time so I'm so excited! Pizza, popcorn and candy at drive in, heck yes! We're seeing Disney's Brave!!

The bottom right is what ended up on our thank you cards

Dear Thank-You Cards, I think you're precious, I really do, and I love getting thank you cards myself but there are an awful lot of you. Husband and I have our writing hands busy. I've prepared with stick on address labels at least. Special thanks to our photographer for getting those to us so quick!

Dear Wedding Pictures, I am getting so so excited to see you! Birds & Coffee Design, I just know, did an awesome job and I'm stoked! I have a few from friends on facebook. Here's a fun one my friend took on her cell and another sneak peak from our photographer! Stick around people, more from the wedding coming, like pre-wedding fun, and more about our awesome honeymoon! Bachelorette party already up :)

I don't take credit for these photos fyi

Dear PT12, I'll see you a week from today!!! Who's excited?!?! (Not following? Check out yesterday's post.) This weekend I'll start packing up everything in order to throw it in the car and make the long trek down to Alabama! First BIG road trip with the husband---everyone pray for our safety and that we don't drive each other crazy. I promise before we leave I'll catch yall up on StudentLife.

Dear Husband, On Sunday we'll celebrate a whole month being married!! AHHH! Can you believe it? Seriously? This is unreal! You may already feel like a pro-husband but I'm still getting used to the wife role. haha I love you and I'm so honored to stand by your side for life. Forever and Always!

Dear Pinterest, Last summer you gave me access to a lot of hair tutorials and I tried a lot of them...this summer I've sorta forgotten about you since the wedding and all. So Thursday I pulled you out again and attempted a new do from my archive on you and I'm pretty proud of it...but I have to be honest with myself, the only reason it's so awesome is because of husband. Yes, yes its true: I don't know how to french braid. Thank you to my wonderful hubby for  doing the upside down french braid part for me!

 Dear Roomies, I miss yall lots and lots. Guess I can't call you my roomies anymore. My new roomie is awesome, yes, but he isn't yall. Maybe we should schedule a weekly skype time?

Dear Readers, Thank you for reading my blog! Thanks for letting me read your blogs! It so great to have a place to document life and share with others, this community is way more fun than I ever imagined. I can't believe how much I'm into it...I definitely swore I'd never blog at more than one point in my life, and yet here I am and loving every bit of it.

What I'm Loving Wednesday

Linking up for What I'm Loving Wednesday!

I'm Loving,

The OU plaque above the light is his fav part.

How happy my man is with his OU memory wall. B00MER S00NER for life!

I'm Loving,

being back on a routine of running/working out in the morning and spending time with my Jesus. The hubs and I have been working on this devotional since we got engaged and we're loving it still, especially since we can relate a little more now that we're actually married. (found this blog made a cover for it! How sweet)

I'm Loving,

Attending Journey Church Summer Lifestream last night....such a sweet time of worship and a great message from Adam Barnett, reminding us to not get sucked into the world. Come check it out next week: 7pm at Journey Church!

I'm Loving,

That my sister is at her college orientation and they're playing Disney music...she's in hog heaven!

I'm Loving,

 Being a full time employee at a University...all kinds of discounts and great health insurance, yes please! And now I'm feeling supper official with my new business cards!

I'm Loving,

Making all the individual flowers, total need: 400!

Final Product

How the wedding decor I helped my friend make for her wedding is turning out! I can't wait to see them all done and watch her walk down the aisle to her first love! Congrats Lacey!

I'm Loving,

One of our current favs. check it out!

Spending my evenings with my sweet man. Attending birthday dinners, finishing up our home, watching tv shows, reading books and no one having to drive home at the end of the night. Just being together, all the time. It's great. Mmm married life.

I'm Loving,

Note to self: create these awesome carvings next time you buy a watermelon

   lots and lots of watermelon! Every day! Yuummm, one of the best parts of summer hands down.

I'm Loving,

How close we are to StudentLife Camp! Holla! We're  hooking up with PT12 (aka: Party Team 2012) in about a week and half! Really, we're Green Team 2012 but apparently the first session rocked it out so we're now Party Team...guess we have some awesome shoes to fill. Packing starts this weekend!

I'm Loving,

  and last but not least, I'm loving going through honeymoon and pre-wedding pictures and getting ready for their blog posts. Stick around to see them! Bachelorette Post is already up.

My SUPER Fun Bachelorette Party

Nearly as soon as Kevin and I became engaged my best girlfriends/roomies/bridesmaids began planning my bachelorette party. They kept the whole thing a secret from me for nearly 9 months! They did a fabulous job planning this super awesome night and I am so incredibly thankful for them and for all the ladies who gave up of their time and money to celebrate with me.

The agenda for the night began with dolling up and eating pizza at my place before quickly doing gifts and sliding out the door. It was such fun and sweet to have my mommy there too with us before we left. Kristina threatened to blindfold me but Emily decided against it so off we went, jamming out to some classic raps and fun Flight of the Conchords jams ( you really ought to click that link and listen, seriously).

Plans were mixed up due to the threat of a nasty storm coming, we kept the word of possible tornado to a minimum for our non Okie peeps with us, thankfully it didn't disrupt our fun and in the end it only tuned out to be a little rainy and a lot windy. We arrived downtown OKC to our first location: Teaze Dance and Fitness Studio. That was an absolute blast and I highly recommend it for good clean fun for your bachelorette party. Our next stop was a country western bar we've gone to a couple times to practice our two-stepping. Wednesday night though is rap-song-night there, we'll just say that while we had a ton of fun, there's a totally different crowd there on Wednesday nights... Before calling it a night, we made our final stop at iHop, because where else would you go for food late at night? While we were there, a group of what appeared to be a band came in, congratulated me and then sat down to eat themselves. We definitely couldn't leave without knowing who they were so quickly before checking out, we told them to have a good night and inquired into their band name, they gave us guitar picks and a brochure for their next gig (it was the wedding night sooo that didn't work out).

By that time a shower and my bed were beckoning me. A deep five hours of sleep were all I got in before our busy church decorating party the next morning, totally worth it.

I won't ever forget all the memories from that night. Thank you ladies for the best time!!

Pearls:

- I think being surprised by the activities of the night was such fun so leave it up to the girls to plan it out besides let's be real, you plan everything else for the wedding...why not give up the control for one night

- It's okay to let loose a little, I'm not saying go crazy and let go of every moral you have for one night. No. I'm saying, breathe, chill out and enjoy a night of fun with your besties before the wedding day jitters getcha

- With the above said, stand your ground to your morals. Don't do something you won't be willing to tell your almost hubby all about. Trust each other and show respect to each other.

-Have a BLAST!

Honeymooooon!

Have you ever looked at your husband and realized, I married a Cory Matthews twin? No I suppose that isn't normal....except in our home. Yes it's true, many times I look at my husband and think, really? that just came out of your mouth? did you just walk off the set of Boy Meets World? No joke people. To be fair, I do consider Boy Meets World to be one of, if not the, best TV shows ever on television! However, I never anticipated I'd actually marry a Cory Matthews...but alas this is now my life. It proves for lots of laughs and never ending fun.

I could go on and on about this...but instead I'll leave you with a short clip about Cory and Tapanga preparing for their honeymoon. Then head on over to Life in Dawleywood and you can get a sneak peak of OUR honeymoon in my guest post for Andrea!!

I feel for you Tapanga, I really do.

Pearls:

-Don't try and change him, if he wants to be like Cory Matthews sometimes then that's okay...side note: it is okay to insist his wardrobe not match his that of Cory...

- Watch Boy Meets World! It's the best!

- Laugh at the silly things you each do, it's much better than becoming frustrated with each other.

Wedding Platter Help!

 

In lieu of a guest book or photo album we made a guest platter. One of my lovely maids suggested going to a paint your own pottery place to decorate it ourselves. At the shop, one of the workers suggested finding ceramic pens for our friends and family to sign it.

So we went to Hobby Lobby, and they were out of black ones so we turned to the internet, and found some instantly! They were a perfect price and we understood that they'd get here in time...false. Literally two days before the wedding I realized they weren't going to be here in time. So before running around town like a chicken with its head cut off, I called Michaels, and called other nearby Micahaels, and Hobby Lobbies...did everyone in Oklahoma decide they needed black ceramic pens before our wedding?? Ridiculous.

At this point we turned to permanent fine point markers. They worked beautifully and we LOVE the outcome....but now I don't know how to make it stay. I've heard that you can just bake it in the oven but for how long, at what temperature? and does that actually work??? Someone PLEASE help us!!!

So for reals, anyone know a pinterest pin? A DIY post? Anything??? 

ps: If you're in the Norman area and you want to go to a paint your own pottery place, we highly recommend Be Wild For Art!

Pearls:

- When you go to paint your tray, if you decide to do this, try and get a pre-idea of what you want to do...we were sorta dumbfounded when we got there and ended up mimicking our invitation

- Be patient, you have to do like three coats to make sure the color is deep...this mean every little design you do...yeah you have to go over it three times

- Order your ceramic pens ahead of time...no but seriously, think about that one early. 

Thursday Thoughts

Linking up with Sarah today for Thursday Thoughts!

One
My phone has been going cracra the past couple of days but today it went absolutely haywire! Seriously, it's been sitting on my desk, untouched, all day....and what is it doing? Turning itself off and on. I'm not kidding. Yes, it's probably possessed.

Two
Our first wedding picture from our photographer was posted to facebook and it's now my desktop background at work. Makes me happy every time I see it....oh memories.

Three
 If you live anywhere remotely close to OKC, you know the crazy excitement that has been going around about the Thunder in the playoffs. Our past two games have been disappointing guys, I'm no basketball pro but let's pick it up for tonight!

Four
Today my coworkers and I attended a water zumba class at the university pool during our lunch break. BEST DECISION EVER. It may have been cut short due to thunder (real thunder, not our basketball team)  but I am already super pumped for Tuesday when we can do again.

Five
I keep thinking, I need to post about our wedding/honeymoon/rehearsal...but I just keep forgetting. We've finally adjusted our house to home status (not everything is put away but at least all the cardboard boxes are gone!) so soon people soon I'll post more. One blogger asked me about our popcorn bar...I'll do a post on that for sure! Check back sometime soonish.

Six
2 weeks from today we will leave for our return to StudentLife and I'm getting excited. I'd explain more about StudentLife but you'll get your fill soon enough I'm sure. So for now, just know we get to go to Datona and serve Jesus and hear from Chris Tomlin and Louie Giglio!! EEK!

Seven
I just wanted to thank all my followers! I can't even believe yall(sorry you guys, no that doesn't work, don't even care if it's not proper english...it's Texas language!) read my posts...I'm still learning the ropes of blogging but I'm beyond honored that yall take time out of your days to bother reading me. I'm also super loving learning about some of yall! Really, you bring laughter and awesome ideas to my life. Loving the blogging world.



Pearls
-Don't be mad at the rain...it may have followed you from Florida but soon it'll be in the 100s and you'll be missing it.

- If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him. John 12:26

- If you want to read some blog posts that are sure to make you learn about your faith and laugh about the silly things we Christians do sometimes, check out: Stuff Christians Like! I always get a good laugh and think about the way I live my faith when I read his posts.(That's not really a pearl of wisdom from me but hey you may learn from John Acuff)

This is MY Story

Today I'm finishing up my story! If you missed the first part of my story, find it here.

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And he did not permit him but said to him, “Go home to your friends and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.”Mark 5:19

When I had visited OU, one of the main things that drew me to the school was the plethora of churches surrounding the campus. I recall thinking, surely one of these churches would be a good replacement for HFBC. Still, I was terrified. I knew that coming up to OU meant not only a new church but new friends, new streets, goodness for that sake a new STATE! I used to think, really Lord? Of all the places you can take me for college...Oklahoma...who even lives there? Honestly, I hadn't even heard of OU till I started looking for colleges with ID (I know, I know, that's pretty bad). I was moving to OU with all of three people from my highschool, one was a close girlfriend so that was nice, the other someone I'd known since the 7th grade but we've seen each other maybe twice every year we've been here, and the third was someone I knew but we weren't really friends in any way. Then I have two friends I'd made at Camp Crimson, but who's to say I'd see them again? (I did, but that's another story).

Baptist Student Union: Walker Stalkers. 2009

In the months leading up to my big move to Oklahoma, I prayed. I asked God for friends that would be true followers of Him. I asked Him for authentic friendships. I asked Him for guy friends because I'd never really had any (once someone didn't believe me on this, then they looked at my high school scrapbooks...truth people, there are very few pictures of boys in there) before. I prayed for a best friend. I prayed for friends that would have fun. I prayed for friends that I could attend church or some organizations with...and many more things. I can't even begin to describe how God answered every single one of those prayers. If I did, it would take way too many posts that you'd care to read. He amazed me, I was flabbergasted. I didn't even know how to take it all in. This I know for sure: God hears you, God sees you, God cares for you. I stepped out, scared and shaking and the Lord cared for me.

Sigma Phi Lambda Seniors, 2012.

 To list a few of these things: He made me bold enough to talk to a girl who soon became my best friend, (you can read more about that here), he brought me to the Baptist Student Union where I met so many friends who shared my freshmen year with me, he introduced me to Sigma Phi Lamba (boy that's a funny story for another time)  where I formed so many beautiful friendships with lovely ladies, he gave me friendships in ID and people he brought me a new home church. That last one was the biggest. Basically every Sunday for the first month or so I tried a new church around here, I'd wanted to attend one as close to campus as possible...no, God had other plans and led me to the biggest church in Norman, Journey Church.

My walker classroom. 2011

Journey soon became my second home, I still missed HFBC but I was finding new community at Journey. It was different than my traditional Baptist background but the truths were the same. I found myself constantly being drawn back and soon enough I was volunteering in the Kid's department and forming bonds with families in the church. God gave me a family in Norman...I hadn't even prayed for that one!

My roomies, and our Norman mom at church. 2012

His constant care and providence for me through college has been outstanding! I needed a job, He found me one IN THE CHURCH! I needed friendships, He gave me them. When it came time for roommates, He found me some (read here). When I needed help on projects, He sent me friends to bring me lunch and drive me to presentations. When I had no where to go for Easter, He brought me a friend lunch. When I lost my keys, He gave me a friend willing to drive me around. When my car broke down, He gave me a friend to rescue me. The list could go on and on.

My girlfriends praying over me: just what I needed.

What I've learned most in these past four years is to trust God. Things go wrong, they just do. We are human and this is the world. But God came to save us from that. He died on a cross to take away our sins so when we did mess up, we could seek Him and keep moving forward. Philippians 3:13 : "Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead." We are called to trust, seek and lean on Him. He knows our needs and He hears our hearts. Trust your Jesus!

The best part? My story doesn't end there! There are so many things He is working at within me. He's most graciously helped me plan and pay for a beautiful wedding. He's given me a husband that I never planned on, a man who seriously, every day surprises me, reminding me of how our relationship was brought together by our Savior. And I'm still learning, I'm learning to trust, I'm learning to be an adult and a wife, I'm learning to make every day count for my Savior. I still fall, I still mess up but God, He always takes me back. He is always there waiting for his daughter to come and seek His strength again.

Our God is a God who saves! The Sovereign LORD rescues us from death. Psalm 68:20

This is My Story

Good afternoon blogging world. As promised, I am finally posting my story! I enjoyed reading our guest blogger's stories (check them out here, here and here). So read today. check back tomorrow for part two!

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My mouth will tell of your righteous acts, of your deeds of salvation all the day, for their number is past my knowledge. With the mighty deeds of the Lord God I will come; I will remind them of your righteousness, yours alone. O God, from my youth you have taught me, and I still proclaim your wondrous deeds. So even to old age and gray hairs, O God, do not forsake me, until I proclaim your might to another generation, your power to all those to come.(Psalm 71: 15-18)

When my awesome church started this series a few weeks back I was so excited! Every week we got to hear different people in the church, and out of the church, share their story how God has moved in their lives. Sometimes it was their testimonies, sometimes it was a moment in their life where God changed them, and sometimes it was something God was teaching them right then and there. Every week, it was so good to hear how God gives every single person a unique and beautiful story, meant to be shared.

Wedding June 1, 2012

My story begins with my mother. After being born and living in Florida for only a couple months, my mom and dad packed up and moved to Houston, Texas (my true home). It was there that my mom, with the help of a new friend, and I began going to church. She prayed for me everyday as a baby and raised me to know the Lord intimately. When I reached school age my mom enrolled me in private school and the big grand world shrunk to a little Christian bubble. Don't get me wrong, I loved my school: I made sweet friendships, I was constantly being fed the Word, and I really enjoyed the close knit classmates I shared my life with, from kindergarten to the 6th grade, but when I moved to public school in the 7th grade I really started to learn what it meant to live life in true surrender to God. 

The friendship that started it all. Georgia (right) drove my mom and little me to church when we first moved to Htown. Her daughter/my best friend(left). 2008

Step back a little bit: I accepted Christ when I was 7 years old. One day in church, I said the prayer with the pastor, tugged on my mom's arm and together we walked down to the front of the church. Instant life change. Sort of. For a long time I didn't see my story as worth much. I didn't really have that oh-my-goodness-I-need-to-turn-my-life-around-right-now moment and my life didn't really feel too different after that moment ( I mean really, I was 7 years old, there's not too much life change that happens at that age). I remember being excited and knowing that accepting Jesus into my heart is what I wanted but I didn't truly feel that big life-altering-change till the 7th grade. 

In the 7th grade I moved to a public school for multitude of good reasons but I was terrified! I was exiting that bubble I knew so well and felt comfortable in, and entering a new world where students defied teachers and I heard words I'd never heard before. Now, it wasn't all that bad but it sure was a shocking change yet Christ carried me through. After becoming more involved in my superb youth group, and truly learning relationship with the Lord; it was here in my new school as a 7th grader that I started practicing and living out what it looks like to be a Christian. God blessed me there with beautiful friendships with girls also dedicated to knowing Christ's love and I grew daily.

Camp on Western Night 2008

As a teenager, the most prominent part of my faith life was my church's youth group. My youth group was my second home. It was where my deepest friendships were formed and where every week, every camp, every mission trip...I learned and grew most.  My life truly revolved around my youth group and I got involved in almost every way I could, attending 6 years of camp and 5 years of mission trips. I loved and adored every adult who took the time to pour into me. 

Honduras Mission Trip 2007

 Skip forward a few years from the 7th grade to my Sophomore year in high school. My parents started having noticeable troubles and it was making home life hard. I tried desperately to be strong for my younger sisters who, I felt, were depending on me to be so. I was still seeking God but it was such a confusing and hard time in life. Junior year my parents actually went through with a divorce and my heart felt crushed. I never was angry with God but I remember being so confused, hurt and terribly torn. With the help of a close friend and my youth group though I made it through and I became more and more dependent on my Lord. I learned about his care for me, I felt His strong arms around me and I understood the Lord's providence of love. 

Senior year rolled around and it was time to start college applications. Of one thing I was sure: I wanted to study interior design and I wanted a school where I knew I could grow in my faith. College hunting became another aspect of my life where I sought God's wisdom in. I prayed that in my five applications that at least two would come back accepted so I could have a choice...and to my absolute surprise God gave me FIVE acceptance letters! A wise leader in our youth group once told us, If God gives you ten acceptance letters, you better believe He can work in you at all ten, whichever you choose...and while that stuck in the back of my mind, I desperately wanted God to just flat out tell me where to go. I prayed and I worshiped and one song in particular was always running through my thoughts, Give it All Away but Aaron Shust. The words:  All of my plans, all of my dreams I lay them down before your feet...I now submit to your design...hit me hard. Through a series of surprising yet totally God orchestrated events I came to discover that God was leading me to OU.

Part Two Tomorrow!

Pearls

- Know that your story is just as awesome as anyone else's out there. God uses everyone's story for His glory! No story is too boring, too ugly, or anything for God, He loves us.

- Trusting God is not always easy but it always works out better than you could ever have imagined

- Have your story ready to go, have a long, have a short one, have a this-is-where-I-am-right-now one (sorry you're getting my long one)

1 Peter 3:15  But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect. 

Friday's Letters

It's that time again, Friday's Letters! I don't know about you but I definitely cannot believe it's Friday!

Dear Friday, You coming means I've had my first work week as full time staff! It's pretty exciting but doesn't feel too different...maybe when schools starts and I don't have to go, it'll feel more real?

Dear Thunder, Come on! We're all rooting for you so it's time to step it up! THUNDER UP!

Dear Morning Run, I am really liking that you go through neighborhoods now instead of up and down the road in front of my old apt complex. Also, today you and I tested using Google's My Tracks app and that was pretty awesome because I could see what streets connected and how far I'd gone. 2 Miles today!

Random but awesome house I found on my run.

Dear Leftover Wedding Food, At some point my friends are going to refuse eating any more popcorn and wedding cake...glad my office is enjoying some of the popcorn! (Dear office, eat it all!)

All set up for my fellow staff to enjoy!

Dear Marriage, You're pretty great. I love living with my best friend. I really love waking up next to my best friend. I'm glad you're a forever and always kind of thing.

Still staring at my pretty rings...

Dear Photobooth, It appears our wedding guests enjoyed you. I can't wait to share the pictures that came of you. Please thank your directors for me because they did and awesome job and I can't think of two more fun, beautiful ladies to be in charge of you.

Kevin's precious grandparents at our photobooth

Dear Husband, We have been hitched for all of 13 days, 14 hours, 14 min, and 14 seconds ( and no I did not do that on purpose, looked at my phone just now and that's what it said! crazy!)! Last night was the first time you weren't home when I went to bed since being married and that was weird, already. How is it that I've acclimated to you being around all the time so fast? I'm really enjoying driving to work together and you picking me up at the end of the day. <3

Dear Weekend, I am so glad you are here because husband and I have big plans to organize and adjust our home. I am so ready to be done with the randomness everywhere. I'd like to have a dining table, kitchen counters, sofa, and a floor back. Also my sweet friend's wedding shower is this weekend and I am so excited for that!



Pearls:
- May the sweet thoughts, caring notes, and attentive service never end
- Thank your Jesus everyday for the smallest of blessings!
- Having a rough day? Turn on some worship music or hit up your local Christian Radio station. It's sure to change your thoughts and make you feel better. My favs: The HOUSE  and KSBJ

What I'm Loving Wednesday

Linked up today with this kind of love for what I'm loving Wednesday!

I'm loving...

 that my new hubby and I got to go see my sweet sister graduate! It was so exciting! I'm so proud of her!

I'm loving...

that my license has my married name on it! I also love changing it everywhere else in life, so many places to change it but I get so excited every time!

I'm loving...

 that I have a wonderful job. What an incredible blessing it is!

I'm loving

A blog I found with such an awesome idea! She's got a map to find blogger communities. I mean I know I am a super newbie to the whole blogging world but I love this idea! So go check it out at Whispering Sweet Nothings 

I'm loving

being married! It sorta still feels like we're playing house but it's pretty great living with your best friend! Plus, he keeps making my lunches for me, here's to hoping this keeps up! ;)

Pearls:

(Sometimes these pearls of wisdom are difficult to come up with but they're often lessons I'm learning, things God is teaching me, difficulties I've gotten through...)

- Just breathe, eventually you'll stop tripping over dirty laundry and suitcases...putting a home together can take time

- Serve, take time to notice the needs of others. Notice the little things...sometimes those little things make a big difference in the other person's lives. This week's example: Kevin making my lunches: they've always been the last thing I throw together before running out the door and it's been so awesome to have that done for me!

- Always remember:  "Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; his greatness no one can fathom." Psalm 145:3