Fly Me to the Moon

Around 35 years ago, my Mom had her first kiss ever -- and it was with my Dad. She was 17 years old- and they were married a year later. I always thought it was so cool that my mom had only ever kissed my dad.

So it was always in my mind that I didnt want to just go around kissing everyone, because I wanted it to be special and maybe it could be with the man I was going to marry one day. I was 24 when I had my first kiss with the best man! And in 5 months, we will be married! This is Mike and Me when we first started dating.


Mike proposed to me October 30th, when we were at a Pumpkin Carving Party with friends. As we were voting for whose pumpkin should win (I was really hoping ours would win), he said "Wait a minute, I have one more to add". I had no clue what he was doing- and thought he was going to do a funny joke or something. He went and got another pumpkin that had been hiding and when he turned around it was glowing "Will you marry me?" and then he got on his knee and pulled out the MOST BEAUTIFUL ring! I was very shocked and surprised!! As well as the rest of our friends. Only our friends Anna and John knew he was going to do it. So everyone was screaming-- some crying :) It was such a fun night! I had no idea.






Mike is the greatest man for me. He loves me so well, and is so patient and gentle with me. He has such a neat story of how Jesus changed his life and made him a new man. I am so glad He did! It was hard to find someone who lived up to the example I had with my mom and dad-- they were so in love. I really thought my standards were too high, or I had too high of expectations. And then I met Mike- he pursued me like a real man should, and I really cant believe I get to marry him.

It has been hard without my mom around- I miss her and wish she could know Mike. The night I got engaged I was so extremely happy. But at the same time, I was sad I couldnt go see my mom and jump up and down with her. I was sad she couldnt go watch me try on dresses-- So I just took the next best thing- My dad :)
I have such a great family. My sister Cyndee has been helping me so much and she doesnt get annoyed with me talking about my wedding all the time. And my Dad has been really sweet. When we were at the bridal store-- Cyndee and I liked this one dress and dad goes "Really? That ones your favorite?" ... I guess papa wasnt too fond of it :)

I also LOVE my new family. Mikes family is great. His mom went with me to find our venue (http://lindseyplantation.com/) and it was such a fun and encouraging day. And Mikes only sister Jenna has been so sweet welcoming me to the family so well, and with helping me research different wedding things.

We are getting married outside on April 30th. I decided on the colors yellow and grey. The other night I was at my dad's house and Donna said "You know your mom and dad's colors were yellow and grey!". I forgot about that! So fun.

We are thrilled!

Troy Boys gettin' married

This week, my brother Troy is saying "I Do" to a pretty girl named Shellie. They are having a really small wedding, so if you are reading this and thinking "Weird, I thought we were friends"... don't get your feelings hurt.

Troy is the sibling closest to me in age, and so we were always pals growing up. He was the only boy, with 3 sisters. He handled it pretty well. Troy has always taken care of me. I am the baby of the family, so I need taking care of :)

When we were younger, we loved playing kickball in the living room. Our mom wasn't the biggest fan of this though. Kickball in the house meant kicking a ball into the air, then running around the bases (the couch and the chairs) until we reached home plate (the T.V.). So our mom would yell at us to go outside, but we never would. This just meant we got quieter. It was almost more fun being sneaky, we would be laughing so hard... but soft enough to where mom couldnt hear.

Cyndee and Bekah were a few years older than me, so when mom would go out shopping, she would take them and leave me and Troy at home with Dad. That meant while the girls were out doing girly things, I was left with the boys going to Gun and Knife shows and such. What a deprived life I live.

Troy was always the funny one, and he tells everyone that he is the reason I am funny... but I dont know about that one. He could always make my mom laugh. She would be laughing so hard her stomach hurt.

By the time we got to Highschool, Troy was still being a good brother and taking care of me. One day, I had a big track meet and forgot to bring my uniform. My coach was so mad, so I ran into the lunchroom where Troy was and just started crying. He got the keys to his truck and ran me home to get it.

But there also were the days where he was a punk. I loved McDonalds mcflurrys, and it just so happened that our school was right across the street from McDonalds. I would see Troy in the halls and school and say "Hey, can we go to Mcdonalds after school and get some ice cream?" Troy would reply 'Yeah! Great idea". So all the rest of school I would just imagine what kind I would order and how good it would taste. After school, we get in the truck and head that way. Troy gets in the turning lane and puts on his blinker, and just as its the right time to turn, he jerks the car back into the straight lane and passes McDonalds and goes home! He was teasing me the whole time. Of course he was laughing the whole way home as I am crying. It was all part of his plan.

When I was in college, he drove up at the end of the year to pack up my things in the big Corley van and take me home. He drive 8 hours there, and then got in the car and drove 8 hours back... all in one day.

So all this to say, hes a good bro. I love him so much. He has made my standards very high for the man i'm going to marry.

So Happy for you Troy and Shellie.

Show Your Love

Yesterday was a sweet day with the high school girls. We have been learning about recieving love from Christ, and in turn loving others. Well yesterday was a big day to "Show our Love" by taking roses to the hospital and visting people who needed some encouragement.

We had about 25 girls come, so we all split up into groups and took a different floor of the hospital. The neat thing is, we would ask the nurses station which rooms didn't get many visitors and they would be so excited to tell us which rooms to go to. I think we had a bigger impact on the nurses than the actual people we visited.

Once we would walk in a room, we would hand the person a rose and tell them that we just wanted to show them some love on Valentines day. If the spirit led, we would ask them if there was anything we could pray about with them. It was so cool to see the people's faces as they realized that these high school girls were taking time out of their day to visit them in the

hospital!

After a great afternoon with the girls, I came home to a home cooked meal from Mike. He is quite the romantic. I seriously feel like everyday is valentines day with him in my life. He does the kindest things for me. Last night I walk into the house to find on the tabel a red table cloth with candles lit, daffodils (my favorite flowers), roses and dinner! Plus he had allready done all of the dishes so we wouldnt have to do them later! It was really sweet.

It was a great Valentines day. :)

365 days of no Coke

Coca Cola that is.
My sisters and I have this thing about coke. We love it. I look forward to going out and running errands, because I know I am gonna drive through somewhere and get a coke on my way around town. Summer beach trips are so much more fun with a coke in your hand on the beach. Mission trips are sweeter with a local canteen up the street offerering ice cold cokes for a dollar. Yes, i have a problem. So for 365 days I am giving it up! My sisters are doing it too and our dad could not be prouder. He hates it that we drink it. I know that it is so bad for you... but
it just tastes so good.
So I will keep you updated on how its going. It has only been 6 days. 6 long, lonely days :)

Also, in latest news, My sister Bekah is trying to talk my boyfriend Mike and me into running a half marathon in April. At this point I wanna die when I run 1 mile... I cant even imagine running 13.1!! Mike is all about it though, so we will see if he can motivate me to do it.
So Geez, alot of new beginnings for me! Hope it lasts :)