We're Hitched!

thanks Laura for the photo!

Hello everyone!

My, it feels like forever since I've gotten to blog! Needless to say, the past couple weeks were insane with moving into our new apartment, finishing up everything for the wedding, Joey's commissioning and graduation, and still rushing to get the last-minute wedding loose ends tied up----man oh man life was crazy!

We will be updating the blog more in the next few days with photos and little blurbs about Super Week  and the big milestones we reached! But for now, I will just say that we are beyond happy. I love getting to be with my best friend and it makes me smile every morning when I wake up and see his handsome face. I couldn't ask for anything better!

Finally, Joey and I just want to say thank you thank you thank you! to all of our friends and family who sent their love and well wishes and helped to make our wedding simply beautiful. We love you all dearly!

14

Negligence

This is what happens when you don't pay attention.

Since I had left over blueberries, blackberries, and strawberries from Mallory's bridal shower, I decided that I would make some yummy triple berry muffins for Sunday breakfast. So Sunday morning I got to it, grabbing the flour, sugar, baking powder, eggs, milk, and vanilla. Now, the vanilla is always at the front of the cabinet, so I grabbed the brown bottle with a red cap, not thinking about it at all. I poured a few drops into the egg and milk mixture, and as I stirred I realized....

.....I had grabbed red food coloring, not vanilla. 

I was not about to waste four eggs and a cup of milk, so I went with it. Yup, I made two dozen pink muffins. Awesome. Joey thought I made them pink on purpose to go with the whole berry thing, but once I told him what happened, he loved those dang muffins even more. The rest of the day I just kept calling them 'loooove muffins' (in the closest Barry White voice I can muster). At least they tasted great!

I Graduated Once

That's right folks, I graduated from Southern Virginia University yesterday. After five years and two majors, I'm finally done. While it wasn't a surreal experience for me (I definitely wasn't one of the students saying 'pinch me, this isn't real!'), I sure am glad I made it, and it definitely feels nice to have accomplished that goal. And even though I could've graduated last year, I'm glad I stayed a fifth year and got to learn what I did (from great experiences and not-so-great experiences). And of course, I wouldn't trade my extra year with Joey for anything.

While I listened to the speakers at graduation, I did think about my past five years at SVU and kind of watched my life as a super fast movie. And If there's anything I've learned from my experience, its that God definitely knows me and cares about me and my future. The random scholarship award that got me interested in the school, my last minute vocal audition that got me another scholarship, the good relationships with faculty members, the wards I was in, the proximity to VMI, all the special people that I met along the way---everything in the past five years has worked out so wonderfully and has helped make me who I am and what my life is like now. Everybody has a different idea of how God acts in our lives, but for me, I know He had an active hand in guiding me through everything, from my initial decision to check out the school, through each year that led me to this point. I never would've thought that I'd end up here, but boy am I glad I did. SVU really has been great for me for so many reasons, and I hope the university continues to grow and succeed so others can have equally great and life changing experiences as well.

Despite the fact that it rained half way through graduation (did I mention the ceremony is outside?), it was a great morning and I'm glad my family and Joey (my biggest cheerleader of all) were able to come and share it with me.

So, now its on to packing, cleaning, and then moving in to our new apartment (hopefully tomorrow), finishing up all the wedding stuff I physically can (with the help of Joey and good friends), and tying the knot in 18 days!
I know I know, its absolutely nuts that its finally so close--and that I've (almost) managed to live through an 11 month engagement to tell the tale!

21

Three Weeks.

AWESOME.

I can't believe this is all really happening. Can I just say, I'm really freaking excited.

I know I've been getting madly stressed out lately, but trust me, its really all ok. I just get worked up and overwhelmed, but I know everything will work out and the important thing is that we're getting married. As long as I try to make a conscious effort to relax and not get too stressed out, things will be just fine (but some well wishes wouldn't help!).