Wedding planning update!

Just a quick reflection: Have I told you all lately how glad I am that Luke and I didn't get married back in August? Believe me, I'd love to be married to that man right now, but God's timing is perfect and I couldn't be happier with the way things have turned out! I love that we're both graduated from college and fully employed. This definitely makes planning our lives together much easier! But most of all, I've been so thankful for the past 6 months of life after college without being married. Everyone is different and some girls don't need that time, but God knows my heart better than anyone and knew I needed that time to grow. Since May, I have moved back to Texas from New York, graduated from college, rented my first apartment completely on my own, took my first full-time job, lost my first full-time job, job hunted and worked part-time, found (and LOVE!) my second full-time job I'm at now, lived in the same city as my fiance for the first time in our relationship, and Luke graduated from college. 2010 turned out a lot different than I expected, but I know that this year was a year of big life lessons. It was a year of holding on to God as he molded me and taught me lessons I needed to learn so that I could be a better woman and wife. For this, I am thankful. End reflection. :)

I'm so proud of myself because over the last couple of days I've really buckled down on wedding planning. With tax season around the corner, I know that wedding planning time with my momma is slim, so I've had to get busy! I feel very blessed to have Aubrey in my life, because she's the wedding coordinator at another venue in town. Her expertise has helped me a TON! A couple of days ago, she went with me out to The Ranch at San Patricio to give my wedding coordinator the contract and deposit. Seeing the venue again got me SO excited! We were out there for over an hour and a half just planning and talking. Want to see a list of everything I've been working on? Of course you do!

1) Met with florists to get quotes and compare.
2) Met with a videographer.
3) Booked the ladies that will be doing hair and possibly make-up for the wedding.
4) Discussed ideas with a college friend that will be creating a couple of the details for the wedding.
5) I'm about 2 seconds away from booking the DJ and a _____ _____
(I can't give away all the secrets!).
6) Talked briefly with our photographer, Jade, about wedding photography.
7) Emailed the groomsmen. Gotta love those boys!
8) Researched fun shoes and jewelry for the bridesmaids.
9) Talked with and got quotes from Corpus Christi Liquor Catering.
10) I'm also about 2 seconds away from reserving hotels rooms for the guests.

This is so fun! Although I had planned quite a bit of my wedding prior to moving back to Texas, the planning then had been more talking and researching than actual meeting and decision making. Now, planning is in full swing! Since I don't have work tomorrow, I imagine that even more planning will be taking place. In addition to my list, Luke and I started pre-marital counseling a couple of weeks ago. We met with our pastor, Allen Frans, out at Camp Zephyr and it was really fun! I think Luke was a little nervous because he isn't really one for talking about himself or "feelings," but afterward he told me that he actually liked it. But who doesn't love hanging out with Allen?! We got to tell our versions of the story of how we met (they are EXTREMELY different, ha!), talk about why we want to get married, and what we want our wedding to look/be like. This meeting was simple, just the first few steps. It will get more in-depth as we get going. I'm so excited about this!!!

This about wraps up my wedding updates. I'm looking forward to updating you all as the many details fall into place. But now it is time for this bride-to-be to go to bed.

Happy last day of 2010!!!

Home sick with a good book

Well, I've officially been sent home from work because I'm sick. Blah! There has been a popular office cold/flu/virus that has taken over the second floor of KRIS and for a while there I really thought I had beat it. But I guess I was wrong. Tuesday afternoon I started feeling a little nauseous and congested. And now, my doctor is calling in a prescription and I'm at home in bed with my kleenex, gingerale, and my puppy dog (Brooklyn is the best snuggle buddy!).

On the bright side, since I can't seem to sleep right now, I'm going to finish this blog post and then get back to Last Night at Chateau Marmont, Lauren Wiesberger's most recent novel. She is without a doubt my favorite author and I'm grateful to her and her novel for making this cold much more bearable!

If you haven't read a Lauren Weisberger novel, please please let me encourage you to do so! She's such a fabulous writer and I love that her books are based in New York (mainly because of my semester-long stay in NYC) because I know many of the subway stops and streets she mentions. Her books are perfect for any woman that dreams of taking on a big city, dominating her career, and chasing her dreams. I'm already looking forward to LW's next bestseller!

Alright, back to bed. But not before I grab another kleenex...

Christmas Reflections

{Christmas Eve 2010} 

I feel like I haven't blogged in forever, even though it has only been a little over a week. But I mean, I guess I should cut myself some slack. It has been a little crazy with Christmas and all! I just want to start this post out by saying that I hope you all had a very merry Christmas and are looking forward to a blessed and happy new year. Both accompanied by family, friends, and other loved ones, of course. :)

The last few days have been filled with of some of the best food I've ever eaten in my life, holiday traditions that have continued to be some of the last constants from my childhood to now, my four "sides" of the family (including Luke's), and I must admit, some very fabulous Christmas presents! It has always been a personal goal of mine to take some time alone during the holidays to reflect on what this time of the year truly represents for us as Christians. More than good food, family, traditions, or presents, I'm in awe that God would so perfectly plant Himself in our flesh on Earth to save a people that didn't understand or want to accept who He was and still is. This love moves my soul and overwhelms me in a way that nothing else can. Most of all, I have been thankful for God's perfect gift this holiday season.

This year, I can proudly say that this was a Christmas full of "grown-up" presents! Luke and I had a great time opening joint gifts that will go in our future house! My parents bought us a flat-screen TV that Luke has (of course) already set up and plugged his Xbox in to at my apartment (don't even get me started, ha!). I was also given a wonderful vacuum that has worked wonders in my apartment already. Thanks mom!! Emily bought me the most perfect wine rack and Claire gave me a bunch of knick knacks for my kitchen from Ikea. My Aunt Amy gave me a gift card to Bed Bath & Beyond, which I proceeded to spend the day after Christmas. It was already burning a whole in my pocket! I bought a blender and some organizing racks for my kitchen cabinets. Don't worry now. I know that I need to be patient because with getting married comes wedding showers with which you receive many of these gifts. But these were a couple of things I've been needing for a while. Just call me Susie Homemaker. :)

Speaking of wedding, Christmas day was exactly 6 months until mine and Luke's wedding!!! Mom and I did a little wedding planning/talking over the break, so be looking for some wedding updates soon! I'm getting really excited because all of my ideas are coming together. Now, I just need to get some of my to-do list checked off!

For those of you that still have more time off from work or school, consider yourselves extra blessed (and envied!). For those of you who, like me, have to go back to work tomorrow, God bless us all. I know I'm going to need an extra boost in the morning! It's always so hard to go back to work or school after such a fun holiday.

Have a blessed last week of 2010!!!

Luke's Graduation!

Luke graduated from college this morning! Yes, at 10:30 a.m., his graduation ceremony began and at 12:30 p.m. he was graduated and out of there! We had about 20 people at his graduation and about 30 at his grad party at B&J's. Not only did Luke receive his diploma today, but he also got a new laptop (from me!), a beautiful set of luggage (from my parents. yay for honeymoon luggage!), a new shot gun (from his aunts), and of course graduation money. What a good day! A huge smile never left Luke's face and my heart was so overwhelmed with joy. This is definitely a day I'll never forget!

{Luke getting his degree on the jumbo-tron}

{Luke and I outside the American Bank Center}

{Luke with my family}

{Luke with his family}

{Look at these buddies! So grown up!!}

{Luke with Baby Spencer at his grad party}

{So glad Jay and Morgan could make it!}

What a fabulously happy day!