Update: Married Life :)

In honor of our one-month anniversary, I've decided to post one last blog entry on here to update you all on life after the wedding.

To start with, we had an amazing honeymoon in Mexico! We stayed at El Dorado Casitas Royale, an all-inclusive resort in the Riviera Maya, and it was fabulous! I would highly recommend it to anyone, especially honeymooners. The resort and the beach were beautiful, the gourmet food was amazing, and the weather was perfect. Most days we spent either at the beach or the pool, but we did do a few activities. We went snorkeling twice - once at the resort and once in Puerto Morales, the second largest reef in the world. We also did zip lines in the jungle in Selvatica, we went on a catamaran cruise at Maroma Beach (considered to be the prettiest beach in the world), and we explored Playa del Carmen on our last night. It was a blast! The only downside to the trip was the topless old women lounging on the beach...

Moving on to life in Connecticut. First of all, New England is GORGEOUS, especially now that the leaves are changing! The weather is wonderful - slightly chilly and overcast every day - textbook New England fall weather! In career news, I have a job now AND I got a promotion! As of tomorrow, I will be working as the PINK Category Supervisor at Victoria's Secret for the holidays. I'm still in search of that career job (the one I got the degree for), but for now, this is a good solution. I am also a cook in training... I'm definitely a novice in the kitchen, but my skills are steadily improving now that I have a hungry husband to feed every night and pretty much a professional kitchen to work in (thanks for the wedding gifts!). I actually enjoy cooking, too, or at least I do when Collin isn't hovering around and distracting me. What I've mainly learned so far is that lemon pepper works for all poultry. For instance, tonight we had lemon pepper tilapia with a side of broccoli. I also made pico de gallo for the first time tonight, and it was delicious! My next project is chili... It's perfect for fall, and it's outside of my comfort zone of meat and pasta, so it's something of a challenge.

I'm thinking about starting a blog of my cooking exploits... I have three cookbooks full of recipes to work through, and I'm so excited to finally be teaching myself things I thought would just come naturally as part of my woman's intuition (let's hope childraising is a little more intuitive than this). Every time I cook dinner without setting off the fire alarm or burning myself, it totally makes my night!

In other news, life with Collin is wonderful. :) It's so nice to have someone who is always there... I'm never lonely, which is an amazing feeling. Of course we're noticing more of each other's idiosyncrasies now, but in a way, it's endearing. I love Collin in spite of (and secretly, including) his weird throat noises and his uptightness, just like he loves me even though I have no sense of time or direction and will blow up in his face if he goes near the kitchen while I'm cooking. One thing I'm not sure if I will ever grow accustomed to is the farting. I know guys are gassy, but seriously! Not his most loveable quality. Lucky for him he's cute. ;)

I think that about sums it up... In a word, married life is: bliss. Stressful at times, unglamorous most of the time, yet perfect bliss. I wouldn't change my life for anything.

I'll post a link on here to my new blog should I decide to create one, so stay tuned! :)

Love,

C & A

Good News, Bad News...

Ok, so A LOT has been happening lately as you can imagine. I don't have time to go into details about everything, but here's a quick recap:

Good News: I got a job!!! :)
Bad News: It's in retail. But it's at Victoria's Secret, so I could definitely do worse. Plus, it will be nice to come home smelling like flowery perfume as opposed to meatballs.

Good News: I had my bridal shower and bachelorette party this past weekend! They were both really fun, and I had an awesome turnout at the bachelorette.
Bad News: The shower was at a really inconvenient time (partly my fault, but mostly outside of my control), so the turnout was not as good as I had hoped. But we still had a great time, and I got lots of great stuff at both events. :)

Good News: My dress came in!!!!!!!!! It is BEAUTIFUL, and so is the veil - both of which Caitlin made, and she did a fabulous job; I can't stop staring at my pretty dress. :)
Bad News: If you could call it "bad news," I still need to get the dress altered some more by Edith, my Nashville seamstress. I wasn't satisfied with the shape of the dress before and didn't speak up about it (dumb, I know), so now I'll just have a couple days to get it right before my bridal portraits. Let's hope Edith and I can make it happen!

Good News: Collin and I are all set for our honeymoon - we booked a private transfer and made all our dinner reservations at the hotel. :)
Bad News: I lost my passport. Like, seriously lost it. I've searched my entire house and storage unit, and Collin searched through my car and all my stuff in CT. The thing has literally disappeared. So, I'm a little stressed about it, to say the least. I'm trying to find a way to expedite a new passport, but it's not going to be easy (or cheap). Wish me luck, please...

In OTHER news, I finally figured out the programs! I came up with a design myself (thank you very much) and have done a couple test prints already at Kinko's, so now it's time to print them! Other recent accomplishments include: assembling favor boxes (with some help!), finishing the seating chart, (almost) finishing the escort cards, and wrapping up my vendor meetings. I've still got a lot coming up this weekend - dress alteration / final fitting, wedding hair trial, makeup consultation, more crafts, etc...

With this passport dilemma now, on top of other drama that I don't care to expand upon, I'm really feeling stressed. Please keep me in your prayers... I'm trying as hard as I can to keep a positive attitude, but it's getting tougher as more and more things keep piling on (not all of which are wedding-related). BUT, the good news is that Collin and I are getting married in TEN DAYS!!!! And that's the best news of all! :)

Love,

C & A

Job Update & Stationary Stress

Good news on the job front! I had two interviews last week! :) One was at Victoria's Secret, the other was at Macy's, and both were for Sales Associate positions. Not exactly the glamorous NYC publishing job I've hoped for (and applied for constantly), but it will do for now. And at least it's not in food service... After 4 1/2 years, I'm definitely over that line of work. Thankfully, I think I rocked both interviews, so I'm hoping for a phone call soon! Please keep me in your prayers; I definitely need to find work ASAP.

In wedding news, I am finally starting to feel some stress... Nothing major, just the occasional freakout. No nerves, thankfully, but all the last-minute details are definitely getting to me a little. We FINALLY finished assembling the escort cards tonight, which is a major accomplishment; they took us over a week to finish! The next big projects looming ominously ahead are programs and the infamous seating chart. After much debate (and stress on my part), we've decided to make the programs ourselves - or rather, I will be making the programs myself. I was terrified at first since I haven't the slightest clue how to make a wedding program without using Microsoft Publisher, but I'm figuring it out on Word. In fact, I should have a draft ready by tomorrow, so yay! (And before you think it, they don't look thrown together; they look almost professional. I think.) Check out the program design I found (and almost purchased) on Etsy that is now serving as my inspiration. I'm hoping the seating chart won't be quite as much of a struggle as I've always heard it is... We're not seating guests individually (thank goodness), so that should help speed things along.

18 DAYS!! (Almost 2 weeks... OMG!)

Love,

C & A

20 Days!

We are really getting close now. The wedding is less than 3 weeks away!! How crazy is that?? Thankfully, I'm also getting a lot done. Here's what we've been up to:

• I FINALLY bought my shoes!
• I also bought my jewelry :)
• I've narrowed my hairstyles down to two possibilities
• We're making progress on the escort cards
• Table cards and bridesmaid gifts are in!
• Favors/containers are being shipped
• Mom is working on welcome bags
• I'm filling up my schedule with appointments right before the wedding

Next up on the agenda:

• Programs
• Seating chart
• Makeup
• Setting more pre-wedding appointments

Also, plans are under way for my bridal shower and bachelorette party, both of which are next weekend! I'm very excited for both. :)

That's all for now! I'm still not feeling as much stress as I feel like I should, and I hope that doesn't change anytime soon...

So excited!!

Love,

C & A

Wedding Stationary :)

As promised, here are a few pictures of our invitation set, which was designed by Collin's sister, Caitlin. I got the amazing cardstock and envelopes from Paper and More, and I had everything printed and cut at FedEx Office. Though it was definitely more work to make the invitations ourselves, I couldn't be happier with the final product. Plus, it was half the cost of professional stationary! I would definitely recommend it to any bride.

Here are some more pics of two other invitations - my MN bridal shower invitation (also designed by Caitlin) and my online wedding invitation to my sorority sisters (designed by the talented Kirstin):

As for the rest of the wedding stationary, escort cards and table cards are in the works, and programs are next on the agenda. I'm going to forego the menu card for what will hopefully be a cute (cheap) alternative - a menu board! At least that's my plan... I'm having the table cards made, but I'm working on the escort cards myself. My crafting skills are somewhat limited, but I'm actually impressing myself with how they're turning out. They look really good!

Still need shoes, though.

26 days!

Love,

C & A

28 Days!

Collin and I have had a very productive week! Here is what we've accomplished as of late:

• Booked the limo - white hummer stretch to the reception and silver jaguar to the hotel :)
  
• Bought our wedding rings!! We went to Jared! ;)
• Ordered our homemade guest book from Etsy
• Ordered our homemade table cards, also from Etsy
• Ordered the wedding favors
• Ordered (and received) our sand unity ceremony kit

In other news, guess who is learning to cook?? :) Since moving up to CT, I've attempted (successfully) two dishes courtesy of Collin's mom - turkey stroganoff and chicken enchiladas - in addition to cooking pork, chicken, pasta, etc. They were delicious! I also have a bunch of recipes that I received as a shower gift, so I'm excited to try those, too!

We have also been making smoothies on a regular basis, since I have a pretty intense sweet tooth but want to stay within dress weight... They are an amazing healthy option for dessert. Our favorite is strawberry-banana. We use Stoneyfield Farms low-fat yogurt (french vanilla), fresh strawberries and a banana, ice, and a little bit of honey. So good! One of our concoctions didn't turn out so well, though... I didn't know it was possible to fail at smoothie-making, but believe me, it is. We ran out of yogurt, so we tried to make a blueberry smoothie with only milk and honey. It was disgusting. I don't recommend honey with blueberries...

Anyway, back to movie night with Collin and Molly. :) See you all soon!!

Love,

C & A

Countdown: ONE MONTH

Ok everyone... So we're officially ONE MONTH away from the wedding! Ah!!! Where did the last 8 months go???

I'm beyond excited, but I'm also nervous about all the things still left to do... We need rings, transportation, escort cards, and a guest book, and I still need shoes, a hairstyle, a makeup artist, a veil, and, well, my finished dress! Eek! I have a plan for it all, though... and some of it is in the works! I definitely need suggestions for makeup artists, though... Pretty lost on that one.

Thankfully I've been able to check other things off my list:

• Invitations!!
• Centerpieces
• Table cards
  
• Bridesmaid gifts :)
• Flights to TN and Cancun!
• Guitarist for the ceremony
  
• Table linens

I'll post a picture soon of the invitation set. It came out gorgeous! Many thanks to Caitlin for designing them. :) I got the fabulous paper from Paper and More, which has an amazing selection of cardstock and envelopes. Caitlin is also working on the dress now, which is looking better each day!

In other news, I live in Connecticut now! I made the move a couple weeks ago. :) Collin came to my family reunion with me in Knoxville, and we left the next morning to make our road trip up north! I'm adjusting fine to life here, but Molly in her typical clingy fashion is developing an almost unhealthy obsession with Collin... Every time he leaves for work she peeks out the blinds to watch him go, and she jumps all over him when he comes home. He may not admit it, but I think he likes it a little, and he definitely likes her a lot. He's a great doggy daddy. :)

Since I've been up here, the job hunt is going strong again, but with no success so far. If you have any contacts in NYC, please help a girl out! I've also been working out every day since last week and will try to keep it up at least until I go back to Nashville. It's much easier to work out now that I have access to two fitness facilities within walking distance! Operation: Wedding Workout is in full swing!

I think that's all for now... Let's hope I can get all this done in the next few weeks!!

Please keep Collin and me in your prayers as we deal with final preparations for the wedding and for married life! :)

ONE MONTH! Ah!!

Love,

C & A

Below are photos from my family reunion, our road trip, and life in CT:

Dress, Diet, and Deadlines!

Hey all!

I made some purchases tonight for the wedding, so I wanted to update you on what's been happening! Here's a quick recap of what we ordered:

• vases for the reception
• sparklers :)
• cake topper!
• garter

The cake topper and garter are both from Etsy, an amazing website where crafty people sell their handmade stuff. There are LOTS of cute wedding items on there, which are really fun to browse through. :) The sparklers we actually bought online also, and the shipping was free! It's amazing what you can find online these days... I would say that 95% of my planning has consisted of online research.

Also, Collin and I finally decided on our first dance song. :) I'm not going to say what it is yet, but I'll give you a hint: it's old school! Can't wait!!

In other news, my dad is continuing to recover and is eating much better than before, which means we are all eating better! Wedding diet commences now, I guess! Haha. Now I just need to start working out... or maybe the stress of the wedding will take care of any excess fat lol. Either way, I definitely don't have any room for error in my dress!

Speaking of the dress, after looking at photos from my last fitting, I've decided that it's not quite up to par yet, unfortunately. It's in L.A. right now, but after Caitlin gets done with it, I'll need to take it back in for alterations two weeks before the wedding. Please keep your fingers crossed that everything works out in a timely manner! I have full faith in Caitlin, but it's other people I don't trust as much... And it is a rather important piece of clothing. :) I think it will be fine, honestly, but I do get paranoid every now and then.

Invitations are still in the works, but definitely coming along! I hope to have them out by next weekend or shortly thereafter. Cait has done a fabulous job designing them. She is basically the creative director of our wedding haha. She's awesome!

56 days to go!!! The official countdown has begun. :)


Love,

C & A

P.S. If you know of any great sites/stores to recommend for wedding shoes, please comment!! I have done a lot of searching with no luck so far... Already checked Zappos, Overstock, Off Broadway, Dillard's, and Macy's. Help!

Major Update! Part 3 - Moving and More

Ok, this should be the last of the blog updates... And it will cover all the drama surrounding my move to CT as well as all the wedding stuff I've been working on (well, most of it... there's been a lot lately!)

So as I mentioned in the last post, I am still in the great state of Tennessee as of right now. If the original plan had, well, gone according to plan, I would already be living in a sublease in New Haven, CT. Unfortunately, the girl whose place I was going to sublet backed out at the last second, which made a mess out of everything. Though I was definitely upset by the change in plans, it has turned out to be somewhat of a blessing for many reasons - I have been able to accomplish a lot for the wedding, I can be here with my dad as he recovers from his heart attack, and now Collin gets to come down for the family reunion next weekend in Knoxville and (finally) meet my extended family.

After the family reunion, I will drive up to CT with Collin (and Molly!) for a month-long visit, during which I will attempt to find a job and, of course, work on wedding stuff. Then I will come back down to Nashville two weeks before the wedding, and it will be an absolute marathon of last-minute preparations! So excited for all of it, though. :)

Since I didn't get to move up with Collin last weekend, he decided to fly down for a SURPRISE visit instead! It was the best surprise I've ever gotten... I was completely shocked, and I'm hard to surprise! I was going to see a movie with Erin Friday night, and I was actually on the phone with Collin as I drove to the theater (and as Erin picked him up from the airport). Then I called Erin to let her know I was pulling in, and she told me she had a surprise for me... When I got out of the car, Collin appeared out of the blue, and I literally couldn't believe my eyes. I refused to accept that it was him, because I couldn't see him too well and I was so afraid of being disappointed! Haha. I was absolutely floored! Apparently my parents knew about his visit (which also shocked me), so the guest room was ready for Collin by the time we got home from the movie. :) We had a wonderful weekend that (for once) was not entirely filled up with wedding appointments. We hung out with my parents, played with the dogs, and even saw fireworks together on the 4th! I'm so blessed to have such an incredible guy!! He's sneaky... but he's fantastic. ;)

Here are a couple photos from our weekend:

For a quick update on wedding plans, here is a list of things I've accomplished as of late:

• sent out Save the Dates
• booked our honeymoon in Mexico!!
  
• completed the registries (Target and Bed, Bath & Beyond)
• finished pre-marital counseling!
• got my dress sewn and shipped to L.A. for Caitlin to finish!
• booked the florist (Always in Bloom) and decided on flowers for the ceremony and reception
• ordered the cake from Publix
• went to a food tasting at Old Natchez and set the menu (it's going to be delicious!)
• decided on linens, centerpieces, and other reception decor
• decided on a design for escort cards and bought supplies to make them
• set photography schedule for the wedding day
• booked videographer and made a contract for him
• booked hair appointments prior to and on the wedding day
• reserved a block of hotel rooms for guests at the Hyatt Place (call to book one!)
• updated wedding website
• picked out our wedding bands :) (not purchased yet, though)
  
• worked on invitation designs with Caitlin (decision will be made within the week!)
• researched card stock, envelopes, and printing for invitations (decisions will be made within the week!)

I think that's it... Most of these have happened within the last couple of weeks, so needless to say I've kept busy here! Everything's coming along, but we still have a long way to go. Please pray that I will stay sane these next two months... I'll need it. I've already started freaking out a little about all the stuff I have to do, and it's going to get increasingly more stressful.

I want to enjoy this process, and most of the time I do, but sometimes I only feel anxious and scared about not finishing everything AND not making the most of my engagement period. I'm sure these are all normal emotions for a bride - especially one whose big day is quickly approaching - but just because it's typical doesn't mean it's acceptable. I'm trying really hard to maintain a positive attitude, but I definitely can't make it through all this craziness without the support of my fiance, family and friends. I know I have support, though, so I'm confident everything will work out. And regardless of all the stress, I know without a doubt that I want to marry Collin, and I WILL marry him on September 4th - come rain or shine! It will be a beautiful wedding, even if it isn't perfect. I just have to keep telling myself that.... ;)

Wish me luck, and please keep both Collin and me in your prayers these next two months. Thanks again to all our loved ones who continue to support us every step of the way. We are so grateful for you!

Love,

C & A

Major Update! Part 2 - Travels

To start off the busy month of June, I took a two-week trip to Minnesota and Connecticut, and Collin and I finally got to take our first flight TOGETHER! We met each other at the airport in Chicago, then flew together from Chicago to MN, and later from MN to CT. It was so wonderful!! The entire trip was awesome, though, especially being back in MN.

So we went to Minnesota for several reasons...

1. to visit Collin's family
2. to meet family members I hadn't met yet
3. for his brother Grason's graduation
4. for my first bridal shower and mini bachelorette party :)

We had a blast! Of course, hanging out with Collin's family is always a memorable experience haha, but I mean that in the best way possible. :) I've never been part of a large family, though I always dreamed of being in one, so I feel incredibly blessed to be joining one now, and even more blessed that they already accept and love me as their own. I'm one lucky in-law! Plus, I have the best of both worlds now - my small, tight-knit southern family, and my huge, boisterous northern family. :)

I loved staying at his family's house in rural Dennison, even though there were eleven of us sharing one bathroom and not enough beds haha. We grilled steaks, drank smoothies, played with puppies, jumped on the trampoline, played rook for hours (world championship!), had a dance party while doing the dishes, and just had a fantastic time overall. All the "kids" were there at the same time - which doesn't normally happen, since Collin lives in CT and Caitlin/Chris live in L.A. - so it was a very special and unique occasion. Plus, I got to be in the family photos, which means I've finally made it! :)

For wedding-related events, I had my first bachelorette party and my first bridal shower, both of which were amazing! The shower was Tiffany-themed (appropriately) and had beautiful decor, thanks to Caitlin! I met a lot of women, played some games, and got a TON of Target gift cards! :) I also got a pair of beautiful Tiffany wine glasses, a recipe holder book with a stack of family recipes, and some great kitchen utensils! My favorite part of the shower, though, was when Collin's mom and sisters surprised me with charms to add to the bracelet they got me for graduation. They each picked out their own charm for me and explained its significance. I got a Star of David from Sheerah (for Collin's parents' relationship), a dice from Caitlin (for Vegas!), a heart from Rachel (for the many meanings of love), and a #1 from Camille (for the unity of Collin and me as well as putting God first in our marriage). It was so unexpected, and so thoughtful. I absolutely love my charms!

As for my bachelorette, Caitlin planned it on the same night as Collin's bachelor party. We started the night in uptown Minneapolis at Chino Latino's - a trendy restaurant/bar with amazing drinks (I had a key lime martini!) and delicious desserts. We ended up going downtown after that, and we kept running into the guys! I saw Rick at least three times that night, and I even saw Collin at one point... Oops! Guess we crashed each other's parties haha. We all had a great time, though. Such a fun night!

After a week in MN, Collin and I flew back to CT for another week. He had to go back to work, so I spent most of my time searching for apartments and turning in applications.... LOTS of applications. At that time, I still thought I would be moving at the end of the month. But since it is now July 8th and I'm still in Tennessee, that plan obviously didn't work out... I'll cover that in the next post, though, so stay tuned! ;)

Here are some pictures from my trip:

Love,

C & A

Major Update! Part 1 - Family

Hey everyone!

So sorry I haven't blogged in FOREVER.... It's been over a month now, but to be fair, life has been prettttty busy. Now I need to catch you up on everything that has been happening! This will take a few posts, so bear with me, and feel free to take your time reading it all. :)

To start off, since this was a recent and very important event, I thought I would touch on it first... My dad had a heart attack two days ago. My mom woke me up at 3:30 Tuesday morning saying she had called the ambulance, and while she stood at the door looking for it, I sat with my father while he struggled to breathe and move due to his immense chest pains. I was in pure shock, too tired to comprehend what was actually happening and unable to grasp the significance of it. The paramedics eventually wheeled him out on a stretcher (talk about a sobering sight), and mom and I followed them to the hospital, where we were to stay for the next five hours.

At first, the doctors said dad didn't actually have a heart attack but rather was on his way to one, then later they changed their minds and confirmed that it was, in fact, a heart attack. As it turns out, he had almost complete blockage in three vessels leading to a main artery to his heart, so he had to have stints put in to open them up. He started feeling a lot better after that surgery, but the recovery process has been and will continue to be long and slow. Thankfully, though, he got to the ER just in time, and by some miracle I can't explain or understand, he has no damage whatsoever to his heart. Praise God! He's home now and on a very healthy diet (to his displeasure) as well as some meds to monitor his cholesterol, but other than that, life is on its way to being back to normal again... sorta. :)

As a post-flood house update, work on our living room (the room hardest hit) is finished!! It actually looks better than before with new carpet, fresh paint on the walls, new washer/dryer, and overall is more organized. Some work is still left to do - namely, in the shed outside and in the dining room upstairs, plus we'll need a new heater by winter - but the biggest project is done! :)

Here is a picture of the room before renovation:

We have been so blessed with the help, prayers, and support of so many people throughout everything - from the flood damage to our most recent scare. So, THANK YOU to all of you!

I think that's it for life updates.... The next couple of posts will have more to do with the wedding, I promise! :)

Love you all!

C & A

Health Update and Stories from Pre-Marital Counseling

Hey all!

I had my procedure (a flexible sigmoidoscopy) this morning, and everything went smoothly. Thankfully, they didn't find anything troubling, and I felt no pain whatsoever under the anesthetic. It was way easier than I thought it would be! The prep was the worst part... No solid foods for almost 24 hours, and a few other unpleasant things... But I made it! My mom took me to Cracker Barrel afterwards, and I had a feast. :)

In wedding news, I have officially ordered Save the Dates!! They should be in before long (hopefully before I go out of town), so now it's a matter of finalizing the guest list. Other things I need to do sooner rather than later are: choosing a florist, (officially) booking the DJ, and meeting with the wedding coordinator at the church.

Collin and I are almost done with pre-marital counseling! We did two sessions at once the day before my graduation (see what I mean about marathon weekend?), so now we only have one session left. We may have to Skype Collin in for one if he doesn't make it back down here before the wedding, but he may be here in June to help me move, which is our last possible opportunity. Counseling has been interesting... The first thing we had to do was take a test separately in order to assess our compatibility. We agreed on a lot of things and scored well overall - we actually earned the highest compatibility rating of "vitalized" couple. Pat on the back for that one. ;) We scored really well on conflict resolution and communication, which is great, but apparently we didn't do too well on marriage expectations (due mainly to the fact that I was trying to read too much into the test... oops).

Lisa, our counselor, was most concerned about the fact that we had never lived by each other or even been around each other for an extended period of time, plus we haven't been together as long as some couples, all of which she says may be the reason for our "unrealistic" expectations. It's a fair point, but I argued that the limitations to our relationship (ie: distance) have forced us to get to know each other a lot faster since all we could do all the time is talk, so I think we are a lot further on at this stage in our relationship than we would have been had we lived by each other. I'm not worried about it, and neither is Collin. I think we are both very realistic people, and we both acknowledge that living together may be a bigger adjustment for us than for some couples, but I honestly think it's challenging for all newlyweds. And I do think we're as ready now as we ever will be. So, bring on the challenge!

One result from the test that was particularly funny was our differing stress level. Collin scored a 50, which is considered moderate, and I scored a 95... out of 100. Haha whoops. Needless to say, that was pretty high. It was interesting to me, because I wouldn't consider myself an easily stressed person, but I do (or at least I did) have a lot of stressors contributing to my overall anxiety - the wedding, the thesis, graduation, finding a job, finding a place to live in CT, getting ready to leave my home forever, etc. It adds up, but thankfully my biggest stressors (thesis and graduation) are OVER. I still have other things to prepare for, but I don't mind them as much. Thank goodness! Maybe I can bring my stress level down to a 75... I think that's the best I can hope for as a woman. ;)

That's all for now. Stay posted! I'll be in Chicago this weekend for my friend Kelsey's wedding (yay!), but then I'll have to hit the ground running when I come back!

Love,

C & A

GRADUATION!!

Hey everyone,

Sorry for the delay in posts. Finals consumed my life for a while, but it is ALL OVER now, because as of yesterday, I am officially an alumna of Belmont University!! That's right, I GRADUATED! :) After much deliberation and anxiety (not to mention countless sleepless nights), I turned in my FINAL THESIS on Tuesday of this week. My tutor was gracious enough not to force more revisions out of me, so I was finally able to get it done!! I felt better than I have in MONTHS (literally) after turning that thing in. It was awesome.

Collin came in Thursday night, and Friday morning began another marathon weekend for us. I had graduation rehearsal at 9, we had marriage counseling from 11-1, and then we had to drive straight back to campus for Baccalaureate at 2. Whew! We got some dinner after Baccalaureate at my favorite restaurant in the world - Las Palmas. As much as I joke about it, I really am going to miss that place!

Saturday was graduation day, and it was a busy day, too! But a good one :) Graduation was at 10 am, yet I had to be there super early for no real reason. The ceremony was loooong, but surprisingly enough, I actually enjoyed it - even President Fisher's speech, which was much shorter and more creative than I ever anticipated. Funny thing is, I don't remember much at all about my walk across the stage. I know people cheered, but I paid no attention to the audience; I didn't even catch everything Fisher said to me when he handed me my diploma... I know he said "very impressive" (in reference to my honors) and "congratulations," but then he kept talking as I walked away, and I just kept nodding and saying "thanks so much!" Haha oh well.

Following graduation was an extensive photo session (in 90 degree weather, no less) and then lunch at Chili's. My graduation dinner was at Buca - believe it or not - and it was delicious. :) My parents gave me a vintage Alpha Gamma Delta badge, which I have been wanting for quite some time. It's from 1936 from the University of Kentucky, and it's a crown pearl badge with a diamond, which basically means it has a lot of bling. ;) My wonderful in-laws-to-be even got me a gift and a card! I was so surprised and humbled. They got me a lovely charm bracelet with a snowflake charm (I'm assuming to remind me of Minnesota). So sweet!! My family is awesome. :)

Here are a few pictures from graduation (FYI- the baby is my nephew, Cooper!):

Thanks to everyone for all your love and support throughout this semester!! It all paid off, and now I can focus on getting a job and getting married. :)

For a quick update on everything else...

• I plan on moving up to CT at the end of June
• I will be going to MN in a couple weeks with Collin for his brother's graduation plus some wedding activities :)
• I will be in Chicago next weekend for another wedding (the second in two weeks!), and it will be my first time there!
• I have to get a flexible sigmoidoscopy on Wednesday, so keep me in your prayers! It's not a major procedure, but I'm nervous about it because I hear it's super uncomfortable unless you go under (which means I will probably go under), and it basically requires fasting... Anyone who knows me knows how much I eat, so this will be a problem.
• Wedding planning is in full swing now that school is out... so be prepared for lots of updates!

Love,

C & A

Nashville Flood

Hey everyone,

For those of you who don't know, Nashville is in the process of recovering from a massive flood that devastated our city last weekend. It's not getting a lot of national media attention, but it's really rough here... So far about 30 lives have been lost, and that number is steadily climbing as homes are being cleaned out. Downtown was completely underwater, as were many neighborhoods and historical landmarks in and around the Nashville area. It was a record-breaking flood that is estimated to have caused at least $1 billion in damage, which would make it one of the most expensive natural disasters in U.S. history.

Thankfully, all my friends and family have been spared the worst. Green Hills (the neighborhood where I live) was probably one of the least affected areas, though the first-floor apartments in my complex still had flooding. I was very lucky. My parents' house wasn't quite so lucky, but it could have fared much worse. We live next to a creek, and even though there is an acre of distance between the creek and our house, the water still managed to surround the house and flood our family room (the lowest room in the house) with up to 4 feet of water. My parents were out of town for the worst part of the storm, but came back in time to salvage the furniture downstairs. The carpet has to be replaced, but that seems to be the only casualty, thank goodness.

Others haven't fared so well... Many alumnae of my sorority who live in the area have suffered a lot of damage from flooding, and some have lost everything. My sorority is trying to help out by donating money and items as well as volunteering our time. The one good thing to come out of all this is the way Nashville has stepped up as a community to help out those in need. Relief organizations have been overwhelmed with donations and volunteers to the point that they have had to start turning people away. The aftermath of the flood may be devastating, and the economic downfall sure to follow (due mostly to the destruction of tourist destinations such as Opryland and the Country Music Hall of Fame) will be equally difficult, but I think there is something to be said for the people of Nashville, whose spirits are stronger than ever. As I am about to leave this place that I have called my home for 22 years, I finally feel like a true Nashvillian, and I have never been prouder to call myself one.

Here is a really good video of compiled footage from the flood. There are lots of videos out there, though, so if you want to see more footage, you don't have to look very far.

Here are some more photos from last weekend (the last one was taken outside one of our alums' houses):

I still can't believe this happened to my city... Please keep Nashville in your prayers as we continue with the recovery effort.

Love,

C & A

Thesis? CHECK CHECK CHECK!

Exciting news, everyone!! I FINALLY submitted the first draft of my thesis! :) YAY! I was honestly beginning to doubt if this day would ever come, haha. But seriously... Graduation seemed so far away and perhaps even an impossibility, but now it's right around the corner, and guess who is getting a diploma?? :) Plus I found out I get to wear a medallion for graduating from the honors program! I knew there was a reason I put myself through all this... Lol.

The next step for the thesis is my oral defense, which is this coming Wednesday. My committee (which consists of my thesis tutor and two other professors in fields related to my topic) have my draft now, so they will come prepared to ask me all sorts of questions on Wednesday. The purpose of the oral defense is to discuss strengths and weaknesses of the thesis but also for them to test my knowledge on my topic, which goes beyond what is just written in my thesis. Kind-of intimidating... But I'll do whatever it takes at this point, now that my draft is finally in!

On Thursday, I have to present my thesis (for the third time now) at BURS - the Belmont Undergraduate Research Symposium. And of course, I'm presenting right after the guy who wrote a musical for his thesis... Everyone is going to hate me, haha. Oh well. I don't even like my topic that much anymore lol.

The final draft of my thesis is due the following Wednesday, May 5th, which also happens to be Cinco de Mayo... A think a margarita or two might be well deserved that night. :)

So that's what is coming up next - in the meantime, I have four other final papers due within the same time frame, so these next two weeks are going to be rough... Please pray that I make it out with some of my sanity!

Finally, THANK YOU to all of you who have encouraged and supported me on my thesis! You all are wonderful, and I am so blessed to have you in my life. I especially want to thank my incredible fiance for putting up with a wide range of stress-induced craziness over the past few weeks... He must be a saint, honestly. Collin, I couldn't have done it without you! I love you with all my heart!

Blessings,

C & A

On Death and Life: My Eulogy for David Jones

Tonight I'm going to talk on a topic that most people tend to avoid: death. I don't normally like to discuss things on here that are uncomfortable and/or depressing, but I just feel the need to write about it because it has been weighing on my heart as of late.

A couple weeks ago, I found out that my high school band director had died. I would say he passed away, but he didn't - he took his own life. As far as uncomfortable topics go, I think suicide probably tops the list. I watched a documentary about a month ago on the suicide "jumpers" of 9/11 who leapt out of the burning towers in desperation and resignation; the video was inspired by an article in Esquire that was based on the controversial photograph of the Falling Man that circulated widely after 9/11. Interestingly enough, the deaths of the jumpers were not documented as suicides or even jumps but as accidental deaths. I remember watching the live media coverage on that day and seeing some of the jumpers leap to their fates (before the media was instructed not to show them anymore). Those images haunt my memory more than anything else I saw that day - more than the limbless people, more than the blood, more than the fire, and more than the final collapse of the tallest towers in the world. I remember how I felt - it was a bizarre mixture of horror, sorrow, and paralyzing helplessness. It's hard enough to comprehend suicide abstractly, but being forced to face it directly - that's something else entirely.

I don't have a lot of experience with death. Besides the occasional family member who passes on with old age and the occasional classmate whose life is taken prematurely, I've really never lost anyone very close to me... I realize now how fortunate I am, though I know it will not stay that way forever. And I wouldn't go so far as to say I was "close" to my band director, but his death has shaken me up more than any other death I've known. He wasn't young, but he certainly wasn't that old. He was approaching middle-age, which to me is still too young. I remember his goofy grin, his annoying chuckle, his terrible posture, and his dorky obsession with marching band. And to be honest, he wasn't that great of a teacher. He explained things one way, and if you didn't get it, he would just repeat the same thing. What he was good at was being our friend, and I appreciated that more than anything he could have taught me in the classroom.

Band was my oasis amidst all the heinous stereotypes of people present at any all-American high school. My high school was so typical it could have set the standard (and probably did, it was so old). But no matter how much people annoyed me or school stressed me out, I could always come hang out in the band room with Mr. Jones, and he would just let me be there without questioning where I should be or why I kept showing up. Well, sometimes he did ask me, "Shouldn't you be somewhere right now?" but I just ignored him because we both knew he wasn't going to do anything about it. His shy, pleasant demeanor always brightened my day, and our conversations (however brief or irrelevant) were full of jokes and laughter. I respected him, but I never took him too seriously, even when he would throw the occasional temper tantrum. I felt like he and I understood each other.

Mr. Jones was also very encouraging, in his own way. He and I both knew what I was capable of, so neither of us really felt the need to discuss it openly. But I could just tell in the way he talked to me and critiqued me that he saw a lot of potential in me, and I always felt very humbled by that. I used to imagine sometimes what my life would have been like if I had pursued an education in music, and how proud he would be of me. I could just hear him now in his monotone voice with his signature dry humor saying, "So I heard you threw away your career." It wouldn't offend me, though; I would just laugh and expect nothing less. But to be honest, Mr. Jones did grant me a lot of opportunities and honors that I wouldn't have received any other way, and I am indebted to him for that. Not to brag, but I really do think I might have been one of his favorite students, and I was very proud of that fact. He was my favorite teacher, even though he didn't teach me much about music.

After Mr. Jones died, for some reason I decided I had to confirm it by checking his Facebook profile. I'm not sure what I was looking for - there is no life status or anything to acknowledge that the owner of a profile has ceased to exist. But what I did find on his wall was an ongoing memorial to him through condolences and old photos. Though it was inspiring to see all of the posts, I found that viewing the Facebook profile of someone who has died felt very strange and almost voyeuristic. It's a growing and inevitable part of our internet culture that doesn't seem to have a solution yet; we're still in that awkward phase of trying to figure out what to do with someone's online identity when their real identity has passed on. I remember scrolling down below all the memorial posts to find the last post left on his wall before he died. It was a sweet message from his wife, and it broke me all the way down. She had no idea then what was soon to happen; it was posted a mere two days before his death. Collin was with me when I made this discovery, and he was visibly concerned about my sanity as I rocked back and forth, sobbing uncontrollably and repeating the same phrase over and over: "But he had a family..."

Mr. Jones taught hundreds of students over the years, and I know they all carry fond memories of him similar to the ones that I have. I know this because of how they have honored his memory: they held a tribute concert for him, they set up a Facebook group in his memory that now has over 1,000 members, they designated a charity for donations to be made in his honor, they created a video commemorating him, they sent enough memories to take up an entire half-page in the obituary section of the newspaper, they attended his memorial service, and for an entire day, many of his students replaced their profile pictures with the Franklin High School "Power F" logo in his honor. How could a man so obviously loved feel so alone? How could he not see the impact he had on the world?

I just can't comprehend why someone who changed so many lives would ever want to take his own. I realize that is the nature of suicide - it is incomprehensible and unpredictable. But it still blew me away, and I'm not sure if I have even recovered yet from the shock that old Mr. Simpson (our previous band director who taught Jones in high school and retired my freshman year) actually outlived Mr. Jones. It just isn't right. But I do know this: Mr. Jones may not have seen what an impact he made, but the rest of us do. His legacy will always live on in the hallowed halls of Franklin High School, where so many of his students made lasting memories. I can still hear that dry voice amplified through that annoying megaphone in the band hall (unnecessarily), out on the practice field, and in the football stands. I can still see that goofy grin he got when we sang to him in the stands, and hear that silly chuckle when he tried to make a joke. I really do miss him, and I wish now that I had kept him updated on my life; I think he would have liked that, though he would never want to admit it. Just like I would never want to admit that those were some of the best years of my life.

I apologize for the interruption from wedding stuff, and I hope this post wasn't too much of a downer. It just felt like something I needed to do.

A

Engagement Photos!!!

Hi everyone, sorry for the delay in blogging... I've been pretty sick the past few days with some sort of intestinal infection caused by food (that I got on campus, of course). I'm actually meeting with a gastrointestinal specialist today and will have to have an endoscopy done later this week, so please keep me in your prayers! I finally started feeling better today, though, so now I just need to start eating like normal again so I can regain my strength.

In LIGHTER news, Collin and I already got our engagement photos back!! We took them last Saturday, and the weather was absolutely perfect: sunny, warm, and not a cloud in the sky - it was a little bright, but we really can't complain! We also had a great time with our photographer, Matt Andrews, and we are VERY happy with our photos. He is the best! We wore three different outfits (I would recommend only two... by the third outfit we were tired of changing and had wasted time doing so), and we had our photos taken at three different sites (again, I would recommend only two unless they are all close by): Centennial Park, outside the courthouse downtown, and at the Nashville Zoo! Centennial Park turned out to be a lot prettier (and a lot less cliche) than I expected... The courthouse photos - especially the ones at the fountain - ended up being some of my favorites. The zoo photos were fun with the tall grass and the unusual shots, but I feel like we look kinda tired and sunburnt in most of them, haha. Overall, though, we are ecstatic about the way the photos turned out, and deciding on our favorites is really hard!!

Here is the link to the photo website if you want to check them out and/or order some prints: http://www.pictage.com/client/registration.do?event=818476

You'll have to register first, but you are not required to purchase anything.

In other wedding news, Collin and I got a lot of other things accomplished last weekend...

• We started our registry at Bed Bath and Beyond (yay!), but it is liable to change, so I wouldn't recommend buying anything just yet! We still need to check out Target's selection. I'm really happy with what we chose so far, though, and I am in LOVE with the china :) It was definitely the Tiffany blue accent plate that got me... But I love the rest of the collection, too. Very elegant yet modern and sophisticated... at least I think so! Check it out!
• We looked at wedding bands for the first time, which was lots of fun :) We went to Shane and Genesis. Neither of us were overly impressed with Shane, and I'm not sure what Collin thought of Genesis, but I was VERY impressed with them. Their diamonds are beautiful, and though they are more expensive than Shane, I think the quality is much better. And they're still cheaper than Tiffany, haha. But the funny thing is, I am pretty sure Collin's band will be more expensive than mine... He wants some bling ;)
• Still figuring out invitations... The budget is turning out to be very difficult for these. But Save the Dates should be out before long!

Stay posted for more updates!! Graduation is just around the corner :)

C & A

Thesis? ALMOST CHECK!!

Exciting news, everyone: It looks like I will be graduating in May after all!!!! :)

My thesis is FINALLY picking up, and I have found a way to incorporate all the writing I did before altering my topic. So now I have about 35 pages DONE, and I only need to write about 15 or so more! I will turn in my first draft early next week!!! From there, I will give my oral defense to my thesis committee, await their suggestions, present at the Belmont Undergraduate Research Symposium, and make changes to my final draft, which I will turn in by May 5th!!! Then, I am DONE!!!!!!! I can't believe I am actually going to make it... I was honestly starting to give up hope and was trying to convince myself that an August graduation wouldn't be so bad...

Thank you all SO MUCH for all your prayers and encouragement. I honestly believe it made a difference. :)

Soon I can just focus on wedding planning and the job hunt! As if that's no big deal... Haha.

In other news, Collin gets in on FRIDAY of this week! We are going to have a CRAZY weekend full of wedding stuff (which leaves me little time to work on the thesis, but I'll have to make it work!) Here is our crazy schedule:

Friday:

- Pick up Collin at 10:30 pm!!!! :)

Saturday:

- Engagement photos with Matt Andrews from 11 am to 2 pm

- Ring shopping!

- Registry research

- Dinner with parents?

Sunday:

- Church and lunch with parents

- Registry appointment at Bed Bath and Beyond at 2 pm

- Dinner at home

- Greek Sing!

Monday:

- Class at 9 am (just me)

- First marriage counseling session at church at 11 am

- Collin leaves at 6:30 pm :( :(

So, wish me luck on finishing up my thesis amidst all the craziness of Collin's visit, wedding planning, and Greek Week... But at least now I know I can do it :) I am so happy!!!!

Love,

C & A

P.S. Hope you all had a lovely Easter! I spent the day with my family, and it was amazing. :)

Dress Update!

I had a meeting today with my seamstress at b. Hughes, Edith. She had some fabric swatches picked out for me that were very nice, but much pricier than I anticipated... She said she would shop around some more, though. She also took my measurements so she can start working on a muslin sample gown (not sure what else to call this?) to get an idea of the shape of the real gown. She complimented me on my small waist, which is always encouraging to hear :) especially since I had been feeling larger than life lately...

She might have the unadorned dress ready to go by the beginning of June - if all goes well (and quickly) - for when I travel to MN with Collin. Caitlin will be there, so she would get the chance to see me in the gown and take it home with her to L.A. to finish it. This would be ideal, but definitely a quick turnaround for Edith. The latest I should have the dress from her is sometime in July, so I can at least have it back from Caitlin in time for my bridal shoot :)

Getting excited!! It's hard to keep the dress details secret from Collin...

C & A (well, just A this time)

Honeymoon? Check!

Exciting news!! We have officially booked our honeymoon :)

And we will be going to...

the RIVIERA MAYA, MEXICO!!!

We are going to be staying at the El Dorado Casitas Resort, which is on the coast between Cancun and Playa del Carmen. It is a AAA Four Diamond resort, and it is BEAUTIFUL! We have our own private infinity pool (in addition to the 13 other pools at the resort), a beach bed, a jacuzzi, a private sunset dinner on the beach, a spa package, and so much more. We also have the opportunity to do all sorts of activities: parasailing, snorkeling, kayaking, excursions, nightly parties, etc. We're so excited!!

Here are a couple pictures of where we will be staying:

The picture on the left is the inside of a casita suite, and the picture on the right shows the casitas on the 2nd level, which is where we will be!

Here is the link to the website, if you want to check it out some more:

http://www.karismahotels.com/node/19

Collin takes all the credit for this, since finding a honeymoon spot was his "job." :) I must say, I am very impressed!! Originally we were looking at Sandals resorts for the most part - which are still very, very nice - but we got such a great deal on this one that we just couldn't pass it up. Plus it's gorgeous!

Here is the link to the Sandals Royal Bahamian, which was our second choice:

http://www.sandals.com/main/bahamian/ba-home.cfm

So now we can mark honeymoon off the list! We are officially booked! Yay!!

Next up are engagement photos, save the dates, ring shopping, and marriage counseling... We take our engagement photos next Saturday! I'm so excited! But that means I have a lot to do before then... working out, getting my hair done, getting my nails done (maybe), etc. We are still working on invitations and save the dates, so no final decision has been made yet. Just start checking your mail before long and you'll see what we picked out :) We'll start shopping for wedding bands on Saturday as well, and we FINALLY chose a marriage counselor (counseling is required at my church), so we will meet with her on Sunday. Collin gets in next Thursday!! :)

In other news...

• I have a meeting with my Nashville seamstress on Thursday about my dress, which is awesome because I was starting to get nervous that I hadn't heard from her!
• My thesis is pretty much due next week.... Yikes! Please pray that I am able to get it done.
• I presented my thesis for the first time over the weekend in Little Rock, AR at a conference. It went ok... but I still have a ways to go. The conference was a lot of fun, though!
• I only have one class tomorrow before Easter Break! Yay! One of the perks of going to a Christian college :) The only drawback is that I have to work on Easter Sunday :( Not too happy about that.

I'll keep you posted about everything! Sorry my posts are fewer and farther in between... It's getting to the end of the school year, and life is crazy busy! Let's hope I graduate in a few weeks so I can be done!

C & A

The in-laws' visit! [warning: lots of photos!]

Collin and his family came into town this past weekend, and we got a lot accomplished! His parents and siblings stayed at my parents' house. Collin and I also slept over there Friday night, and it was a little packed... We had an amazing time, though. On Friday my parents and I showed the Gebhards the church, and we checked out two potential venues for the rehearsal dinner. The one Collin's mom decided to go with is a nearby neighborhood clubhouse. Here are some pictures of the exterior and interior:

We also went out to dinner Friday night at Carrabba's to celebrate Collin's and my engagement. :) We called ahead but still had to wait a long time for a table... So we did a little shopping at TJ Maxx to pass the time, haha. Here are some pics from dinner:

After dinner, I got to look through photo albums of Collin growing up. I must say, he was a really cute kid! I definitely would have had a crush on him when I was little, even if he was way older than me. ;)

Collin and I also opened our first wedding presents! His parents got us pots and pans, a tea cup and saucer they received as a wedding present, and my very first cookbook! :) They also gave us these beautiful embroidered pillowcases that say 'Mr' and 'Mrs' and were made by Collin's grandmother while she was alive. She made them for all the grandchildren as wedding presents, which is a lot of pillowcases! They are so special to me because Collin loved her so much. I wish I could have met her, but I feel very lucky to have something made by her. I'm marrying into an amazing family! Here are a couple pics of the presents:

Saturday was a very relaxing day. My parents and I showed the Gebhards Old Natchez (our reception site) as well as downtown Franklin. Then we all had some of my mom's homemade soup for dinner and played Wii and Rook for the rest of the night. It was my first time playing Rook, so I had to get a long tutorial, but I think it was the most fun we had all weekend. :) Here's some pics from Saturday (the boys were sleepy):

It was a wonderful visit, and an awesome end to an otherwise dull Spring Break. It was unusually hard to say good-bye to Collin this time, but the good news is we have already booked his flight for April! He will be here April 9-12, and we will be taking our engagement photos on the 10th! Yay! :) I already can't wait to see him again, and I'm definitely looking forward to my MN visit in June! I just have to graduate first... Yikes! Pray that I'll my finish my thesis on time!!

Love,

C & A