I'M GETTING MARRIED!!!

I'm having one of those nights where its really hitting me that I'm getting married! Its so crazy...I've been planning the wedding for a little over 2 mon ths and only when I stop and just take it all in does it really hit me. Its such a mix of emotions....I am SO excited!!!! I can't believe its finally happening....but at the same time, its so natural that its really not so unbelievable. Its humbling to see God moving...and where He's brought me. Its relieving to remember where I was last year at this time....that I'm not still there. And, it makes me cry to think about how blessed I am to have Ken in my life. I love him more that I can say and that love continues to build every day. I'm excited that we strive to have a godly relationship and, soon to be, marriage. I'm excited that we hold to the same beliefs. I'm excited that we appreciate each other. I'm excited that in less than 100 days I get to live with my best friend! I'm excited that we are getting to have this incredible celebration with our friends and family. I'm excited to see where God leads us and how He uses us for His glory. I'm excited that Ken loves me as much as he does. I'm excited that I get to love him back. I'm excited that we get to share this life together. Its more humbling than I could have ever imagined. I've waited on God's perfect timing....sometimes not so patiently and sometimes not so obediently....but I waited on Him to bring His best for me! It was better than I could have ever imagined. It was better than what I would have picked for myself. Ken is amazing! He is gentle, he is funny, he is kind, he is loving, he is incredibly smart, he is a believer, he is strong, he is determined, he is great at his job...his calling, and he is perfect for me!

I love you baby!!! Less than 100 days!!!!

More Engagement Pictures!!!

We finally got our engagement pictures back...and they are WONDERFUL!!! We couldn't find one we didn't like. :) Here are a few more to add to this post. For some reason, its taking a VERY long time to upload my pictures tonight....and I am ready for bed. So, I will post more later!

A Picture Blog

Well, I never blogged about Ken and I's trip to Texas. We went the last weekend of March to spend time with Ma. She had been diagnosed with cancer at the end of Feb/early March. It was already stage 4 and they were giving her 4 months. I wanted Ken to meet her. I was hoping (kind of) that she would make it to the wedding. I say "kind of" because I know she had to be miserable...she couldn't eat anymore and was only being fed with a tube. I hated it for her. She also told me that she was ready to see my grandpa. I didn't want her to suffer anymore...and God thankfully took her at the beginning of May. Her passing was much harder on me than I thought it was going to be. She was wonderful and I love her! Ken and I had a great time with her...and I think she enjoyed us being there. I will miss her terribly!

This picture was taken in the drive-thru of Dairy Queen...our FOURTH trip to dairy queen since we entered the GREAT state of TEXAS!!!! Ken and I have decided that we are going to move to a small town in Texas and live on a huge ranch! :)

At the beach in Texas....while everyone in Oklahoma was suffering a terrible snow storm. Too bad we missed it.

We detoured through Aggie-Land! Neither of us had ever been to A&M and we decided it was time. We just walked around campus, saw my cousin, Hannah, and were even able to walk out onto their football field! It was BEAUTIFUL! I mean, I still completely bleed orange, but we both loved A&M.

And the blue-bonnets were AMAZING!!! So much so, that Ken has planted them all around the house...I can't wait to see if they bloom next year! LOVE THEM!

One of my best friends from college, Melissa, is having a baby this summer! She had a shower in Tulsa...she lives in Tampa, FL and it was so good to see her.

And, another one of my college friends Jacquelyn was there too. She and her family have just moved from Ft. Worth back to TULSA!!! YAY!!!!

RUGER'S BIRTHDAY!!!!!! YAY!!!! He turned the 4-years-old this year. And, as usual, Aunt Michelle came bearing gifts! Bride and groom stuffed toys.

He really loved them!!!! :) And now they are destroyed. He can't stand the squeakers inside...so he rips them to shreds until they don't make noise anymore.

My dad's sisters, Donna and Dayna, decided to give my grandmother's wedding ring to me. I couldn't believe it. They said they thought Ma would want me to have it. It still brings me to tears. I am so humbled and blessed to have it. Ken and I are going to take it and make it a wedding band for me. Check back...I'll post pictures once its done!

Dinner with mom and dad at Kilkenny's in Tulsa...YUM!!!!

FINLEY!!!!! She was having a blast with Ruger and Lexis. Michelle and her came to Stillwater to pick me up and we all headed to Tulsa. We had cake testing and flower meetings for the wedding. We had a lot of fun!!! Michelle or my mom have more pictures of the day...it was fun because my mom and her best friend, Millie, went too. It was a great girl's day.

My best friend and me!!! We always seem to skip taking pictures of JUST the two of us. We finally got one....and its great! :)

My Baby's new toy!!!! The old tractor broke down...so what better reason to get his FIRST JOHN DEERE???? He's so cute!

And, here is his wedding present from me!!!! I know its not very sentimental, but its us! We needed a place to keep the new tractor....and all my stuff!!!!

Our second wedding present! My mom, dad, Ken and I went to William Sanoma to "learn" about espresso machines. Dad and I wandered around....my registering and dad helping....while mom and Ken learned all about their love for espresso. Mom figured out this was Ken's favorite. When Ken and I got in the car....there it was!!! He makes FANTASTIC lattes!!!!

And, OUR FIRST wedding present. My grandma Lavalle found out we needed a new stove/oven and she graciously bought one for us! I LOVE IT!!!! I'm so excited. We ordered it and Ken put it in himself....I helped a little. It's fabulous!!!! I've been over to cook a few times on it....SO amazing!!! Our last one was almost completely shot. It was frustrating to cook.

So many new things! I can't wait to get married and move into the same house and get to use all the new toys. BUT, I really can't wait to be this man's wife!!!! :)

Less than FOUR months to go!!!!!

Engagement Pictures

Here are two of our engagment pictures!!! They turned out GREAT! :) Our photographer, Sarah, did an amazing job and we just loved her. We hope that she is who Storybook Wedding schedules to work our wedding! Click on their links to see their amazing photography!

Sick? Really???

I really hate being sick!!! I know its supposed to be a time of rest, and who can't use a little rest? However, I really get tired of being at home and isolated from friends, work , and seeing Ken. I saw Michelle and Finely today and I couldn't even touch or love on Fin and I hate that too. Thankfully, its not an infection and I don't need antibiotics, right? Well, in my head, I would much rather have an infection that needed antibiotics because no.1, they both feel the same, and no.2, I would at least have medicine. So, right now, I am sitting on the couch watching re-runs of Law and Order. I wish I had the strength to at least clean house or something.

I do have to say that I LOVE the sunny weather!!!! We have had 3 weeks of rain....not just every once in a while...I mean, rain every single day for the last 3 weeks. We are supposed to even get it tonight and tomorrow...then sunny weather all next week! YAY!!!!

I wish I had more going on, but being sick has kept me home-bound. Kenny and I have done a lot of registering. Next week we start looking for a cake person and start on decorations for the reception. This week, my realtor is also coming to look at the changes of the house so she can get a market analysis done. Hoping to have it on the market by June 1st!!! SO pray that this is an easy process. Thats all the wedding stuff for this week.

Ruger's b-day is on Sunday! He will be 4years old. He got his first present today from Aunt Michelle. It was a bride and groom stuffed toys. He LOVED them!!!! I took pictures before he started demolishing them....I'll post them once I get them downloaded.

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND!

Hoping to feel better after the weekend!

Being Single

I’m forgetting what its like to be single. Now, when I was single, that was exactly where I wanted to be some days….forgetting I was single. In the last 24 hours, I’ve been called twice to remember what it was like. I don’t want to forget it!!! I want to remember it b/c I want to remember that as much as I hate doing laundry or unloading the dishwasher, I will soon GET TO do it for my husband. I don’t want to forget what I was patiently (and some days not so patiently) waiting for! I want to remember that when I was single, I so longed to have that companionship. Someone I could share life with! If I forget, I stand to get in a place where I don’t appreciate the companionship as much as I would. I want to remember, b/c being single made me who I am today. It made me a better wife for Ken. It made me a stronger person. It made me fall in love with my Savior. I never want to forget that time of my life.

I also don’t want to forget b/c its an amazing ministry for young girls! I don’t want to become so far removed from it that I forget the hurt and pain they are feeling. I want to be able to minister to them and encourage them. I want them to know that its OK to graduate from college and not be married…that its OK to have fun and enjoy single-life until God brings them their husband…that its OK to develop a strong relationship and serve all they can in ministry until they have a family. That the wait is completely and amazingly worth every second, every agonizing, confused, frustrated, fun, free second of their single life!

God is so perfect that its beyond anything we can ever imagine! He can and will blow you away if you are just patient with Him and follow His lead and are obedient to where He’s leading. Never forget what He has brought you out of…its what makes us who we are today and we can use it to minister to others!

(And, for you all you married people reading this, don’t think we can’t serve in ministry any less…it just looks a little...or a lot...different).

Its May!!!

Well, its May! I love May because it reminds me that summer is around the corner. Its been raining all week and I actually love it. I'm not really a fan of rain in cold weather....I'm not really a fan of cold weather at all, EXCEPT I love sweaters and the dark colors and the clothes. Anyway---warm weather rain is one of my favorite things. I love watching the lightening storms and listening to thunder with all the lights out at night...plus, I sleep like a rock when its raining. I love it!

The wedding is coming along beautifully! I've had a few stressful days where I didn't think somethings were going to work. However, I constantly had to remind myself...with the help of my parents, fiance and best friend reminding me....that God would work it out. I think my sister-in-law, Aimee, said it best...she said that God has already planned the day. He knows every detail about it, so there is nothing to worry about. The main and most important thing to keep in mind is that Ken and I will be married at the end of the day. YAY!!! :) We now have the church, the reception site, the caterer, the photographer, our pastor, singers, our attendants and my dress all worked out. Now I am starting to work on cakes, dj's, videographers, and decorations. I am looking forward to when Ken's mom can come to town and we can take her around and show her everything. Mostly, I do have to admit that its been really fun! My parents have been absolutely amazing! I seem to stress about money and not going over budget and my parents just tell me to enjoy it, have a good time and just create memories....I get to do this once! I am just completely humbled and blessed by them daily!

An update on my grandmother would be that things are just getting worse. There's really not a nicer way to say it. She is relying on her feeding tube all the time. She can take it out 6 hours a day. I believe hospice is moving in full-time this week. She just continues to get weak. She has her good days and gets out to get her hair done or goes riding when family comes to visit, but mostly she isn't feeling great.

I guess thats really all thats going on. I haven't updates my 2009 resolutions in awhile, but they are going pretty well. I am still working out and eating healthy. Of course, I would love to drop 10 lbs, but who wouldn't. We'll see if the wedding planning helps with that. I have to say I have a lot of nervous energy all day...just from being excited and planning. I am still working on ways to love my family. I do fail at times, but learning to just have grace and love them at all times.

This isn't a 2009 resolution, but I was planning on reading a lot this summer....and after we got engaged, I have been slacking off. My time seems to be taken by reading a book called "Bridal Bargains" (AMAZING if you know anyone getting married) and searching the internet for ideas and deals and vendors. Hopefully I will get some time once I feel like everything is booked.

Thats about all for now. Hope you enjoy my completely random Friday!