Ephesians 3:13-21

" I ask you, therefore, not to be discouraged because of my sufferings for you, which are your glory.

For this reason I kneel before the Father,

from whom His whole family in Heaven and on earth derives its name.

I pray that out of His glorious riches He may strengthen you

 with power through His Spirit in your inner being,

so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.

And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints,

to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ,

and to know this love that surpasses knowledge-

that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

Now to Him who who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine,

according to his power that is at work within us,

to Him be the glory in the Church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen."

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!

Angie over at The Story of Audrey Caroline is.........

well head over there and have a look yourself!

Yay!!

What a blessing.

 I have spent the last two days reading her blog from the beginning and am so beyond happy for her i cannot contain myself!

I am just so excited to read her journey through this time and please be sure to check out her blog and lift her little one and her family up in prayer.

If you have not yet read her blog start at the beginning and be sure to have a box of tissues by your side and be ready to discover an amazing family who has the most amazing faith in the Lord.

I am just so happy!!

Etsy Finds!

I, as most people are, am OBSESSED with Etsy!!

I have only purchased a few items from them but i spend hours upon hours browsing the site!

Here are some special things i have had in my Favorites basket~

Breast Cancer Awareness Check Book Cover by Beeyourselfdesigns

Preppy Pink and Green Can Koozies by PinkGasoline

Perfect Bridesmaid Gift!

Love Letters for the Newlyweds Set of 7 Love by aphroditescanvas

Seven notecards for your first week of marriage.  Such a sweet keepsake!

(but then again you can do this yourself without buying 7 cards but i love the idea!)

The perfect gift for flowergirls or bridesmaids by silverhand

So cute and perfect for the Charm Cake idea.

As seen in Elegant Bride Magazine Custom ring holder by Palomasnest

I have wanted one of these since the day i discovered Etsy! I'm not sure if i would use it for the Ring Bearer but i would love it for at home!

Shappy Vintage Wedding Sign personalized by the shoppe

Not too sure what i would do with this but i just love personalized things!

Well class is starting but i will be back later with more etsy finds!  I can't get enough!

(some the items are listed as 'sold out' when you click on the link, if you go through the actual shop they are still in stock, except for the check book, i just have had these in favorites for a while!)

Our Story

Charlie and I first met in Ms. O'Hanlan's Second Grade Class.  

We both sat the same spaceship table!

It was here that Charlie first asked me if i liked him, according to him, I said "sometimes".  

I, on the other hand do not remember this question whatsoever!  

Our moms became friends and encouraged us to speak to each other. 

 I didn't listen to my mom because boys were yucky! 

 Especially Charlie!  Just kidding!

 At the end of that year Charlie signed my yearbook with "Youre prety, call me" 

and then he wrote his home phone number.  

What a ladies man! 

We then went to fourth grade where we found each other in the same class once again.  

Charlie broke his knee this year and i remember seeing him in a place like Chuck-e-cheese and i felt so sorry for him because he was in a wheelchair and could not play with everyone. 

 I went and told my mom and then i came back and saw him literally inside the play place on his wheelchair chasing people! 

 I didn't feel sorry for him after then!

I then went to private school and only saw charlie a few times between 4th grade and 10th grade. 

I came back to public school in 11th grade and saw Charlie the first day of school. 

We both went home and told our moms that we saw each other and once again they told us to speak!  We both thought we didn't remember each other. 

 Then our moms ran into each other at, of all places, Bass Pro Shops!  

They told each other what we said and they came home and told us.  

We kept smiling at each other in the halls but never spoke.  

We had the same friends so we had exchanged phone numbers and started speaking some..then the night before our first SAT test Charlie called me and asked if i would go to the movie with him and some "other people". 

 I said yes and he said he was going to call the "other people".  

Needless to say there never was anyone else he just wanted to act like there was! 

 So we went to the movies and saw that movie where Paris Hilton gets killed!  Great first date movie!  We drove around after and found a a little drive thru gas station that we named our secret place! 

 The next day we went to take the SAT test and were standing around talking to our friends who didn't know we had been out the night before.  We were trying to play it cool and keep our secret! 

 I did not do so well on that first SAT test!  We started dating and have been together ever since!  

We went to both proms together and went to the same college together.  

On the day we will marry we will have been together for a little over 5 years.

He is such a sweet guy and i can't wait to spend forever with him!

Peace

Today was my first Sociology of Peace class.

 I admit i signed up for the class because i needed the credits

and i heard the woman teaching was a great teacher.

 So i decided i couldn't go wrong!

 This class will probably be my favorite class of my entire college experience.

I wish i would have taken it earlier!

The class is obviously centered around Peace.

My professor started a program in Charleston called

 Charleston Peace One Day.

It is a program dedicated to informing the community about peace and establishing peace for one day.

We were asked to describe what peace meant to us.

This was a task that left me thinking until time was almost up!

Peace is not easy to describe and it can be many things to many people.

I decided to write down any words or phrases that came to mind when i thought of the word Peace.

Peace is love.  Peace is individuality.  Peace is working together.  Peace is acceptance.  Peace is breaking the norm.  Peace is believing.  Peace is acting out for a greater good.  Peace is an expression.  Peace is a lifestyle.  Peace is forgiveness.  Peace is motivation.  Peace is understanding.  Peace is respect.

We then were asked to write what negative words or phrases are associated with peace.

religion, war, voting party, hippies, idealism, unattainable, radical, looseminded.

She told us that we would come back to these at the end of class and see how it has changed.

It will be interesting to look back at this.

We also watched the first half of a movie called Peace One Day.  I highly recommend this movie it is incredibly eye-opening and a great movie to show in our class.  I cannot wait to see the end.

I love classes that make you think.  In just the first 2 hours of this class i have gotten more out of it than any other class i have been in for 7 weeks now.

I am looking so forward to this class!

Reception change!

Well i have had a busy week!  I feel awful for not posting...so much has happened i was just so overwhelmed!

We had fall break last week and charlie and his dad and friends went hiking in Tennessee!

 

This is Charlie on his last hike with my dad and his dad..for a month!

Hence the beard!

While he was gone my family went to a beautiful wedding at the location of our wedding!

It was raining when we arrived and we waited inside to see if the rain would hold off to have the outdoor wedding.  The skies cleared so we headed outside and while we were waiting it started sprinkling.  I felt so bad for the bride i was worried that she was upset but she didn't seem to be!  Afterwards she told my mom "what can you do?" which is so true.  I need to have that mentality more often.  When things happen that are out of control there is nothing you can do to change so just go with it and make the most of it!

A bride off of Weddings by Stephanie.
Even though rain may fall on my wedding day i think it would be super cute to have a picture like this in rain boats and a wedding dress! 

God is so good that when they were saying there vows the most beautiful ray of sunshine that had been hiding literally all day fell right upon them.  It gave me goosebumps!  So amazing!  We then moved to a cocktail hour on the patio and had firefly sweet tea drinks!  My dad had a sip of one and had no idea what it was! Needless to say he didn't like it!

We then moved in to the main rooms for dinner and dancing.  It was really perfect for them but we are going to have twice as many people and you could not fit many more in the building.

We decided after that, that we were going to have to change the reception location.

It is sad but it definitely needs to be done...

The building is just way to small and spread out into several different rooms.

The ceremony will still be on the lawn and hopefully the rehearsal dinner will be there because i really love the building!  Its so beautiful!

On Sunday me, my mom, and charlie's mom went and looked at Marina Inn.

They were setting up for a March of Dimes Event but i loved it!

The building was soooo pretty!  There is a large ballroom and i smaller Hall entrance area that they called something like pre-function area...i think that is it!

Then the doors open and there is a patio with a fire pit!  Perfect!

Everything seemed to fall right into place....until...

I asked them about our date and he said oh, "I think we have a function that night but i will see if i can over ride it."  I had no idea what that meant!  But we told him how much we loved it and wanted to be there and he said he would call tuesday with the verdict!

After having a tour of the rooms, which were gorgeous, we went and sat in the lounge and talked about everything!

Marina Inn

The pre-function room

The Nautilis Ballroom


They had THE BEST lemonade and sugar cookies out!  I love me some lemonade and sugar cookies!  But nothing can compare to the Pink Lemonade at the Grand Floridian at Disney World. The absolute best!

Anyway!

We discussed how much we loved the place and what a blessing it was that we decided to change so early when we had enough time to do it right!

On Sunday we met with our wedding planner and talked about the wedding for about 5 hours!

I could have sat and talked longer!!

Remember that while all of this was going on Charlie was hiking and had no idea about anything because he didnt have a phone!

Oh, we also found a band at the Marina Inn.  They were setting up and practicing while we were sitting in the lounge.  They sounded soo good we went down and asked for a card.  They gave me a booklet, card, and a demo!  It was amazing.  The band is named Soul Function.  I think we might book them!

Charlie finely called on Monday night and i filled him in on everything!  Being the awesome guy he is he said, "That's fine, whatever you want!"  I'm not sure of that was being the "awesome guy" or the "i could care less where the wedding is" guy! haha

No im just kidding!  He really has done sooo much for the wedding planning.  He wants to know everything and is particular about it but wants me to love each thing, which in a way makes it easier on me because im not very decisive, and he definitely is!

I promise i will be back with a post soon!

Oh i forgot!
The man form Marina Inn called on tuesday and said we could still have the wedding June 12th!!!
yayyyy!

Tomorrow is Race for the Cure!
I am soo excited  i have all of my gear ready!
The only problem..my dad took my camera to Tennessee..so there will be no documentation of my awesome flag on my hat.....
maybe this is a good thing!

"It's been years since they told her about it

The darkness her body possessed

And the scars are still there in the mirror

Everyday that she gets herself dressed

Though the pain is miles and miles behind her

And the fear is now a docile beast

If you ask her why she is still running

She'll tell you it makes her complete

[Chorus:]

I run for hope

I run to feel

I run for the truth

For all that is real

I run for your mother, your sister, your wife

I run for you and me, my friend

I run for life

It's a blur since they told me about it

How the darkness had taken its toll

And they cut into my skin and they cut into my body

But they will never get a piece of my soul

And now I'm still learning the lesson

To awake when I hear the call

And if you ask me why I am still running

I'll tell you I run for us all

[Chorus:]

I run for hope

I run to feel

I run for the truth

For all that is real

I run for your mother your sister your wife

I run for you and me my friend

I run for life

And someday if they tell you about it

If the darkness knocks on your door

Remember her remember me

We will be running as we have before

Running for answers

Running for more

I run for hope

I run to feel

I run for the truth

For all that is real

I run for your mother, your sister, your wife

I run for you and me my friend

I run for hope

I run to feel

I run for the truth

For all that is real

I run for your mother your sister, your daughter, your wife

For you and me my friend

I run for life

Ohohohoh

I run for your mother your sister your wife

I run for you and me my friend

I run for life"

Melissa Etheridge

Game Day!!!!!!!

GO VOLS!!!

Tennessee vs. Georgia

SEC Game of the Week!

Neyland Stadium!

Biggest Football Stadium in the South.

Second in the Country!

Voted Best College Football Stadium by The Sporting News!

Let's show those Dawgs how the Big Orange plays!!

My Volunteer of the Game:

Denarius Moore

Class: Junior 

Height/Weight: 6-1/190

Position: WR

Hometown: Tatum, Texas

Major: Criminal Justice

Born: December 9, 1988 (my daddy's birthday!)

Player Bio: Denarius Moore - TENNESSEE OFFICIAL ATHLETIC SITE
Let's Go Vols!!

Love this picture!  
Our family is true Mayfield Fans!
We will definitely be watching the game and eating Tennessee born Mayfield Ice Cream!

Beautiful..

I've been staring at the sky tonight

Marvelling and passing time

Wondering what to do with daylight

Until I can make you mine

You are the one I want, you are the one I want

.......

I've been thinking of changing my mind

It never stays the same for long

But of all the things I know for sure

You're the only certain one

You are the one I want, you are the one I want

.......

I've been counting up all my wrongs

One sorry for each star

See I'd apologise my way to you

If the heavens stretched that far

You are the one I want, you are the one I want

.......

When the years are showing on my face

And my strongest days are gone

When my heart and flesh depart this place

From a life that sung your song

.......

You'll still be the one I want

.......

Brooke Fraser

Sales! Sales! Sales!

I just love a good sale!

Who doesn't?

Unfortunately, I have no money to spend on sales..

So I'll dream and wish for these:

The Sale Shack

Lilly Pulitzer Tori Dress

50% off!!

Lilly Pulitzer Betsey Dress Scallops

50 % off!!

Lilly Pulitzer 5 Star Weekender

40% off!

These would be perfect for next spring!

Maybe for Carolina Cup!?!

I probably should be thinking more about Fall clothes...

Seeing as i have NONE!

"Am I less of a lady if i don't wear panty hose?"

“When I look in the mirror and the only one there is me


Every freckle on my face is where it’s suppose to be


And I know my creator didn’t make no mistakes on me


My feet, my thighs, my Lips, my eyes, I’m loving what I see

Am I less of a lady if I don’t wear panty hose?


My momma said a lady ain’t what she wears but what she knows…


But I’ve drawn the conclusion, it’s all an illusion


Confusion’s the name of the game


A misconception, a vast deception,


Something got to change

Now don’t be offended this is all my opinion


Ain’t nothing that I’m saying law


This is a true confession 


Of a life learned lesson 
I was sent here to share with y’all


So get in when you fit in


Go on and shine


Clear your mind 


Now’s the time


Put your salt on the shelf


Go on and love yourself


‘Cause everything’s gonna be alright”

India Arie

I saw this on a Kiss the Groom post and i loved it.  

She always has the most beautiful pictures too!

Wedding Wednesday!! (well thursday..)

Our wedding is June 12, 2010.

Here is a rundown of what we have picked out already:

Reception/ Ceremony Location
Pine Lakes Country Club

Ceremony will be on the lawn and the reception will be inside.

All of those windows on the first story are doors so they will all be open!

Florist
Blossoms Events

This is the only image I can find with their logo on it!

But they are a florist/event planner.

We are only using the florist because they only start event planning at like $100,000.

yeah definitely not in our budget....

Wedding Planner

A wonderful women named Della!

She is so sweet and has helped me organize my crazyness that is my wedding binder!

(theknot.com)

The binder (aka my sidekick/life/scrapbook/document holder/go to happy place!) is AMAZING!

If you can't tell i absolutely LOVE it! My future MIL purchased it for me on March 6, 2009

( i know im weird i remember weird things! haha)

and since that day i have filled to the rim with everything wedding i could find!

I will do a different blog post dedicated just to my planner!

Bakery

Incredible Edible Cakes of Murrels Inlet

We won a hundred dollars off a wedding cake from them at the Wedding Show in Myrtle Beach!

That pretty much made up our mind on who we were going to use!

I couldn't find their emblem but the women's name is Myra and she is so sweet!

Wedding Dress!

I have found my wedding dress! yay! I found it on the first day of trying dresses on!

I went to Little White Dress bridal boutique of Myrtle Beach and they were so nice!

The boutique had not even had their grand opening yet and they let us come in early to try on dresses!

My mom, sister, charlie's mom and his sister came to help me.

I went through the store and picked out dresses i thought i would like,

tried them on and couldn't decide!

Then, another women, Melanie, that worked there brought in a dress she thought i would like.

I LOVED it! I am so happy sure brought it in.  It is the perfect dress!

Lyndsay helped me and she made me feel so comfortable!

It really was the perfect experience!

Photographer

Our photographer is the second thing we picked.

We knew we had to have Lynn Daly.

She photographed my bridesmaid, Ashley's wedding and she has the most beautiful pictures!

This is Ash, such a beautiful bride and such a beautiful picture!

Lynn also is crazy! She likes to get down on the dance floor and have a good time!

Which is exactly what we like!

I am so excited for her to shoot our engagement pictures!

Lynn also has an awesome blog that you can find here:

(and beautiful ash made the banner picture!! yay!!)

http://www.lynndalyphotography.com/blog/

Videographer

My dad is the video ministries director at our church

so he has asked two of his helpers from church to video our wedding!

Then dad will make a video out of it.

I am so excited about this because

first off: Videographers are sooooo expensive! Its nice to have something for free!

and secondly: I think it will be so sweet to have my dad make the video!

There will definitely be that personal touch that i love so much!

I know there is more but i can't think of it all right now!

I don't have my trusty binder by my side to tell me...haha

Now that i have all of the big details, all that im missing are the little ones, which are getting to me!

I am so fine with picking out the people who i want to do everything but when it comes to the little touches i am completely lost!

Like finding shoes that will be the same size heel as ones that i haven't picked out yet..

if that makes any sense.. haha

I have my heart set on making a huge purchase and buying Christian Louboutins as my Wedding shoe!

I really want blue shoes for a pop and for my something blue!

I love these! I love how funky and playful they are!

but i haven't decided yet..

I am supposed to go into the bridal boutique this weekend with shoes the height of what i want..

So they can order my dress longer if they need to.

This is sooo challenging to me! i dont know why because it seems soo simple!

Im think 3 to 4 inch heels.  I don't think i could do anything over that!

and choosing bridesmaid dresses.

Bridesmaids dresses are so tricky because (i know everyone says this) i really want to pick out something they will wear again.

I was thinking about a dress in the same color but whatever style they want.

I think that will help in making them feel comfortable and in having something i know they liked because they picked it out!!

Also, i have 9 bridesmaids which is quite a lot and i don't want it to look like a crazy lineup of one color and one style.

I cannot think of anything else!! haha i tried to post this last night but my internet wasn't working so.....
Here goes the second try!!

KELLY CLARKSON!!!

I had a blog post planned for today but something HUGE happened and i HAVE to share!!!!

My sister and I are THE BIGGEST Kelly Clarkson fans!!

 My sister (Jenn) has met her twice and i have met her once!

We have seen her in concert 3 times and.....

 today i found out we are going to see her for the FOURTH time!!!!!!!!

I am so so so so so excited i can barely contain myself!

December 10th we will be rocking out in Columbus Georgia!

We also are in the KC fan club so hopefully we will get to meet her again!!!

Literally, i cannot wait!

This is my sister, me, KELLY CLARKSON!, and the girl my sister and I babysat that loves KC too!!!

KC and her band a the show tonight in New York!!

ALSO!! for being in the Kelly Clarkson fan club you get the option of purchasing VIP 1 or 2 tickets!  the VIP 1 tickets get you and 29 other people a private concert with her and her band, ipod speakers with her lyrics on them, a t-shirt, a tour book, free food, and free drinks!!!!! yayyyyyyyyyy!!!

Oh and ALSO you get FRONT or SECOND row tickets guaranteed!!!!!

If you think this couldn't get any better it sooo does because....

on the way there we get to go here:

The Chick-fil-a original restaurant!!!!!!!

I LOVE chick-fil-a!

THE best sweet tea anywhere!

Only christian music is played!

and

The sweet old ladies who offer you pepper from the biggest pepper grinders i have ever seen!!!!!

Honestly, it could not get better!

Lastly, Kelly clarkson has two backup singers named Jill and Kate.

 They met KC in a meet and greet and gave her their demo and Kelly hired them as backup singers!!!

What an amazing job they have!  They are also absolutely amazing singers in their own right!

jillandkate's blog!! CLICK ME!!!!

also i tried to embed this youtube video but couldn't figure it out!!

But click on the link below to hear Kelly, Jill, and Kate singing Miley Cyrus' "The Climb"

I personally cannot stand Miley but i loved the lyrics to her song and i am sooo glad that they recorded this!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LCdpSZmXB5o

Well its time for bed!!!!!!

Fight for the Cure

Today is one of those days where the weather is nasty, my hair is drenched, and im pretty sure i stepped in every puddle from my class to my apartment.

I am praising God though because the weather is getting cooler and on my walk home i passed by several windows decorated for Paint the town Pink.

October is Breast Cancer awareness month and it always holds a special place in my heart.

This time of year i go on a spending spree and by every pink ribbon object in sight and do the race for the cure.  I feel so passionately about this because it is an awful disease that comes without warning and effects so many loved ones.

A strong, courageous women who is like my second mother has been battling breast cancer for a couple of years now.  She has been through chemotherapy, pills once a day, and radiation.

  I do not know much about the details of her cancer but i do know that through it all she has smiled.

Smiling is something i believe can cure.

When you face something so ugly with a smile and laughter it shows that you are in the fight.

Mrs. Vicki is always the person that is so fun to be around and the person with the strongest faith i know.

Her faith in God grows deeper and deeper each day and she is not afraid to question others faith and decisions.

She is strong in the Lord and I admire that most.

I took piano lessons form Mrs. Vicki for about 5 years.  In those five years i learned how to play "Mary had a Little Lamb" and that was it!

It wasn't because she was not a good teacher it was because instead of doing our lesson we were drinking surge, playing in the treehouse, and going for rides on her golf cart!

Those are some of my greatest memories of growing up.  She taught me that life is short and we should have the most fun possible while we are here.

 She taught me to trust the Lord with everything and never to let go of the faith i have in Him.

I thank God each day for putting Mrs. Vicki into my life and for granting her such wisdom and courage to fight breast cancer.

On October 17th i will run in the Race for the Cure in honor of Mrs. Vicki and cannot wait to display her name proudly across my back and run in a time of prayer for her.

I am so thankful that people are taking the time to recognize such a horrific disease by setting aside an entire month to honor those who fight Breast Cancer.

I am challenging myself this month to wear pink each day and to dedicate my life to raising awareness to the cause.

You can support breast cancer awareness by going to the following sites and purchasing, donating, clicking the pink button to raise money for mammograms, or by simply reposting a message about Breast Cancer and getting your friends and family involved in something that targets so many.

ShopKomen.com - Purchase with a purpose to end breast cancer forever

pink ribbon breast cancer on Etsy, a global handmade and vintage marketplace.

Click to Give @ The Breast Cancer Site

Breast Cancer Awareness Pink Ribbon Shop

http://www.feelyourboobies.com/

Ellen's "Laugh. Dance. Cure." Merchandise is Available in Our Online Shop! - The Ellen DeGeneres Show

For a list of brand names that are selling pink products and donating to the cause go to this article:

Buy pink to help fight breast cancer -- latimes.com

Little Rock, Arkansas Race for the Cure

Indianapolis Race for the Cure

Charleston, South Carolina Race for the Cure

I cannot wait to be amongst this group of people showing support!

2 Corinthians 4:16-18 (NLT)

That is why we never give up.  Though our bodies are dying our spirit is being renewed everyday.

For our present troubles are small and won't last very long.  Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever.

So we don't look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen.  For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.

 

Welcome!

Welcome to my blog!!

I am extremely new at this and not very good with using computers but i have always felt that i needed a space to express my thoughts and feelings. I am not into keeping a diary..i tried and it didn't work out for me! I hope that i will be much better at this!

A little bit about me!!

I am a South Carolina native who loves the beach. It would be amazing if i could go to the beach each day for a morning jog, or to walk with my fiance. I am engaged to a wonderful man named Charlie and we are getting married June 12. 2010! We are so excited and can't wait for the big day! I am still in college but plan to graduate in may 2010.

I can't wait to become a part of this blogger community! I have been keeping so many word documents with pictures that i love and quotes from other blogs that i read regularly. I look forward to sharing my daily finds with each of you!