A Great Story

Everyone that knows me, knows that I not only love to talk but that I love a great story. I spent the week at MSU for 4-H State Congress. It was great opportunity to meet lots of new people. The moment someone asks me why I'm in MS or how I met my fiance I get so excited to share with them the story of "us". I literally told it 10 or more times at congress. I think meeting through 4-H has something to do with that. I dunno if I'm really like one of those new parents who think that 'their child' is THE cutest in the whole wide world but..I do like our story and I love telling it.

Do you know ppl with unique real life love stories? Do you have one of your own? I'd love to hear a about them.

I'm starting to get more nervous about the shower tommorow. I bought cute little hostess gifts, have a nice dress and new toe poslish. I guess that makes me ready?

Aunt Jane made me a cute cute little box covered in lace to pin my china cards to at the shower. How cool is that? I've never seen that, but it's the cutest idea! Stephen went ahead and picked up a few china cards at Alexanders this week. I'm sooo very excited that we're actually going to get some pieces. At the same time, I'm so humbled that all of this is about us and about how generous everyone is.

Stephen drove down last night, simply to come see me and to drive me back to Stringer. Knowing that I was on the road all week, he was sweet enough to escort me up today. I'll ride home after the shower tommorow with his mom.

I'm glad I only have one shower a month June, July, August....it's going to be fun to have them all spread out. The excitement is starting!

Oh, I hear that Stephen ate jelly beans all week! Today was bubble gum...yum yum

Short and Sweet

Well, I'm about to enter a big black hole and loose 4 precious wedding planning days. We're headed off to State Congress at MSU today. I can't imagine that with 5 kids and all kinds of workshop responsiblities I'll have any time to think about the wedding.

Although after a 4 day weekend with Stephen, I'm incredibly motivated to find something to distract myself from missing him like crazy this week! So maybe he'll eat a few more jelly beans and find time to do some of this:

This is Stephen's continual Wedding TO DO List:

GET A JOB on the Coast!
Move here...!
Find golf carts
Find dance floor
Help your guys order suits!
Find ties!
Order Fans
Call Kevin! Check on Speaker system!


This is an abbreviated version, but if he does any of this I'll be excited! Ok, off to State I go....

I hear Banjos....Paddle faster

We're headed to Soggy Bottom Canoe rentals on Black Creek here in Mississippi. I've been looking forward to this trip for awhile. When we first started planning I think I expected it to be more couples. But it's just Denis and Dave and us. That's cool. The rate things have been going with my nerves and all stressed out I probably need as little girl drama as possible.

I keep thinking back to that movie Without a Paddle, for years after Stephen and I saw it I always called it "Up a Creek". Hey I was halfway there. Well since this isn't much on the marriage or wedding planning front today. I guess my only thought is.... I really really hope it's all downstream from here in the planning process.

I'm ready to put my paddle in and crank it up much faster to get to the end point on this trip. I know time flies by and everyone says that I'll miss this point in my life. Yet, I still can't wait to push off on the next journey.

Last night was Jen and Nick's wedding. It was full mass and a nice reception. What the hell is up with these ppl (Kamie you're included) in waiting until 10:30PM to cut the cake! Dude I know it's pretty, but even better they taste fantastic!

So here's a tip for my wedding. No one will ever have to ask "when are they going to cut the cake?"

The one thing I can get used to

Sorry if I sounded harsh on Stephen yesterday. It wasn't so much against him as it was my own frustration and unexpected feelings.

As you might have expected he clearly redeemed himself today. He cleaned my house from top to bottom! Ladies, I watched as a grown man under his own initative got on his hands and knees to clean baseboards.

He scrubbed a toliet....dishes and even some laundry.

Now, his downfall in the process was throwing away a perfectly good pair of shoes! (yes the heels needed fixing..but I had a relationship with those shoes!)

I love this man, and I love his cleaning abilities!!!!

We're headed to Jen and Nicky's wedding on the West Bank of New Orleans today. I'm so excited for these two. I watched their relationship start off and they're so good for each other. I fully expect lots of good food and old friends! I'm sure there will be some sort of LSU theme somewhere. I'm going to try to take some pictures, I'll post them when I can.

Kamie called me from the airport before leaving for her honeymoon. I have to admit I'm jealous. I'd love to be leaving on mine today! I'll settle for sleeping on the airmattress at Denis' mom's apartment...but if you think I'm not counting days...think again 98 to go!!!

Jelly Bean update: today was bannana...yuck!

The one thing I can get used to

Ok so I realize that yesterday's post might have sounded a bit harsh towards Stephen. Please understand in no way did I really mean it that way. Life seems to come with some natural ups and downs. True I have been a bit more frustrated lately but I can also recognize the perks he brings to my life.

Cleaning house has to be the best one! I saw a grown man,take his own iniatiative to get on his hands and knees and clean baseboards. OH yes ladies you read it right... the toliet, tub, and even some laundry too! I've never boasted as being the perfect housekeeper. I tend to be a bit messy. I don't think it ever gets gross as it is usually just unorganized. But hey, I know where it all is!

Stephen and I took our marriage quiz for the Pastor yesterday. A large portiion of it was about household responsiblities. I think we're going to get along just fine.

We're headed to another wedding tonight. Jen and Nicky are such a great couple! They too have been patient and are going to enjoy years of happiness together. I think the wedding will be fun. I expect it will have some LSU theme because they're both huge LSU football and baseball fans.

I'll try to post some pictures soon if I can.

Jelly Beans

Last night Stephen drove down. He amazingly took a day off work, to go car hunting. This has been a year long search for the "right Jeep, at the RIGHT price". I don't think it exisits.

Anyways, this morning, I gave him a jar full of 100 jelly beans. All sorts of flavors included. I attached a little note that mentioned "100 smiles inside, to help you count down the days". So he opened it up and choose the toasted marshmallow one. (For those of you who know about his stent in attempting to make s'mores with marshmallow creme....I think we might have a replacement)

None the less, I'm realizing that we really will have a big change in moving in together. This morning, he kept rushing me out the door. I gently reminded him that I get up and go to work everyday on my own.

Then he called to tell me that he checked my mail (like I asked him to), but then started asking questions about a doctor's bill. Now he's reading MY mail? Oh were does the privacy go?

Ha, are you surprised that just today, I gave him my apartment key to go make a copy. I've lived there six months. oh lordy.

This is going to be an interesting process of learning to merge much more than our hearts....I'm such an independant person. For so long it's been my house, my schedule, my bills and my bank account. Don't get me wrong, I'm not objecting to this process I just know it's not going to be an easy transition. It is all part of life, I'm just finding that our long distance relationship is 99 days away from moving in together.

fun times.

P.S.- Let's see if he eats the licorice one I left in the jar? Not all the days are going to be grape jelly belly sweet.

And the countdown begins...

I can't get the wedding off my mind today! Stephen and I spent the weekend at Kamie and Colby's wedding. It was amazing! They had a beautiful venue and lots of amazing people helping to make the day so perfect. Kamie is so creative and I truly believe (at least I hope) that everything turned out just as she imagined it.

As for our wedding, I don't really have the "vision" that Kamie and other girls have for their weddings. To be honest I've had to learn Wedding 101 and get lots of inpsiration and ideas from other helpful brides and brides-to-be. Luckily I have Stephen to help me when I get a little too inspired, he really helps me bring things back down to the basics.

I think that we have most of the major things taken care of, right now it's just the litle fun details and the waiting that is killing me. I think that the showers will help me start feeling like this ship is moving. Julie Grissom (Stephen's maternal cousin) is hosting my first shower! She's so sweet to offer this! The shower will mostly be for the Grissom & Sims side of Stephen's family and some local Jackson friends. My mom and some of my close family is going to try to come.

I'm mostly excitied that I didn't have to plan a thing. I really just get to show up. How awesome is that going to be? I'll make sure I post some pictures and updates of the shower and other events along the way for those of you who can't make it or are just reading from afar.

I'm going to sign off for now, this is going to be an exciting Summer, keep reading!