Ahh, wedding planning. It's a breath of fresh air for me. I've waited for these moments for a long time, sisters.

 

Hunter and I are very simple people. We are relaxed, casual, insist on spending time with people as you are. We are not, by any means, fancy folks. Hunter so eloquently terms us "high-class white trash." I beg to differ somewhat....

 

Back to the point!

 

This wedding is all about US. Not just me, not just him, not my momma or his momma... You get my drift. It's about us. And our marriage in God's eyes.

 

We were talking about plans the other day and the two things we want people to leave our wedding with:

1. Knowing and seeing with their own eyes our love for each other, and how GODLY we are going to strive to be in our marriage.
2. A full heart from having a good 'ole time.

We just want folks to come as you are, spend time with us, and walk away knowing that true love really does exist. Many times, the bride or groom become so wrapped up in the production of the wedding that they lose the true focus of the wedding.

 

For us, marriage is not just a wedding with pretty dresses, yummy food, and an awesome honeymoon. Marriage is so much more than that. Like I've told Hunter, I don't even need a wedding. All I want is a marriage. To be married to a man that I love so much, who loves me so much, and creating a life and memories that God sees fit. At the end of the day, the pretty dress and yummy food are just the cherries on top to what I've already got. A godly man with a good soul.

 

Folks, we cannot wait to start this life and share our life songs with everybody! Thank you to the kind words from all my family and friends- your support means more than you realize.

 

Check back next week for "Our Wedding: DIY Centerpieces." 

Cheers Not Jeers

It's another Wednesday and we're already halfway through the work week. Casey @ The Aslan's Auspicious Albany Adventure hosts a weekly link-up to cheer on other bloggers. This week's Cheers Not Jeers is none other than....

 

Meg @ Life, Love, and the Webers is probably one of the sweetest bloggers I have had the pleasure of meeting through this here bloggy world.

 

She's an amazing mother to 2 Littles and is always sharing their fun (and sometimes funny) adventures they have together.

Mrs. Meg is an avid runner and holy moly is she good at it! Ya'll, the girl can kick some boo-tay when it comes to those daily jogs. She's also quite the cook - why can't we live closer so that I can sample some of your creations?!

Stop on by her blog and show her some love because she's just that sweet!

  Also linking up with:

Our Daily Walks Together Part #1

Last week, I talked about Easter and what it means for Hunter and I. My sweet friend, Liz @ Fitness Blondie, offered a great idea- talk about mine and Hunter's daily walks in our faith as a couple.

 

I love love LOVE to share our faith with anybody who's willing to listen. Not beat-em-across-the-brow type... I'm not that looney, ya'll. But as a woman who has so many flaws, skeletons in my closet, and a hope in the beauty of humanity, I just can't help but to share our love for God and how it has brought us to where we are today.

 

Let's take a stroll down memory lane, shall we? Take a walk with me...

 

Hunter and I met summer of 2011. We instantly were attracted to each other's personalities- I to his kindness, he to my independence. Our age difference never crossed our minds, or has ever been an issue (for the record, I am 3.5 years older than him). Sometimes, I really wonder who's the older of the two (read: I have a child-like spirit).

 

We started our whirlwind of a relationship. We had our up's and down's. For Hunter, he had his fair share of demons. For me, I battled with trust issues. I had ended a 4.5 year relationship - one in which I was engaged. My ex was verbally and emotionally abusive towards me. You ask why did I put up with it for so long? I honestly cannot tell you. Maybe I had hoped he would change. Maybe I had thought "it's what every relationship is like." Boy was I wrong, and when those lights came on, I ended things quickly.

 

Back to us, we were each battling our own demons and just couldn't seem to stray from them for long. We'd promise we'd do better. I did begin to let my guard down and trust Hunter. I loved him and who he was. We held onto that hope for our down times.

 

Fast forward to St. Patrick's Day 2013... Hunter had gone out with a friend, obviously to celebrate the holiday. I stayed home, just too tired to really pick my butt up off the couch. Hunter came home and to make a very long story short, Hunter realized his heart wasn't with God anymore and he was forced to take a really hard look at himself. He simply realized he had hit rock bottom.

I realized too that my heart had wandered so far from the Lord and I missed Him. Oh I missed Him so much!

 

That following Sunday, we made a diligent effort to be in church. We both realized that fateful night how lost we were, and how desperately we needed Christ back in our lives for good. Not for an "oh I'll call ya when I need ya" deal. We wanted Him in our hearts, our speech, our actions EVERY. SINGLE. DAY.

 

That day, our hearts and our relationship with each other has changed for the good, forever.

 

Check back next week to hear the rest of Our Daily Walks Together Part #2. 

Grateful Heart Monday #ghm

What a busy, fun weekend! With Secret Church on Friday, an Easter egg hunt Saturday, and baptism/Easter/family get together Sunday... I can honestly say this past weekend was packed to the max!

Alas, it is a Monday. But a wonderful Monday because we're joining up with Ember Grey in embracing each and every Monday. Another reason it's a wonderful Monday is because I have some awesome possum news to share with ya'll...

Hunter down on one knee

She said yes! Well, nodded her head yes

Yep, you're seeing that correctly! I'm engaged! We could not be more thrilled to start this next chapter of our lives together. What a blessed weekend it was?!

Therefore, I must dedicate this #ghm to my main squeeze. He's some kind of wonderful, I tell ya. He loves me for who I am, manages to remain calm in my midst of chaos, and has a heart of gold. God has blessed me with a man that I can truly call my best friend.

At the end of the day, Hunter is the one person I want to go to with my struggles, my triumphs, and my dreams. I know that God has some awesome plans in store for us, and we cannot wait to see where He takes us next.

What are you lovelies grateful for today and everyday?



Easter Menu

It's a busy busy Saturday in mi casa! Well, my momma and daddy's casa.

We're prepping for the company to arrive and all the wonderful festivities scheduled to take place tomorrow.

Tomorrow morning, Hunter and I will be baptized in our home church with our family and friends around us for support and love. After that, Hunter's family will be coming to my parents house to relax by the pool, drink margaritas, and eat good food. What are we having for our Easter meal you ask?

Main Meal:

Ham

Pulled Pork

Spinach Broccoli Casserole (recipe to come next week!)

Asparagus

Homemade Mac N' Cheese (we don't do none of that box stuff, ya'll)

Dinner Rolls

Sweet Tea (duh)

Desserts:

Red Velvet cake courtesy of Hunter's sweet momma

Blueberry Cake courtesy of my momma

For us, holiday meals really aren't a big to-do for us. Because I come from a big family and my mother always believed in a hot meal on the table, holiday meals are just another meal for us. Granted, my parents have had to learn how to downsize their meals since having 3 of the kids leave the home-front. 

I hope ya'll have a beautiful, blessed Easter wherever you may be in this world. What are some plans for ya'll?

My Top 10 Books

We're taking a break from the weekly High Five For Friday's to bring to you....

I'm an avid reader, notorious book worm, and I wouldn't have it any other way. Lindsay @ Broke and Bougie asked if I wouldn't mind sharing some of my favorite books that I've read, and I thought what better place to share my love for books than this here bloggy.

 

Here we go! My Top 10 list of books that I've read (and no, this does not include 50 Shades of Grey): 

The Shack by William P. Young- This book will probably always be in my number one spot. The raw emotions and imagination that are evoked from the text is unbelievable. The imagery truly makes you feel like you are in the book, having a conversation with God.

When You Come Home: The True Love Story of a Soldier's Heroism, His Wife's Sacrifice by Nancy Pitts- I absolutely fell in love with this book. It's centered around the relationship of a woman and her man during World War II. It discusses their struggles, triumphs, and is just a beautiful love story.

Last Light by Terri Blackstock- The story line of this book revolves around the "end of the world." I usually find them pretty redundant (and stupid sometimes), but I was thoroughly impressed with this book. Rather than focusing on the eating and killing and ridiculousness that some of these story lines focus on, this book instead focuses on the fact that we have pushed God out of our lives and replaced Him with modern day things. It forces you to think about where your faith really lies. {But man oh man, do I love me some Walking Dead}

 

 

The Irresistible Revolution by Shane Claiborne- Ya'll, I'm all about the love of people and faith, and really humanity. In this book, Shane chronicles his travels around the world, meeting people from the homeless in the U.S. to Mother Teresa and sharing his life song with them (plus getting to know their's). I love his way of thinking and his desire to start a revolution to change the world.

 

 

Agent of Influence by Russell Hamilton- I have a love for murder mysteries and suspenseful stories. In this book, it centers around the conflict between America and the Middle-East. All I can say is why was this book not made into a movie?! Just trust me when I say, read this! It may open your eyes to some things.

 

The Lacy Steele Mysteries series by Vanessa Gray Bartal- These are a fun, light-hearted series of mystery books that I honestly loved from the get-go. The main character, Lacy Steele, is challenged in each book not only by a killer, but by her own self-conscious issues, relationships, and many other things girls deal with. She's just forced to solve murder mysteries at the same time!

 

 

Long Time Coming by Edie Claire- This book is centered around a woman who is forced to come back to her childhood hometown and ends up living in the home of her dead childhood friend. She's having to wrestle with memories, heartbreak, possible spirits, and the man whom she blames for her friend's death. It's a great story of forgiveness and love.

 

 

Imdalind Series by Rebecca Ethington- I've never been a big magical kind of books reader. Not that I didn't like them, I just never could get into one because it doesn't seem real to me. This series though was fantastic to me! If you're into that kind of thing at least. A young girl is met head on (in the first book) by her past and it quickly shapes her future. I've finished the 4th book (I think there's 5) and I'm currently waiting for that 5th book to come out. I will say this, the 4th book kind of bored me in the middle. It got better, but I just felt like I was reading the same thing over and over and over... But nonetheless, I am excited about that 5th book being released.

 

 

Trouble in Mudbug (Ghost-in-Law Mystery/Romance series) by Jana DeLeon- As I'm typing this out, I'm realizing it says "series" and I'm kind of kicking myself for not continuing the series. Trouble in Mudbug is a funny, light-hearted murder mystery. Throw in the spirit of a snippy mother-in-law, and you're guaranteed a few laughs.

Due Date by Nancy Wood- In this book, the main character Shelby becomes pregnant at the age of 23. With mounds of debt and nowhere to go, she turns to a surrogacy deal with a married couple. Once she moves into their guest cottage to finish her pregnancy there, things begin to unravel and become sketchy, and soon she realizes she is in the midst of a scam. This book got a little creepy (you'll just have to read to see what I'm talking about) - Not awful creepy but "oh-muh-gosh-runnn!!!" creepy.

Narrowing this list down to 10 was actually really hard, but these are some books that I've read and have either resonated with me in some way, or just stuck out in my mind like a dog-eared page. I hope ya'll get to reading and enjoy them as much as I did!

 

Easter

It's always fun seeing the bright pastels, the feel of Spring in the air, and the sugar shock from all the sweet candies. Easter is quite the beautiful, happy holiday.

 

Easter has a very deep, resounding meaning for me. For me, Easter is the day that my Savior rose. It is the day that my life (and everybody else's) changed. He died for our sins, defeated death, and rose from the grave. What an awesome and astounding concept?!

 

This year, Easter is exceptionally important. A little bit of a background first:

 

-I grew up Methodist, Hunter grew up Baptist

 

-We both, at some point in our lives, strayed far from the Cross

 

-About a year and a half ago, Hunter and I made the commitment to find our way back to the Cross, and to stay in tune with our faith. We did this not only for each other, but for ourselves. We so desperately needed Christ back in our individual lives.

 

Continuing on our story...

 

This Easter Sunday is exceptionally important in mine and Hunter's individual lives, and in our relationship, because we have made the decision to be baptized in our church that we have called home for a little over a year now. We were both baptized as young teens because we felt like "it's what we should do." As Hunter so eloquently states, "We're doing it for real this time!"

 

Man, I cannot wait to get dunked! Being baptized is so much more than being dunked in the water. It's about publically proclaiming your faith so that others can hold you accountable. And for us, it's about becoming member of our beautiful church. We're gonna be "those crazy Baptists", ya'll! {sarcasm guys, it's my first language}

 

We will also be celebrating Easter Sunday with both of our families over some delicious food, and great company.

 

Easter is quite a beautiful time of year, don't ya think?

 

I do hope that each and every one of ya'll have a beautiful Easter!