Stephanie & Marcus' Wedding

Stephanie and I met Halloween Night our Freshman Year of college.

We became instant friends and ended up being roommates sophomore year.

We also said that we were each others best roommate because we got along really well and we were both neat! In fact, we had such a great time as roommates during undergrad, I just happened to move in with her when I moved to the QC last year! :)

Stephanie and Marcus met as soon as our Senior year, his Sophomore year began.

Dave and Claire, the 6 week newlyweds, were at the wedding!!!
Lindsay, Katrina and I met the first night of college our Freshman year! It was SO MUCH FUN catching up with them! We all live in NC but are spread out.

Kat and I enjoyed some cake on the steps. That's how we roll!

And they're off!

Yep, Steph wore hot pink shoes! They were pretty cool.

that's what I love about Sunday....

Today was my first day off in exactly 2 weeks.

Crazy. I know.

I had big plans for today!

I woke up this morning and went to a brand new-to-me church.

Can I just say that it was AMAZING!

As you know, I'm a self described "church hopper" so I've gone to a few churches in the area and wow, after today I think I found a new home.

Despite today's sermon being the last in the series, I really enjoyed it. The intro to the sermon was pretty neat as a few members of the staff recited Romans 8 from memory and it was just powerful. So powerful that we got a glimpse into football season and ended up high fiving the people sitting around us...which was super weird since I went to church by myself and was seated next to a random family. Oh well!

The sermon was based off of Romans 8:37

"No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us."

As you probably guessed, it was about conquering and the difference between being a "Conqueror" and being a "Super Conqueror" and really, all I could think of for a moment (among church things of course) was Superman and having super powers. I then had to chuckle because I now had the image of a picture that I used to have (that sadly I don't have on my laptop to show you since it was taken with gasp.... film) of D when he was 5 years old, standing on the front steps leading into the house with a "suit" on, his hands along the buttons of his shirt, clip on tie flapping in the breeze and his Superman pajama shirt underneath as little E was in her car seat fresh from the hospital, wrapped in a pink blanket....Big Bro a step above her to protect her! (D&E I babysat for when I was in High School) Too cute!

Anyway, I'm super excited for the next sermon series and glad that I can listen to the sermon online as well. It's so funny how far church has come. I grew up sitting in the very front pew, not allowed to talk or turnaround, singing the hymns and only clapping when we went to church Saturday night and the "fun" worship leader (back then was just a lady with a guitar and a microphone) was leading everyone....moving on to a church that was a bit more relaxed but still piano/organ and hymns....moving on to a church that was expanding and having a Contemporary Worship Service in the Fellowship Hall with folding chairs, drums, guitar and microphone to slowly adding a projector and a movie screen to today where it was just intense. God is good!

I left church feeling happy and like I may have found a church "home" and I was excited! I was so pumped that I headed here:

to look for one of these to take home with me:

and I was now so overwhelmed and confused with the massive selection, that I came back to my apartment without a fan.

I just want a plain ol fan that someone will install so I don't burn the place down. I would like to be able to just flip a switch and it'll turn on. I don't need or want anything fancy. But really, does the length of the blade matter? Yes, the color does, but the speed and the light and the size. It was too much to deal with right then and there because I had an important lunch date!

The Newlyweds, Claire and Dave, were in town for a wedding last night so naturally we had to meet for lunch! It was great that I got to see them for a bit as a married couple!!!! And really, who doesn't want to enjoy some Chili's Chips and Salsa with friends on a Sunday?!?!?!

After lunch I came back to my apt and headed to "Sundaes on Sunday" which was supposed to be a way to meet your neighbors but it was raining. The ice cream was mighty tasty though!

I sat on my front porch and watched it rain as I ate my ice cream. It was so weird. I was so excited to have a pool day since I haven't been to the pool in at least a month and gosh darn it, it was sunny and it rained, rinse and repeat. So I sat outside, eating ice cream and watching it rain.

I did some laundry and met Adrienne and Jeff for dinner! I tried sushi for the first time but ended up ordering my staple, Chicken Teriyaki with Fried Rice as they ate sushi...what can I say, I may be a creature of habit :)

And now, Remember the Titans is on. Really, what more could I want!!!

I am so ready for some FOOTBALL!

"Alice, are you blind? Don't you see the family resemblance? That's my brother." -Gary Bertier

"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, those who have been called according to his purpose." -Romans 8:28

Claire and Dave's WEDDING Part 4

The wedding was beautiful! Dave's dad had the honor of marrying them and performed a beautiful ceremony. I am so blessed to know these two and to share in their special day.

Claire never stopped smiling!

I think it is so special when a bride and groom include a picture of their parents cutting their wedding cakes!
The reception was in a "basement" of a building and it was rather dark. I lucked out with this picture since everyone including the photographer was taking a picture at this same time!
The Girls Cruise Crew!

Myself, Aunt Sue, Claire, Trish, KP
Claire's parents are not only adorable, but have raised such Godly, loving, caring, giving children. I am so glad to have them in my life as well. They just open their arms and their home to everyone!
There ya have it! Claire and Dave's wedding weekend!

Can't wait to do this whole wedding thing again in a few weeks for college roomie, Steph!

Claire and Dave Wedding Part 3-Pre Wedding

After beginning the morning with some amazing doughnuts (I'm pretty sure I ate my weight in glazed and glazed kreme filled...oops!) it was time to get our hair done!

Unfortunately it was so hot we didn't take an after picture but, here is our before picture:

Claire's hair was PERFECT! Very bridal and just gorgeous!
After hair, we headed to the church (half an hour early....woo hoo! go us!) and realized we should probably spend some time scuffing our shoes so no one falls!
Sarah did such a great job!

I may have been a little excited!

We fine dined on some AMAZING Christian Chicken Nuggets! Veggies and fruit!

We were all ready and Claire's Aunt mentioned we should pose this way for a picture. I'm pretty confident my clavicle bones look like they are about to pop out of my skin!
Claire working on putting her shoes on! She was STUNNING and BEAMING the entire time!!!!

Tomorrow will be my last Claire and Dave wedding post! Complete with reception photos! Sadly, I do not have any picture from the actual wedding. Bummer!

C&D Wedding Part 2 -Ode to Krispy Kreme

I woke up at 4:25 Saturday morning.

That's right...4:25 AM.

So, I attempted to fall back asleep but I failed.

In an effort to not wake anyone else up, I decided to stay in bed.

But I was bored.

So, I waited until 6:00 and took a quick shower.

Once I got out of the shower I woke Trish up and we collectively decided we needed to visit Krispy Kreme!

Before this 6:30am adventure, I couldn't tell you the last time I had a Krispy Kreme doughnut!!!!

The HOT sign was on!!!! SCORE!
I was secretly hoping to try the Cheerwine doughnut but sadly, it is only sold in boxes of 6 in grocery stores and not individually (or at all) at their storefront.
We just HAD to enjoy a doughnut before heading back to the house! I devoured my Glazed Kreme Filled doughnut while Trish enjoyed a chocolate one. Sadly, those pictures are on her camera.
Before you view this picture, let me just remind you it was most likely between 6:45am and 7:00am. I took a shower but DID NOT dry my hair. Or do anything else for that matter aside from throwing on a dress. It was creeping to 100* and humid and was most likely 85-90* at this point. AKA curly, poofy, unruly hair city!

We proudly walked in the door with a dozen HOT glazed, 6 chocolate glazed with sprinkles and 6 glazed kreme filled for everyone else to enjoy!

We also brought back hats for everyone to wear!

And later on today.......pre wedding pictures!

Claire & Dave's Wedding Part 1

Friday morning the gals (Claire, 3/5 of the bridesmaids, Claire's Mom, Gramma, two Aunts and cousin) headed to the nail salon for pedicures and manicures. The funniest part of the whole nail experience was that the place had a Celine Dion special on the tv. It was rather dramatic to say the least!

All of the ladies had left to head to the reception site to decorate but Claire and I ended up being last. As we were waiting for our nails to dry (mind you this was the 3rd time in my life I had my toes painted and 2nd time I've had my nails painted) this lady (pictured below) sat down.

We started talking to her and found our that she got married a few months before Claire! I just had to take a picture of the newlywed and the soon to be married gal swapping stories!! We left the nail place, grabbed a super quick bite to eat and headed to the reception site to get to work! We set up the tables, hung pictures, laughed a lot, moved tables, explored the site, cleaned glasses, moved tables again and left.
After one of the most complicated rehearsals I have ever been involved in (and not because the bridal party was difficult, but because the wedding planner was being complicated!) we headed to the rehearsal dinner! I was in love with this cake!
Sadly, I was unable to take pictures at the rehearsal...something about being in the wedding and taking pictures at the same time just doesn't work!

We headed back to Claire's house around 10:30 and stayed up WAY too late talking, laughing, planning, reminiscing, packing and just enjoying hanging out.

However.....I woke up SUPER early Saturday morning and I'll tell that tale tomorrow! Stay tuned! :)

Claire and Dave!

I was (and still am) friends with Dave.

I was (and still am) friends with Claire.

*this picture makes me laugh because the entire time we were in Charlotte for the Sweet 16 games EVERYONE kept asking us if we were going to be in the Holiday Inn commercial! If UT had won their game, Carolina would've played Tennessee instead of UNC playing Louisville and since it was March Madness, the Holiday Inn rival commercial had been playing.

Claire and I went to see Bride Wars together the afternoon it opened. After the movie, we attempted to mock Kate Hudson and Anne Hathaway but we couldn't seem to get the stance correct and have their movie poster in the background due to lighting issues...but you get the idea!

Looking back, my favorite part of this picture is that I am wearing black and Carolina Blue, which happens to be their wedding colors!

But one night in December, Claire and I went to the Elon vs College of Charleston Men's Basketball game at Elon University. It was quite the adventure to say the least! :) Actually, this story would not be complete without mentioning that Claire was very intrigued by the Cruz Thru and the dapper gentleman that was working very "politely" asked her "could you hurry up cuz it's cold outside" She bought an expensive bag of chips that she didn't even like due to being rushed!

Due to some construction and it being dark, I "knew" where we were going but the construction threw me off and we ended up getting a little lost (ironically 2 weeks after this I received a GPS for Christmas which helped immensely when we went to the Davidson vs Elon game in January!) We finally made our way to campus and found a parking lot but was told it was full and we weren't allowed to park there. Well, we turned in to the parking lot to turn around and happened to find a few empty spaces in the back corner. Being the gals that we are, I decided to leave a note so that Claire's car wouldn't get towed in case we really weren't supposed to park in the spot we found! I mean we had a game to get to! Priorities people! Little did we both know that even though we missed tip off, I'm really good at picking people out of a crowd and noticed Dave and his brother sitting behind the Elon bench all the way across the gym! During half time, I decided we should go say hi since I hadn't seen them in over a year.
Little did we all know that on this December 2008 night, they would both meet their soul mates! Claire and Dave got engaged December 2009 and get married THIS WEEKEND!!!!!

I am SO excited for them and so blessed to be a part of their special day! I'm also really excited that we are wearing black dresses and Carolina Blue shoes! Woo hoo! This picture makes me chuckle because it's so random but I can't wait to take part in the wedding festivities!

And this is a random sign that I happened to take a picture of that same week that I introduced Dave and Claire! God is great!
So there you have it. Claire and Dave are getting married this weekend and I couldn't be happier for them! Hope everyone has a great weekend!!!!

"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres."

1 Corinthians 13:4-7