December Goals

I read Nancy Ray's blog regularly.  If you haven't checked her out, please do...right now!  Paige was the one to point her out to me.  Every month, Nancy posts her goals for that month.  I'm going to try it this month.  I thought it would be a good way to give me incentive to get things checked off my list (thank you Type A personality).

Also, I've been engaged for ONE MONTH today!!  I feel like I've gotten a lot done, but there's not much to show for it.   Hopefully, I'll be able to get more done this month.   Many goals in the list this month will include wedding tasks.  We'll see at the end of the month how much I actually get done.  Here goes nothing.

• Focus on the Gospel and become more aware of what Christ has done for me, instead of focusing on myself and what I can do to gain His approval.
• Don't get hurt at Ultimax.
• Insure my engagement ring.
• Meet with the pastor at FBC to book the church.
• Hire the following vendors:
• Wedding planner
• Caterer
• DJ
• Florist
• Finalize the guest list.
• Pick out a wedding dress.
• Start the registry process.
• Start to exercise more and eat more healthy. Gotta get into wedding shape!
• Make a budget for Christmas presents and stick to it!
• Enjoy time with my and Brett's family.
• Take more pictures.

Wow, that's a lot of goals.  I think I can do it though.  What are your December goals?

Surprise! Wedding Planning Survival Kit

So for some reason, yesterday was a little bit of a rough day.  Maybe it was going back to work after a holiday or not being able to spend any quality time with Brett over the break or traveling five weeks in a row.  Whatever it was, I was in a somewhat out-of-sorts mood when I got off work.  I checked my mail and there was a slip saying I had a package.  Megan, my Maid of Honor, said to be expecting something in the mail so I was really excited when I saw the slip.

I picked it up at the office and rushed home to open it up.  Lo and behold, it was a WEDDING PLANNING SURVIVAL KIT!!!  Oh my, it was amazing.  Seriously, the highlight of my day. 

Everything was a shade of purple (one of my wedding colors).

Here are the details of the contents with the little description she wrote with each one.  If you are a MOH, this is such a good idea.  The bride will certainly appreciate it.

• The Knot Magazine- Not just any magazine but a bride bible. Since Megan can't be here with me physically, she inserted her thoughts via Post-its.  

Megan had gone through all 500 pages and noted dresses and flowers she liked, some she didn't know how the designer got paid to make something so unattractive, and just random notes.

• Recipe for blushing bride - When the stress is high, whip this blushing babe up and move to the next task.

• Lavender bubble bath - Take a break, relax!

• Starbucks Columbia coffee - Not only is it one of your favorite blends, but it will come in handy after you've been looking at Pinterest all night.

• Milano cookies - Another favorite.  Indulge a little. You deserve it!

• Framed Proverbs 31 - Because we all need a daily reminder to strive to be like her! Look often. She will help you love your husband.

I cannot say how much this package meant to me.  I value all the time she took to make personal touches to the magazine and the thought that went into each content.  It is something I will never forget.

O Christmas Tree

O Christmas tree, o Christmas tree, how long you take to build!

I know I may get some grief about this, but it's true: I have an artificial Christmas tree.  My parents bought their tree before I was born.  When we put it up, we have to arrange the sections so that the holes where branches are missing don't show as much.  Artificial trees are all I've known so I bought one when I got my own place.  It is the kind that takes about 45 minutes to set up because you do it branch by branch.  I enjoy the build up of seeing it form into a beautiful tree. And yes I think it is a beautiful tree, but I may be biased.  Below are a couple of pictures that I took while decorating.

Halfway there!

Completely built tree

Finished product!

 Here are some of my favorite ornaments.

My ECU Santa

Handpainted ornament from my senior trip with the Fantastic Four

Elite Eight!

To me, Elite Eight seems to hold the significance of what NGU has accomplished more than quarterfinals, although they mean the same thing.  This is the staff's third season.  Their first season, they went 2-9. Their second season, they went 9-2 during the regular season and were Victory Bowl Champions (the NCCAA National Championship), finishing the season 10-2.  This year, they are 9-2 (11-2 including playoff wins) and have made it to the third round of the NCAA Division II Playoffs.  I cannot say enough how proud I am to be nvolved, even if just a little bit, in this historic moment for NGU.  It really is amazing.

NGU had to play Mars Hill, the last team to beat them, this past weekend.  Brett said his guys have been waiting for this game.  When I was playing competitive ultimate, it always made me nervous if we played a team that we had beaten, especially if that team had been killing other teams since losing to us.  A situation like that throws ranks out of the window.  Clean slate. Actually, it seems to shift the momentum to the team that lost because there is more incentive for redemption.  That was exactly the case this past weekend.

The first half was close but NGU blew it wide open the third quarter.  The defense got takeaways the first play of Mars Hill's second, third, and fourth drive of the half. After that, there was never really a chance for them.  The final score was 58-32.  NGU has outscored its opponents 298-66 the last six games.  They are on fire. Delta State better watch out this weekend!!

212

Willy Korn had three rushing TDs and threw a fourth.

Chad with some of the defense.

After Willy's third TD.

Jamarius' pick 6.

Brett was so pumped.

Final score

My stud.

Our Supposed-to-Be Pre-Thanksgiving Dinner

That's a lot of words for a title.  It pretty much explains how my night went with three wonderful ladies: Cheryl, Jenn, and Natasha.  Cheryl has been in Greenville, NC doing a rotation for P.A. school and was in town today so we decided to hang out.  Jenn thought of having a pre-Thanksgiving dinner, full of lots of desserts if you know Jenn.

We had a change of plans because we've all been so busy, and Jenn was cooking for her family's meal tomorrow.  Instead of Thanksgiving food, we had pineapple and ham and pepperoni, sausage, and mushroom pizzas with breadsticks.  Jenn did bring over some pie crust that she and Natasha carved into some letters and added cinnamon and nutmeg for the fall flavor.

It tasted really good.

An "H" for my future last name!

Our night was filled with lots of laughter, some wedding talk, and getting slightly freaked out by the new Willy Wonka.  I love these women!

Cheryl did this WHILE she studied.  She's amazing.

Our hair almost matches!

Take 3 with Tasha.

She is such an encouragement. I love her.

Round 2!

I wasn't sure what to expect last weekend going into the first round of the playoffs.  Brett and I usually talk about the other team, their strengths and weaknesses, but we hardly talked the week before the game because he was so busy.  All I knew was Bullet, who always seems to know EVERYTHING about the other team, said NGU's defense would get at least three interceptions.  I was a little doubtful of that.

When I saw Albany State (GA) on the field, I thought, "These guys are HUGE!!!"  Seriously they had the largest D linemen I had ever seen in that stadium.  Greg, Brett's friend who coaches at Methodist in Fayetteville, reminded me that it may mean that they're slower than Brett's guys. I was sure hoping so.

Well, guess what happened the first pass of the game?  That's right: NGU interception!!! It was such a lopsided game.  Greg called a 35-0 score at halftime, another thing I was doubtful of especially with less than 7 minutes left and the fact that we still needed 2 TDs.  I was wrong again.  By halftime, it was 42-7, with the help of a NGU punt and kickoff return. 

The second half was more of the first, except with NGU's second and third string players. The final score was 63-14.  I was so impressed with NGU's offense, defense, and special teams.  I think that was the best performance I've seen by all sides of the ball.

NGU will be playing Mars Hill this weekend, one of the two teams that beat them this season.  Brett says the guys are chompin' at the bit to get back and play them.  Strike the stone!

Brett and Gooch with his guys

Isaiah broke up this pass.

Interception!

These three kids make me smile.

The defensive staff talking to their players.

Isaiah's punt return.

Jack watching his daddy.

I could just eat him up.

Happy Birthday Mama!

Happy birthday to a woman who is:

• Selfless, always putting others first,
• Patient beyond anything that I can imagine,
• Hardworking, her hands are never idle,
• Wise, sharing the wisdom she has learned throughout the years,
• Full of faith, and
• Beautiful, on the inside and out.

Most of all, happy birthday to the woman who has taught me through her actions how to be a Christ-like (future) wife.  Love you Mama!!

Her children arise and call her blessed;
her husband also, and he praises her:
Many women do noble things,
but you surpass them all.

Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;

but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.
Proverbs 31:28-30