Happy Birthday Megan!

Oh where to start with this post.  Today is my best friend's birthday!  We were lucky enough to host her and Kyle (her boyfriend and my cousin...yes I am a matchmaker) this weekend.  They left at 7 this morning and in my sleepy stupor, I forgot to tell her happy birthday.  I am glad I got to give her a birthday hug on her birthday though!

The longer I am friends with Megan, the more I love her as my sister.  Do any of you know what I mean?  To have a friend that knows your struggles and insecurities, but never passes judgement.  Someone to encourage you in your time of need and someone who, when you ask her to pray for something, you are 100% positive that she will pray.  Friends like that are hard to come by.  When you find them, you have to treasure them.

Megan, I treasure your friendship and sisterhood.  We have been through some tough times together like break-ups and my attitude with ultimate, but the good far outweighs the bad.  I am so thankful for your accountability to lead a life that resembles Christ.  I love thinking about our late night runs to Cookout, staying up late talking about everything, and most recently, matchmaking.  I guess I can give you some credit for my husband :)  Sometimes I wish we could go back and relive college, but I know our futures are so bright.  I'm excited about what the Lord holds for you and for our friendship.  Love you best friend! Here's to a wonderful year.

Happy Birthday Gail!

November is a crazy month of birthdays.  Today, November 4th, is the day Gail (my mother-in-love), Megan (my best friend), and Peanut (one of Brett's best friends) were born.  I am thankful that I got to see two out of the three on their actual birthday!

This first birthday post is dedicated to Brett's mom. Gail is the epitome of southern hospitality.  She is one of the kindest women I have ever met.  She always makes sure to have some cupcakes when I come to visit, and she makes some amazing shrimp and grits.  Service is her main love language: she has one of the largest servant's hearts of anyone I know. Gail would give anything for her boys, and now her daughters too.

I have learned so much from her about being a coach's wife and mom.  I'm sure being the mom of three boys isn't easy...especially if you know the Hickman boys :)  I think her selflessness is her most admirable characteristic.  It's something that I have a hard time with, but a trait that is a necessity as a coach's wife.  She is one of the most selfless people I know.  I am thankful for the values she instilled in my husband and for raising a good, honest man.  Happy birthday Gail! Love you!

Beautiful picture. She's always smiling.

I love this picture. She was copying Maggie and my hand on hip stance.

The Day that Changed My Life Forever

Many of you think the day that would change my life forever is my wedding day.  Actually, I would say it starts with the proposal.  Without a proposal, there's no wedding.  It's been one year ago almost exactly (down to the time) since Brett got down on one knee and proposed.  You can read about it here.

It feels like longer than a year, but not at the same time.  I can't believe how much has happened since the proposal.  We planned a wedding, both of us moved, and we've been married for 4.5 months!  That's pretty crazy when you think about it.  Brett, thanks for having the courage to get down on one knee and ask for my hand in marriage.  Love you!

On the Blue Ridge Parkway right after Brett proposed.

Happy Birthday Yogi!

Today is my father-in-love's birthday!  I see birthdays as a time to give the respect due to an individual and to shine light on their positive impact on my life.  I absolutely love birthdays so now that I'm married, I get to celebrate even more family birthdays.  Yogi's is the first birthday on the Hickman side since we've been married.

Let me tell you about my first experience with Yogi.  The first time I met Brett's family was in April 2010 at a beach house in Holden Beach.  He was sitting there talking to me, and I guess I had a confused look on my face.  Brett looked at Yogi and told him I couldn't understand him.  I will never forget Yogi's response: he looked me straight in the eyes and said, "Well, listen harder."  That response scared me, considering it was the first time I've met him.  However, over the couple of years of getting to know him and now being in his family, his forthright-fullness (if that's a word) is endearing.

Yogi would do anything for his family.  He stands up for what is right in a non-judgemental way, which is very admirable.  He is wise and his presence commands respect; I think that's partly the coaching aura he has about him.  I can see why the guys he has coached over the years are still in contact with him.  He has impacted so many lives, especially Brett's.  Brett would not be who he is today without the influence of his father.  I am so grateful for Yogi and the attention he gave to his sons' endeavors growing up despite his busy schedule.  He is loyal and loving.  I see so much of him in Brett.

Happy birthday Yogi!!! I am so happy to be part of your family.

Football, Family, and (Best) Friends

This weekend was simply refreshing.  Jessica, one of my best friends, came into town on Friday. She got here at 10:30 Friday night.  We stayed up until around midnight just talking and catching up. It was nice to have someone familiar here at our new home.

Brett had to be in the office around 7:30.  The game wasn't until 2:30 so Jess and I had a lazy Saturday morning.  Brett's parents and Sam and Maggie came before the game and followed us there.  Ben Anderson even made the trip down to watch the game! I had forgotten that it was Homecoming so the stadium was packed with bouncy houses, floats, and other kinds of Homecoming festivities.

Now this game was a little different because NGU was playing Brevard.  One of Brett's childhood best friends (and groomsman in our wedding) coaches defensive backs at Brevard.  Apparently Brett has always been very competitive with Chris (aka Peanut). He put a lot more pressure on himself to win this game.

Even though it was in the upper 60's, it felt much hotter because the sun hits the home side.  I definitely got a little burnt.  The Crusaders tried to give us a heart attack.  The game was 10-7 Brevard until the fourth quarter, when NGU scored, winning 14-10.  Defense only allowed around 155 yards total offense to an option team, which is fantastic. 

Braelen's sack

They're such great supporters of NGU, even down to the sunglasses.

Love this sweet, sweet girl

Brett and Peanut

Nice job with the negative space Jess. Haha.

We went to the Mason Jar in downtown Greer for dinner.  Then everyone came over to our place after the game to watch the evening football games.  The fellas were asleep by 11, but Maggie, Jess, and I stayed up until almost 1 talking.  We talked about everything.  It felt like college, except I got tired at midnight instead of 2.  I have really missed some good ole fashion girl talk.  Plus it made my heart smile seeing Maggie and Jess get to know each other and get along. 

Even though I didn't get much sleep, my heart is happy from our visitors this weekend. Now I'm off to watching my fantasy football teams and the rest of the games today.  What did y'all do this weekend?

Good for the Soul

My family was able to come to the second NGU home game last weekend.  It had been almost two months since I had seen them. I was so excited they were coming.  Our complex allows dogs to visit at no charge so they even got to bring Sierra.  With all the stress of the season and not getting to hang out with other women often, I knew how refreshing it would be to have my family here at our place.  It would be good for my soul and mind.

Friday, we stayed in so that Oba could recuperate some from the trip.  I had made my first pot roast, which turned out great.  I bought three pounds of meat, and it was almost all gone by the time we were done with dinner.

I spent a lot of time on Friday and Saturday before the game talking with my parents and Oba and getting some loving from Sierra.  It really does amaze me how much of a difference a dog makes in the atmosphere of a place.  There is a sense of comfort that only a dog can bring.

We got to the game about an hour early so that we could get Oba situated.  It was the first time my parents had been to an NGU game, let alone seen Tigerville.  We were able to sit on the top row, which was great for Oba (plus Dad got to stand up when his back started hurting). Gail and Yogi were able to make it to the game too so we had both sets of parents there.

We got to see some of the pre-game warmups so Brett was able to spot us out before the game and send his ritual kiss up to us.

I had so much fun with Dad, Mom, and Oba.  It was the first game Oba had been to in person since around 1976 or 1977 (my dad's last high school game).  We started off well with a pick 6 from AJ the first series of the game.  It couldn't have happened to a better person.  AJ is one of the players that started with Brett; his freshman year was Brett's first year at NGU.  He has a very special place in Brett's heart, plus he is a stand-up young man.

When NGU scored one of it's touchdowns, Oba shot up out of her seat.  It was the fastest I've seen her move in years.  Everyone got so into the game. I think my parents finally understand what I got through each game.  Yes the games are fun, but they come with stress too.  It's not just a game.

The Crusaders pulled out their first win of the season over Newberry, which was a huge victory since Newberry is an in-state rival when it comes to recruiting.  I was shaking because it was such a relief.  The season has been tough for the coaches, families, and players.  It was such a rewarding win.

Before the game, Oba said the Crusaders would win because she would cheer really loud.  She actually never said a word, but they still won.  Everyone told her she'd have to come to every game. I'm so glad my family got to come and witness what our life is like during the season.  I can't wait until the next time I get to see them. 

Our New Family Member

Brett and I added a new member to our family yesterday: a 2012 Honda Pilot EX-L! Now we know that many people have been wondering, and even asking, if we are expecting, considering the baby boom that is happening with our friends and the fact that the Pilot is considered a "family" car.  Let me put all questions to rest by saying we are NOT expecting, but this is one step that needed to be taken before we expand our family.

We have both had our cars since we turned 16 (that's over 10 years for Brett and almost 10 years for me).  Our cars are starting to have some problems given that mine is almost 14 years old and Brett's is 11. We plan on having our new car for just as long as our current cars. With the holidays coming up, we wanted something that was a little bigger so we could easily pack our suitcases and other things.  Plus Brett wants a vehicle large enough to throw his golf clubs in the back.

Thankfully, we have been blessed with not having any debt coming into marriage.  It was the perfect time to buy. We don't have any huge life changes planned in the next couple of years (although the Lord could always change that).  We don't have any other payments aside from the normal apartment, cable, phone, Visa payments. By buying now, we will have a lot of the car paid off by the time we buy another car (for me) or have other expenses, like a house or baby.  Honda was also having some great deals on their 2012's since the 2013's are coming out.

Anyway, we went yesterday morning to take my car in for maintenance and decided to look around the lot since we have been talking about a new car for a couple of months.  A salesman came up to us not five minutes after we started looking around.  We found the two 2012 models that they had on the lot, and really liked one of them: silver exterior, dark gray interior, heated leather seats, back-up camera, and sunroof.  Brett took it driving, and boy let me tell you, it drives and rides so smooth.  I loved it.

Within an hour and a half, we had signed all the papers and drove off the lot with our new addition.  Brett took it to work, and took some of the guys for a ride.  Apparently he was like a little kid at Christmas.  It was so great to see how happy it made him.  We look forward to many more years of happiness and fun adventures we will be taking in our new car.