3 Years

On Sunday, Brett and I celebrated three years of dating. Appropriately enough, we went to a wedding for some friends of ours. While we didn't do anything too special it was sweet to just be. 

Sorry so blurry..

Woo! Three years!

Brett got me a monopod for my camera so we decided to try it out!

I'm the luckiest.... :)

Brett, thank you for the last three years! Thank you for being patient and persistent in your pursuit! I am so incredibly excited that we will have a new anniversary to celebrate in a few months! EEEK!! I am glad we have 80 more years together! :) I love you with all my heart and cannot wait to be your wife! 

he & she (april 2011)

:..he and she..:

They were not very busy this month....

She bought a wedding dress

 

And it is gorgeous!!

 

He is counting down the days till graduation

 

They booked their wedding venue and photographer

 

And are pretty much thrilled with both

 

They went to phenix city for spring break.

 

They celebrated their Savior's death and resurrection!

She got up EARLY to watch the royal wedding.

He was sweet enough to come over and join her....

 

They are thinking their wedding will be better! :)

The Princess of Quite A Lot

That is what my mom has always called me...It's a Mary Engelbreit thing. Amy was always the "Queen of Everything," I was the "Princess of Quite A Lot," and Sam was the "Prince of Whatever's Left!"

This morning, I woke up at 4:30 to watch the royal event take place. Honestly, I haven't been counting down the days or anything and it was pretty much a last minute decision but I am glad that I did. Brett even came over early to watch it with me! How sweet is he? I mean....he watched like 45 minutes and then fell asleep but....at least he came! :)

I mean....she was beautiful. I have to say, I don't think that Prince William is that good looking (sorry ladies!) but Kate, she is stunning, elegant, and so classy. It was a beautiful wedding! 

Her dress....oh her dress. I LOVED it! I mean....I don't know what I expected but it would have been so easy for her to go SUPER modern but I thought it was just the right balance of tradtional and modern for this future queen! 

In a little over 6 months....this will be me! I might be partial but I am thinking mine will be better than Will and Kate's! :) It will be perfect and I can't wait...

I'll leave you with this.....Here is another princess who was excited for the royal wedding as well!

Happy Weekend!!

Wedding Planning...So Far, So Good

Wedding planning so far has been slow but good. I guess things don't really speed up until closer to time. We have gotten some of the big things done which is wonderful! Our photographer is booked and we met with her last week! She seems wonderful and her work is AMAZING! I cannot wait to work with her! Check out Alisa Lynn! 

I also have my dress!! Well, I won't have it until September but it is ordered!! I love it! Like, it needs to get here now! :) We are also pretty sure that we have a venue but this isn't 100% yet! If it is then....ahh...so excited about it! 

I also wanted to share how I asked my girls to be in my wedding since they have all been asked now! Well, my sweet friend Sarah from Kazakhstan hasn't been officially asked...but since she is so far away we had to settle for a facebook invite! I got the idea from Elise Joy. Same basic idea with a few changes. I got these Paper Source envelopes. I thought about getting smaller ones but because I knew I would be able to deliver each one to my girls, I opted for the ones that would hold a regular 8.5x11 sheet of paper. I slipped one envelope into another so that it opened up like this...I used a tape runner to tape down the other flap on the back.

I had five different sheets of paper. One talked about each girl, one was about when and where, one was about the dresses (etc.), and the last one was a letter to the girls. 

I slipped them into the envelopes like this...

This is what was on the front..

 And the back...

Because we are having a fall wedding I decided to tie up the outside with raffia. 

They are maybe not quite as cute as the original idea that I saw but I loved them and was excited to give each girl their invite!! 

So as you can see....a good bit of the "big" decisions have been made which is great!

Only 203 days to go! haha. :)

Good Friday

Spring Break has been wonderful. We got back from Phenix City on Wednesday. I got to spend a day or so with my niece and sister-in-law which was so wonderful! They are now picking up Amy, Jeff, Eric and the rest of the team that went to Uganda! They are back and I am so excited! They had an amazing trip and I can't wait to hear more about it and see pictures!!

Last night, Brett and I made a spur of the moment trip to Dauphin Island. It was so nice to drive and just be together.

As we are almost there a friend called and said a group of our friends were getting together to watch The Passion. We rushed back so that we could hang out and watch. While that movie is not always easy to watch, it certainly is good to remember what He suffered for us. Although I am sure that this movie is a good picture, it probably doesn't compare at all to what He suffered for us. 

Brett found this video and I thought I would share. I am so thankful that He willingly came to this earth, lived a perfect life, died, and even faced the full wrath of God all for me.

Spring Break...Just In Time

I think it is hilarious how different spring break is now that I am out of high school and college. It used to be about the beach, friends, and lots of late nights. Now, it is about rest....that is all. This one will include family, fiance, some wedding plans, and resting. I am thrilled. 

I am glad that Brett and I get to spend some time together. Right now we are in Phenix City visiting his family. Even though it is not the beach, it is wonderful to get away and be with his parents. 

I will get to see my niece this week and will definitely be by the pool some during too. I am so thankful for this time.

While I am thinking about it, please be praying for my sister, brother, brother-in-law, and the rest of their team that is in Uganda this week. They got there on Friday and will be there until Thursday. We have talked to them and I am so encouraged by what they have said. They seem to be doing great and I am confident that the Lord will bless their time!!

The Lord is doing some big things in my heart. I am so grateful for the Holy Spirit who convicts and a Father who forgives and loves me so well. I am learning a lot.

Weekends....I Love You!

This weekend was so great! They always fly by so quickly but this weekend, we soaked up every minute. We rested and relaxed, stayed out late, and spent time with great friends. We actually acted like we were still young and not the old, do homework, lay on the couch and go to bed early folks!

On Friday night Brett had to work but afterwards we went to a late movie. We went to see Soul Surfer. It was so good and I highly recommend it! Saturday, we rested and then had plans to go and have lunch with my dear friend Katherine and her husband Blake. We never get to see them so it was so great to hang out and catch up on life and wedding plans!! After about three hours we headed home! I told you...we had lots of talking to do! :)

Love you sweet friend!

Last night, we went and spent time with some friends who we have just gotten to know this year. Corey and Maggie are new to Mobile since the fall. They invited us over to their beautiful home and cooked us a wonderful dinner! It was such a fun time of fellowship and we cannot wait to do it again! Thanks Corey and Maggie!

As for today, we didn't have church this morning. We are having a church service/picnic tonight at Camp Grace! It has been a relaxing day so far! Brett and I are ready to embrace this work week because as of Friday we begin SPRING BREAK! We cannot wait!! 

Hope you have soaked up your weekend just as we did!

Not Getting Caught Up

Well, I don't know why blogging has been so slow lately....not much to say? That can't be true because I'M PLANNING A WEDDING!! Haha. Well, hopefully there will be more posts soon both wedding related and life in general. This post will be a bit of both. 

Wedding plans have started being made and it makes me so excited. There are many things that have already been checked off the list. Dress...done. Photographer...done. I have loved making plans so far and some of you may be surprised by that. During my sister's wedding planning process I determined in my mind that I didn't care about details, she and my mom could make the big plans, and I wanted ONE shower. haha. Everyone told me, "You might feel differently once it is your wedding!" Ok...ok....I have changed my mind. I am really enjoying this planning process so far! In fact, I have found that since being engaged, I check my email over and over again. I tell myself, "Laura, between now and the 10 minutes that have passed, you have not received an email!" I also could spend hours on Etsy, Pinterest, and Style Me Pretty. Mom, Amy, and I talk about plans for the ceremony and reception and I cannot wait to make it all come to life.

However, lately, I have been feeling a bit guilty. I have no doubt that the Lord is all about weddings. I have been convicted about my time and how I spend it. I want to be balanced in all aspects of my life. I am excited about my wedding...but more than all of the little details, the dress, the flowers, etc., I want my wedding to be glorifying to the Lord. I want it to be an expression of Brett and I's love for the Lord. I want people to see more than a beautiful dress, pretty flowers, and fun details. I want the gospel to go forth and for people to see Christ in our wedding. If there is one thing you can pray, it is that Brett and I would both keep our eyes fixed on Christ during this planning process and that our decisions would glorify Him. Don't worry! I'll keep you updated on plans!!

"Let us rejoice and be glad and give Him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and His bride has made herself ready." --Revelation 19:7

he & she (march 2011)

:..he and she..:

She got a job this month...

Which has been an adjustment....but a good one.

He has jumped from basketball season to baseball season

And is staying quite busy.

They are both job hunting for next year!!

He is ready to graduate.

She is still impressed with how he is handling student teaching.

They are READY FOR SPRING BREAK! :)

He asked her to marry him.....

SHE SAID YES!! :)

They have set a date....

And are READY FOR NOVEMBER 12, 2011 to arrive!!!

YES.

Let me just say, this blog contains a million pictures...but according to some, no one READS the writing anyways! :) 

For those of you who are unaware, something very exciting happened this weekend! On Sunday, Brett asked me to marry him and I SAID YES!! I cannot even explain how thrilled I am and how ready I am to be his wife!

Now, without further adieu...here are some pictures and our engagement story:

My whole family was in town this past weekend which was wonderful! A couple of weeks ago Brett and I had already planned to go to Fairhope. We have done this before so I obviously thought nothing of it and we hadn't been on a date in a while so that is why we planned! :) We were going to go eat and go by the water to take pictures. I really like to do that in case you didn't know. 

So, after church we head across the bay and eat at California Dreaming. We hung out around and shopped a little and then headed down by the bay! It was kind of a hazy day but we started just taking pictures and walking around...

He doesn't even look NERVOUS..does he?? 

 Little did I know......Brett's roommate who is a far better photographer than I am was there the whole time to capture the event! THANK YOU JUDSON!!!! 

We walked out on this pier and took pictures and talked for a while.....He said some sweet things and before he asked said, "I'm going to need your purity ring to give you some new bling!"

Side note: When I was 12 or 13 (don't exactly remember when) my dad took me out on a very special date. The reason for this date was to explain sex to me. (lower your eyebrows...pick your jaws up off the floor!) My parents knew that it was so important for us to not view sex as this nasty, terrible thing that we should NEVER do! They wanted us to know God's view about sex and what God's Word had to say about it. On this date he gave me a ring that he had special made for me. It had three question marks on it and three hearts surrounding a diamond. The questions are to remind me, "Does it honor God? Does it honor others? Does it honor myself?" I haven't taken it off since that day, until now. I have a replacement!!

 "I have to ask you the most important question of your life....Laura, will you be my wife?"

 Umm....shock. Absolute shock. I had no idea!!! I obviously knew it was coming but had no idea that it was that day!!

SO EXCITED!!!

He did so great and completely surprised me!!!

I LOVE YOU!!!

Okay...so I love my ring too!! :) 

Are you serious? You've had the ring how long? :)

So happy! So many questions! haha..

Oh....Judson is here.. HEY JUDSON!!

 ENGAGED!!!

 I LOVE YOU BRETT KITTRELL!!!

Then....we headed home....

We had a party waiting for us!!! ((My mom when I called her!!))

I don't know what I thought this get together would be like but with my family......I should have known!!

This is what I see when we pull up.....

We're HERE!!!

So many sweet friends there!!

And then.......the kitchen.. NO DETAIL WAS OVERLOOKED!!

Our beautiful cake! 

There were little diamond rings attached to each balloon!

Amy, Linds, and mom did such a great job!! Actually, I know everyone played a part in making this party so special for us! 

We felt SO LOVED!!

 Our parents gave us a big basket full of books, wedding magazines, kitchen stuff, and some towels with my new monogram!!

LOVE these!!

 Then we headed outside to take some pictures....

Looking a little rough....tired but so happy!!

I am so blessed to have such unbelievable parents!!

My parents and FUTURE INLAWS!! 

SISTER!!

 Brothers and sisters!! (minus Linds and Eric)

And....of course a couple of pictures of the ring......

Isn't it beautiful? I am in love! He picked it out all my himself!!!

Family and friends, THANK YOU all for making this day so amazing!! We both felt so special and so loved!! Each of you that were there Sunday have played such an important role in our lives!! Thank you for praying for us and loving us both so well!!

Brett, thank you for being so thoughtful and making me feel like the most important girl in the world! Sunday was perfect and you definitely surprised me! I love you so much and cannot wait to be your wife!!

((If you stuck with me THANKS! Hope you enjoyed our story!))