Couldn't Be Happier

Yesterday I woke up giddy with excitement. Yes, it was Friday and that was awesome but I was more excited because it was finally the day for my sweet friend Julie to get engaged!! :) I had known about it for a bit and have been counting down the days! After school I headed over to help set things up....

Finally, the happy couple arrived!!! Hugs and congrats everywhere!!!

Jules and her sweet dad

a hug for mom!

Showing off the bling.

Couldn't be happier for you sweet friend.

Yay for pretty rings!!

And....isn't it BEAUTIFUL?

Jess was so pumped for Jules!!!

YAY! SHE'S ENGAGED!!!

CONGRATS SWEET FRIENDS!! (sorry the pic is a bit blurry) THE BEST IS YET TO BE!! 

LOVE YOU BOTH!!

Contentment

I have been learning a lot lately. January was a really tough month for me for various reasons. The Lord has really been teaching me a lot about contentment. It is interesting how things can change when you have your own house. I have NEVER been a shopper and truly I am still not much of a shopper at all. However, I will say that now that I have my own house, I am always seeing a project. I see something while I am out and think..."Oh, that would be so cute here or there." I also find myself going to other people's houses and notice things that I would have never noticed before. I am not saying that there is anything wrong with this but it is taking control of my thoughts before they get too far.

God's Word says, "But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that." -1 Timothy 6:6-8

In the end, nothing else is going to last. All that will last is people and God's Word. 

I have been learning a lot about being content. I don't want to sugarcoat it but I have been pretty discontent with certain areas of my life. I have not been joyful. I recognize my sin and want it to change. I am usually never the person that has always been looking towards the next thing.

"I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength." -Philippians 4:11-13

Paul said this and all I can say is that I truly don't know what it is to be in need. I have so much to be thankful and joyful about. Nothing in this world is going to satisfy me. Brett is always good about reminding me of that. At the end of the day, all I know is what it is to have plenty. Brett and I both have jobs. We have a home together filled with plenty. We have food on our table and plenty of clothes. We have more than enough. We are incredibly blessed. I could dwell on the other "things" I want or "other places" I want to be or "situations" I want to be in. What good is that to me? I have to CHOOSE to walk with God DAILY. I have to CHOOSE to ask the Lord what He wants me to do today. I cannot look so much to the future. I have to choose joy daily. 

This has just been what the Lord has been showing me lately. I know that I am a great sinner and I am so grateful for a loving and forgiving God. I only want to be in the center of His will and be content with all of the MANY things He has blessed me with. 

"Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have because God has said, 'Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.'" -Hebrews 13:5

Thank You Lord that You never leave me where I am.

BIG, EXCITING, FANTASTIC NEWS!

Finally, finally, finally, I can share this GREAT news on the blog! As some of you know, after Brett and I got married we moved in across the street from my sister. Umm....best decision ever. We have LOVED being right across the street! It is just so so fun!! Well, on Christmas Eve (yes, I have had to wait THAT long!) we found out that my sweet sister and brother-in-law are expecting a SWEET LITTLE GIFT in August!! :) Gracious, we already have Virginia, we are getting Charlotte in a couple of months and then soon after, Mangs will be having her baby!!! I am going to be an aunt times three and couldn't be more thrilled that this one will be living across the street!!!! Now, if we could just get Linds and Eric to move in next door??!!?

Well, at the end of December, Mangs wanted me to take some pictures of she and Pudge for their 5 year wedding anniversary. We also had just found out about this little blessing so we turned it into some fun pictures! I have been SO EXCITED to show these and finally announce that we will have a sweet baby in AUGUST!! A perfect birthday present for me! :)

Five Years Married! 

So stinkin cute.. 

YAY!!! 

Pudge listening for the baby...haha

 

LOVE Y'ALL! 

Yay for a soon to come baby bump......which is non-existent right now..... 

hahahahaha

We bought cupcakes for the celebration. Pink or Blue? We will know SOON!!!

Just like their wedding day.. haha

Can't wait to meet this baby!!

HURRY UP AUGUST!!! Love you Mangs and Pudge! Brett and I will be excellent babysitters and we will let you know our rates soon! :) 

Pinwheel Painting Project

So in these almost three months of marriage and having our own home, I am realizing that projects don't really stop. You kind of just always have something. Well, the space we are using as our office was pretty much the only room that was a junk room. Our bedroom, kitchen, and other rooms were still needing some work but were certainly organized. However, the office had stuff EVERYWHERE. Well, it has finally been MOSTLY organized and we are getting things on the walls everywhere. (Eventually I will take pictures of our whole house) I am loving how things are turning out. 

I saw this project a few months ago and LOVED how it looked. I wanted to do something like that in our office. I have always been a color freak but since getting married I have been all about some neutrals. Go figure. So, I played around with what colors to use and here is how it came out.

I started by putting a dot in the very center an drawing random lines coming from it. I knew I didn't want a million different colors so it doesn't have as many triangles as the inspiration one I saw.

Then I started painting....I chose cream colors, a tan, and a gray. I obviously did not use painters tape. Mainly, I didn't have any and also I wasn't using as many colors so I was just careful and used a small brush. I wasn't super concerned about the lines being perfect.

Finished product after painting.....

I also knew I wanted it to have a verse and this just seemed perfect.

Final product on the wall...

It is surrounded by a picture from the slum I visited in Africa, a great picture I was able to capture in the slums or a little boy catching a raindrop, and a picture overlooking Belo Horizonte, Brazil, a place so close to Brett and I's heart!

Really loving how this turned out. Again, I will show the rest of the house soon. It seems that blogging has taken a backseat lately. 

Tonight has been so nice....Brett had a game and I have gotten to spend some quality time with my mom! Oh, and tomorrow is FRIDAY! Woo....Happy day!

he & she (january 2012)

:.. he and she ..:

She did a lot of meal planning and cooking

And really loved how organized it made things

He finished up his 8th grade season of basketball and is almost done with varsity

She had one of the hardest months of her life

He was an amazingly understanding, caring, and encouraging husband

She feels pretty blessed to have him. 

They have continued to settle and decorate their house

And feel like it is gradually coming together

They are more aware of God's blessings and grace in their life daily

Our Happy Day--The Reception

This is the last and final wedding post....I think. haha. I have to say, the ceremony was my favorite part of the day but the reception was still so fun! Here are some final photos! If this has been totally boring then sorry. I never upload pictures to Facebook so this is the best way for me to document!

First dance with Brett was "Love Never Fails" by Brandon Heath and with my dad it was, "Always Be Your Baby" by Natalie Grant. I laughed and was giddy through my dance with Brett and cried through my dance with my dad! :) Sweet memories

Brett and his sweet mom

Cutting our beautiful and delicious cake

Best punch ever... :) 

Sweet friends

Lots of dancing....

Palmer had to do a little fishing.... :)

LOVE these women!!

Tossing the bouquet....

SWEET Jules caught it! Love that pic of you and Sarah!

garter toss...

Cute face B-Rett!

YEAH...Caleb!!

Chris and Carter and my sweet V!

I LOVE all of you!!

Love Birds....

Isn't this an amazing picture?!?

And we are off....... :) haha! 

Our Happy Day--Mr. and Mrs. Pictures

One of the disadvantages of not seeing each other before was that we had to miss out on some reception time by taking pictures. Clearly, we didn't seem to mind. Not seeing each other was the best decision for us and it was such a special moment when we saw each other for the first time! So, here are some of our Mr. and Mrs. shots from after.

One of my favorites :)

Look at that smile!

We loved some chalkboard signs that day! :)

Love birds! 

Another favorite. I had amazing photographers, who I have to give a shootout too real quickly. Alisa Lynn shot my pictures with an assistant. They have now launched their new business TOGETHER as High Cotton Photography! Match made in heaven! Book them! They are FABULOUS!!

Next up, last post about reception and leaving!

Our Happy Day--More Shots From After

Here are just a few more shots from after the ceremony...

Ah....LOVE this picture!!!

Bridal party

I know...Cutest flower girl EVER!

I can't really explain. My brother and I have a special relationship and we enjoy making ridiculous faces. haha.

Brett's family

The original Blackman Bunch

The improved Blackman Bunch

Another bridal party shot

more family

My sweet grandmother

Love this picture of Brett's grandparents. They have been married over 57 years! 

Hoping we follow that example!

Finally, two of my favorite people and biggest supporters ever. Love you mom and Mangs!

Up next....Mr. and Mrs. shots and reception shots...

Our Happy Day--The Details

Since our event was such a DIY one, I decided to dedicate a post solely to the details. They all made our wedding picture perfect and I was thankful that our photographer captured all of the details that I was unable to see come together that day! :) 

Boys boutonnieres. Brett's on the right...

How cool that the photographer caught this shot!

Programs made by yours truly...

Love this sign that mom got Brett and I

At the front of our entrance

Leading into the aisle

Our backdrop. A dear friend cut down the trees and made our cross for us!

My beautiful monogrammed ribbon on my bouquet..

Our covenant we signed

Chalkboard signs

Loved our "Love Birds" sign!!

We had a milk and cookies bar and this was our set up

Cute little details! Cookies made by Elizabeth Epperson

Toasting glasses

More details

Favors table....Magnets, Pears, and Apples

My cake table setup 

Our cakes--I LOVED them!

Ring pictures

So many of these details were put together by these sweet girls.....

Catherine, Julie, Mangs, Linds, Mom, and my Aunt Amy! Y'all were an unbelievable blessing and help during the months leading up to the wedding and especially the day before and day of!!

So those were MOST of our details from our day!! 

Our Happy Day- The Ceremony

I watched from a window as guests poured in. Finally, it was time to begin.....

Grandmothers were seated...

Mothers were seated....

Chris, the best man, and the groom waiting....

My brother, Eric, leading the crowd in the hymn, "In Christ Alone"

Then...off went our bridal party...

Finally, it was time for my daddy to walk me down the aisle..

Hold it together Laura.....Hold it together!

Well, that just didn't happen. Dad and I were both a mess of tears walking down the aisle!

Brett had specific instructions not to look until I hit the aisle. This is the face I saw when he looked up..

He did better than us...but there were still a few tears!

Brett, Dad, Me, and Mom all crying! I promise I really was excited! :)

Love this picture.

And this one....

Our beautiful setup

Signing our covenant

Praying together

Almost married! 

You may kiss your bride!! :)

WE DID IT!

Had to throw this last one in! When we got back Linds came up to me crying and so happy! She goes, "I'm sorry! I'm emotional cause I'm pregnant!!" :) haha. One of the sweetest moments! 

The ceremony was both Brett and I's favorite part of the day. I remember the things that were said. I loved our vows and the meaning behind them. Chris did such a great job of making everything personal. 

It was perfect.