I am pretty fourtunate to have the family I have. We all love each other and get along beautifully through thick and thin. In fact, when I was younger, I didn't realize that every family wasn't as close as mine. When I talk about family, I'm not only talking about my mom, dad and two brothers...I'm talking about my aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents, etc. My mom and her sister are like the same person...I can go to either one of them with ANYTHING. My cousin Keri Lynn is like my sister...in fact, I used to call her my sister to save confusion. My other cousins are like my brothers, my other aunt and uncle are like parents, etc, etc.
We were aloways raised to honor and respect our family, and to value the time we have together. My family has been through some rough times, including two unexpected and one somewhat expected, though still difficult, deaths of family members. We were raised to share our emotions. When we were upset, we did not hide our feelings or talk about them behind each others backs. We straight up told each other what was going on, and we talked it out. I could only imagine how miserable it would be to not be able to share emotions.
When my brother got married 6 months before I did, we accepted his wife into our family with open arms. I was SO excited to finally have a sister-in-law. When my other brother brought his girlfriend over the first time, we accepted her into our family with open arms. I consider her to be my sister as well, though she isn't a "technical" member of the family at this point (she will be SOON!) When Brandon and I got married, my family adopted him in as another son, when my cousin got married, we adopted his wife in as another daughter...regardless of education level, looks, past experieinces, their family life, religion, what have you. We are accepting people.
I have come to realize over the past month that not everyone is so accepting. Not everyone likes mine and Brandon's relationship and how we have worked out our household. Not everyone thinks we should be having children. Not everyone likes me, my career choices, or my family ties. And on top of that, these "accusations" are based on NOTHING. Some people think they know everything. AND these are people I just can't be around. Some people think they know me, and they know nothing about me. I cant be around that either. And I have also learned that misery loves company. ANd I can't live my life so miserably. I am happy. Brandon is happy. Our dogs are happy. And our future babies will be VERY happy. And I don't need these people dragging me down.
*deep breath* And Scene.
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Monday, July 12, 2010
Two Years ago TODAY
was the happiest day of my life. Literally, I have never felt so much emotion in one day. It was love, happiness, nervousness, and a ton of other emotions that I can't even explain. I just realized that at this time, I was standing in our church narthex about to make the biggest commitment of my life! Though I am in no means an expert, I did get some pretty good advice on wedding stuff, and here is what I learned...
1. No matter what happens, you are still married at the end of the day.
2. Spend money on what matters to you...if you are dying to have huge flower arrangements, then get them!
3. Plan a budget, and stick to it...don't be afraid to shop around and to let vendors know you ARE shopping around! They are more likely to give you a deal then!
4. At the reception, the party will go where you go...if you want people to dance, you need to dance! If you want people to sit and eat, that's what you should do too!
5. Do the "traditional" stuff right at the beginning of the reception, like the dances and cake cutting. Often times an older crowd really WANTS to see these moments, but they don't want to wait around for 2 hours for you to do it!
6. Get as many pictures done before the reception as you can...you don't want to miss two hours of your four hour reception taking pictures...you need to be there to enjoy your hard work!
7. GET A VIDEOGRAPHER...you will remember NOTHING about the night, it goes by TOO fast!
8. Don't sweat the small stuff...and don't be a bridezilla. No one wants to be around that!
9. Involve your significant other and his family as much as possible...especially his mom, and especially if he is an only child. Remember, the day is just as much about him as you, and he deserves a say-so in what happens!
10. Write your thank-you cards super fast, and start with the older population first. They EXPECT thank you cards, your friends may not care!
And while I'm at it, here are the reasons why Brandon is the most awesome person I could ever be married to...and this list was super hard to condense!
1. He is, and always will be my best friend.
2. We have an equal partnership in our marriage. We both work hard, play hard and have the same goals in our family and in our future.
3. He is nurturing and sweet
4. He is super funny, and always knows how to cheer me up...whether that be through a stupid pun or joke, letting me buy a new pair of shoes, or just telling me to snap out of it, he always says the right things!
5. He is horrible at keeping surprises...and I love surprises. This allows for some pretty hysterical moments in our household!
6. He LOVES my family. And my family LOVES him. He is awesome at fitting into my super close family. I'm pretty sure they would rather him be at events than me! :)
7. He can fix anything. Literally...like when the vacuum cleaner started to smoke, he took it apart, put it back together and it worked like brand new! That just blows my mind!
8. He is a hard worker. Lazy is NOT a word that anyone would use to describe that boy!
9. He doesn't let stuff bother him. And everything bothers me...so we balance each other out!
10. He wants to be a dad more than anything, and that is an awesome feeling!
11. He is the most caring, loving, honest, handsome, hard-working, snoring, secret-telling, loyal, friendly, handy, conservative, funny, money-conscious, laid-back husband I could ever ask for. And I love him more than anything!
I love you honey! :)
1. No matter what happens, you are still married at the end of the day.
2. Spend money on what matters to you...if you are dying to have huge flower arrangements, then get them!
3. Plan a budget, and stick to it...don't be afraid to shop around and to let vendors know you ARE shopping around! They are more likely to give you a deal then!
4. At the reception, the party will go where you go...if you want people to dance, you need to dance! If you want people to sit and eat, that's what you should do too!
5. Do the "traditional" stuff right at the beginning of the reception, like the dances and cake cutting. Often times an older crowd really WANTS to see these moments, but they don't want to wait around for 2 hours for you to do it!
6. Get as many pictures done before the reception as you can...you don't want to miss two hours of your four hour reception taking pictures...you need to be there to enjoy your hard work!
7. GET A VIDEOGRAPHER...you will remember NOTHING about the night, it goes by TOO fast!
8. Don't sweat the small stuff...and don't be a bridezilla. No one wants to be around that!
9. Involve your significant other and his family as much as possible...especially his mom, and especially if he is an only child. Remember, the day is just as much about him as you, and he deserves a say-so in what happens!
10. Write your thank-you cards super fast, and start with the older population first. They EXPECT thank you cards, your friends may not care!
And while I'm at it, here are the reasons why Brandon is the most awesome person I could ever be married to...and this list was super hard to condense!
1. He is, and always will be my best friend.
2. We have an equal partnership in our marriage. We both work hard, play hard and have the same goals in our family and in our future.
3. He is nurturing and sweet
4. He is super funny, and always knows how to cheer me up...whether that be through a stupid pun or joke, letting me buy a new pair of shoes, or just telling me to snap out of it, he always says the right things!
5. He is horrible at keeping surprises...and I love surprises. This allows for some pretty hysterical moments in our household!
6. He LOVES my family. And my family LOVES him. He is awesome at fitting into my super close family. I'm pretty sure they would rather him be at events than me! :)
7. He can fix anything. Literally...like when the vacuum cleaner started to smoke, he took it apart, put it back together and it worked like brand new! That just blows my mind!
8. He is a hard worker. Lazy is NOT a word that anyone would use to describe that boy!
9. He doesn't let stuff bother him. And everything bothers me...so we balance each other out!
10. He wants to be a dad more than anything, and that is an awesome feeling!
11. He is the most caring, loving, honest, handsome, hard-working, snoring, secret-telling, loyal, friendly, handy, conservative, funny, money-conscious, laid-back husband I could ever ask for. And I love him more than anything!
I love you honey! :)
Thursday, July 8, 2010
Buh-Bye Chicken Curse!
Wow, what a week! As many of you know, I am a very dedicated University of South Carolina Gamecock fan. I have been known to get into one too many heated arguments over how "next year" is always around the corner for my Gamecocks. I have a passionate love for sports...college sports mostly. I don't get professional sports really, especially the NFL and NBA...I just don't get how a person born and raised in South Carolina can all of a sudden love the Redskins or the Lakers. Just don't get it...but anyway, I LOVE SPORTS. I have a passion for College football...during the fall, I can rattle off the top 20 teams ranks, who is playing who in most major conferences, etc...I LOVE SOCCER...this comes from a life-time of watching my big brothers play the sport, and from going to Irmo High School who has the BEST soccer program out of any high school in the nation! And of course, I love America's past time, baseball. Something about baseball just makes me feel all warm and fuzzy. I really love how unpredictable the sport is...I also love the combination of individual achievements mixed with the spirit of a team.
When I was five years old, My daddy sat me down and told me what it was like to be a TRUE Gamecock fan. It's going to every home game when your record ends up being 0-11. It's supporting your team even when they have dumb plays and interceptions and fumbles. It's supporting the Coaching staff who has to deal with all of the crazy fans. Its WB stadium, it's the horseshoe, it's Thomas Cooper Library, it's the BA, the Greek Village, the Coliseum, it's 2001, the garnet and black, we hail thee Carolina, and a plain sense of PRIDE in being a Gamecock...and of course, so much more!
The past couple of weeks I spent with my family at a Lake house that my Uncle rented on Lake Murray. It was a wonderful place to be to watch the Carolina Gamecocks march through Omaha and take the Nation by surprise. We fought our way OUT of the losers bracket having to beat the number one team in the nation, Oklahoma state, CLEMSON TWICE...to move on and beat UCLA twice in a row to bring home the SECOND major TEAM NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP in school history since people began competing for National titles(that's about 150 years for anyone who is counting). I cried. I literally CRIED. I had goosebumps, my cousin, her bff, my husband, my mom, dad, aunt, uncle and two dogs DOG PILED in the middle of the living room. My daddy who just turned SIXTY and has been a Gamecock his whole life had a sense of pride and accomplishment on his face...We popped champagne and celebrated the whole night. I didn't sleep...I didn't need it. The emotional high was extraordinary. The next day, my Bffer Amy and I went and stood in line for an hour at the Colonial Life Arena to welcome our boys home in true gamecock fashion, with about 14,000 other loyal fans...people took off work, probably got fired from their jobs to attend this monumental occasion. July 1st was named as South Carolina Baseball day in the State of South Carolina, and the Gamecock flag flew proudly over the state house. Friday was a classic ticker-tape parade to welcome our boys home down main street, and I had the pleasure of taking my adorable niece Eliza to it. I am truly a PROUD member of Gamecock nation. Here are some pictures from the events!
PS: My niece, who hardly talks, is now saying "GO COCKS" loud and clear...SHE IS AWESOME! :)
The state house, with the Gamecock flag flying proudly...with some creative editing of course. :)
More images to come soon, when my internet isn't taking 15 minutes per picture to upload! :)
When I was five years old, My daddy sat me down and told me what it was like to be a TRUE Gamecock fan. It's going to every home game when your record ends up being 0-11. It's supporting your team even when they have dumb plays and interceptions and fumbles. It's supporting the Coaching staff who has to deal with all of the crazy fans. Its WB stadium, it's the horseshoe, it's Thomas Cooper Library, it's the BA, the Greek Village, the Coliseum, it's 2001, the garnet and black, we hail thee Carolina, and a plain sense of PRIDE in being a Gamecock...and of course, so much more!
The past couple of weeks I spent with my family at a Lake house that my Uncle rented on Lake Murray. It was a wonderful place to be to watch the Carolina Gamecocks march through Omaha and take the Nation by surprise. We fought our way OUT of the losers bracket having to beat the number one team in the nation, Oklahoma state, CLEMSON TWICE...to move on and beat UCLA twice in a row to bring home the SECOND major TEAM NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP in school history since people began competing for National titles(that's about 150 years for anyone who is counting). I cried. I literally CRIED. I had goosebumps, my cousin, her bff, my husband, my mom, dad, aunt, uncle and two dogs DOG PILED in the middle of the living room. My daddy who just turned SIXTY and has been a Gamecock his whole life had a sense of pride and accomplishment on his face...We popped champagne and celebrated the whole night. I didn't sleep...I didn't need it. The emotional high was extraordinary. The next day, my Bffer Amy and I went and stood in line for an hour at the Colonial Life Arena to welcome our boys home in true gamecock fashion, with about 14,000 other loyal fans...people took off work, probably got fired from their jobs to attend this monumental occasion. July 1st was named as South Carolina Baseball day in the State of South Carolina, and the Gamecock flag flew proudly over the state house. Friday was a classic ticker-tape parade to welcome our boys home down main street, and I had the pleasure of taking my adorable niece Eliza to it. I am truly a PROUD member of Gamecock nation. Here are some pictures from the events!
PS: My niece, who hardly talks, is now saying "GO COCKS" loud and clear...SHE IS AWESOME! :)
The state house, with the Gamecock flag flying proudly...with some creative editing of course. :)
More images to come soon, when my internet isn't taking 15 minutes per picture to upload! :)
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