bridesmaids.

Today is day 6 of the whole "getting serious" thing and it's crazy how quickly turning my habits around impacts the way I feel.  I already feel so much better being back on track.  I love it and it makes me realize how important this daily being healthy thing is. The best news though....I've been at 142 since October...TODAY I BROKE THAT NUMBERRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!! Hallelujah!!!

At the beginning of the year I started officially "planning our wedding."  Within just a few weeks we had picked a venue...which is so amazing it deserves a whole blog(coming soon) and then I FINALLY asked my best friends to be part of my big day.

I wanted to do something special for them all because they mean THE WORLD to me...literally.  It's hard to find *good friends* and I've been lucky enough to find 6 close friends!  The best thing about the girls I asked to part of my day is this....they are all SO very different.  Some are loud and crazy, others are reserved, but once we are all together it's a blast.

I got each bridesmaid a card and a picture frame containing a picture of us, and we spent the evening eating pizza and cupcakes, playing bored games, and singing!  It was a crazy fun night and I love each of my friends.

My Maid of Honor *Natalie* is someone I've known my entire life.  She was 5 years ahead of me in school though so we never ran into each other much.  Her parents were teachers at my school so through them I basically just knew of her.  She graduated high school with my older brother and we even attended church together for years, but really just...never talked.  My freshmen year of college though we had a mutual friend and through that we ended up having dinner together and eventually she became the best friend I've ever had.  She is literally the epitome of selfless.  She is always the first person I go to when I need prayer or a Godly ear listening to me...but she's not afraid to tell me what's up.  She is the kind of person you hope you can emulate in one way or another because she is the definition of a Godly woman.  I was truly blessed when the Lord brought us together.

My Matron of Honor *Heather* is actually my cousin.  We also have known each other our whole lives.  However, our families were not close, so by default we just never really spoke much.  We also went to school together, but she too was a few years older so we never really talked or ran into one another.  The year after I graduated high school I got my first big girl job and when I went in the first day for training...she was the one training me.  So through work we began a friendship that I truly cherish.  She is the only person in the WORLD that I know that says EXACTLY what is on her mind.  She has NO filter and will tell anyone how it is.  She doesn't hold back and she truly marches to the beat of her own drum.  She makes me laugh so hard and I love that when everyone else worries so much about what everyone thinks...she is just her own crazy, free-spirited, 'like me if you want', girl.  One of the most amazing things about this girl though?  We will be in the middle of vacation and she will ask me to please excuse her for a while and I will hear her praying and talking to the Lord.  She inspires me in many ways and I love that she loves the Lord.

One of my bridesmaid *CJ* is my college roommate and the funniest person I know.  She is CRAZY and witty and clever and HILARIOUS.  She gets me in this way that no one in the entire world does.  She is my soul sister.  We have had so many crazy, insane, hysterical adventures, but we have also had our crazy, insane, hysterical fights that any roommates and sisters have.  She means the world to me though.  My favorite thing about this girl is...I can tell her anything.  She doesn't judge, she just 'gets it.'  She is the friend who has seen me at my absolute worst..and still loved me. She's the person that is up for any adventure at ANY time.  We have had our crazy times together and moments I am NOT proud of, but I wouldn't want those moments with anyone else. I will always love her and I'm glad that everything aside...she will be there on my day. 

About 6 months ago I got a call from another one of my bridesmaids *Brittani* and she told me the best news ...SHE'S GETTING MARRIED and she wants me to be her MAID OF HONOR.  I was so honored and happy.  She and I go WAYYYY BACK...all the way to the 2nd grade.  I was the school ambassador and she was the new girl.  From the very first day that I 'showed her around school' we were inseparable.  Growing up there were moments when family situations would occur and brit would actually live with me.  We were sisters.  We cheered together, we lived together, we had class together.  And like typical girls that spent too much time together..we fought.  The longest we went without talking was about 2 days.  Life has taken us in crazy different directions.  I entered college right after high school and Brit prepared to welcome her beautiful baby boy into the world.  Through all the crazy life changes and the very different life we lead....she always remained my best friend.  Months would go by when we wouldn't speak because of our busy crazy lives..then one of us would pick up the phone and call the other and it was like NO time had passed at all.  To me that symbolizes true friendship....no distance, circumstance, or time can stop it. This July I will fly to Florida and stand next to this girl in her beautiful beach wedding...and then 3 short months later she will stand with me in mine.


3 or 4 years ago a new girl came to work.  Her name was *Kacie* and initially, I did not talk to her much.  She seemed very sweet, but I was VERY leery as she was friends, or so I thought, with a girl that I did not trust or have a very good relationship with. As time passed I found out I was mistaken and so we started talking and hanging out a bit.  Then last summer we ended up taking an amazing trip to Mexico and I had the BEST TIME.  As time passed and I began my weight loss journey, many of my friends were not supportive, did not want to hear about it, and quite frequently I felt alone.  Kacie was ALWAYS there supporting me, listening to me gripe about life or whatever was going on, and celebrating all the goodness also with a smile on her face and being genuinely happy for me.  I think that is a trait many people do not have the capacity of possessing.  I admire Kacie so much for that.  She loves the Lord and I find that she has an amazing heart of someone that is GENUINELY fun to be around by their infectious spirit.  When I asked Kacie to be part of my day she seemed SHOCKED but happy.  I realized I had made the right decision because she has no sense of entitlement.  She would be just as happy to be sitting and watching than being part of.  I thought of trying on dresses, picking out stuff for weddings, and all the other details that will go into it...and then I instantly thought...I want Kacie's never failing support and encouragement so I am totally excited she will stand next to me on October 20th.




When I was in college I majored in English and my last few years of college all of my classes were typically in the same building because they were all in the English, Creative Writing, ESL department.  Everyday I would sit with friends in the Lobby and study for quizzes, eat lunch, or do last minute assignments.  That building will ALWAYS have this precious place in my heart...which I know sounds weird...but I have this sense of nostalgia every time I see it or even think of it now.  I didn't know this at the time, but those were some of the BEST memories being in there....sitting in the lobby on comfy chairs, eagerly waiting crazy finals, or anxiously waiting to get the grade back on that 'big paper.'  One day I was sitting in that lobby and it was odd, but none of my friends had made it in yet.  I was going over notes for a quiz that I was about to fail when a girl approached me and just began talking like she had ALWAYS known me.  That girls name is *Kayla* and come to find out she was actually in that very large survey of American Literature before 1800's class I had and was preparing for.  I had skipped the reading assignment the night before and thank the Lord she was friendly and intelligent because she singlehandedly helped me pass that quiz that day by giving me a few tips.  Fast forward throughout my last years of college and we had many classes together.  Kayla was heaven sent in my opinion.  I met her about the time C got a job and moved 3 hours away.  I was living with a roommate that I did NOT get along with and I felt more alone than ever.  I can't even count the nights we ordered pizza, rented movies, and laid in pajamas talking for hours.  I went through so much in my life during that period and she was always there cheering me along and wanting the best for me.  I graduated college before her and moved on, but we stayed in contact and made sure we still had frequent girls nights.  She recently graduated though and moved back to her home town which saddens me, but I know what kind of friendship I have with this girl...and distance won't kill that.  She traveled the 3 hours to meet all of my other bridesmaids and we spent the afternoon talking...and after everyone left we laid across my bed for hours talking about life, boys, the future, and it hit me how nothing had changed after all that time.  I love her so much and once again...so grateful that God has placed her in my life.


I know this post is incredibly long.  If you made it through....bravo!  It's one of those things that won't mean much to anyone...but me, but I wanted to write all this down to look back at one day.  The Lord has blessed me so much and I'm so excited to spend the next 9 months with these ladies as we prepare for my wedding.