whitley says yes to the dress!!

Two Summers ago my BFF Whitley studied abroad in Italy

When she got home from the Airport back in Atlanta, she found this boy at her house hanging out with her brother... Mr. Burton Fowles!

I think it could best be described as one of those "stayed up all night talking, we just knew, can't eat can't sleep reach for the stars over the fence world series kinds of things" moments and Whitley and Burton reallllllly and I mean REALLLLLLLLLLY liked each other right from the start. A couple weeks later, they were boyfriend and girlfriend and went back to Charleston for school. 

Whitley met Burton's other woman and they hit it off really well... Meet Katie.

A few months later............... WHITLEY & BURTON ARE ENGAGED! My best friend got engaged!!! 

Now that the wedding is only 7 months away, we have some very important tasks to achieve to make sure this is the absolute best day of Whitley's life! Best friends ASSEMBLE, it's wedding dress shopping time!

To start off the day, Whitley gave me this fantastic Maid of Honor wedding dress shopping survival kit!  I am happy to be serving such a thoughtful bride :)  

Next stop, Bridals by Lori! They didn't let us take pictures in the showroom but if you ever want to see what it looks like you should just watch an episode of Say Yes to the Dress Atlanta.

A handful of gowns, tears, and jumping up and down happy screams and squeals later.... WHITLEY SAID YES TO THE DRESS!!

Did you think you would actually get to see the dress now! No way! But on January 5th, the most classy, elegant, genuinely kind bride is going to walk down the aisle and leave everyone jaw dropped and make Burton Fowles the luckiest man alive.

223 Days to Go!

There will be more wedding festivity posts in the future, but until then... here's some really happy best friends radiating with joy and excitement for all the wedding happenings to come!

We are so happy Karla got to make an appearance for this fun day!

Torpe

I didn't pass my CLEP Exam.

I publicly announced my attempt at the exam, and now I have to publicly announce my failure.

Well this is awkward................

\

Okay, all jokes and attempts to cover my damaged pride aside, I spent a lot of time emotionally preparing and studying for the outcome of my test. However, I think the way I handle the results is what defines my character.

Let's be honest, If I would have passed the test I would have blown up my blog, twitter, and all of my friends phones with words of great success and Yippy, I DID IT! I honestly do not know if I would have taken the time to take a step back and thank Jesus for his provision and constant peace during the couple months of preparing and test taking.

This is a humbling experience.

I was given an opportunity to thank Jesus yesterday, I was either going to say thank you for helping me pass or thank you for having a bigger plan for me than passing this test.

Trying to accept this outcome was not what I wanted, but I did my best, and that's all I can do, right?

Yesterday was a hard day. But I am really thankful for all the people that prayed for me and encouraged me and checked on me, I am thankful for friends that gather around me with hugs, food, and Grey's Anatomy, and I am thankful that Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and all the rest of my days.

CLEP Exam

After a couple months of studying, tomorrow is my Spanish CLEP test.

My test tomorrow at 3 and if I do well, I don't have to take a Spanish class in June! Yippy! Everyone that knows me knows that I have horrible test anxiety and worry is a monster that daily haunts me. 

With that being said, I've spent a lot of time in the word trying to find rest for my spirit as I prepare to walk into my test tomorrow. This was the passage from Jesus Calling yesterday and it's exactly what I needed. Hopefully it will encourage you as well.

"It is not so much adverse events that make you anxious as it is your thoughts about those events. Your mind engages in efforts to take control of a situation, to bring about the result you desire. Your thoughts close in on the problem like ravenous wolves. Determined to make things go your way, you forget that I am in charge of your life. The only remedy is to switch your focus from the problem to My Presence. Stop all your striving, and watch to see what I will do. I am the Lord!"

It's back to the books for me! Hopefully I will have some good news to share tomorrow evening. 

The Ramseys

Five years ago, one of my childhood best buds, Ben Ramsey, and one of my small group sisters, Madalene Garrison,  decided to go to prom together.

April 2007

About four and a half years later Ben proposed in the perfect way...

Approximately 1,825 days later, aka May 19, 2012, they got to say their I do's, exchange rings, kiss the bride, cut the cake, toss the bouquet and most importantly Ben and Madalene got to use their wedding day as a platform to make the name of Jesus known.

Enjoy these pictures of two of the most influential, genuine, kindhearted, gentle spirited people celebrating their love for Jesus and each other!

Mr. Garrison giving his sweet Madalene to Ben

Ben's face is radiating with so much joy that my camera couldn't quite capture enough of it to focus!

Chelsea, one of those dependable friends where we don't talk for months but then pick up right where we left off. It's like we never miss a beat!

Trail Mix Bar = Tasty!

Apple Groom's Cake

Classic and simple and perfect cake! It tasted great too.

Madalene's mom with Miss Carla. Two off the coolest most beautiful women ever.

How lucky am I to get this angel for a friend and sister! I am so thankful for you Madalene.

Yippy, Ben and Madalene! 

It's about freaking time you got married.

A Picture Post!

Imagine that this awesome shirt could say any town in Georgia... any town! Goodness, so much Peach State Pride. I bet all of you are thinking to yourself, "I want one of these." The good news is that YOU CAN HAVE ONE!! And I can be the girl that makes it happen. 

AKA - you are reading the blog of a Peach State Pride Sales Rep. Check It!

In other news, Rollerblading is still cool. Especially if you are my 5 foot tall best friend wearing a tank top and aviators. My only issue with this is her lack of knee pads, elbow pads, and a helmet. If you are interested in reading about Karla (the 5 foot tall bestie) and her journey doing medical missions in Kenya from July - December this year, keep up with her blog!

This weekend I got to participate in the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure in Atlanta. My family walked to celebrate my aunt's victory over breast cancer! I must say, one of the most powerful moments in my life was watching the survivors get to the finish line and receive their medals and flowers. Finishing that race signifies so much more than completing a 5K. It was incredible!!

Geoffrey was the best 5K partner! Even when he does the no teeth smile.

I knew that Jesus loved me today when I got a chargrilled chicken sandwich in the shape of a heart. It's the little things people.

My heart fluttered when I ran into one of my favorite humans in Atlanta. The fact that I got giddy to see this gem even though we see each other on a regular basis says something. Seeing each other in Milledgeville is cool, but seeing each other in Atlanta............ now that is COOL.

Since Geoff and I are in love, it's only appropriate that I use Instagram.

Have the best Tuesday!!!

Momentary Marriage

A friend showed this to me last week, watch and be moved. It is worth the 9 minutes, I promise.

Summer Begins

Many things have gone on in the last month...

I went to my last ADPi formal

I participated in the final Muckfest of my life, please God I pray this was the last time.

I ended my time serving as a Young Life leader at John Milledge Academy

I got a summer job writing a literature review for the chair of the Georgia College Psyc Department, Dr. Lee Gillis.

Annnnnnnnd I graduated with my BS in Psychology from Georgia College!!

With this being my last summer in Milledgeville, I am beginning to say final goodbyes (which I have yet to find anything positive about) 

Lauren is the first to leave, and as my go-to girl, best friend, and constant slumber party roommate it has been a tearful last couple of days.

I love you little Laur, you are the best new addition to the nonprofit sector!! There's no one else I'd want to have my face on a cake with.

Hopefully the summer time will bring lots of sunshine, new summer friendships, and more time for blogging and pleasure reading!

Last College Essay...

My semester is coming to an end! As I am continuously glued to my computer screen writing papers so I can graduate, I am constantly faced with the urge to write a new post! There are so many wonderful, joyful things I want to share... but I am about 1000 words shy of completing my last college essay. Yes, you heard me... my last college essay.

So before I can give you the attention for a good update, I shall leave you with this wonderful photo, full of wonderful people, that gave me a wonderful college experience.

Graduating Senior Milledgeville Young Life Leaders

(Phil & Kim Heilig - Area Director, Shannon Tetley, Amanda Cobb, Me, Geoff Foster, James McConnell, Maggie Mayo, Ben Carroll, and Lauren Browne)