It's a "What To Do" Wednesday

What to do? What to do? I love having the summer off from work, but I find myself wondering how to occupy my time. Well, actually, I spend time thinking of all the things of actual importance that I should or could be doing.

I have been pretty productive thus far; with a friend I walked 4 miles through Lynches Woods here in Newberry. If you have never been to it, it is pretty cool. There is a gravel road that goes all the way through it as well as several bike, horse, and hiking trails. Throughout the year different events are hosted there. When I was in high school, we thought it was fun to ride through there late at night when it was pitch black dark--if you have ever done it, you know the thrill.

When we were getting ready for the bridge run (see the picture from the last post), Kyle and I ran through there a few times and let me tell you--it is tough because you are running on dirt and gravel and it can get hilly at times. The walk was challenging to though and perhaps it did my body good.

Now, what else to do?

I find the fact that I have not posted on here since February to be absolutely hilarious :)

So, today was a BIG day! We went to pick up my wedding dress from the bridal shop! I am so very excited...the fact that Kyle and I will be married in less than five months is slowly starting to sink in and I must say that the more it becomes real, the more excited I become.

The other day it hit me--how blessed are we as mere mortals to have marriage? I think that it has to be one of God's greatest gifts that He designs for us a mate that we may meet, fall in love with, and grow old together and prayerfully glorify Him in the process. I am so thankful for this stage of my life and for Kyle.



This picture is of Kyle and me after completing the Cooper River Bridge Run in Charleston this past March. This was a huge accomplishment for me especially!

Ask anyone close to me and they can tell you that I have planned my wedding out in my head for years. I mean I have planning weddings in thought down to a science. However, doing it in real life is much different!

Our wedding is 9 1/2 months away, but I would like to go ahead and decide on colors so that we can make other decisions. Well, one thing I have learned in the 4 months I have been engaged is that MOBs pick really random things to be concerned over. For example, my mom is pretty
set on certain colors that will not be part of the color palette. Today she and Mee Maw went to Columbia to look at dresses again and of course they select more that they like, but I don't. My mother even purchased a swatch. It's a color that will not be used (Bridesmaids, It would have washed some of you out--No thanks needed). My prayers lately have been for patience as well as a new, compassionate attitude towards the ones I love. The Lord worked through our conversation for a while as I calmly thanked them for their efforts while also politely saying I prefer other style dresses. But, then, it just got too much and I finally announced that I was pulling the "It's my wedding" card. The question is though whether or not my card trumps her "I'm paying for it" card???

I told you so

I am a "terrible blogger" and I know it. I will try to catch my readers up to speed though...

(Even though the only person I know who checks it is KGregMass because she told me I was a terrible blogger)

Work--Coming up is a 5-day work week (after two 4-day ones) and the long haul to Spring Break...5 weeks and counting! The NMS Beta Club is working to get our school to raise money for Haiti and I am determined that my students will do their part. Last Friday, I came up with two ways for students to donate: Buy a "Haiti Answer"for the test for $1 each and Miss Long will provide you with the correct answer on the test (limit 2) and candy for $ 0.25 a piece. Not surprisingly, they bought so much more candy than answers! We did raise $39.53 though!!!

Wedding Celebrations--My best friend from Newberry, Elizabeth, is getting married in June and this weekend was her first prenuptial event, a cocktail party in Greenville. We had a great time and enjoyed seeing her family and meeting the groom's.

Snow/V-day/Sickness--All happened in the same weekend! That's right, due to the wonderful stomach virus going around like crazy (I already had it a month ago and Kyle three weeks ago), I did not get out in the snow except to snap a few pictures. Kyle and I also did not get to enjoy a Valentine's date, but that was OK. He gave me a rain check. I did, thanks to two separate doses of Fenergan) caught lots of Zs that weekend. We did celebrate just before church on Sunday though and exchanged gifts.Here is my little cabin in the woods under snowfall!

Kyle and I exchanged cards. Mine from him was in Spanish. He also gave me flowers, DARK chocolate, and a huge sugar cookie from a great bakery in Augusta. Note that I was 1/2 way through the cookie before I thought to take picture for this here blog. Kyle received fun clothes!
My groom-to-be decided to help wash dishes for V-day as well. I think his/my dishwashing outfit was the gift portion because he is always helpful. Below is what I got when he tried to prevent the photo session...

My wedding--We have done some planning, but mainly just getting the basic stuff down. When more exciting stuff gets done, I will blog about it!

This is all until next time!

Happy Birthday, Mee Maw!

This afternoon I spent time with my Mee Maw because 1. I love her and 2. Tomorrow is her birthday. She doesn't need a single thing, so I took her a bouquet of pink and orange tulips, which turned out to be very beautiful if I do say so myself. I was going to be a good blogger and take a picture of them before delivery to load on here, but my camera battery is dead thus making that impossible for the time being.

While visiting with Mee Maw, we talked about so many different things, but ended up settling on stories of how she and my Paw Paw (he passed away in 1995) got started. Most of the information I have heard before, but I still always enjoy hearing them again. She and my Paw Paw got married in 1952 with her being a year older than him. She had dated another guy for a long time while in high school, but once she met John Willingham, the other became history. Mee Maw said that her mother once commented that Paw Paw's car could probably drive itself to their house since it made the trip so often! They married in March and three months to the day after they got married he was drafted (this was during the Korean Conflict). My Paw Paw was a pretty smart guy who knew how to get himself out of things he didn't want to do. For example...He told superiors that he was allergic to the soap used to wash dishes so he didn't have to...Volunteered to wash cars for superiors to get on their good side (for when he would sneak out to see his bride)...Joined up with the Air Force to avoid going overseas (because he knew the training time for that was longer than the time he had left in service). :) What a character!

After Paw Paw got out of service, he went back to working in sewing rooms and my Mee Maw bank to working in banks. They moved around several times--always because my grandfather found a better working opportunity. He started driving chicken trucks for another man in town until he came to the realization that if the other man could make money doing it then so could he. So, "they went in debt for a truck," Mee Maw said. She had to "practically teach him how to write a check" to pay for the chickens and then he would drive the chicks to their final destination that they would lose all of their feathers en route. This was so he could get back home to deposit the new check so that the other would not bounce!

Mee Maw always mixes her stories with advice whether she intends to or not and I love her for it. She is an amazing woman who handles every situaion with a dignity and grace that is masked with humility--a lesson to us all. I am very thankful to have her in my life and feel blessed that my family has such a wonderful matriarch!

What's in a name?

So, here it is...my blog. Seemingly it is the "blog" thing to do to open with a post that attempts to explain the purpose of the blog, the name, and up-front apologies for spaced out posting. I am no different than anyone else, which really is why I am creating a blog in the first place...I can't stand to miss out on all of the fun. Ever.

Brackish water (n.)--water that is slightly salty, but not as salty as ocean water; a result of mixing ocean water with fresh water

Having been bore and bred in the midlands of South Carolina, most of my days have been spent around fresh water (of course several trips to the beach occur annually) specifically that of the lake and swimming pool (chlorine does not count). However, I am blessed to be marrying someone who has salt water in his veins. He was raised 50 yards from a creek that rises and falls with tide everyday. He can't help his obsession and honestly I can't blame him for the beauty of the marsh and water is breathtaking at times. We are both competitive people and have often argued over which is better--ridiculous--we are aware. But, it's us and that's what makes it cool.

Brackish water--when two come together.