another wedding, another photoshoot

{from here}

yep, dancing at weddings is our favorite.

happiness list

1. dancing with my true love
2. tearing up from joy
3. snuggling under blankets when it rains
4. breakfast on our porch
5. strawberry swing
6. holding hands
7. giving gifts
8. puppy bellies
9. christmas movie marathons
10. knowing that no matter what, God is love and He is good

graduation is coming?

{from here}

graduation is coming.
i never understood why people celebrated on that day.
in fact, i would argue that people have parties
just to cover up the sadness.

one thing is for sure:
baylor bears are blessed beyond belief.
the other day someone told me that my life seemed like a fairy tale.
but the truth is, all of our lives are like fairy tales!
Jesus Christ died for us, forgave us of our sins, and wants to
dance with us in Heaven.
everything else in life is the lagniappe.

and a lucky few of us got to experience
a little bit of heaven on earth here at good ole BU.

study break no. 1

{freakin yum}

peanut butter & chocolate chip brownies.
i have a feeling a study break is in order sometime this week to make these heavenly treats.

i baked a lot this past year. last spring, the gentlemen of kappa sigma asked me to be their sweetheart. this sounds so lame, but it really was one of the best days of my life- and since then, one of the best years. every monday of this school year, i've been able to go to their meetings with tasty treats, funny stories, and silly awards to give out. i would spend hours preparing on sunday evenings, but not matter how much i gave- i always received so much more.

last wednesday i passed on the sweetheart torch. i met the guys on the suspension bridge, and we walked to the middle singing the sweetheart song to another girl. i found myself crying when i got there- sad it was over, that the year had gone by so fast. but once we were on the bridge and i saw her face, i was overcome with joy- remembering how humbled, honored, blessed, loved, overwhelmed, shocked i felt on that bridge one year ago. it was all in her face too.

the best part of the day was all the affirming words the guys gave me. i still can't help tearing up when i think about their kind words, smiles, hugs... ross sent me roses with a card that says, "you'll always be my sweetheart." this is truly so cheesy, but having the joy of being sweetheart taught me a lot about love.

every monday, when i walked into their room i was greeted with an uproar of cheers, yells, guys literally bouncing off the walls- the best feeling in the world. this is how we should always feel when we think about how God delights in us and loves us fully and unconditionally. i like to think that he is overjoyed by the sight of us and wants to encourage us with his cheers of love and encouragement. and, theres no time limit!

as much love and affirmation i experienced through those men this past year, nothing can fill or satisfy me in the the way that God's love can.

i'm looking forward to baking for ross, our new friends, & our future family throughout the rest of my life- but i know whenever i pull out the cookie sheet or brownie pan i'll remember what it was like to bake for those 75+ guys and feel God's love through them every week.

hell week

{from here}

last week was a big week.
one which i look forward to writing about
during an even bigger week:
my last week of class.

it also happens to be, what i like to call,
"hell week."
the library is my new best friend,
coffee runs through my veins,
and the light of day is a distant memory.

it's better this way, really.
the days of this week are relentless waves,
trying to pound me down.
but i'll come out alive.

friends, wedding plans, my bed, happy hour,
i'll see you next week :)

get your pageant on.

tonight was very silly.
i was in the baylor beauties pageant.
found some dresses in my closet. didn't have time to shower after aerobics, but smiller did my makeup.
but... i won!

ahahahaha


i'll miss you Baylor. thanks for always getting to me do things i would neeeeever do anywhere else.

4:01

my dad is the man.
after working for 2 weeks in Korea, he flew home then
hopped on a plane with my mom and brother to Boston.
in his early/mid fifties
he ran the Boston Marathon today,
and finished in 4:01!
amazing!

not to mention he is the most hard working, self-less, fun, caring person i know!
congrats dad! i'm so proud of you!

one sunday afternoon in april

these are some of my very best friends,
my community & my tribe.
they just gave me the most wonderful bridal shower
in the whole world!
complete with incredibly yummy cupcakes, baked bree,
mini quiches, and some surprisingly strong refreshments.
there were ridiculously silly games, door prizes,
and a simply good time for all.

thank you so much friends- i feel so loved!
you are soooo incredible!

lets get rich and build a house on a mountain

you know when you find a song that connects with your soul? the voices, the melody, and the lyrics all seem to understand you and wrap their arms around your heart in the most warm and comforting hug. i have not been able to stop listening to this song!

lets get crafty

{from here}

we just celebrated our last easter in the house of my childhood.
i think it will make the transition easier into my new home.
when do parents start going to your home for holidays?
that will be fun :)

to: my future husband

{via east side bride}

dear ross,
it's cool getting presents for our future home.
love you,
katie

thank you thank you!

these are a few of my favorite things :)

thank you so much to everyone for our beautiful bridal shower!
ross & i are so blessed to call you family!

shower time!

tomorrow my aunts are throwing ross & i
our first bridal shower:
we are so excited!
apparently you can get gifts just for being in love-
i guess this world isn't completely a mess.

p.s. we went house hunting again today... still loving the same one
...and still need a job.
but who can worry in the spring time?

spring time is playing in sunshine & hunting easter eggs.

senoritis

the other day, my friend john confessed:
"i've gotten to the point where i can't do my homework
...unless its due in 7 minutes."

ditto.

growing up can be cool, pt. 2

weddings are the new function.

ross & i went to a wedding on saturday.
we danced the night away, as usual.
a lot of really nice people complimented us on how fun
we are to watch dance
{it's all him- i'm terrible!}
but the best compliment was from a lesbian-
she came up to us and said:
"you know i don't like guys right? well, if i
was to go straight it would be for a guy that can dance like you."

yep, my fiance can turn gay women straight. haha :)

procrastinating, again.

one good thing about school work: it ispires me.

inspires me to do what? well, procrastinate obviously.

this morning, in the form of checking out fun blogs & finding things to make next week.

whats more important? finishing a paper

or finding the perfect butterless cake recipe and the perfect easter garland!

i mean, duh...

{from here}

{from here}

back to writing about fireproof. if you haven't seen it,

it's amazing cheesy but really touching. the acting makes you want to hate it,

but you can stop watching or hold back those darn tears.

happy friday!

it's going to be a great day!

3 a.m. + marley & me

it's three in the morning and i just finished watching marley & me.
i also just finished crying.
for the first time in a while, i'm wasn't crying for fear of graduation or the real world...
but because i get to build my own love story
{with puppies, dancing, laughing, crying, fighting,
houses, jobs, babies, living}
with the most wonderful man i know.
i love you, ross.

liminality

my roommate's teacher randomly sends out emails of interesting words. tonight the word was liminality, which wikipedia defines as:

is a psychological, neurological, or metaphysical subjective, conscious state of being on the "threshold" of or between two different existential planes. the liminal state is characterized by ambiguity, openness, and indeterminacy. one's sense of identity dissolves to some extent, bringing about disorientation. liminality is a period of transition where normal limits to thought, self-understanding, and behavior are relaxed - a situation which can lead to new perspectives.

yep, that sounds about right. im standing in the paradoxical threshold. it's horrifying & exhilirating at the same time. my foot is ready to move from one side but not too sure about what lies ahead.

i am sure about one thing though: diamondbacks has a new happy hour special and it is wonderful! we practically took up the whole balcony tonight with friends enjoying martinis & mojitos... and sliders which i of course love because they look like tiny burgers!

Jesus, antiques & wine

ross & i escaped on a pre-marital counseling retreat just outside of the freakishly adorable town of saledo, texas. the class we've been in for seven weeks concluded with a retreat of more than thirty couples. we felt so beyond blessed to be around so many people in our same phase in life and wise, godly counsel.

i have a secret for anyone who reads this and is not engaged: although proposals, wedding plans, and dreaming of your life with the man of your dreams are all incredibly exciting and fun- the truth is: being engaged is hard.

just like everything that God created to be good, Satan creeps in and tries to corrupt it. besides attacks from the enemy, it is naturally scary to be on the brink of the biggest decision of your life. two are preparing to become one, yet are still not one yet. it's a weird time. but this weekend i feel like i came out of the desert and jumped straight into the coolest & clearest of streams. i am at peace & my cup overflows.

during our free time on saturday afternoon, ross & i ventured into a cool antique shop to find a treasure for our future home. while i was paying for a rockin' milk glass fruit bowl, i noticed the lady checking me out had a dutch accent. when i told her i studied abroad in maastricht, she got goosebumps: that's where she was from. small world.

we told her we were in town for an engaged couples retreat and that we would be moving to college station. i made a comment like, "well, it's not nearly as beautiful as holland..." but she abruptly stopped me and said,

"no, you make every place beautiful.
you have to make your home beautiful."

it's funny the people you meet and the way God speaks through them & says exactly what you need to hear. she also told us about a wine tasting festival, which we of course thoroughly enjoyed.
it was a good weekend.