Our Favorite Memories

Today, I realized that we started this blog in an attempt to immortalize our favorite memories. Unfortuanetly, a lot of things happened in our relationship before starting this blog. So, here is an attempt to recap some of our favorite memories from our relationship thus far.
In October 2007, Lee and I reconnected for the first time since high school at our alum, Union High School, Homecoming Football game. Luckily for us, the County Fair was also in town! Lee asked me to ride the Ferris Wheel with him that night, along with our friends Jenny and Dee! I agreed and the rest, as they say, is history! Less than one month later, after a great deal of talking via phone calls and texts, Lee finally asked me to go on a date with him (after asking my daddy's permission, of course). It was a surprise date because I did not know where we were going! After stopping for a quick breakfast at Cracker Barrel, we made the drive to Ashville, NC to the Biltmore House, which was decorated for Christmas at the time! Lee knew how much I LOVE CHRISTMAS, and he assumed that I would really enjoy seeing such a beautiful home decked out for my favorite of all holidays!The Biltmore House is such a magical place, especially at Christmas time, and it was the perfect destination for a first date. After our tour, we ate a quick bite to eat at Arby's before heading home. Well, we attempted to head home. However, Lee went the wrong way on I-26, and before we knew it, we were crossing the state line into TENNESSEE! The look on Lee's face was priceless. All in all, our first date lasted for nearly 13 HOURS! But, it was a great start to such a wonderful relationship, and it is such a wonderful memory!

Another set of favorite memories come from all of our Christmases together. As I mentioned earlier, Christmas is my favorite time of year by far, and being together makes it especially meaningful! Here are some pictures that were taken at Christmas over the years!

I seem to have misplaced some pictures at the moment, so more to come later!

By far, the favorite memory that I have of Lee and I is the day that he proposed! On July 2, 2009, Lee planned a day trip to Charleston, SC - one of my favorite cities in the whole world (well, atleast in the South!) He told me a few days before the trip that he would love for us to go on a picnic in the Battery! I was thrilled about the picnic, but was especially excited about going to the SC Aquarium afterward to see the new Penguin Exhibit. (I just love Penguins) Little did I know that Lee was planning to propose. He drove down to Charleston that morning and was cool as a cucumber. Isn't he handsome? He sure had me fooled. We arrived at the Battery, and boy oh boy was it hot! I believe it was 99 degrees that day. We walked to one of the gorgeous trees in the park and set up for our picnic lunch.

A precious little squirrel started coming toward us, and me being the goof that I am, decided to name him Edwin and tried to coax him toward us with a cracker. Little did I know that Lee was working up the nerve to propose. He finally got my attention by throwing a cracker (frisbee-style) across the Battery, and of course, my buddy Edwin followed. Lee then said some of the sweetest things I have ever heard (but unfortunately, don't remember due to a rush of emotion) and asked me to marry him! After hugging him for nearly five minutes, I finally said YES! It was the happiest I had ever been.

And here are some of my favorite pictures of us. We feel so blessed to have found each other, and we just fall more in love everyday!

After my graduation from Columbia College

May 2010

Easter 2009

These are just a few of our great memories, and we look forward to making many more in the future!

-Gina

Wedding Planning

Well, as of 2 days ago our wedding is only 15 months away (which at first sounds like a very long time). However, when I start thinking of everything that we have to do before we make that big trip down the aisle, I realize how quickly those 15 months will go by!
Also, in only 2 months, we will have been engaged for a whole year. It seems like only yesterday that Lee proposed at the Battery in Charleston.
Anyway, I have been doing some preliminary wedding planning recently. One of my goals is to do a lot of things for the wedding myself. I am fortunate to have a very crafty mother, and together we have come up with a lot of really cute ideas.
However, my mother is a lot more practical than I am. For instance, one of my favorite ideas that I have come up with is to make caramel apples for our wedding favors.

I saw this picture online, and thought these apples look so simple and delish! I also thought they would be precious arranged on a table, tied with a ribbon with a simple "Thank You for Coming" note. However, my practical mom is not so sure about making a batch of 300 caramel apples the day before my wedding. I am still trying to convince her. I guess you will all know who won the debate at our wedding reception!

Also, I am very thrilled that in around six months, two of my very best friends will be getting married!
Alexandra Bowen - my roommated at C2 - is marrying Trip Chalk on December 4 in Lexington! I am honored to be a bridesmaid! Super excited for their fabulous wedding. Alex and I spent a great deal of time planning our dream weddings and transforming our dorm room into a wedding workshop. Our other roomie, Melissa, absolutely LOVED all of the wedding planning! (haha) One of the traditions at Columbia College is for all engaged girls to get thrown into the fountain by their best friends. Poor Melissa (5'2 on a good day) was not able to throw in her two extremely tall best friends, so instead she forcefully suggested that we place ourselves in the fountain. Here is a precious picture of Alex and I in the fountain at good ol' CC!

My best friend since 5K, Jenny Nichols, is also getting married this December. On New Years Eve, she will marry her Junior High Sweetheart, Dee Williams. I am happy to say that I will be the Maid of Honor at this joyful event! I have known Dee since he began dating Jenny back in 2002-ish! So everyone is very ready for their wedding! Jenny just had her very first bridal shower - a Kitchen Gadgets shower! It was so much fun! The shower was at the Inn at Meridan in Union, a historic home that has been transformed into a Bed and Breakfast. It is such a lovely place! Here is a great picture of the bride to be opening one of her many gifts!

With all the weddings in the near future, it is easy to see that wedding planning is dominating my mind! My sweet fiance has been such a trooper! I am so lucky to be marrying such a wonderful man!

That's all for now! Have a good week, y'all!
-Gina