Ozark Shower

This past weekend I had a shower in Ozark. Ozark is special because that's where I grew up. We moved there when I was 4 and left when I was 15. My family made lifelong friends while we were there and they are the ones who went together to give me a wonderful shower.

The Hostesses

Pinning of the corsage

Corsage

Food Table with DELICIOUS cakes (PLURAL) and cupcakes! They know me well!

I got to take these beautiful flowers home!

My roommate had a canvas painted and I get to keep it! I'll probably display it at the wedding too!

I did the opening, Holly did the writing.

My Mom, Me, My Sister

I had a wonderful shower! Thanks again for all who helped give it and all who came to celebrate with me!

Siesta Summer Bible Study

Last night Shannon hosted our first Siesta Summer Bible Study. This is a study Beth Moore and her blog world are participating in this summer. I'm really excited about it. First thing we did was eat dinner (very yummy!), then watched a video Beth posted on her blog...

Elizabeth and Shannon

...and then we got down to business. Our first meeting was just the introduction so there was lots of extra time to chit chat about "other" things.

Shannon, Me (yes I did wear this outfit on Saturday), Katie

I can't wait to get started in my book today! The Bible study is set up so we meet every other Tuesday. That means we have to have two weeks of lessons done when we meet again! Yikes! I better get busy. I think this is just what I need at this time in my life.

Zach Attack

Look who came to see me yesterday!

Lots of Grass and a Shower

This weekend Josh came up to Fayetteville early to help me with my yard. It has been growing a lot lately but since my mower is broken I have been unable to do anything about it. Josh brought one up and took care of it for me. He's my hero!

Then on Saturday Josh and I had our first wedding shower. It was a family shower so guys and girls were invited. We had a great time and got lots of great gifts.

This is my grandmother and her two sisters.

My grandmother got me the cupcake pan from William Sonoma. I was so excited!

We got 8 sets (of one) of our everyday dinnerware. Josh and I are both excited about these. We got 2 yellow, 2 green, and 4 red.

I think everyone should know that even though the shower was for Josh and I we were not the star of the show. That award goes to my cousin Grace.

Here she is playing with some of my presents. Isn't she cute?

I'm sorry I don't have more pictures of my family to show you. My dad was in charge of the picture taking and let's just say he has other things he's good at! :)

Also, earlier in the week my mom sent me these:

Aren't the pretty? I have the best mom in the world!!

Alvin and Some Wedding Planning

I went to Little Rock again this past weekend. Josh was a groomsman in a wedding. He was so gracious to let me skip out on the rehearsal dinner so my mom and I could do some wedding errands. We went to Hobby Lobby and got things for my wedding/guest book (half off...I love that place). Then we went to the mall for a few things. After that we came home and spent a good majority of our time watching Alvin...or Simon...we're not sure which one.

Here's the little chipmunk in the food my mom left outside.




Here he is stuffing his cheeks.

And here he is ready to devour the pile mom set out for him. He should be set for winter!

After we watched Alvin for a while we looked through old pictures. We're trying to get some together for the slide show that will run at our wedding. We aren't going to have one set to music or anything. We're just going to loop one for a little while on one of the receptions walls. If people want to look at it they can and if not they don't have to.

I love this picture!

Saturday we got up and around so we could go do a few things before Josh had to be at the church for pictures. Our goal was to get the suits ordered for the groomsman. I'm really excited about the ones we picked because they were buy one get one FREE!!

After that we dropped Josh off and went to eat and do some more things before I had to get ready for the wedding.

Mom and Dad at Buffalo Grill

The rest of the day mom and dad drove all over Arkansas (well just Searcy and North Little Rock but my sister went to Ft. Smith) to round up enough ties for all the men in the wedding. I found the one I wanted and so we had to get them fast! Josh and I missed out on all that because were at his best friend's wedding.

Isn't he handsome?

Then on Sunday mom and I headed to Paris, AR to meet with Scott, our florist. He is great! We talked with him for 3 HOURS but we got it all settled. It's going to really pretty and I can't WAIT!!!!!!!!

And I'm sure I will have more to report on the wedding front soon. My mom is coming up to Fayetteville today and we're going to spend today and all day tomorrow working on some things! Only 101 days left!

House Update

Well, there really isn't much of an update. It has been on the market for 2 weeks now. Fortunately it has had some activity. If I had to guess I would probably say 7 or so showings. Unfortunately there have been no offers. Now, don't get me wrong, I understand the housing market is tough and two weeks is a short amount of time in a good market. I guess I'm just hoping and praying the LORD will sell it soon. My problem is that I'm starting to look to the future and WORRY. Of course that's a sin so it must be stopped. I'm just a planner and a controller and clearly this is out of my control. Please continue to pray for the perfect timing. I know it only takes one person and I'm praying that one person comes soon. If you would like to take a virtual tour of my house go here.

Update: One of my friends at work and I have been e-mailing this morning about a situation going on with her. She told me about a conversation she had with another friend. Without her realizing it God used that to encourage me and to put me in my place. She was talking about in Psalms how David wouldn't put his hope in a situation or a preferred outcome but put his HOPE IN THE LORD. I've been so consumed with hoping my house sells soon, hoping my house sells for the right price, hoping I get a job, hoping we find a place to live, hoping this and hoping that when really I just need to HOPE IN THE LORD. It really is that simple. I can't control any of it anyway but I most certainly can control WHO I trust. Today I choose to trust and hope in the LORD.

Friends, Food, and Frogs

This past weekend my roommate Holly went with me to Little Rock. She had a job fair to attend (if any of you know of elementary school job openings in the area let me know) so we decided to make a weekend out of it. Friday night was pretty boring. Nothing real exciting to speak of. Saturday Holly went to her job fair and Josh and I went to a wedding. When we got back we had planned to grill out with my parents and invite Josh's friend Justin to join us. Here are some pictures of the meal preparations. I didn't bother changing the settings on my camera so the lighting isn't great.

Mom, Josh, and Holly did the cooking



Dad was in charge of the music.





And I took the pictures...like of this piece of okra.

After dinner the 4 of us went driving around then came back to my parents house for dessert. It was at this time Josh and Justin wanted to annoy the frogs in the back pond.

They used this gigantic weather flashlight my mom bought for storms. It's quite funny!

They caught one.



It was pretty big but not as big as some of them.

I like his curly-q.

We finished the night just hanging out! It was a great weekend!