Steph & Kyle Tie the Knot

This weekend one of my very best friends married her college sweetheart!  Steph and I met during the first couple of weeks of school at a Tri Delt function.  We were in the few that were not drinking at a coke date with a fraternity and became fast friends.  She also met her future husband Kyle in those early weeks of school!  Steph and I lived together for 2 years until she moved to Little Rock to attend nursing school at UAMS. 

Stephanie is one of the most caring, geniune girls I've ever known and I am so blessed to have her as a friend.  She is the sweetest, most thoughtful person and always puts others above herself.  Kyle is a lucky guy to have her! 
We had so many great times together and I'm sure we will have even more now with our husbands added into the mix :)

Rehearsal was Friday night and rehearsal dinner was at the amazing Cajun's Wharf.  The food was so good and the company wasn't bad either ;)  I like to think I had the most handsome date there!

My hair looks a little rough, but we had been in the car driving all day!

The next day I headed to Little Rock early for a bridesmaids brunch at Mimi's while Jeremy heading to the golf course with my dad.  They always spend Saturday mornings golfing when we are in town and I wouldn't have it any other way!  I always dreamed of marrying someone who would love golfing with my Dad while mom and I shopped!  Ha!

After brunch, all of us girls headed to have our hair done and get ready for the big night.  Steph was amazingly calm.  I can only pray I'm that way on my big day! 

Isn't she gorgeous?

It was so fun to see so many friends from college that I don't get to spend time with anymore.

Overall I have to say this was one of the most fun bridal parties I've ever been a part of!  It was just so fun to get to hang out with everyone all weekend!

Steph's wedding was absolutely beautiful and there was so much love in the room to see two people so in love who have waiting so long (almost 5 years!!) to marry each other.  I always love going to weddings where God is given the glory and this was definitely true for Steph & Kyle. They had chosen a covenent marriage and I have no doubt that they will love each other for the rest of their lives.  What an amazing example of love they are!

Attending weddings of such close friends makes us so excited for our big day, which is still pretty far away.  Maybe I should start planning??

Guy Food

I LOVE to cook and what makes it even more fun is that Jeremy LOVES my cooking :)  I love trying new recipes on him, and in my quest I found the ultimate snack food.  Thanks, Pinterest. 

They are called "Firecrackers"

Let me tell you... these things are good and addicting.  And, not so healthy.  So don't make them if you're on a diet.  Oops I just made Jeremy some for his trip after he declared he was on a "diet".  Ha!

What you need:

1/2 Box White Chedder Cheez-its
1/2 Box Chedder Cheeze-its
1 sleeve club crackers broken in half.
1 pkg Spicy Ranch Seasoning
2-3 heaping tablespoons Crushed Red Pepper
1/2 cup Vegetable Oil


Put all crackers in a galloon zip lock bag.
Mix ranch seasoning and crushed red pepper with the vegetable oil. 
Pour over crackers, and mix (turning in your hands) for a good while.
Lay flat on a counter and let sit overnight turning over ever so often. 

Enjoy!

These get better the longer they sit, so after 2, 3 days they are even better than on day one!  I like the club crackers but Jeremy doesn't so if I'm making them for just him I leave out the club crackers and just add more cheeze-its.

Perfect tailgate snack for football season coming up :)

Let me know if you made them and what you think!!

Our Proposal Story

All photos courtesy of Natalie Jo Wilson

Where else to begin but with our proposal story? 

I had known that an engagement was coming, but did not know exactly when it would be.  I constantly told Jeremy that he would never be able to surprise me... I always know when things are coming!  Boy was I wrong! 

I should start when Jeremy asked my parents for their permission.  He had told me he was going to Ozark to help his mom build something for her house, I was supposed to be in a workshop that Saturday anyways so it would be perfect and he would be back in time for dinner that night.  Well... my workshop finished early and I was a little surprised that Jeremy didn't invite me to tag along with him, but I didn't really worry about it. 

I had talked to my parents that morning like I do every day and they told me they were just running erronds and going out to eat.  I didn't really think anything about it.  Those are their usual Saturday plans, except my dad also normally goes golfing sometime on Saturday.

Little did I know, they were driving to Russelville to meet Jeremy for lunch!  The funny thing is, I was talking to my mom as they were pulling in so they had to drive around until I got off the phone.  Then, I immediately called Jeremy so he had to stall a while before getting out of the truck!  Ha! 

I really cherish the bits and pieces of their conversation that day...  My parents adore Jeremy and hearing their side of the story is just really special to me.  Although, I'm sure it was a very sentimental day for them.

After Jeremy met my parents and got their permission, he did go to his mom's house to help her.  So... at least he wasn't lieing!  Haha! 

Back to THE DAY.

Jeremy and I went to church at Crosschurch like we do most Sundays.  After church, my friend Stephanie was coming in town for a day of shopping and Jeremy's friend Murph was going to meet us for lunch.  I called Steph and she was still an hour away so Jeremy suggested we go to campus to see my names on Senior Walk.  I hadn't seen them yet so I jumped at the opportunity. 

We arrive on campus but Jeremy parks down by Old Main.  I asked him why he was parking so far away and he said we were just going to enjoy the walk up there.  Well... of course I had to be difficult.  I then said I didn't want to enjoy the walk because it was hot, and I was wearing heels... blah blah.  Poor Jeremy.  I asked him to park closer to my name.  He refused, which then made me mad.   If you know our relationship, Jeremy is very easy going and typically does whatever I want.  I couldn't understand why he was being so stubborn and started to get a little mad.  So the entire walk up to Old Main I was complaining of the heat and the walk, and virtually anything else I could complain of.  Poor Jeremy!!  It's amazing he didn't change his mind right then!  We get to the top of the walk, and I just keep walking towards Ozark hall so we can go see my name.   Jeremy pulled me back and when I turned around I realized he had a ring box in his hand and he got down on one knee. 

I was in such shock that I didn't even hear anything he said to me.  The world started spinning.  Somewhere I said yes and got to put the most gorgeous ring I've ever seen on my finger! 

We stood there for a minute, then turned around and Natalie, a photographer and dear friend of Jeremy's popped out from behind a tree.  She had taken pictures of the entire thing!   Jeremy knew I would want to have pictures of everything.  

As she was getting everything set up for more pictures, Jeremy and I stepped aside and that's when the tears came... I couldn't believe we were finally engaged and most of all that Jeremy had somehow managed to surprise me!  I was in such shock! 

After we had pictures made, I called my parents who of course knew already... and my sisters who were thrilled to get to plan another wedding :) 

Then we headed to lunch where Jeremy had arranged for our friends to be to celebrate with us!  I won't lie though, I don't remember much of that lunch because I was in such shock and just so excited and overwhelmed.

When I think about our proposal story I am just amazed at the guy God has chosen for me.  Everything was perfect and so "us".  I never, in a million, years dreamed of marrying a guy like Jeremy who has never stopped purusing me since our first date.  He was worth waiting for!