Sneak Peak

Yesterday Jordan and I had our engagement photo shoot with our photographers, Jess and Casper Hamlet. We sacrificed our comfort and spent a few hours in the cold winter weather to get some quality outdoor shots. The whole shoot was so much fun, and I feel confident that every picture will be magic.

We are so thankful to have people we already know and trust as our photographers. Jess and Casper have great taste, the style we have been looking for, and they are wonderful people to work with.

The editing will take less than a month, but Jess sent us a preview of the shoot today.





I am just dying to see the rest!

Fireflies

So instead of studying for finals last night, I stayed up until 4:00am with my friend Kate making the wedding website. I just couldn't stop.

Check it out here.

Included in the website is a wedding blog that I will be updating during the planning process, so be sure to check that out once in a while if you're interested in weddings and everything that goes with them.

Leave a comment and let me know what you think!

Now it's back to finals. After today I will be a free woman, and I will be devoting all of my time to wedding planning and Ireland preparation.

The Story.


Classes were done for the fall semester, and the weekend had arrived. Jordan and I decided to grab some dinner at Wendy’s and run a few errands around town. I was browsing through the dishes at Mission Mart when Jordan unexpectedly received a phone call from his Dad, asking us to come by the house to pick up Jordan’s passport he had left there. We arrived at the house, and I immediately saw the tea light candles layered all around the back porch room. We walked in and I almost lost my breath. Jordan held my hands, spoke words of love and commitment, and then got down on one knee with a ring in his hand.

He asked me to marry him, and I said yes.

There was a bowl of warm water and a towel next to the chair in the room. Jordan sat me down, and began to wash my feet.

I cried.

I thought this was the end, but he took me downstairs for something more. I turned the corner and saw my Dad holding his video camera, along with my Mom, sister, and Jordan’s family who were all waiting there in suspense. I was in shock and completely overjoyed.

Jordan had invited all of our closest friends over for food, coffee, cake, and celebration. We took photos and spent the rest of the night talking about all of the work and planning that had gone into this single event.

(Jordan designed my engagement ring from start to finish. It was created as a one of a kind princess diamond ring, and I am the only girl who will ever wear it.)

Every single moment was beautiful. The Lord was pouring out his blessings, and I have never been more thankful. I am a soon-to-be Shepherd woman.


























"If I then, the Lord and the Teacher, washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. For I gave you an example that you also should do as I did to you.Truly, truly, I say to you, a slave is not greater than his master, nor is one who is sent greater than the one who sent him. If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them."

- John 13:14-17

So darn cute!

You would never think that a photograph of little girls reading books would be so incredibly charming, right?

Well, an inspired and talented Father with the most adorable children I have ever seen can turn the simplest activities into something that will keep you smiling all day long.







"Most of the ideas come from the girls, from observing them play, or hearing the funny and outrageous things they say. Their day to day life also plays a big role for my inspiration" - Jason Lee

If you want to see more, check out his photography HERE. Or visit his blog.

Spirit of Snow

I have gathered a few of my favorite finds for this Christmas season. I know this year is going to be extra festive, and I am going to soak it up as much as I possibly can.

I can't wait to start baking Christmas cookies, decorating the tree, and search the shops for the perfect gifts!




1. Fudge the numbers with this chart made of 70% dark, 20% milk and 10% white chocolate.Chocolate Editions
2. Cable and Cotton decorative lights
3. Adorable Tree-to-be kit
4. Flannel sleep set from J Crew
5. Barky Turntable from Anthropologie
6. Mercury acorn ornaments by West Elm
7. Edible Glitter! at Wilton.


Enjoy the beautiful white weather!

This is where I'll be living in two months.

Ireland Ireland Ireland

Jordan and I are leaving the States on January 28th to study abroad for our spring semester. It still doesn't feel real yet, probably because we are too busy to even think about anything other than schoolwork right now. But the thought of living in Ireland just seems like a wonderful dream come true.


All the students in the program (a total of about 20 so far) stay in a conference center located in Greystones, County Wicklow, which is a seaside community 20 miles from Dublin. The best part is, we each get a DART train ticket for unlimited trips into Dublin!

The classes we're taking are: Irish History, Irish Literature, Contemporary Ireland, Celtic Christianity, Living Cross-Culturally, Hiking, and Irish Dancing & Drum!

The program emphasizes non-classroom learning, which means part of our coursework is traveling the entire country while attending the concert hall, the theater, a rugby match, and a hurling match. We will also be there to experience the Irish festivals and the extravagance of St. Patrick's Day.

I am so blessed to have this once in a lifetime opportunity. I can't wait to be in one of the most beautiful places in the world with the love of my life.