Thanksgiving Recap

Hello, hello! I know it has been a week since Thanksgiving, but I thought it would still be fun to recap my holiday. I'm warning you now, it is LONG! So I completely understand if you don't read it :) This is really for me to look back on someday and cherish the memories.


Day 1 (Wednesday, Nov. 25th)

This was my day from hell! Sorry for the harsh words, but you'll understand in a moment. So, I was all ready to drive to the airport (running slightly late) and I took my bags out to the car. I put the keys in and nothing happened...just silence! Freak out # 1. I finally called campus security and they were able to jump start me. After a 3.5 hour drive to the airport, I learned that flying on one of the busiest days of the year = no parking...anywhere! Freak out # 2. After driving across the airport in tears and shaking because I was so afraid of missing my flight, I finally settled on terminal parking for $17 per day. Let's just say I was NOT a happy camper. I got on my second flight in Salt Lake City and we sat on the tarmack for 45 minutes. I wasn't too concerned, just slightly irritated...little did I know what was coming! We finally got up into the air and I thought I would just arrive a little late in Spokane. However, the flight lasted WAY longer than normal. Suddenly, the pilot comes on and tells us that there is too much fog in Spokane and we would be circling the airport for another hour. Freak out # 3. An hour passes and the pilot informs us that we cannot land in Spokane and he would take us to an airport in Idaho. Freak out # 4, 5, and 6. I was literally sobbing on the plane. All I wanted to do was get home and see my love! I was surrounded by a bunch of women who were leaning on their husbands for support, and I had no one :( I thought I would soothe myself with my iPod, but in true bad day fashion, ALL of my music had been deleted. I'm STILL wondering how that happened! Anyway, we landed in Idaho at 1am and the pilot told us there were no hotel rooms available, only three rental cars, and the next flight out would leave on Thanksgiving day. Freak out # 7. To sum this all up, I sprinted for the rental car counter, we got a group of people together to split the cost, and I ended up driving another 2 hours to get home. But as soon as I saw Bryant and he hugged me tight, everything was ok...even if it was 3:30 in the morning :)


Day 2 (Thursday, Nov. 26th)

I was woken up bright and early by my sweet niece and nephews who had spent the night. I cannot even describe the joy that goes through me when they see me after a long time and they cry out "Auntie!!!" Pure bliss :) Bryant and I went to look at our wedding venue again, and then we returned home for a full day of family, food, and movies. It was a wonderful Thanksgiving!


Day 3 (Friday, Nov. 27th)

Lots of wedding stuff happened on Friday. Bryant and I looked at wedding bands, we ordered our wedding cake, we met with our DJ, and then we topped the day off with a night on the town with my siblings. We went to see New Moon and I loved it...the eye candy didn't hurt either :) Then all six of us went out to dinner and got to spend some special time together without the kiddos.

On our way to see New Moon

Dinner with siblings

Day 4 (Saturday, Nov. 28th)
I woke up early (that seemed to be an unpleasant theme while I was home) and I got to go in for my very first wedding dress fitting!!! Oh my gosh, that moment was magical. I put on the dress and it fit perfectly; no alterations necessary! I slipped it on and I was ready to walk down the aisle right then and there! And then I got to buy all sorts of fun jewelry and accessories :) I told Bryant that if I wore my wedding dress everyday, I would always be in a good mood :)

After that I went to a bridal shower hosted my my sisters. It was such a fun afternoon! The food was amazing and the company was fantastic. After all the ladies had gone home, my whole family gathered together at my sister's house for the Apple Cup (a VERY important football game). My Cougs lost terribly, but it was still fun. And we got to share a sample of our wedding cake with the whole family...the approval rating was excellent!

Apple Cup :)

Getting in some cake cutting practice

Day 5 (Sunday, Nov. 29th)
I flew back to Louisiana :(

All in all, it was a WONDERFUL trip home and I am already aching to go back. Every time I am with my family, I am reminded of how richly blessed I am.

My favorite picture from the weekend :)

It Has Been So Long!

I have neglected my lovely blog for the past few weeks, but I'm back now! What has happened since I last checked in? Well...

• Bryant came to visit a few weekends ago and we had a wonderful time! He was only in Shreveport for literally less than 48 hours, but we made the most of it! We cuddled, we went to church together, I showed him around campus, and we even went to the state fair of Louisiana!



• I solidified the DJ, the photographer, my make up artist, and my hair stylist for the wedding...check, check, check! I love getting things done! Oh, and I picked out the vest and tie colors for the guys' tuxes...gotta love pink! :) And the greatest accomplishment of all? The wedding invitations have been sent out!!! A HUGE thank you to my mom, dad, sisters, and brothers for turning it into a family affair...it wouldn't have happened without you! Maybe I will try and scan a copy of the invite on here so you all can see it too.


• I have been working out and actually really enjoying it. Let me say that again...I have been working out and liking it!!! This is big people! I have gone to the gym more times in the past few weeks than I did my entire junior and senior year of college COMBINED!


• My Beth Moore study on the Psalms of Ascent is still going on and I love it even more than I did the very first day! This study has really shown me some of the amazing connections between the Old and New Testament.


• I have spent the past seven days doing some serious apartment hunting. Four out of five days this week I have used my lunch break to go look at prospective first homes for me and Bryant. I'm pretty much an apartment expert now :) Anyway, I am filling out my application this weekend and I hope everything works out. I cannot wait to live in a place that has normal walls and carpet and natural light! Living in a cement cube gets old after a while...


• I recently told Bryant that I have never felt as emotionally unstable in my life as I do now! Thank you Bryant for putting up with me because I am up and down and up and down! I have decided that being far away from home + planning a wedding + dealing with job changes + looking for an apartment = Kelsey gone crazy! Some days I just break down in tears and other days I am chipper as can be. I'm sure Bryant probably feels like he's gambling every time he talks to me..."what mood will she be in today?" I hope to regain my sanity soon :)

That is my life in a nutshell. I'm headed into another busy weekend full of wedding preparations and shopping! And on Wednesday I fly home to Washington for Thanksgiving...what a happy moment that will be when I arrive in Spokane for the very first time since driving away in August!

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On a much more somber note, I found out today that a friend from college took his own life. I was completely shocked and unbelievably sad when I heard the news. This was truly an absolute surprise. No one, and I mean no one, would have ever predicted this. Luke was talented, intelligent, funny, and so very kind. It will take a long time for the reality that he is gone to soak in. I know most of you don't know him, but could you keep his family in your prayers?

Luke, you left a mark on every person that you interacted with. I don't know what led you into that dark moment, but I do know that you are now in the arms of a God that loves you.

This was taken a year ago...Luke is the one in the grey. This picture brings back such fun memories.

Off to the Airport

I am leaving for Dallas in five minutes to go pick up my man! Bryant is coming to visit me for the weekend and I am SOOOOOOOOO excited! Just thought I would share :)

Happy Weekend!

Halloween Fun

This Halloween was a bit different than most. Every year I go over to my sister's house and we have a spectacular party with our entire family. Obviously, I didn't quite make it to the party this year :( And while I kind of got to be present since Bryant was there, calling me and texting me pictures, Halloween just wasn't the same.

However, that didn't stop me from having fun...

As you can see, I didn't let a little homesickness get me down. Sarah invited me to a Halloween lunch hosted by her boyfriend's mother and we decided to get dressed up for the festivities! I didn't have a costume until literally 15 minutes before the lunch. Luckily, Sarah let me borrow her Girl Scout outfit and we went as GS twins! I think the beret and bow tie (those were Sarah's mom's back in the day) totally make me look like a Russian Girl Scout :) I don't know if they even have Girl Scouts in Russia, but if they did, I think they would let me join :)

We also had a blast making Halloween gingerbread houses...I think I ate more candy than I put on my house :) Here is the finished product:

I got to meet some lovely ladies at the lunch too! All of them were so sweet and I enjoyed getting to know more people here in Shreveport.

And when it came time for the actual lunch, our hostess went all out! Can you believe she carved out little pumpkins to use as soup bowls?! It was just amazing and so festive!

Did I mention that I really liked wearing a beret? I just might have to get one for myself :)

I can't believe it is already November! Only three weeks until Thanksgiving!!!

It's a Good Night

I am sitting in my hotel room in Dallas (I'm here for a conference) and I am thoroughly enjoying my night. I am in my sweatpants listening to Frank Sinatra and I just returned from the lobby with a delicious cup of hazelnut coffee...yum :) So here I sit with my coffee, soaking up the relaxing night I have been given. Sometimes it is so nice to get away for a while, even if it is for work. My other companion is my wedding binder. Yep, it goes everywhere with me! I am about to hop onto my comfy bed and make some progress on wedding plans. I hope ya'll are having a wonderful night too :)

Engagement Photos

I just realized that I never really posted any engagement pictures on here. So, I picked a very small selection of my favorites to display. I know that many of you have already seen them on facebook, but for those of you who haven't...enjoy! :)

Taken by my talented sister-in-law Andi

I Caved...

I was a bad girl today. I was innocently getting ready for the day while listening to music, when all of the sudden I found myself on my iTunes going to the "forbidden" songs. Well, they are forbidden 11 months out of the year...I think you know where this is going. That's right, I broke down and could not resist the temptation to listen to Christmas music! But I am happy to report that I was able to stop after just two songs! Boy did I make the best of those two songs...I picked two of my absolute favorites: Breath of Heaven by Amy Grant and Labor of Love by Andrew Peterson and Jill Phillips. Let me just say that I CANNOT WAIT FOR CHRISTMAS!!! It is, hands down, my most favorite holiday! We are exactly two months away from Christmas Eve...let the countdown begin! Oh, and did I mention that I am getting married three days after that?! :)

P.S. I went to the community center this week and took an art class with my friend Sarah. It was such a blast! Here are our beautiful creations :)