Engagement Pictures

This past Monday we met up with our photographer for our engagement pictures in Washington. I was totally freaked because there was like a 70% chance of rain (well, every day in ENC has a chance of rain) but it looked like we had a 2 hour window from 2 to 4 that we could get our pictures done because we had to get them done that day since I can't take time off work.

We had a blast walking around Washington and taking pictures. There are some funny ones, some serious ones, some mysterious, and some really sweet ones. We are both super excited to see how they turn out and I'll be sure to post some of my favorites :)

2 hours and 104 items later...

I didn't think I'd ever actually say this but I'm done with snow for this year. Two weeks ago was enough with tons of ice on top of snow and ruining an entire weekend into the next week. So Friday I was less than pleased at the thought of being housebound again.

Saturday morning I woke up to a beautiful winter wonderland but thankfully no ice! Around here everybody gasps at that four letter word: S-N-O-W. The shelves are cleared of milk, eggs, bread, beer... anything you might need in case we can't get out of the house for the next 2 days. Knowing this, we figured it'd be a great time to go out shopping and get some things done that we needed to get done. Engagement pictures are Monday and we knew the jewelry store had to be open the day before Valentine's so we went and got my ring cleaned. Then headed to Belk to look at china patterns. And then JCP to look at flower girl dresses. And then Blake had a wild idea... how about we go ahead and register at Bed Bath & Beyond.

Let's just say the people looked at us like we were fools for registering 9 months ahead of the game. Really? Is that too soon? Everybody has been bugging me for awhile now. So any who we signed all the paperwork, they took us on a tour of the store, loaded us down with a scanner, and we went to work. They give you a checklist of what you "need" so that was helpful to us because we are idiots and had no clue what to put on there.

We made decisions on soft towels vs. towels that actually dry you, the colors of our bedroom, bathroom, etc., what glasses we want to drink out of forever, etc. You know, the important stuff. We stuck with their checklist for the most part but I mean, really? Who needs a pedicure spa on their registry? Or a scale? Do I really want to track the amount of weight I gain post-wedding? I think not.

So somehow we managed to find 104 items there that we would like. Yes, some are super expensive and we don't really expect to get them. Then there are others that are super expensive and we do expect to get them ;) But all in all I think/hope we did a good job at differentiating our prices so everyone can find something. And please, stick to our registry. We really aren't up for some surprise present that will simply sit in a closet for the rest of my life because I don't have the heart to re gift.

Granddaddies...

Blake's granddaddy has been in the hospital for 1 month and 2 days today. He was in Tarboro until a week ago when they finally decided he'd gotten weak enough and obviously the treatment they were giving him wasn't helping. So they immediately did surgery Friday morning removing all kinds of bacteria from his lungs and he was on a ventilator until yesterday evening. They finally took him off but his breathing just wasn't right and just 12 hours later he was put back on there. And now he's having surgery tomorrow for a tracheostomy. It's kind of up in the air. We all thought that bringing him here was going to make him better but everytime we take a step forward it's like 3 steps back. Only God knows what tomorrow will bring.

This whole thing has been incredibly difficult for Blake & me. Blake has been his granddaddy's "buddy" since he was born. Every summer growing up Blake would spend at the beach condo with "Gander." They worked together running the concessions at the Ag Center for years. When we first started dating it was obvious to me that Granddaddy was someone incredibly important to Blake. As we dated longer and longer, Granddaddy was always someone really important in our relationship. It was important for us to spend time with him and learn from him. He is Grandaddy after all.

Their relationship is something I have never experienced myself. I wasn't blessed with grandparents who were always a part of my life. My paternal grandfather died long before I was born and my paternal grandmother passed when I was ten, but I did visit her occasionally. My maternal grandparents are still alive, but that relationship has been strained as I've gotten older simply because they've never attempted to be a part of my life therefore I don't attempt to spend time with them. (I know, probably not the best, but there's more to it than I can blog about.) So grandparents--or Grandaddies for that matter-- are something I know very little of personally and have only heard about. Blake and his Granddaddy are spectacular. And this was my first experience with a grandparent who truly, truly cares and wants to help raise you with your parents.

My hope is that my kids will never have Grandmas or Grandpas. My kids will have Granddaddies and Grandmommas (or whatever they want to be called). Even Paisley doesn't have a Grandpa... In my opinon Grandmas and Grandpas aren't enough of children's lives, and I don't hope that for my children.

Tomorrow morning Blake's Granddaddy (and my Granddaddy at that) will be having surgery. I pray that everything will go well. I know God is watching over him, and he is a fighter, so I am hopeful that things go really well. I want to go see him tomorrow evening and be amazed at the work of God's hands. I want Granddaddy to get better. I want Granddaddy to be at our wedding. Yea, that's right. I'm a little selfish. Granddaddy needs to be at our wedding. In person. I'm hoping that's Grandaddy's presence at our wedding is a part of God's plan. So many other loved ones in my life aren't going to be there so I need Granddaddy to be there. We both need him to be there.

And I leave with one of the scriptures that has always comforted me throughout my life:

Psalm 23

The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures,

he leads me beside quiet waters,
he restores my soul.

He guides me in paths of righteousness

for his name's sake.
Even though I walk

through the valley of the shadow of death,

I will fear no evil,

for you are with me;

your rod and your staff,

they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me

in the presence of my enemies.

You anoint my head with oil;

my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and love will follow me

all the days of my life,

and I will dwell in the house of the LORD

forever.