My blog got a facelift...

So I thought it was time to redo the look of my blog. I'm loving these colors lately. It's probably because they are my wedding colors. I will blog about wedding progress tomorrow.

Engagement Photos!!!!

So yesterday the very talented Dominique Harmon of Captivated Images called me to tell me they posted a "sneak peak" of our engagement photos we took last Saturday. We got up really early and stated off in a field of sunflowers as the sun was coming up. So cool. We also took several out at the South Plains Fair. It was so fun. Then we ended up at Maxey Park at this old abandoned pool. We had so much fun. Thanks Dominique and Barry for such a great day. Here are some of my faves from their post.

Lately...

So lately I have been concentrating less on my wedding planning, (which I'm still think about a lot just not doing anything about), and focusing on other things in my life. I realized I'm a little burned out and I need a break. I do have 6 months to go after all so I think I deserve a break.

My job just took an interesting twist. We just moved offices. I'm so excited!!! If you had seen or spent any time at all in my old location you would understand. So here are my top 10 reasons why I'm excited we moved:)

1. I get to decorate my new office and make it more my own style. I get to have green walls and get to hang actual art.



2. No more walking 7 minutes in the cold to the office door. I literally would park my car and walk seven minutes to my office. It sucked everyday especially if it was raining or cold outside. I can literally now can park at the front door.

3. It takes me 5 minutes to get to work instead of 20 minutes. No more 5 o'clock traffic down by Tech again. Woo Hoo!!!!!

4. No more freezing cold office. I would wear long sleeve shirts, a jacket and wrap a scarf around my neck everyday and I would still be cold at my old office. I got sick the other week just because it was so cold. Which brings me to my next reason...

5. No more sickness!!! I hope. Working in a hospital, especially a medical office like we did, you are more prone to getting sick. I think everyone in our office was sick at one point or another. Yay, no more germs :)

6. No more looking at generic Dr. Office walls. My old office was literally an old exam room. There was no creative stimulantion coming out from those wall. It's hard to keep a creative mind when the environment you work in has no personality.



7. No one can bother you out here. If I need to go the hospital I can, but if I don't then I really am free to actually work and get things done.

8. Some of the people we moved over here with are pretty cool.

9. I can go home at lunch and I don't spend my entire lunch break driving.

And my top 10 reason is...

I feel we won't have to move anymore!!! I hate moving anything and I think we will call this home for quite some time. After all, who's going to want an office with with a wall color called "Lafonda Jalapeno"

Where Did the Weekend Go?

This weekend went by too fast. I feel like I say that every weekend, but here it is Monday morning and I feel like I got nothing accomplished. I always say I'm going to clean my apartment. Every week I say that this will be the weekend I get it done, but this past weekend I really had every intention of getting that accomplished. When you are an on the go artist like I am cleaning isn't always a top priority, but I really would like for it to be clean. After all, in 6 months I'm going to be living with the "master of cleanliness" so I better change my ways fast. Well instead of cleaning I went out with my mom and Brandon on Friday night. We had so much fun. We went to Friday Night Art Trail. If you are a Lubbockite or a visitor of Lubbock you should really check it out one month. Every first Friday of the month artists from all over display there art in various galleries around the downtown area. You hop from gallery to gallery looking at all the art and tasting wine and eating cheese platters. It's so much fun. My dad is currently working part time at the Clay Studio and part of the perks of working there is that he has rekindled his passion for pottery. It's really more than just a passion, it's a talent. His work is amazing. Well anyway, he had some of his more recent pieces on display at one of the galleries and we decided to check it out. We then went out to Texas Roadhouse were I proceeded to order the most overpriced, under quality margarita ever!!! Overall it was a pretty fun night though. On Saturday Brandon left to go fishing and camping with some of his buddies and I began a two day shopping spree. I don't what I was thinking, but I went crazy this weekend. I always feel guilty after a huge weekend of shopping, but it's probably because I hardly ever spend money. I did however get some really cute clothes, a new book, some new sunglasses, and some really cute shoes :) Sunday went by too quick and here we go again. The start of a new week. Whether I'm ready or not, Monday always comes after Sunday and I guess it's about time I accept that.

Bridal Jewelry :)

So I picked my dress, my veil, I still need to choose my shoes but I went ahead and got my jewelry. I love it. It's exactly what I wanted. A couple of weeks ago I was browsing the net when I came across this website for a company called Redot Designs. It's a fabulous website for bridal jewelry and special occasion jewelry. I wanted something really stylish and classic but I didn't want to spend a fortune on jewelry I will only wear once. Luckily I probably won't have to. The pieces I chose are ones I probably will wear again. So much fun :)

New Wedding Stuff

So I haven't posted anything in a while, but a lot has happened since my last wedding update. I found my dress!!!!!!! I'm so excited. It's more than I could ever imagine. I got it at David's Bridal in Amarillo. I want to give a shout out to my consultant Dianna and all the fabulous ladies in Amarillo. Thank you for making my experience so great. I'm not going to post any photos of the dress because my curious fiancé, Brandon, likes to check my blog every now and then and I don't want him to see it.

I will however post some photos of my bridesmaids dresses. I went back to DB last Saturday to have my dress pinned for alterations and just to look at bridesmaids dresses. I had no intention of buying them, but after trying on a few options, I ended up selecting a gorgeous yet simple long A-Line dress that totally compliments my dress. It has a sweetheart neckline (which mine has) and is in a beautiful jewel tone Aqua color called Oasis. I also selected a shorter length version of the dress for my Junior Bridesmaids. They are all going to look so beautiful :)





I have also been researching photographers for months now. Besides invitation design the number one most important thing for me is to have great photos. I wanted someone who could capture my vision and produce amazing photos for a price I could afford. I decided to go with the fabulous duo of Dominique Harmon and Barry Nelson of Captivated Images



They are just really amazing people and their work is phenomenal. I know all are photos are going to turn out great. We have our engagement photo shoot set for September 20th so I will post those hopefully sometime shortly after that. I can't wait.

I'm now working on my hair style, flowers, table center pieces and other fun stuff. Here are some photos of things I like.

August 8, 2006

Today is the two year anniversary on my dad's suicide attempt. I debated on whether or not to write anything about this. It was such a real and raw time in my life that I would like to bury forever, but every year on this day I'm reminded of where we were and how far we have come.

I don't know why it happened. I don't know why he lived. I don't know how you take a gun point it to your head and pull the trigger and not die. But he didn't die. He lived. God didn't want to take my dad's life that day.

Jeremiah 29:11 says “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." My hopes and dreams were shattered on that day August 8, 2006, but a new hope and future were brought to the surface. "Where there is death, there shall life be as well." I can't explain what it feels like to see a parent battle to live knowing that he had done this to himself. It's not like being in the hospital wanting your family member to get better so that everything can go back to "normal". I knew my life would never be "normal" again. I knew if he lived or if he died my life would never be the same. I was right. I was suffering for months after all this happened. It was a quiet suffer. My pain grew even more after my parents separation then divorce happened, but the one thing I gained from all of this is this:

"God offers pain relief if we ask for it. It is His GRACE that gives us the comfort of knowing He will never leave us to battle the pain alone. It is His GRACE that gives us peace during the storm. It is His GRACE that allows us to get through the pain, and then grow from it."

I grew from it. I could of easily crumbled, and I really wanted to at times, but I learned that through the tears laughter occurs. My relationships with people are better now. My mom and I are as close as we have ever been. My brother is like my right hand man. After all this God blessed me with a partner in life that could understand my pain and let me cry on his shoulder whenever I need to. My relationship with my dad has grown too. I admire him for the person he's become and how far he's come. I love him for the person he is and not for what he did. I'm healed knowing that God has forgiven him and I find peace within myself knowing that God's grace has been shed upon him. Therefore, I'm able to forgive him.

August 8, 2006 was the worst day of my life. I was so angry for what he had done but so grateful that God let him live. It’s a miracle he lived. He did live though. It was so hard going through all that but he lived. Through this I'm reminded daily of God's love for his children and His enabling power to heal the broken.