au revoir 2009

As 2009 ends, I am at a loss for words about this roller coaster ride of a year. I moved to South Carolina in January, got engaged in May, became an Aunt in September -- and this was just the beginning. I spent half the year planning my wedding and the whole year juggling work, school, and my volunteer work. There were good times and bad, but mostly good. My walk with God was strong, but I struggled with my priorities and therefore I shamelessly put Him on the back burner for awhile. I learned a lot this year and am glad I was faced with trials. I am who I am because of the good and bad that has happened to me. Some of my goals for 2010 are:

1. Spend more time building my relationship with God.
2. Thinking before I speak and trying HARD to not let those cuss words slip out! (This is something I struggle with badly.)
3. Trying not to let the little things bother me, and when they do I will try to respond in a Christlike manner instead of being crazy person.
4. It is my hope that I will be a good wife to Keith and that I will put his needs before my own.
5. That I will be able to juggle marriage, school and work with grace and poise.
6. For my weight loss/fitness progress to excel and for my desired weight to be met!!!
7. That I will sincerely enjoy my wedding day and not be blindsided by worry and stress.
8. That God would bless my organization Serenity Self Defense and allow it to grow to His desire.
9. That I will make all A's in my classes!
10. And last but not least, I want to make the time to start volunteering at a nursing home.

I have many more goals, but I figured I would stop at ten. 2009 was a challenging, rewarding year indeed, but 2010 is going to be even better. Oh yes, it will. :o)

hair loss and advil

Lately I have been a terrible blogger. (Don't worry, you guys didn't miss anything.) I really enjoy getting my thoughts out of my head and onto my blog, but this past month I feel like I haven't had time to think about anything other than the usual. The usual would be the following:

1. School. Ohhhhhhhhh school how I loathe you! My semesters are divided into two 8 week sessions so I only take 6 hours at a time. The first two classes were pretty great (I made an A and a B), but these last two...well, let me just say I do not believe that I have ever been so stressed with school related things in my entire life! I am currently in my last week of class and will be finished with this nightmare shortly. Things probably wouldn't have been so bad if my computer wouldn't have crashed in week 3, but it did. C'est la vie. I will have a two week break and then it begins again. I am praying for a better semester come the new year.

2. The. Wedding. *sigh* Wedding planning is NUTS! There are so many little details to address and decisions to be made. I feel like I have the majority of the major stuff done (buying the dress, booking the venue/photographer/video, buying the flowers) but my plate still seems to be really full. I'm currently trying to figure out the cake, alterations for my dress, ceremony/reception music, hair & make-up, invitations....and the list goes on and on. Please pray for me because sometimes I feel like I am losing my mind. I am hoping that you guys don't misunderstand me when I say these things. It's just I care so much more about the marriage and about Keith that all of this wedding stuff seems kind of ridiculous. I know that it will be worth it in the end, but goodness I feel like I'm running a marathon.

3. Christmas. This year is the first year that I will not be in Louisiana with my family for Christmas and I am pretty torn about it. For the past two years I have spent the night at my Maw-Maw's house and I just hurt at the fact that she's going to be alone. I am happy to be in SC with my bay, but I just wish that I could have both. My family and KC. The good news is that the majority of them are coming to the wedding so I'll be seeing them soon.

Okay that's all of my "usual" thoughts. Now that school is almost over and I have less that 90 days until the wedding (I repeat, less than 90!!!!!!) I am hoping that I can start my new year off with a great semester and a fully planned, beautiful wedding. Oh, and maybe a little blogging, too.

letters to juliet

I just finished watching the trailer for a movie coming out in May called "Letters to Juliet". It's another one of those movies that gaves me goosebumps and then I did the whole crying thing. Sorry for all of the movie trailer posts lately, but I just had to share! :o)

words are powerful

On October 8th I wrote a blog about how an ESPN writer and myself thought the Yankees would win the World Series. I listed mucho facts from Jason Stark's article, and then proceeded to say this:

Words are a very powerful, you know?! So, here goes...the Yankees are going to win their 27th World Series title this year, and I for one cannot wait!

And guess what? I WAS RIGHT!

THE YANKEES ARE THE 2009
WORLD SERIES CHAMPIONS!!!!

I know it sounds cliche', but I really do want to be apart of it (New York, New York) one day. I want to be able to live in NYC and go to a Yankees game on a Tuesday just because. I want to be able to do this (see picture below) after winning the World Series.

Maybe one day I'll be there, but for now I'm content with celebrating here in Charleston. I'm pretty sure my Frank Sinatra Caller Tune is going to be on my phone all. year. long. :o)

GO YANKEES!!!

movies, movies, movies

There have been two movie trailers that I've recently seen that have made me tear up and get goosebumps. One comes out in November and the other in February and I cannot wait to see either of them!!

The Blind Side



Dear John

O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree...

For most people, setting up their Christmas tree occurs sometime after Thanksgiving. This would be the normal thing to do, and I happen to be a not so normal girl. It's not that I don't appreciate or like Thanksgiving, it's just that Christmas makes my heart happy. To me, Christmas shouldn't just be a one month ordeal...it really should be Christmas all year long. Usually I set up my Christmas tree on Halloween night but last night I was asleep by 8PM and totally missed everything. So, today was the day I brought my tree out. :o) Merry (almost) Christmas.

serenity self defense

On July 16th I wrote a blog about a Primetime Special that I watched that had impacted my life so very much. The special was about a girl named Melanie whose life was taken by a random act of violence. That night, God did something incredible to my heart. I ended the blog with this:

God is doing amazing things in my heart and is stirring up an idea so big, so wonderful that I could burst. I can’t do anything to bring Melanie, Anne, or Eve back, but maybe I can help prevent this from happening to someone else. The Lord is moving in me with this idea and I am as excited as ever to tackle it head on. Last Sunday Pastor Fred told us that “God plants a dream in our heart with a thought in our head” and boy was he ever right. 

Well, the idea that was so wonderfully big that made me almost burst turned into an organization called Serenity Self Defense. "Serenity Self Defense is a newly formed organization that exists to educate women of all ages on the importance of knowing how to defend themselves. Serenity will offer self defense classes, training sessions on being street smart, as well as information about how to use different weapons. Professionals in the appropriate areas will also be recruited to speak at our training sessions. Additionally, we will raise funds for the Melanie Goodwin Scholarship Fund." These words were taken from the website that I created. 
~>  www.SerenitySelfDefense.com 

So many wonderful things have happened since this idea was planted into my heart. For starters, I have spoken with Melanie's mother, Mrs. Peggy, and have her full support. She has been so encouraging and kind and I just can't say enough great things about this strong woman. In addition to having Mrs. Peggy's support, a company called PepperEyes.com has also pledged to donate a portion of all proceeds to Serenity until December 18th! This is all such a blessing! It is my hope that Serenity will be able to use the donated money to gain our non-profit status, but most importantly we want to donate the majority of this donation to Melanie's Scholarship Foundation. If you guys could, please forward PepperEyes.com to all of your friends, family, classmates, etc. The more items that they sell, the more proceeds will be donated. 

I truly hope that this organization will continue to become a reality instead of just a dream. Please pray that God's hand would be upon this project and for his favor in getting the ball rolling. Also, if anyone is interested in getting involved with Serenity please let me know. 

***Serenity's blog is http://serenityselfdefense.blogspot.com/. Please add to your blog list! Thanks so much y'all!***

it's only life...

Lately life has been tough. Little issues like school, the wedding, people, work, etc. have turned into huge problems. Minor things drive me up a wall, I am super emotional, and I am losing my hair. Literally. I believe that each issue in itself was enough to slightly bother me, but not enough to ruin minutes, hours, days...

It took a very concerned friend and my fiancé to show me exactly how I had been acting. Once I realized that I was not being me, but an awful version of myself I completely broke down. I sat at my apartment crying so hard and I just kept asking "Why?" Why had I been so ugly? Why do insignificant things ruin my day? Why can't I let things go? While I was having my emotional breakdown Keith comforted me the best way he knew how. He held my hand, rubbed my back, and held me close. This was nice, but it was what he said to me that comforted me the most. He told me that sometimes God will purposely break us and that it is always for a reason. He told me that when our attention is elsewhere and our relationship with Him is suffering, sometimes God does things to bring us back. Once I heard those words I cried even harder. Once I heard those words I realized how much I had been neglecting my Lord. It all made sense. I began asking for forgiveness and praying for my focus to return to Him.

It's been about a week since this realization occurred and I am so grateful. I am so blessed to have people in my life that care more about my well being than about how I am going to respond to them. I am so thankful that I serve a God who refuses to give up on me. I know that everything happens for a reason and sometimes it takes being broken to fully heal and become you again.

Hanging in my office on the wall in front of my desk is a plaque that is constantly reminding me that everything will be okay. On the bottom is Psalm 136:1. "With God's hand beneath us we need not fear what lies before us." Ain't that the truth.

"When the tides of life turn against you and the current upsets your boat, don't waste those tears on what might have been, just lie on your back and float."

69 days

Call me crazy, but this is what I did today.....

There are 69 days until Christmas and I am so pumped! I don't know what it is, but Christmas lights make me veryyy happy! Every year on Halloween I put my Christmas tree up, but I just couldn't wait. I think it's pretty amusing that I love Christmas so much and I'll actually be one in about 5 months. Hehehehe... :o)

DIY adventure no. 1

Tonight I spent the majority of my time being a DIY-er. Before entering the wedding world I had no idea what DIY meant. Before wedding world I had never shopped at Michael's. Boy how things have changed! DIY means Do It Yourself. :o) I do not consider myself an artsy person. Other than collages in elementary school and a reeeeally bad paint job in my bedroom in Mandeville, I do not have experience in this area. However, after spending way too much time on WeddingBee.com and Etsy, I've been truly inspired. So inspired that I've decided to take on the following tasks for our wedding:

1. Invitations
2. Card Box
3. Decorations
4. Favors
5. Centerpieces
6. Boutineeres
7. My bouquet (MAYBE)

I may sound a little crazy, but I really feel like I can do this. Even though I have school and work and editing and church and KC and EVERYTHING, I still want my wedding to have an personal touch. Other than burning my hand with the glue gun, I had such a fun time! So without further adue, here is what I've accomplished tonight.

*Card Box*

*Outdoor baskets to hang on trees*

(Flowers will be added)

*The mess that I made :o)*

Soooo can you guess what my theme might be? Here's a little hint...

laughing is the best calorie burner

I believe in manicures.

I believe in overdressing.

I believe in primping at leisure and wearing lipstick.

I believe in pink.

I believe  that laughing is the best calorie burner.

I believe in kissing; kissing a lot.

I believe in being strong when everything seems to be going wrong.

I believe happy girls are the prettiest girls.

I believe that tomorrow is another day,

and I believe in miracles.

-Audrey Hepburn-

I believe all of this stuff, too.

lindsey <3 keith

A few weeks ago I blogged about the clothes hanger that I'm completely in love with and today this gorgeous creation arrived! I am so completely happy with it! I'll probably only use it on the day of the wedding to hold my dress, but it was so worth the $20 bucks! I can just see it hanging on a wall in me and my soon-to-be hubby's house!  :o)

start spreadin' the news...

....I'm leaving today! I want to be apart of it New York, New York!!!!

The title of my blog is the title of an article that I read written by ESPN's Jayson Stark. The article basically said that the Yankees are going to win the World Series this year and I couldn't agree with him more. Love them or hate them, the Yankees are the best team in baseball right now. Says who? Says these guys:

• "A hundred and three wins in the AL East is pretty incredible," said an American League assistant GM.

• "I think the Yankees are the most balanced team in the AL," said another AL assistant. "I think CC [Sabathia] will put his past postseason demons behind him and lead the rotation. The lineup is as deep as any in the AL. And they have some guy named Rivera in the back of the 'pen."

• "They can pitch, and they can hit," said an NL executive. "And when you match them up with anybody, for me they win that matchup."

Okay okay...so a couple of MLB big shots complimented the Yanks...big deal right? Wrong. The facts speak for themselves:

The Yankees led the big leagues in runs scored, home runs, on-base percentage, slugging, OPS, extra-base hits and walks.

They had the best team ERA, the best second-half ERA and the lowest opponent OPS of all the AL postseason pitching staffs.

They have a closer (Mr. Mariano Rivera, ladies and gentlemen) with a 0.77 postseason ERA.

They're riding the best clubhouse vibe, the best grade in chemistry class, of any Yankees team in maybe a decade.

They put runs on the board at home (5.7 runs per game). They put runs on the board away from home (5.6 per game).

They hit left-handers (.286 AVG./.365 OBP/.480 SLUG). They hit right-handers (.282/.360/.476).

They can bludgeon you early (.828 OPS in the first inning). They can mug you late (15 walkoff wins -- second-most in franchise history).

They win at home (57-24). They win on the road (46-35).

They crush the bad teams (29-12 against the Orioles, A's, Royals and Indians). They beat up the good teams (27-17 against the Angels, Red Sox, Tigers, Twins and Phillies).

They even won a series in Anaheim -- for the first time in five years. And they went 9-1 in their last three series against the Red Sox.

I don't mean to sound cocky, but I truly feel like this is our year!! After reading this article by Stark my feelings are pretty much confirmed. Although I'm confident in my team, I am not getting my hopes up. I know quite well that just because a team performs well in the regular season they may not always do well in the playoffs. Anything can happen in a ball game. However, after watching my Yanks win over the Twins (7-2) last night I am throwing my worries away and wearing my heart on my sleeve. Words are a very powerful, you know?! So, here goes...the Yankees are going to win their 27th World Series title this year, and I for one cannot wait!

**All text that is not bolded is from this article.**

day one

Last night KC and I began Day 1 of our P90X journey. As scared as I was to start this program I have to say...it wasn't all that bad! I know in about a week I'm going to take that back, but seriously it was kind of fun! Day one was Chest, Back, and Ab Ripper. I did more push ups yesterday than I have in my whole life. Well, the girl kind anyway. I'm hoping that I'll be able to do 50 boy push ups by the time we hit 90 days. We also did pull ups. KC put this pull up bar on my bathroom door and I literally thought the whole frame was going to just collapse! Lol I'm happy to report that it didn't. He did such a great job with his pull ups, while I on the other hand probably did a total of 1/2. I'm pretty sore today but I am so excited! Soreness means that I did something right! :o) I plan on documenting our crazy P90X/Weight Watchers journey so look out for more blogs to come! Please pray that Keith and I will stay focused and that we do not injure ourselves! Thanks so much!

*Keith's huge dumbbell and my tiny one. I think they're cute.*

blahday

I have come to the conclusion that Monday needs to be renamed and I am suggesting Blahday. I don't mean to be a Negative Norah but goodness Mondays are just so difficult. Like today for instance. It wasn't all bad, but it was blah. It started off dark, cold, and rainy. Had this been any other day I would have just wanted to stay in bed and read a good book. However, since it was Monday it just made me feel heavy. I also overslept...something I tend to do a lot on this day. Obviously, Monday is also the beginning of the work week. (This one's self-explanatory) Today was particularly difficult because it was my first day on Weight Watchers. Let me just say that it was HARD and I was hungry all day. Day one is always the toughest. I've been on Weight Watchers before and have really enjoyed it. I gain so much energy, lose some weight, and am a lot healthier. I know that in a few days I will have adapted to the portion control/healthier choices thing, but until then I will just be a tad hungry.

I am going out on a limb here to say that the only good thing about this day is Monday Night Football. (I'm watching the Vikings & Packers game as I type this.) Okay, okay I take that back. I know that I am lucky to be given each day. I know that I am extremely blessed. I love every minute that I spend with my fiancé. I love that I get to talk to my Maw-Maw every morning before work. I am grateful for the freedom that I have. Honestly, I am the happiest I have ever been in my whole life.

So this is my prayer. I pray that the Lord would allow me to look past these "Blahdays" and that I would enjoy the time that I've been given. I pray that the heaviness I feel and the blahness would be replaced with joy and hope. I pray that each Monday would feel like a fresh start of a new week with unlimited possibilities.

I'm sorry for ranting and raving, but sometimes you just need to let it out.

a downtown adventure

Today Keith and I went downtown Charleston and had such a wonderful time! The 75 degree weather from Thursday completely vanished and it was pretty hot, but we nonetheless we had a great day. The last time we visited was in March to see the Cinderella Ballet so this trip was definitely overdue. It's days like today when God just confirms over and over that Keith is the man I am suppose to spend the rest of my life with. Here's a recap of our outing! :o)

We started with lunch at 5 Guys and had the most amazing hamburgers.

Then, we headed to the the market where we found this Christmas store...

...and I bought this amazing wedding Christmas ornament.

Next, we decided to cool off in the Pineapple Fountain.

At this point we were prety tired so we decided to take a break and enjoy the moment.

While on our little break we saw this beautiful bride and her new hubby.

After a fantastic day we started making our way back to the car while walking on "our" street.

Realizing that we were too tired, we hopped on this bike taxi and bid farewell to downtown.

october = happy

Today is October 1st and I am so joyful! Any month that begins with gorgeous weather of 75, sunny, and not a cloud in the sky is okay in my book. It’s amazing how this kind weather can make you not have a care in the world. As I drove to work I was overwhelmed by the cool breeze and wondered how long it would stick around. I would love to go explore downtown Charleston this weekend with KC in this gorgeous weather. I know that I complain a lot about living in South Carolina (extremely bad drives, rude people, etc.) but one of the benefits of living here is having so much history at my fingertips. Lately I have been so consumed/stressed by the wedding, school and work that I’ve forgotten about this wonderful place that I live in. This little realization has made my perspective on things shift, and I have a feeling that October is going to be a great month! :o)

October Faves
Cool weather (sometimes)
Mellowcreme pumpkins (LOVE these)
Going to the fair
Candy candy candy
MLB PLAYOFFS
Pumpkin spice candles (like the one in my office.)
Leaves changing/falling (sometimes)

October Dislikes
The Halloween display at Walgreens (sooooo scary...)
Creepy people who take Halloween to a whole different level
Did I say Halloween?

another bridal prep

I am switching from bride mode to vendor mode (for a second, he he) to share with y'all a bridal prep that I completed a few months back. I had a lot of great shots to work with thanks to my amazing Aunt and it was really fun to edit this. Definitely one of my favorite bridal preps. Enjoy. :o)

a wedding must have

While reading Miss Star's blog on Weddingbee.com (a.k.a. the BEST wedding site, ever) I realized that I had fallen in love with a clothes hanger. Actually, it's a wedding dress hanger, but still! I was in love! Please see the pictures below to understand...

 These cute little hangers are hand made and are only $15.00. I can just see my gorgeous dress being held by a hanger that says Lindsey <3 Keith, or Keith & Linds, or Mrs. Christmas....oh the possibilities! Lol sorry for the randomness, but this is the first time I've been excited about a clothes hanger! If you're interested in buying one visit lilafrances's Etsy store. I just finished ordering my "lindsey <3 keith" hanger! =) Pics to come...

*Photos taken from lilafrances's Etsy store*

people pleaser

As a soon-to-be bride I have been faced with many challenges and the biggest one is in fact the most unexpected. I thought that I'd have a dress problem or a food problem or even an invitation problem, but none of these things can compare to the biggest problem of all. After reading about 20 bridal magazines the one message what was repeated was this:

You cannot please everyone. This is YOUR day. Plan a wedding that will make YOU happy.

Now, I have been quite aware of this for the majority of my life. Having been to hundreds of weddings as a videographer I am well aware that this is the couples' day. I've also seen first hand that no matter what decisions are made, someone will not be happy about it. These facts are not just for weddings, but in everyday life as well. However, for some reason weddings make people go CRAZY! I cannot put into words how stressful the past few weeks have been. Everyday I receive a devotional from Rick Warren, and I received this one yesterday. God's timing completely amazes me. He knew exactly what I needed to hear and I am so very grateful for my Father's love.

 September 23, 2009
Quit Trying to Please Everybody
by Rick Warren

"It is dangerous to be concerned with what others think of you" (Proverbs 29:25 GN).

When we worry about what other people think, we let them control us. We waste a lot of time and energy trying to figure out what other people want us to be. Then, we waste a lot of time and energy trying to become like that rather than just being what God made us to be. You're manipulated and controlled by somebody else.

Worrying about what other people think is dangerous because we're more likely to cave in to criticism. It means we don't always do the right thing; instead, we do the thing that everybody wants us to do.

And we're in danger of missing God's best because we're so worried about what other people what us to do that we can't stop to think about what God wants us to do.

• Fact #1: You cannot please everybody. Even God can't please everybody. One person prays for it to rain; another prays for it to be sunny. In the Super Bowl, both teams are praying that they will win. Who is God going to answer? God can't please everybody. Only a fool would try to do what even God can't do. You can't please everybody.

• Fact #2: It's not necessary to please everybody. There is a myth that says you must be loved and approved by everybody in order to be happy. That's just not true. You don't have to please everybody in order to be happy in life.

• Fact #3: Rejection will not ruin your life. It hurts, sure. It's not fun. It's uncomfortable. But rejection will not ruin your life unless you let it.

Quit trying to please everybody! Remember that nobody can make you feel inferior unless you give them permission.

The Apostle Paul says, "If God is for us, who can be against us?" (Romans 8:31 TEV) This means we can think like this: 'God likes me, and I like me; if you don't like me, then you've got a problem. If God likes me, who cares that everybody doesn't approve of everything I do.'

Remember, nothing you ever do will make God love you less. Nothing you ever do will make God love you more. He loves you completely right now.

one year

"I have found the one whom my soul loves" ~ Song of Solomon 3:4

One year ago today I began dating the man that will soon be my husband. It does not feel like a year has passed, but I guess what they say is right - time truly does fly by when you're having fun. Never in my life have I been happier than I am right now and I thank God everyday for bringing Keith to me. The song "God Blessed the Broken Road" by Rascal Flatts explains our story perfectly. Time after time relationships with others ended and we were left with broken hearts. Little did we know that God was at work...it all makes sense now. The Lord's timing is impecable. Keith is without a doubt my soul mate, and I feel so blessed knowing that, by the grace of God, we'll do life together. Here are some of my favorite pictures from the past year. I am so looking forward to the many years to come! I love you bay!!!

~Our Psalm 46:1 bracelets~

~Boone Hall Plantation Trip~

~Thanksgiving...lost in the moment~

~Decorating for Christmas 2008~

~Out to dinner~

~Happy New Year~

~Taylor Swift Concert~

~Medieval Times~

~Pretty in Pink~

~Braves Game~

~Engaged~

~A sweet kiss~

the cry of my heart

Feels like I've been here forever,
Why can't you just intervene?
Do you see the tears keep falling?
And I'm falling apart at the seams.
But you never said the road would be easy,
But you said that you would never leave.
And you never promised that this life wasn't hard,
But you promised you'd take care of me.

So I'll stop searching for the answers,
I'll stop praying for an escape,
And I'll trust you God with where I am,
And believe that you will have your way.
Just have your way.
Just have you way.

When my friends and my family have left me,
And I feel so ashamed and so cold
Remind me you take broken things
And turn them into beautiful.

So I'll stop searching for the answers,
I'll stop praying for an escape,
And I'll trust you God with where I am,
And believe that you will have your way.
Just have your way.
Just have you way.

Even if my dreams have died,
And even if I don't survive,
I'll still worship you will all my life.
My life...

I know you will,
I won't forget.
You love me
Have. Your. Way.


Have Your Way by Britt Nicole

jambalaya, crawfish pie and fillet gumbo

Yesterday the most amazing thing happened. I was at work thinking about how nice it would be to have boudin for lunch. Being that I am in the "South", I do not have access to this yummy dish. But wait!! I was curious to see if there was a store here in Charleston that possibly sold Louisiana products. I Googled "boudin in Charleston?" and wah la! I found a store that is only 5 minutes from my apartment called Cherie's Specialty Meats and Fine Coffee.They sell everything that I've been craving! They have Savorie's Roux, Tony's, Zapp's chips, Boudin, crawfish tails, Cajun Power, Community Coffee....and a whole bunch of other stuff that I can't remember. On my way home from work I stopped at this fantastic little store and bought Zapp's, boudin, and some roux. =)

Now that I had my very own jar of roux I had to figure out what I wanted to make. Gumbo was the first thing that came to mind, but after talking to my aunt and realizing that would take hours I settled on Jambalaya. I don't mean to toot my own horn, but wow! The Jambalaya came out awesome! Keith loved it and said that he could eat it everyday! =) I am very happy to have found Cherie's and cannot wait to make my next Cajun dish. Who would have thought that being domesticated would be so much fun?

i'm an auntie!

Last night at around 11:50pm Lauren gave birth to a beautiful baby boy! His name is Joseph and he weighs 6 lbs. 7 ounces and is 20 inches long. Lauren was in labor for 14 hours and I am so proud of her for staying strong! I will be meeting my new nephew Labor Day weekend and I am so stinking excited!!!

Welcome to the world baby Joseph!

wedding update

• Due to difficulties with the date we wanted and accommodations at Southern Oaks Plantation, our wedding will be held at the beautiful Fleur de Lis Event Center in Mandeville, Louisiana.
• Our wedding website is up and running! Please visit www.lindseyandkeith.com. It is password protected so please just email me and I'll give it to you. Don't forget to sign our guest book! =)
• We have chosen our cake, the invitations, the photographer, the venue....we are nearly finished with all of the planning! Of course the details of travel arrangements are left to be discussed, but the only thing left to truly reserve are the flowers and bridesmaids dresses. Wooo hooo!
  
• I have decided on which dress I will be wearing on my big day! It is so gorgeous and I can't wait for all of you to see it!
  
• This really isn't a wedding update, but Keith and I will be celebrating our one year anniversary on September 21st!! How exciiiiiting!
  
• We are pretty sure we know where we are going for our honeymoon, but it is not set in stone yet. We'd like to go to a resort in upstate New York that has an indoor water park! That way we'll be able to going skiing one day and then water sliding the next. We'll also be close enough to Cooperstown, NY to visit the Baseball Hall of Fame!
  

summer's end

The end of summer is approaching quickly and I am so torn. In one way I am very excited because I’ll be starting my junior year of college. On the other hand I am terribly sad because once school starts there will be no more lazy weekends, no more spending hours reading random books and bridal magazines, and definitely no more addictions to reality shows. (Megan Wants a Millionaire, Kortney and Khloe Take Miami…I know, pathetic.) The older I get, the faster time flies. Especially since moving to South Carolina and being with Keith, time just goes by in an instant. I’ve been living here for over 8 months, been dating my bay for almost a year, and have been engaged for over 3 months…and all of these things feel like they happened just last night. No matter how often time races by, I will never get use to it.

“A life without love is like a year without summer” has got to be my favorite quote for this swift season. Although southern summers tend to be suffocating with the heat, I still adore the freedom I gain through summer break. I adore the adventurous spirit that comes over me and the longing I have to just lie in the grass (or on a hammock) with Keith and take in the moment. To me, there is something so magical about the unlimited possibilities summer gives to us and I am grateful that I did not waste mine. *sigh*

August 24th marks the first day of school and the first day of my new major. (Education!!!!) I am welcoming it with opens arms and with the hopes of an amazing semester. =o)

So, au revoir summer. You were fun this year. Until we meet again…

**Summer Pictures**

a birthday film

On July 26th my incredible fiancé turned 24 years old. I had no idea what I was going to get him, but I knew that buying him a present would not be good enough. I wanted to do something more for the man that would soon be my husband. After brainstorming quite a bit, I decided to make him a birthday film. I wasn't sure how I was going to do this since all I've ever edited is weddings, but surprisingly the film turned out great. For a little over a week I ran around town and filmed birthday wishes/songs from his family and friends. I had the most amazing time being sneaky, getting to know his loved ones more, and editing this special birthday surprise. Keith was so happy when he realized what I had made for him, and the look on his face after watching the film was completely priceless. =o)

Click here to watch Keith's Birthday Film

a tiny little change

Keith and I have been engaged for almost three months now and when it comes to planning the wedding, we are moving at a snail’s pace. It’s not like we haven’t visited venue sites, tasted cakes, or picked out invitations. We have. We just haven’t actually booked anything yet. It’s not like we don’t want to, we would just rather watch all the seasons of Grey’s Anatomy instead. =) In addition to the non wedding planning, I recently found out that two of my dear friends (and bridesmaids!!!) would not be able to make it to Charleston for my big day. Things were not looking good, but things are about to change.

The title of this blog is “a tiny little change”, but I think I may have been a bit modest. The change involves my theme, colors, flowers, food, venue, and location. I would say that we are starting from scratch, but since we technically have nothing done we are not backtracking. The change is this:

We are getting married in New Orleans, Louisiana at Southern Oaks Plantation!

I know this seems sudden, but we have decided that having our wedding in Louisiana would be the best option. After we’re married we plan on having a reception in Charleston for all of our friends and family who will not be able to attend the wedding. I am truly so excited about this! I have filmed so many weddings at Southern Oaks and have always thought if I were to get married in Louisiana that it would definitely be at this beautiful, amazing, antebellum plantation!

Since making this decision we have scaled down our to-do list by a ton. Southern Oaks is not just gorgeous, but they are extremely helpful. They will be taking care of the food, drinks, decorations, floral arrangements, centerpieces, the D.J., and much more! We literally only have a handful of things left to reserve! Woop Woop! I am so thankful that I will be marrying my incredible fiancé at a place that is so enchanted. And who knows…I may even show up to the ceremony in this:

the lost get found

Lately there has been one song that just keeps replaying itself over and over in my head. Most of the time when this happens I get really annoyed and will try anything to get it out. This current song is very different. I feel like whenever I hear it, it's God softly reminding me not to give up. He's reminding me that the world is tough and that I need to roll with the punches and pursue the dreams that He himself has placed in my heart. There are so many things that I want to do for His Kingdom and sometimes I feel like these things will never happen. There are so many people that I want to share His love with, but whenever the time comes I feel like I'm just a baby Christian and don't have the right to do so. Well, whenever I hear this song I get brave. I feel empowered. I feel like God is gently picking me up, brushing me off, and saying "You can do it, Linds."

The song is "The Lost Get Found" by Britt Nicole. Never in my life has a song given me goose bumps and made me cry. I know this sounds kind of crazy, but it's not. It's a God thing. =)

inspiration never dies

Last Wednesday evening started out like any other. Keith and I had just finished eating dinner and we were trying to figure out if we wanted to play cards or watch television. As it turns out the TV won and the channel surfing began. With the hopes of finding something good I began flipping through channels and I stopped when I saw a beautiful young girl singing in a Cinderella play. Her parents were being interview and were talking about how proud they were of her. I thought I was watching a VH1 Driven kind of show, but I was in fact watching a Primetime Special about the murder of Melanie Goodwin. It took me awhile to understand that Melanie had been murdered. I kept waiting for her to be interviewed about her music career, but that never happened. Once I realized this wasn’t Driven I immediately wanted to change the channel. I did not want to know how the singing Fairy Godmother had been murdered. Keith, however, wanted to know what happened, so we kept watching.

Melanie was on her way to her boyfriend’s house one night after work when she stopped at a gas station to pick up a few snacks. While there, she was approached by a man who needed a ride. She told him that she could not do that, and proceeded to purchase the snacks. Upon leaving the gas station, Melanie was raped and beaten. Her body was then burned so badly that the authorities could not identify it. Numerous surveillance cameras recorded Melanie and her killer at the convenience store. Thankfully the footage, along with DNA found on her body, was enough to send her killer to prison for life. Melanie was 19 years old.

As I watched Melanie’s story unfold I kept asking God questions.

How could this happen? Why did it happen? Why didn’t anyone save her? Why did she have to die?? WHY????

I didn’t understand.

When the program ended I began to cry. I was deeply affected by the murder of Melanie Goodwin. My soft tears turned into gut wrenching sobs after a few seconds. As Keith held me I began asking him the same questions I was asking God. Why…??? Although he didn’t have the words to say, he answered my question the best way he knew how. He went over to my computer and played the song “I Still Believe” by Jeremy Camp. He told me that Jeremy wrote this song after losing his wife to cancer. Some of the lyrics are:

Scattered words and empty thoughts
Seem to pour from my heart
I've never felt so torn before
Seems I don't know where to start

But it's now that I feel Your grace fall like rain
From every fingertip washing away my pain

'Cause I still believe in Your faithfulness
'Cause I still believe in Your truth
'Cause I still believe in Your Holy Word
Even when I don't see, I still believe

I did not know Melanie, but she seemed like an amazing person. You can tell just by looking at photographs of her that she was more than just a pretty face. She was a singer, actress, daughter, sister, friend, student, volunteer, girlfriend, child of God…She was driven. She inspired. The more and more I thought about her death the angrier I became. Melanie didn’t have to die. What if she would have known how to defend herself? What if she would have had a weapon in her car? What if her killer would have been at a different gas station?? There are many what if’s that I can come up with, but the only thing that eases my mind is this:

God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change
courage to change the things I can
and wisdom to know the difference

This is not the first time a stranger’s death has affected me. I cried for weeks after the Virginia Tech shooting. I cried when Eve Carson was brutally murdered and stayed glued to the news hoping for new developments. My heart broke when I heard about Anne Pressly being viciously attacked in her home, later dying at the hospital. I know that everything happens for a reason and that God has impeccable timing, but sometimes I can’t help but wonder why these things happen. Inconceivable tragedies like these often have an impact on me, and I’ve always felt that there was a reason for this. I think I became aware of this reason last week after watching Melanie’s story.

God is doing amazing things in my heart and is stirring up an idea so big, so wonderful that I could burst. I can’t do anything to bring Melanie, Anne, or Eve back, but maybe I can help prevent this from happening to someone else. The Lord is moving in me with this idea and I am as excited as ever to tackle it head on. Last Sunday Pastor Fred told us that “God plants a dream in our heart with a thought in our head” and boy was he ever right.

Rest in Peace Melanie

[Photo Credit: Theatre Arlington]

**I severely summed up what happened to Melanie on that terrible night. If you want to know more you can read about it here.**