Andrew turns 28!

Yesterday was Andrew's birthday and we were so thankful to be able to spend the day together. Lately, his work has been taking him out of town for more days of the week than he is home. Which stinks, but we are making it, one week at a time. We have learned so much and our marriage has grown stronger over these past few months. We know that God is teaching us something during this time and we are trying hard to see the lesson instead of having a pity party for ourselves. So we are thankful for days like yesterday :)

Andrew got his birthday present about a month or so ago when we went in our local golf store to "price" a new set of golf clubs. There was a deal we couldn't pass up and we both agreed to go ahead and get them then. So, as a reminder of his birthday present (I was afraid he would forget:-), I got him a golf themed cake (note the golf clubs on the back of the golf cart). I didn't realize that I had started a theme - last year he got Saints tickets and a Saints cake and this year, golf clubs and a golf cake. Andrew pointed this out to me last night. We will see how long we can keep that one going.

Andrew's mom has a family dinner/celebration planned for later this weekend so we decided to celebrate last night with a couple of our close friends. We went to a new Italian restaurant in town that we have been wanting to try-- it was fabulous! We especially loved the atmosphere on the outdoor patio/courtyard complete with a large hanging chandelier, faux grass wall, and large running fountain. The weather was perfect last night too. The food was wonderful but our appetizer was my favorite (picture below) - I guess I was too busy eating by the time our main course arrived to take a picture but it was all good.

Andrew & Kyle have been friends for a really long time and I love their friendship. Aren't they the cutest? Me and Heather are thankful that they brought us together. Look forward to celebrating many more occasions with them in years to come!

A Break in the Busyness

Last Monday night I went to our monthly Heart to Home group and so enjoyed visiting with some precious girls. Our heart moms always make us the best dinner and give us little gifts for the month. It is such an awesome ministry and I have the opportunity to meet some sweet new friends. We always have a short devotional time and this month it was about priorities. There was a lot of discussion – mostly about how busy our lives are that we often don’t have the time to do some of the little things that we wish we could. Like exercise, or bake cookies, or take food to a neighbor. You know how that conversation goes. If you have ever been part of a discussion with any variety of women of all ages.  Busyness. We all are familiar with. We have all wished we had more time.

And I realized something the other night that has slowly been coming on but it finally hit me like a ton of bricks. For the first time in a long time, I can actually say that I am not all that busy. Even though I am working two jobs, keeping up with housework, and trying my best to be a good wife for Andrew – this is nothing compared to what my life used to be like. These things are just day to day busyness, somehow different from being busy every waking moment. After spending 6 years in college, between internships and Master’s projects and moving to a new town to starting a new job, to planning a wedding, to quitting that job and starting a new job and then taking a position with the school system and getting adjusted to a new schedule. I feel like I am finally to a point where I can sit down and take a long sigh. I can look back at those busy times and realize that they are what got me to where I am.  And I do realize that this break – this break from the busyness – has been granted to me for a season. Life will get busier – kids will come and then there will be homework and little league games and gymnastics and weekend trips to the zoo and all of those things that will come with having little ones. But for now… I am going to enjoy this time that God has granted me.

(*If I could hashtag a blog post this one would be #latepost.. I wrote this last week and never got around to posting it.)

Happy Birthday Avery Mae!

Can't believe Avery Mae turned TWO this past Friday! She is just the sweetest most fun-loving dog that I have ever had and I just love her to pieces! People tell us all the time that when we have kids that Avery will be "just a dog", but I know there will always be a special place in my heart for our fearless, chicken chasin', squirrel lovin', daddy kissin', duck huntin', accident prone little chocolate dog.

This is a photo collage I made and posted to Facebook on Friday:

And then Andrew made one too - and I had to include it because he had some pictures of her duck hunting that I didn't have. They had a great duck season this year and it finally clicked with Avery why she was there and she did awesome!

And yes, I did make her a little birthday cake on Friday.

She loved it! It's so easy to make. Here is the recipe I used for all you fellow dog lovers:

1 cup whole wheat flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 cup natural peanut butter
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1/3 cup honey
1 cup shredded carrots
1 egg

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease 8" round pan (I used a 6") or an 8x4 inch loaf pan. Combine all ingredients. Pour batter into pan and bake for about 30 minutes.

I also combined some peanut butter and honey and used for icing. Add a dog treat on top and there you have it! Super super easy!

Friday night we took the Ranger and rode some trails behind Andrew's parent's house. It was such a fun and laid back weekend. Here is one of seventeen attempts to get a selfie of us on the Ranger - I just love it :)

 Hope you all enjoyed your weekend and your week has gotten off to a great start!

-Laura

What? Our wedding? Featured on THE KNOT?!

I am still a little bit in shock. I never in a million years would have expected that our small town Louisiana wedding would be featured on a nationally known wedding blog/website. Sure, we thought it was beautiful, but we were also seeing it through our newlywed bliss tinted glasses. Not to mention, we were a little bit partial. It was our day, after all. And it was perfect. Still, a year and a half later, there is not a single thing that I would have done differently. There are moments that stand out to me when I think back on September 22, 2012. The words that Andrew whispered in my ear when he saw me for the first time. Riding through town in the back of a convertible Roadster to buy some time until all our guests got to the reception site. Eating with Andrew in his parent's kitchen so we could steal a few minutes together before getting pulled in a hundred different directions. The way it felt to pull away from the reception, feel the cool breeze and hear the silence, and know that it was just us for the rest of our lives. These are things that the pictures did not capture, and the images that the editors/bloggers at The Knot could never write about. These are things that I think about when I remember our wedding day. Yes, the flowers were absolutely breathtakingly gorgeous and all the details came together just right to create the romantic charm and shabby chic feel that I had imagined. But these things only added to the true essence of our wedding day. I will forever be honored that someone without any personal connection to our day whatsoever, saw what we saw. We are honored to share small glimpses of our day with you.

Laura & Andrew on The Knot

There were so many wonderful people who worked so hard behind the scenes to make our wedding day so beautiful - and some that I never even got the chance to meet! Thanks again for everything!

 Styling & Wedding Planning: Shanna Lumpkin Events with Kelleigh McLeod and Pam Collins McLeod
Photography: Lauren F. Liddell
Catering: Fresh Cut Catering + Wendy Putt
Floral: Allums Line Floral Designs
Cinematography: Brian Flint
Lighting: Davaine Lighting
Stationary: Shanna Lumpkin Events
Cakes: The Cake Diva

Smoky Mountains 2013-14

We made it to the Smoky Mountains! could have been the caption for this year's trip... Andrew and I were both sick with the flu only 3 days before we were supposed to leave for the near 11 hour drive. Thankfully, he got better before we left and I was feeling somewhat better - at least well enough to sleep during the ride. It was so wonderful to get to spend time with my family. We make this trip once a year and have since I can remember. We had a wonderful trip and even got some snow! Since snow can make driving up and down mountain roads kinda tricky, we did stay in a lot but we had a cabin with the most incredible views so we didn't mind :)

Ober Gatlinburg tram (view from our front porch)

And we also made the annual trip to Cade's cove where the wildlife is protected and the deer will literally let you walk right up to them.

And a few family photos - smiling and shaking in our boots because we are standing out in 12 degree weather so my mom will have a picture of everyone together.

Andrew and I have ridden the Sky Lift together on the last three trips over these past few years. I love that I have these pictures to look back from each trip. This year we rode in the daytime - apparently we aren't as brave as we used to be to ride up with temperatures dropping in the teens.

2011

2012

2013

We ended the trip by watching the Saints win in a Wildcard match-up against the Philadelphia Eagles! We got to watch the game on the big screen since there was literally a theatre in the cabin we were staying in. Sorry for the poor quality of this picture - it was taken on the reverse camera on my cell phone :) But I couldn't help but sharing - this was probably Andrew's favorite part of the whole trip. And I found it amazing that I remembered to bring my jersey along since I packed in a flu-induced stupor.

We were so blessed to get to spend such quality time with each other and with our families this holiday season. It was so hard the leave the beautiful snow covered mountains (and the beautiful bathroom I had with a fireplace over the bathtub :) but back to the real word we must go!

Blessings in 2013

Year 2013 will end much the same way it began – in a quaint little cabin atop the beautiful Smoky Mountains. This is becoming quite the tradition for us! 2013 was a much calmer year following a very eventful 2012. But before I begin our year in review, I would like to reflect for a moment on how monumental 2013 has been for my career. In January 2013, I began a new job and loved everything about it – from my precious patients, their parents, and every single one of my co-workers. There was no doubt that God had led me here using the people he had placed in my life. Which is why when I was offered my dream job at the end of July, it was more difficult that I had imagined. But it was very evident that God was leading me there, the same way he had led me here. So I packed up my second job with all of its memories and knowledge gained and walked into my third – as a therapist in our local school system. I am blessed every day by the children I work with – children who face circumstances and struggles that I have never known. There is no doubt God placed me here for a reason. And I know that I learn as much from them as they from me. It would be just fine with me if God would leave me here for awhile! 

Okay, so as I mentioned we had a pretty laid back year. A few milestones reached, travels to some of our favorite cities, celebrations and quality time with friends and loved ones. Looking back at our year to write this, I am overcome with joy! I am in awe of God’s goodness to us,  much more than we deserve. May we always seek to honor him!

We started the year with some renovations to our house. We replaced the outdated linoleum kitchen floors with a beautiful porcelain tile, ripped up carpet throughout the house and put it wooden flooring, plastered and painted over the wood paneling in the living room, and gave the kitchen and living room new paint colors. I wasn’t good at taking pictures during this time but here are a few of the kitchen.

 In March, Avery Mae turned one! We almost lost her this year but glad God allowed us to keep her – she brings us so much happiness.

We made two separate trips to Dallas/Fort Worth – one in May and one in July – and Andrew took me to my first MLB game! Go Rangers!

 

In July we went on our annual Young family beach vacation which was heavily rained out but we still had fun!

We came home to find out that Andrew’s parents’ mare had a pony! That we were not expecting! Surprise! 

In August I began my dream job!

In September we celebrated our first anniversary in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic.

We also became landowners where we hope to build within the next two years!

In October we visited New Orleans, and I went to my first NFL game.. Geaux Saints!

We spent Thanksgiving with my family in Mississippi.

And Christmas at home... with the flu.

We were just thankful to be well yesterday to travel and meet my family in Tennessee to have Christmas with them and ring in the New Year!

We are looking forward to a wonderful 2014!