Call it Art.

I love handwriting.  In college, my roomies would often ask me to address envelopes or birthday cards to "make it pretty."  {Mind you, their handwriting was just fine, but they liked mine, so I obliged.} 

I remember fourth grade when we had to start writing in cursive all the time.  I loved it. 

My Nanny taught Mom and Laura to write in calligraphy, and I got to take some of her classes at Northlake Community College as well.  I felt like such a big girl.  In those classes and at Nanny's desk, I developed a love for beautiful handwriting and took it upon myself to make mine as pretty as possible.

Today I came across an article in the New York Times about cursive and how it seems to be going by the wayside.  I thought this was a valid point:

"Might people who write only by printing — in block letters, or perhaps with a sloppy, squiggly signature — be more at risk for forgery? Is the development of a fine motor skill thwarted by an aversion to cursive handwriting? And what happens when young people who are not familiar with cursive have to read historical documents like the Constitution? "

Perhaps so.  People can also miss out on a fine motor skills, it says, and most importantly, they are missing out of the art and the opportunity to "create beauty every day."

So here's to creating beauty every day, whether it's by hand, in music, in molding young minds, or with numbers.  And we'll call it art.

Engagement Photos are up!

Jess posted a few of our engagement photos on her blog today!

On Monday, Adam and I had our engagement photos taken by the fabulously talented Jess Graham.  I went to Baylor with her, and knew her before she even knew that she wanted to go into photography full-time.  Her availability was one of the reasons we chose September 24th for our wedding date!

The weather's been really stormy here, and we'd already rescheduled because it was quite windy the first time.  It ended up clearing up Monday afternoon, and even though the skies were gray, I think it added a dramatic touch...

Jess posted about 10 photos that capture me laughing a LOT.  I only had one fit of giggles, and she happened to post most of them!  I loved seeing these, and I can't wait until next week when we can see the rest of the photos.  She took close to 700!  Crazy.

I love that she captured us so well.  In the last picture on the bottom right, she really got Adam's dimple on camera.  It.  Kills.  Me.  :-)

Today marks 150 days 'til our wedding!  

Easter People

"We are the Easter people and hallelujah is our song." 

Pope John Paul II

This was a weekend full of fun things, a great way to celebrate being Easter people.  Adam's parents drove in Friday morning and I lucked out with a half-day off from work.  {You may remember how I love half-days.}  First, we visited the Flight Museum at Love Field.  Adam would love to re-do our wedding already and have our reception in the hangar there, ha.

On our way back, we stopped for Sprinkles Cupcakes and each picked one out for dessert: Red Velvet, Carrot Cake, Cinnamon Sugar Praline and a Black & White  cupcake.  Adam's parents brought down Iowa chops and we grilled out.  It was de-lic-ious.  I thought it was a fair trade: Iowa Chops versus a little taste of Dallas.  Works for me! 

Saturday, Adam's Mom and I shopped for a mother of the groom dress at Northpark Mall.  It was fun to hang out with just her!  We looked into a rehearsal dinner option, too, and made it to four department stores in just a few hours.  

That night, our parents met for the first time.  {Kind of a big deal.}  We ate at the Grand Lux Cafe at the Galleria and it was a good evening, and everyone got along swimmingly.  :-)

 {Mike, Noreen, Adam, Me, Mom & Dad}

I asked everyone to take a pic at dinner because I felt like this was rather monumental.  Adam's brother refers to me as "the picture girl," because I take so many photos.  There are worse things, I suppose.  :-)  

{The girls: Noreen, SMoo, Mom, Me, Anna, Laura & Jonita}

Sunday morning, Adam & his parents came with us to our church.  I think it's a smidge bigger than what they're used to.  Ha.  They were troopers, for sure.  A lot of our close family friends came up and introduced themselves, so while it was probably a bit overwhelming to meet so many people, at least they know that Adam is well loved here in Texas!

We had lunch at our house with the Flaggs and Papa & Jonita.  Troy and Austin flew in for the weekend, so it was really nice to have the fam together.  SMoo joined us as well, since her fam is in Arkansas, but really she just fit right in.  And I guess it wouldn't be an Easter celebration without her!

It was a great weekend with my Easter people.  

In a Ladder Truck

Today as I was driving, I looked over at a ladder truck, and there was Adam in the back seat. It made me smile really big.  Sometimes life surprises me, and it doesn't turn out how I pictured it.  It's better.  And I am so grateful.

God can do anything, you know—far more than you could

ever imagine

or guess

or request

in your wildest dreams!

He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us,

his Spirit deeply and gently within us.

Ephesians 3:20-21, (MSG)

Meeting Kelly Clarkson

I don't typically talk about work on this blog because, well, it's work.  And while it's where I spend a good chunk of my time, when I come home, I just like to be home.  That being said, however, there are some things that are really big...like a walk that 40,000 people attend, and one Kelly Clarkson in particular.

While it may sound a bit cheesy, Kelly Clarkson actually had a rather big impact on my singing start.  While on a church choir tour/mission trip in high school, I pretended to be her in a skit our family group did, and knew that I'd really have to own "A Moment Like This" if I was going to be the "good singer" on our version of American Idol.  The rest of the week, I sang my solo "Here I Am to Worship" with a lot more confidence, and people started asking me to sing more often.  I sang at Baylor, at church, and now at weddings and any chance I can get!

{Me, Molly, Kelly & SMoo}

I shared this info about our special guest with my Dad the night before the walk.  He was so pumped and was determined to meet her and get a photo.  {Most of the time I try to stray away from being "Gary's Daughter" at work because I don't want to be treated any differently than anyone else.  However, he's been really involved in the organization and very instrumental in making a difference, so it's kind of hard to ignore, which isn't always a bad thing!}  He made sure that the girls got a pic with the very first American Idol.  Thanks, Dad!

Molly snapped this photo of me and Dad at the top of the bridge.  40,000 people cross under it as they move past the start/finish line, and it was my first time to be up there and see this part of the walk.  

I was born too soon and spent three weeks in the NICU with spinal meningitis after I was born, so our family has been involved with the March of Dimes for a very long time because it's near and dear to our hearts.  I started going to the walks with my dad every year growing up, and it was always fun for us to share that together.  While I don't remember each one of them, the last three stand out quite vividly.  As it turns out, the walk has become a way for me to mark seasons in my life, and each year I go back, I wonder where I'll be next.

In 2009, I was fresh off a plane from studying abroad.  I was about to graduate from Baylor and didn't have a job yet.  I was anxious and wasn't looking forward to graduating.  To say that summer was challenging would be an understatement.  But in August, the March of Dimes offered me a full-time job, and I was thrilled to work where I'd interned one summer in college.  

In 2010, I worked my first walk.  I learned all the behind-the-scenes tasks that have to be done by our small staff to pull of this event.  It was a cool day.  I had also been dating Adam for about a month, and couldn't stop smiling.  I wasn't sure where it was headed quite yet, but I was having a blast with him.

This year, I had more of a handle on what my role would look like, and I even got to drive a golf cart this time.  {People think you're quite helpful when you can haul them from point A to point B!}  And a year later, Adam and I are engaged, and we'll be married by the time the next walk rolls around!  

The Lord has continued to be so faithful in my life, and I am grateful for a way to look back and see how He works in our lives.  

  Sing joyfully to the LORD, you righteous; 

   it is fitting for the upright to praise him. 

 Praise the LORD with the harp; 

   make music to him on the ten-stringed lyre. 

 Sing to him a new song; 

   play skillfully, and shout for joy.

 For the word of the LORD is right and true; 

   he is faithful in all he does. 

Psalm 33:1-4

Top Ten Lately

                                                        

Recent highlights taken from my phone...

1.  The roomdog and I tried a new Chinese Takeout place near our a-p-t.  We watched Gilmore Girls and were hoping that our delivery experience would rival Lorelei and Rory's.  Unfortunately, it did not.  We'll stick to Pei Wei, but at least we tried.

2.  Dinner at Fish City Grill with SMoo on Friday night was delicious.  We ended our two hour talk-fest with a rocky road ice cream brownie.  And yes, the brownie was warm...we double checked to make sure.

3.  AMP and I play Monopoly at Albertson's.  We collect game pieces and have recently discovered that winning the $1M may be harder than we suspected.  The best is when the cashiers give you more than they're supposed to because they like us.

4.  I'm convinced I look like a camp counselor driving a fifteen passenger van with my camo hat and wind breaker.  We had our big walk for work this past Saturday {more on that later!} and part of my job was to help pick up these vans.  It was also the day of 50 mph winds {I kid you not}, so driving that big tank was quite an experience.

5.  Last night, I got to spend some quality time with my Aunt Laura.  This must happen more often.  We browsed some wedding invitations to get ideas, ate at Mi Cocina and perused dishes at Dillard's.  Turns out, they have a better selection than Macy's.  When I shared this tidbit with AMP, he said, "Well, I guess we'll be switching our registry to Dillard's!"  What a guy.

Things not pictured, but highlights nonetheless...

6.  Adam stopped by work yesterday just to give me a hug.  I needed it.  It really made my day.

7.  Phone calls from Amanda and Mary Ellen to catch up.

8.  Finding time to read a book or two lately.

9.  Getting organized around the apartment and finding time to cook again.

10.   Lunch with Papa & Jonita on Sunday.  We had a great time catching up.  I'm so thankful to be back near my family again!

11.  And one more for good measure: tonight I get to spend some quality time with AMP.  I.  Can't. Wait.

Dallas Blooms

The Friday after Adam and I got engaged, we made it to the Arboretum.  I've been wanting to go with him for a long time, and it worked out for us to go during the Dallas Blooms festival.  Spring in Dallas is just absolutely beautiful, and I was really glad to take a half day off from work and go with AMP.  :-)