Thursday, September 20, 2012

The Beginning

David and I are coming up on one year of marriage.  What?  How did time fly by so fast?!  I started thinking about how close we are and realized I don't think I've ever mentioned how we met- aside from both going to Clemson.  In keeping with the spirit of anniversary weekend, I thought I'd tell the tale now! :)









First thing first, I have loved Clemson since Mrs. Libby (my math tutor) moved in across the street 15 years ago.  She took me to as many Clemson games as she could and I fell in love.  David has played soccer since he was a teeny, tiny little boy.  He was born and raised in Athens, GA so the first question most people ask is, "why didn't you go to Georgia?"--answer: they don't have a soccer team.  If Georgia had a soccer team, that's where he would have ended up.  So, we both ended up at Clemson.  It's amazing to look back and see how God has worked.









So back to the story:  I potlucked housing my sophomore year and wound up with 2 great roommates and 1 crazy roommate.  The crazy roommate was 26, a recovering drug addict, and brought ridiculous 30 year old men home to our on campus housing....you know, to spend the night.  For three 19 year olds, we were not okay with that!  We lived with it a little while, but soon after school started, she wasn't a recovering addict anymore.  She pulled all kinds of crazy shenanigans, like cooking cereal in the stove until the whole place filled with smoke and locked herself out of the apartment and we'd find her curled up in a ball outside in the morning.  The final straw was her cutting up a stained piece of carpet and super-gluing a new piece of carpet (cut from under her bed...) into the old spot.  Yes, that happened.









It obviously wasn't a safe environment to live in, so after much talk with Clemson, they gave me 3 different options on places to move on campus.  All 3 of them were farther from main campus than where I was, so I went to the closest place first to look around.  The girls were rowers, really nice, and their apartment was closest to campus.  Oh, and 4 boys lived next door.  I was sold.  :)







One evening, I was outside, sitting on the stairs talking to my mom on the phone, when this guy rounded on the corner in his soccer practice clothes and started coming up the stairs.  He smiled at me, I smiled at him, he held out his hand for a high five--that I, of course, reciprocated!  And that was it.







They had a party, invited us girls over, and we just kept hanging out after that.  We haven't stopped. :)  He's one of my favorite people to hang out with and the fact that I get to do that every. single. day. now makes my heart happy.





We're headed to Atlanta this weekend for our "first anniversary" trip and we're uber excited!  My plan is to hunt down the 'Catching Fire' set, do a little acting, get a spot in the movie, become a famous actress, and move to Hollywood...sound like a plan?! :)








Wednesday, September 19, 2012

Happy Birthday, Grandmom!

Today is my grandmother's birthday!  She and my Granddad are celebrating abroad and absolutely enjoying it!

Happy Birthday to the woman who taught me how to be an independent woman,




To think for myself, 






Has always been there for me, no matter what,




Helped me with all of my papers, essays, and writing prompts,




Taught me to love reading,




Taught me (and still is!) to cook and...




Cooks the best meals I've ever had,




Has always made the holidays so enjoyable,




An amazing mother,




And an absolutely incredible grandmother,




Has taught me to love traveling and learning about new places and cultures,




One of the most stylish ladies I know,






Has shown me how to have a loving, supportive relationship,



Can cut up a rug, 



And has provided me with countless opportunities in life!





 I love you so much and am so blessed to have you in my life.  I'm so glad we lived so close together when I was growing up and I love the lessons I am learning from you.  I wouldn't be the person I am today without your love and support along the way!  Happy Birthday, Grandmom!