My bother is married!

Hey internet!  I know it has been a few weeks.  I have some really great excuses... basically I've been traveling and surgery-ing... so those are legit reasons to abandon you for a few weeks, I'd say.

I'm so excited to announce that my brother is married!  AND I have 2 new sisters!  {I'm assuming it works this way... sister-in-law and her sister count, right?!}

ok ok ... OK! I won't make you wait any longer... here are a few pics I took over the wedding weekend in Colorado.

We traveled all day Thursday to get to the cabin up in the mountains.  I got unpacked and then started getting ready for the big night... 80's-prom -dress-themed bachelorette party!!  Elizabeth did an amazing job planning the party - everything was so adorable and we played some hilarious games.

Here are the bridesmaids dressed in our 80's gear

Love letting the creative juices flow and designing toilet paper bridal gowns.. they are my specialty... however we didn't win this time :)

I can't believe I'm posting this for the world to see... but... with the promise of being real... here I am.. in all my 80's-crimped-hair glory #sorrynotsorry

We are total 80's babies - that decade is just in our core... just look at us :)

Decked out and ready for the night on the town... limo style!  The diamond has several tasks that Melissa had to complete while we were out and about that evening... so much fun!

What a great lookin' crew! 

Friday Morning's view:

My view on Friday morning... our cabin had such an amazing view of the mountains #Godisbig

After a night on the town we all slept in a bit but not too long... we had a beautiful bridal luncheon hosted by Sara (Melissa's mom) at the Stanley Hotel... yeah that is the one from 'The Shinning' ... you could say I wouldn't go a single place by myself... and you might be accurate.  :)  No, it was so beautiful.. and great had food!

The bridal luncheon - such a beautiful time spent getting to know these ladies!

All of the bridesmaids were given these gorgeous pearls at the luncheon - absolutely perfect!  LOVE them so much!

The nearly-married couple during rehearsal on Friday night - I think this is the only picture of my brother I actually took on my phone from the entire weekend! I spent a lot more time with the ladies... but I'm sure I'll have more once the real wedding pics are ready! He is so handsome! #ilovemybrother

 On Friday night it started snowing... this was our view on Saturday morning #weddingday We were so blessed because it stopped snowing right before the wedding... yet had the perfect amount of snow on everything to make the pictures absolutely PERFECT!

We went into the rocky mountain national park and I got to take some beautiful pictures... #iheartsnow

love love LOVE the snow covered streams

This is by far my favorite picture I took at the park.  I wanted to take the tree bark with me to create something.. not sure what... but something amazing.  The texture was so beautiful

The beautiful bride - I am stoked to have her in the family... how did I get so lucky?!

Because of the snow... all of the bridesmaids wore our boots during the pictures and took the heels for the ceremony... then changed back into boots for the reception... I'm so glad I had these trusty ol' things with me :)

My other new sister, Elizabeth!  Love her.... isn't she so stinkin' adorable?! She made an amazing MOH!!

Right before the ceremony... absolutely stunning.  

Dad giving the newlyweds some words of wisdom... #mademecry

I loved their guest book idea - they did fabric squares and we used fabric markers to write out words of wisdom to the couple.  They are going to use these fabric squares to make a quilt!  I thought that was such a great idea- can't wait to see it when it's done!

The family :) Scott is so excited to have another 'in-law' in the family... it is so adorable to watch their 'in-law bonding moments'... lol  apparently they give advice about how to 'get in' with the family... it makes me smile regardless!

Well the trip was too short... and my time spent with these amazing people blinked by... but I hold the memories of this weekend so close to my heart.  I loved meeting all of Melissa's family and friends.. they are just like her - genuinely sweet people who love the Lord.  

I've seen a couple of the official wedding photos and they are sooooooooooo good!  I'll be sure to post some of my favorites

What have you all been up to?

Libester Award!

Hey internet... I recieved my first ever blog award!

I'd like to take this opportunity to thank all of my readers, and my mom and dad for loving me, and my husband for putting up with my annoying love for taking pictures and documenting our life...

BUT really.... I am so honored to have been nominated by the sweet Kelly Jo over at The Dr. and The Mrs.  If you haven't visited her blog before - you totally should!  She is a brand new momma and I love reading about her life adventures.

Anyway, the Liebster Award is for bloggers with less than 200 followers.  Liebster is a German word meaning dearest. The award is given to up-and-coming bloggers who deserve recognition and support to keep on blogging.

Here are the "rules":

1. List 11 facts about yourself

2. Answer the 11 questions given to you

3. Create 11 new questions for the bloggers you nominate for the award.

4. Choose 5 bloggers with 200 or less followers to nominate.

5. Go to each blogger's page and let them know about the award.

6. Thank the person who nominated you and link back to their blog!

11 facts about me:

1. I'm in love with this guy

2. This Z-MAN sandwich is probably my favorite BBQ thing to eat - EVER

3. My hair is my favorite feature

4. Coffee dates are potentially some of my favorite things

     4a. Vanilla Chai is a way to my heart

     4b. This is one of my favorite coffee date spots... #WhistleStop #DowntownLS

5. Took a painting class last summer... and I secretly loved every second of it... and can't wait to do it again!

6. I have the best brother a girl could ever ask for...

7. I have a really unique... loud laugh... #sorrynotsorry

8. Before I started dating Scott... I was NOT a cat person... now I can't imagine these two furry babies not being a part of our family!

9.  Cards are my love language... the way to my heart

10. SOFT iced sugar cookies are my weakness

11. I seriously love snow... LOVE it.

Whew... that was tough!  Now onto answering the questions Kelly Jo had for me.

Her Questions for me:

1. What is your favorite article of clothing?

I'm thinking that I really REALLY like scarves...

2. If you could own any exotic animal what would it be?

TIGER... duh #MIZ-ZOU

3. What is your favorite book?

Wow... this is really hard - currently Crazy Love by Francis Chan is still rocking my world even a year later

4. What is your dream vacation?

A mixture of Hawaii and skiing at Copper Mt. in Colorado

5. What are some of your pet peeves?

People that don't know how to drive... by far my biggest!  
People texting while driving... the funny part is that I can always tell when someone around me is texting and driving b/c of how similar they look to a drunk driver on the road... #DontGetMeStarted

6. What was your favorite movie growing up?

Aladin, The Wedding Planner, and Sleepless in Seattle

7. What is your favorite recipe to cook?

Fajitas... funny it is my favorite one to eat too :)

8. If you could hang out with one celebrity for a day, who would it be?

The Pioneer Woman - I think we'd be friends in real life.  She is sassy and sweet - oh and I'd beg her to teach me everything she knows about cooking that day.

9. What is one of your family traditions?

Christmas tree forrest AND Christmas Eve service... 2 of my favorites!!

10. What is your favorite season and why?

Fall!  It used to be because my birthday is in the fall... and when I was little I thought the leaves changed colors JUST for my birthday.  I love everything about how the air smells, how the wood burns in the camp fire, the way the leaves sound in the wind.... and lets face it... the way my hair loves the perfect climate during fall

11. Where do you see yourself in ten years?

Hmmm... I hope to be a God-honoring momma... and I hope to be serving where the Lord desires me to serve... I plan to fall even deeper in love with my handsome hubby too ... 

Ok... so I tag the following bloggers:

1. Jen @ Confessions of Jenny

2. Jamie @ The Franzy Bunch

3. Laina @ The Life Is Beautiful Project

4. Candace @ Candace's Calling

5. Stacey @ Hope Handmade 

If you haven't visited their blogs- you totally should! These are some very talented ladies!!

My questions for these lovely bloggers to answer:

1. If you had a mission statement for your blog... what would it be?

2. What is your favorite feature about yourself?

3. If you could live in any decade... which would you live in and why?

4. What are your top 5 favorite things about your spouse?  If you're single... what are the top 5 qualities you are looking for in a future spouse?

5. If you could spend the day with a celebrity... who would it be and why?

6. Favorite disney movie?

7. What is your favorite hobby?

8. If you were given the chance... what 1 piece of advice would you give yourself at age 16?

9. What is your favorite thing about your christian community?

10. What is your favorite quote?

11. What is your biggest weakness and how do you embrace/deal with it?

five years of loooooooooove....

where do I even begin with this guy?

I know I haven't really shared much about Scott's and I's love story... mostly because he doesn't want to be embarrassed because of his sweetness.... I tell him that it makes him more of a man than any 'man' I know! :) Or potentially because my long term memory tends to be pretty fuzzy...

I do have to give you a little summary of our story... because today I'm celebrating our relationship... and it starts at the beginning! 2001 when I transferred from my local public high school to a local christian school.... Insert Scott {student at said school} into my life.  We weren't close in HS... we were in a class of 40 students so we were around one another but he was the scrawny, goofy, super-athletic guy.

Fast forward to our freshman year of college (2004) when one of our classmates at a party and we had a little HS reunion to catch up on life.  Scott and I chatted a little during the party as we usually did at these social events.  Also basketball games were a big deal at our HS so we would run into one another  when I was home over breaks.  Next thing I know... Scott and I are talking on AIM {nope... twitter, instagram, and iPhones weren't a thing yet...} quite often.

So the summer after freshman year of college we started hanging out with a group of friend- some from HS some from Three16 {college ministry}.  Before I knew it, Scott was my best guy friend!  Of course... this was perfect because he was really good friends with a guy I had a crush on - so I figured it would work perfectly for him to match make for me.  Oh my word, did God have a bigger and better plan for me.  Now, don't get me wrong, we are still very dear friends with that past crush.... thankful we can look at that time and just shake our heads and laugh about it!

Scott is pretty good at being intentional... let me tell you.  This guy knew waaaaaaaayyyyyyyyyyyyyy before I did that we would end up together.  Love how the Lord did that.  He knew how much I needed to feel pursued.... especially because I have a 'take-charge' personality and it would be super easy for me to manipulate situations or circumstances to basically justify doing the pursuing for the guy.... {did I just say that out loud?}

I'm not even sure how this happened... but I think Whitney found out that Scott had a thing for me and OF COURSE told me {rule #1 of girl code: always relay important information to one another} of his affection :)  Apparently it was not God's timing because I was not interested.  We had some really good conversations when the news broke - and honestly I think it only deepened our friendship... which really felt like the first grown-up kind of thing to me.  You know... where a guy likes a girl but the girl doesn't like the guy... but yet they can talk about it and continue being friends instead of letting it be super awkward?  Or maybe it was because God knew best.  We'll go with that :)

 As our friendship grew closer, I realized how much I really didn't like it when he was dating someone. After the press release about his affections and before we started dating was probably a span of roughly eight months.  He dated 2 girls during that time... one of which told him that he and I were going to get together?!  I guess she could just tell by our friendship?  I don't know... but she was right!

Ok... here starts the mushy-ness.  I vividly remember the first time I tingled head to toe one time that Scott touched my knee to get my attention in the beginning of summer 2006.  We were sitting in a pew at a church in Grandview on a Saturday listening to a pastor talk about some research he had done on a local ministry.  It was the most confusing moment ever!  'Why did THAT make me get butterflies?'... We've been friends for several years and it was NOT the first time he had touched my knee to get my attention.  But for some reason it was different this time.

So... I kept that to myself for a few days - only because my BFF wasn't home from leading at camp until a week or so later.  I figured that gave me plenty of time to try and process what was going on with me! She came home and we had some girl talk over 4th of July... I remember so clearly because she told me 'Raylene... you never told me not to let you date him'.  You see - I knew it would be easy to just start 'liking' my guy friends because they were there and it was convenient.  I had told April to not let me date certain guy friends of ours.  Apparently I never gave that rule for Scott :)

So over the next month or so we were flirting feverishly... it was so adorable.  Internet... I'm SURE everyone around us at the time would agree with it's cuteness.

June 14, 2006 came and a few of our friends were heading over to Scott's to hang out and play games.  So of course I joined... this was such a blessing because the very next morning I was heading to St. Luke's on the Plaza to have spinal correction surgery.  While you wouldn't be able to tell by looking at me, I had sculiosis and my spine was the shape of an S.  Anyway... the few guy friends who were hanging out at Scott's that night spent time and prayed over me before I left that night.  It was one of the sweetest moments!  The next day after the 10 hour surgery and growing an inch and 1/2 taller - I was safely out of surgery and starting the long road of recovery.  I would be in the hospital for over a week and almost everyday I had friends visiting... and nearly everyday Scott visited me in the hospital and we played Phase 10 - one of my favorite games {and one of his least favorite games}

It was less than a month later - July 10, 2006 to be exact that Scott and I would have our DTR {define the relationship} discussion and start dating.  We established boundaries, expectations, and the intention of our relationship {intended to end in marriage}.  It was a beautiful discussion... I will spare you all of the details - potentially because I don't remember all of them.... but nonetheless - it was beautiful.

So there we were watching the credits of Top Gun because it was still super uncomfortable for me to ride in cars.. so we watched a lot of movies with pillows propping me up - when it happened... we held hands. {sigh}  I have to admit it was quite the transition to seeing him as my best guy friend... to my BOYfriend.  But no complaints here... I loved every second of it!

I was in college at the time just a couple of hours away - which was a very healthy thing for our relationship.  We talked on the phone in the evenings - because he worked full time and went to school part time while I did the school thing all day and was very involved with some extra curricular activities on campus.  I believe it we truly had a healthy balance of time 'together' {via phone} and away.  I didn't have texting like I do now... so it was much easier to maintain that healthy balance.

So we dated for a year and a month when he popped THE question!  Which you can read more about here!

Wow... it has been so fun recounting these memories the last few days as I prepare this post!  It is amazing that I love him more now that I did the day we got married... it is crazy to think that is possible.    Scott truly completes me.  The Lord knew exactly what I needed in a husband and have it through Scott.  He has such a calm and quiet spirit along with such an honest heart that teaches me sooooooo much.

Dear Babe,

Here are some of my favorite things about you today:

-how much you wish the Royals played all year around
-the discipline you have as you continue your education
-your non-anxious heart that challenges me constantly to not worry
-the love for the Lord that pours out of your pores - thank you for encouraging me in my relationship with Christ
-your discernment ... your wisdom comes from such an honest and caring place {so beautiful}

Ok... the tears are starting to well so I better stop there :)  I love everything about you!

Happy day-late anniversary!

Love,
Ray

5 years ago tomorrow....

I was preparing to marry my best friend.

*Picture taken at Passion 06 --- 6 months before we started dating*

Oh my word - you have no idea how much I love reliving the memories of our relationship and this day!  Of course - every day since then has been even better than the day before...  but something is so special about a wedding day.... your own wedding day.  

so here we go.... lets relive this one together... {LOOOOOTS OF PICTURES AHEAD}

The day started out with hardly any sleep - because I was up all night reading the letters Scott had given me after the rehearsal dinner.  AND I was packing for the honeymoon!  Give me a break... I was taking my first flight EVER and wanted to be as prepared as possible.

So we got up and of course my eyes were puffy from crying over the sweet words from my soon-to-be husband.  If you know my hubby at all.. you know he is a man of few words... so when he has some to say - you listen!

We get our hair done at The Style Room downtown and then head to the church to start getting ready for the big day.  

Oh my word, I can't tell you how much fun this was... to spend time with some of my closest girl friends as we get all dolled up!

{all of the photos below are thanks to PhotoMementos this used to be a husband and wife team - the team has shifted a bit -but they are talented photo journalists who captured the perfect moments from our special day}

This girl did NOT want to be taller than her dad walking down the isle... so flats it was

Oh my goodness... these girls are so precious to me! 

So the guys... well they don't take as long to get ready... so they had some time on their hands...

Bryce... being Bryce :)

So now it is time for the first look!  Internet, I know there are soooooo many different opinions on the bride and groom seeing each other before the wedding.  But having that special moment alone with only cameras to capture it... was the perfect way to go for us.  We were able to relax the rest of the day and enjoy spending time with our close friends before the wedding and the rest of our friend and family afterwards!

*curious cats*

So now that we have seen one another... we go around the church taking some couple pictures while we wait for the Limo to take us downtown KC to take group pictures!

*Oh my word he is so good lookin!*

Now we are off to downtown KC!! 

First stop... Liberty Memorial.  Scott and I share a love for skylines... and we happen to be super proud of the one we live near.  KC has a beautiful skyline so we decided to take advantage!

*Yes... we were RUNNING!  It was 2/2/2008 and 40 degrees... so it could've been worse*

After Liberty Memorial we head across the street to Union Station to take more pictures!

*so beautiful*

*so beautiful manly*

After finishing up at Union Station we head back to the church to touch up and prepare for the main event :)

Scott's aunt is so talented at decorating... so she helped us SOOOOOOOOOOOOOO much in this area.  I of course loved every detail she included!  

Scott's cousin, Mandy, was our flower girl... she is as cute as a button.. and still is! 

We were having a pep talk about going down the isle and making it all the way down :)  

She was super shy and nervous about it.

Some last minute photos before we get married!!

Lining up to start, and a sweet word and hug from my brother.  Such a special moment... so glad it was captured for me!

Praying with my cousin, John {who officiated the wedding} before we get started

I don't even know what we were talking about here... but I know we were having a blast and enjoying one another so much!  I'm so thankful for these ladies!

There is my man walking his parents down the isle to their seats... isn't Sharon so pretty :)

My brother walking my beautiful momma to her seat...

The moms lighting the candles we used for the unity candle..

Dad and I right before we start making the trek down the isle!  I told him he couldn't look at me or else I'd start crying :)

Blake was our ring bearer and he RAN down the isle ... it was so adorable..

Mandy walked very slowly with her head down... she did so great!  Those beautiful eyes had everyone in the room melted!

Dad... one of the very few times I've ever seen him cry :)  Such a special moment!

Spending some time in prayer with those closest to us before we say our vows... while my uncle sang 'The Wedding Song'... the same song he sang at my parent's wedding...

Ben and Bryce 2 our groomsmen wrote us a song... sometime I'll have to write out the lyrics and share them... he and Bryce are sooooo talented! They recorded the song for me so I get to keep it forever :)

I now pronounce you..... HUSBAND AND WIFE!! :)

Walking out to 'The Danger Zone' from Top Gun!

Me and the MOH after the ceremony!! 

Ok... one of the things I told my photographers... is that I absolutely love the pictures of the bride and groom exiting with the seeds or whatever being thrown on them... oh my word... they did an AMAZING job capturing one of my favorite moments of any wedding!!!

Now to the reception! Our center pieces were cakes {enough to serve the table} with our monogram on top and a ribbon around the bottom with our colors!  We LOOOOOOVED it... and the cake was to die for!!!!!

Where we hosted our reception:

We had so many people that came to celebrate and support us... it was so beautiful to see!  

ohhh yeah.. notice the MU glass :)

Uhhh... notice the 'sassy face' I'm giving him about getting cake on my dress...

       

Oh well... it was worth the good pics :)

Our first dance as a married couple.... Hope I always look at him like that :)  

Oh yeah... we totally took a few dance lessons with our wedding party beforehand... they totally paid off!  AND we had a blast doing it!

Father/Daughter dance... so precious!

Mother/son dance.. love this!

Wedding party dance... showing off the mad skills they learned!

Time for the bouquet toss!  

My beautiful cousin caught it!  AND... I'm pretty sure she was the next one to get married of these ladies!  She had just started dating Keith right before my wedding, if I'm not mistaken... so sweet :)

Garter toss... love the expressions here....

My favorite part of this picture is April (MOH) in the background asking her boyfriend {now husband} 'why didn't you get it, babe?!' :)  

Well... then we danced the night away!!! 

OK... so today was all about the wedding... tomorrow... be prepared for the mushy i-love-my-husband-so-much stuff!

What was your favorite memory from YOUR wedding?  Not married? ... what are you most looking forward to in your future wedding?!