/thoughts

Wednesday, March 13, 2013

A Texan moves to Kansas

Blogging, right... now that's something I haven't done in quite a while! Maybe not my forte. But I'm getting there and into a groove of my very own as I embark on this time between adolescence and adulthood. It's amazing how time flies and how every wonderful thing has found it's way into my life. So blessed and so undeserving of the amazing things that have happened in just the past few months! Just to hit the highlights:

Graduated from MSU with a B.S. in Chemistry
Started my internship with Blood:Water Mission working at their home office in Nashville
I've moved to Nashville!!
and still busy, busy making wedding arrangements for our wedding in FOUR months!

And I'm so grateful. For everything. I was lucky enough to be able to take a week to visit Josh, the first time I've seen him in two months. While it was hard to say goodbye (it always is), we both know that the sweet life God has for us together is only around the corner. What is 4 months anyway?! I'm convinced that we'll make it just fine.

Anyway, during my visit to Manhattan (KS) the apparent "Storm of the Century" overtook the area. Josh was released from his grad student responsibilities as an official Snow Day was issued for KSU. In all, it probably snowed about 10-15 inches. Here are some photos of our snow day!

Wednesday, November 21, 2012

Just like autumn leaves, we're in for change

Hello friends!

This past weekend my (then) boyfriend Josh surprised me in Starkville and asked me to marry him! I am elated and can't believe I am Mrs. Joshua Craver in waiting! Unreal. So amazing. I am utterly in awe! We've been so humbled by the love and encouragement shown to us from friends and family. Blessed are we by He who is able to do exceedingly more than we could ask for or think. Thank you to everyone, truly, from the bottom of our hearts.

A day or so after the actual proposal, my fiancé (whoa, that is going to take some getting used to!) and I took some time to enjoy each other in the beauty of autumn in Mississippi. These photos are from our time together at the refuge.

How he proposed...

Saturday, November 17, 2012

Me, unsuspecting in every way, arrived at Waverly Mansion in West Point, MS (see a picture of the place here) under the assumption that I'd be meeting a friend for some photo shooting. I pulled up to the front of this old, beautiful, stoic antebellum home around twilight. The grounds are surrounded by a cast iron fence, and a long walkway leads up the to the front of the mansion. However, I quickly noticed that I was the only one there. I called my friend and he tells me he's parked behind the house and to walk up to the front of the home.

As I get out of my car and head towards the iron gate at the entrance of the grounds, I see Josh standing there and immediately begin to giggle out of pure excitement and surprise! He's been working on his masters degree at K-State and I had thought he was still in Kansas, never even suspecting he would surprise me here in Mississippi. After an exchange of warm greetings, he took my hand and began to lead me up the long pathway illuminated by candles in mason jars to the front of the old antebellum home. I realized quite quickly that this was more than just a friendly reunion.

As we approached the front of the home, I noticed that the path didn't stop, but continued to wind into the backyard where we were encircled by lights strung from the trees above. Ahead in front of us was a bench that held a guitar and flowers (the ones you see above). Admiring the sparking of the lights around me, I sat down and that's when Josh picked up his guitar and began to sing a song very close to our hearts, "Fools Rush In". (I have to say, I'm especially a fan of the Joshua Craver version :) ) During the last few verses of the song, he moved from sitting next to me on the bench and kneeled down in front of me. He finished singing, an exchange of two hearts were made, and that's when he asked me to marry him! Through many happy tears I said yes. Yes!! We were both so overjoyed in that moment! This guy, what a romantic!

My most sincerest thanks and love to my best friend Catherine Craig and her boyfriend Dillon for keeping a close eye on me while helping Josh to decorate the mansion. Also a huge, huge thanks to Bryan Snow for the same and also for getting the permission of his family who actually own the old historic home (way cool, right?) for Josh and I to be there after hours. Y'all are all absolutely amazing and I'm so grateful for the help you've given to Josh to help make that night the most memorable night of my life!

"Take my hand, take my whole life too -

for I can't help falling in love with you."

Hello friends!

How he proposed...

Saturday, November 17, 2012

"Take my hand, take my whole life too -

for I can't help falling in love with you."

Wednesday, October 17, 2012

Sam + Nate // engagement

These two are, in a word, precious. It was a perfect Saturday morning to roam around Starkville and capture a special moment in Sam and Nate's lives. I'm so thankful to be able to document their engagement! Here are some of my favorites.

Monday, September 17, 2012

bryan s. // portrait session

This was a blast. I've never seen someone more excited to be in front of a camera than this guy. From the beautiful backdrop of a local quarry, to running across some old friends, to Bryan jumping around and owning this place as his own personal playground, I'd say it made for quite an entertaining afternoon. I also really enjoyed photographing these shots of him in a friend's backyard. I'm ready for sweater weather to be here to stay!

Tuesday, September 04, 2012

bryan s. // sneak peek

Meet Bryan! Here's a sneak peak of some recent shots taken from the Blue Lagoon adventure yesterday afternoon. So much fun, and a beautiful little place to stumble upon. More to come, soon!

Monday, August 20, 2012

courtney h. // portrait session

Friends, meet Ms. Courtney Hill. Gorgeous, isn't she? This photo session was fun filled in every single way. And while she may not have the pouty lips look down like Shane West, she's still absolutely fabulous and the camera l o v e s her! Every day I am blessed by her friendship.

Monday, July 30, 2012

Nashville Calling

Wow.. Nashville weekend came and went so quickly! We experienced more on this day in this incredible city than we have thus far. Falan graciously took us up into her humble abode and showed us around her new stomping grounds.We got our pacake on at the Pancake Pantry (a MUST for anyone visiting the area) followed by window shopping where I picked up a $2 copy of "The Screwtape Letters" by C.S. Lewis from this quaint (and bursting at the seams) used book shop.

CREMA on Hermitage Street was a must go to for me personally- and it was a sight to see. Probably the cutest little coffee shoppe I've ever been in, with the nicest people!

From there we checked out Cheekwood Botanical Gardens. The grounds are expansive and featured a really neat tree house exhibit. There were around seven tree houses all of which were inspired by various literary novels. My favorite (shown below) was designed and inspired by "The Giver" by Louis Lowry.

"Things could change... Things could be different. I don't know how, but there must be some way for things to be different. There could be colors."

We ventured next to The Parthenon, a scale model of that in Greece at a local park in downtown Nashville.

And lastly (and most excitingly), we took a tour down Broadway home to Nashville's country music venues and every boot and hat shop imaginable. This is proof of those wanderings.

What a joy to experience this place with two of the most fantastic people I know! :)