homemade with love

Thanksgiving isn't thanksgiving without pumpkin pie! Jason and I had an in service with his mom the night before the big day and our first attempt at tackling this fantastic staple turned out better than expected!
It was a major hit, and the pie dish came home empty! (I think the homemade whipped cream helped too!)

We have one more family Thanksgiving dinner to attend on Sunday and we're in charge of bringing Jason's all time favorite, green bean casserole!!! Stay tuned...

Our masterpiece!

when rivals play nice

The drive to Columbus isn't a quick one, but it was worth the effort to spend some quality time with my bestie Lindsay, her boyfriend Greg, and their dog-child, Noah! We made it down to Ohio and were trying to meet up with them at a bar they love called "The Goat" and found ourselves at the wrong place and while we were trying to re-route and correct our direction I hit a racoon (may he rest in peace) and I think Jason was more shook up than I was:)

Saturday morning we decided we'd head to Easton (the best mall EVER) and take in a little football, do a little shopping, and see where the day might lead. Now, anyone that has met us knows that Jason and I are HUGE Michigan football fans...needless to say we left our gear at home, and Greg and Linds were nice enough to leave their colors at home as well:) We took in both games (OSU had better luck then our Mazie and Blue unfortunately) and we had an amazing time!

Trip Highlights include but are not limited to:

-Attempting to find the Goat (GPS, sometimes you are worthless!)
-Noah's kisses
-Catching up with Linds:)
-Greg cheering for Michigan (Yes, he did!)
-Bargain shopping in Easton, that place is dangerous
-Meeting new friends (even if they do love OSU)
-Watching some random play Dance Revolution, the expert level and he had a water bottle
-Whoopy Cushions
-Bar Hopping
-Fado and all of it's deliciousness
-Blowing people's minds with Snaps
-Eating wedding cake @ midnight
-Farewell lunch at Potbelly

What a great trip we had, and we'll be back again soon! Love you guys!!!
Michigan and OSU play this Saturday...we'll see who plays nice this time!?!

counted blessings

I am thankful for the loud, annoying noise the alarm makes when I'm brought to life in the morning. I am thankful for the cup of coffee that Jason makes me, so that I can face the day with an alert perspective. I am thankful for the quiet time that we spend together in the morning reading our devotionals and reminding ourselves of Gods love for us. I am thankful for the job that I have, as I know many are without right now. I am thankful for the loving families we have and are now officially a part of! I am thankful for the many amazing friends that we have, and for the support, love, and encouragement they provide. I am thankful for our marriage and all that it is, and everything it will become.

I am thankful for the things places I've lived, the experiences I've had, and the lives I might have touched. For everything is a part of who I am...the wonderful, the surprising, the ugly, the bruised, the healed, the loved, and the new.

I'll be thankful for the turkey, the stuffing, and the pumpkin bars, but I'm reminded that Thanksgiving is just one day and that I need to continue to count my blessings everyday that I have the privledge of living and breathing.

amazing reminder

The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
 ²He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.
 ³He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.

"I will"

I didn't sleep a wink, but it didn't matter. When my alarm went off at 7:00am on October 30, I was wide awake and already counting down the minutes until 12:30pm...that's when I would see Jason for the first time.

Lindsay snuggled with me, so we said a very happy, and tearful good morning, and goodbye as she set off to get pretty downstairs with the other bridesmaids. I sat on the bed, said a morning prayer, and took a couple of deep breaths. Smaka was an angel and brought me Starbucks, and then the beautification process commenced. I felt like a celebrity. Make-up artist in front, hair stylist in back, my mom sitting staring at me, and everyone kept coming up and "oooo-ing and ahhhh-ing" ...made a girl feel good!

With my veil in place, and supplies in hand, we all headed to the Country Club.

When we pulled in, I had another rush of adrenaline and just said to myself "I'm getting married...this is really happening..." I must have been talking outloud because my dear friend Jess gabbed a hold of my hand and said "yes Court, you are!"

We made our way to the dressing room and it was time to slip into my dream dress. Cindy and Jess laced me up under my mom's supervision and with my navy blue shoes on we headed outside to get pictures taken. It was windy, but that didn't slow us down. My dimples hurt after awhile, but our photographers were amazing, and we're impatiently waiting to get some samples!!! The girls all looked stunning, but were so quiet...I think they were all just as nervous for me as I was for myself:)

After traisping around the golf course, the last picture was taken, and my heart beat started to speed up a bit...it was time. I looked at myself one last time in the mirror, spoke to the best man, Jason Mejeur, for a second and asked him how Jay was feeling..."He's just full..." he said, with a huge smile on his face. The photographer came around the corner to let me know that Jason was waiting for me.

As I headed towards the room where I'd be seeing him, the only thing I could think about was how precious this moment that was about to happen was. It was intense. I wasn't scared, I couldn't stop smiling, and I felt the most incredible calm come over me. The doors to the room were open just the slightest bit so that I could peek in and see Jason standing across the room. He was standing in front of a gorgeous fire place. The fire was lit, the room was silent, and he had his head down and was quietly praying. I watched him for a couple of seconds, and then he looked up and we locked eyes. I opened the double doors and as he requested, I began to walk towards him....

Our time together was perfect. I'll remember that moment for the rest of my life. We spoke from our hearts, and said a prayer for the remainder of the day, and composed ourselves for the next round of pictures with each other and our families at the church. When Jason and I arrived at the church, things seemed to be under control. Little did we know that the church had not had power and everyone was scrambling around trying to figure out what to do as a back up plan. We had no idea....which in retrospect is a great thing because I would probably have freaked out. (So thank you everyone, for keeping your cool!)

People started to arrive, and I was anxious. Dry mouth, knee bouncing, just ready to get the show on the road, and the second hand on the clock was going too slow. A couple of minutes til 4:00pm and my two Dad's escorted me to the back of the church. We watched the bridesmaids one by one begin to walk down the aisle...I told them both, how much I loved them and how much it meant for them to both be walking me. With a few tears, both told me they loved me too, and that they were both so happy for Jason and I. We linked arms, Canon in D began to play, and in what seemed like slow motion the entire congregation stood to watch me walk down the aisle to man that was to be my future.

The ceremony was everything that Jason and I prayed it would be from the people standing beside us, to the songs of worship sang by Amanda, and Kelsey, to the reading from Ephesians, and the amazing message from our pastor, Rod. It was very much about Jason and I, but more importantly it was about glorifying Christ. We are humbled and grateful to have recieved such positive feedback from family and friends, and are thankful that our ceremony could possibly be a light for someone who needed it.

I signed my new name on our marriage certificate, and we ran through a cloud of bubbles to the trolley where our friends and champage filled glasses were waiting! There were toasts, pictures, and football score updates galore as we made our way around downtown and headed back to the Country Club. With "Addicted to Love" playing in the background we were introduced and immediately did our first dance. "When You Got A Good Thing" by Lady Antebellum played and as fast as the day was going we tried to slow down, and just be in the moment. My dad said a few words, Jason's dad opened in prayer, Cindy took me on small trip down memory lane and also reminded me that I would not be the "cat lady, " and Mejeur reminded Jay to "don't stop believin" and dinner was served.

The slideshow Michael (Cindy's hubby) put together for us was incredible, and the cake was delicious (well, from the one bite I had!) The glass clinking never seemed to stop...it seemed as though everyone wanted show off their own personal style of kissing! I have to say, Tim and Kate won with the push-up kisses! The candy bar was a hit too...I hope the carmel popcorn changed all of your lives like it did ours! I can eat a whole bag:)

The father-daughter dances kicked things off and the dance floor did not get a break all night! The staples were there of course...Def Leppard, Usher, Grease Lightening, Thriller, and we were both scooped up and held hostage above the crowd for "Don't Stop Believin'" It was the best time we've ever had and there were blisters and drink stains to prove it! The hot dog cart was a success, even though I didn't get one! (Jason will never hear the end of this! :)

...

My husband and I decided it was time to head back to the Amway and made a mad dash to our car. We made it to our suite and were welcomed by chocolate covered strawberries, and chilled champagne. We popped the bottle open, had a drink, and just sat in silence for a couple of minutes. Reflecting on the day, and content with everything that had transpired.

Our wedding day, was more than I ever imagined. I am so blessed to have such a wonderful man in my life. A man who loves me, and has a love for the Lord just as fierce. We'll grow in this life together through all of the mess, and joy and our experiences will be that much more memorable because we'll be sharing it with each other.

Jason, my husband, my best friend, and my love. You are everything God knew I needed, and I love you with my whole heart. I prayed for this day that now has passed, just as I prayed for you...and I am now complete having said these most precious of words, "I will."

bittersweet

"Bittersweet" by Shauna Niequist has once again filled me with a calm that never ceases to amaze me and I am already sad that I've just about finished it. It's so insightful, incredibly vulnerable, and so simply honest that I have laughed and cried, and laid awake a night thinking about the kinds of things she's brought to light.

I follow her blog obsessively...here's a small dose of what you'll get!


'This is what I've come to believe about change: it's good, in the way that childbirth is good, and heartbreak is good, and failure is good. By that I mean that it's incredibly painful, exponentially more so if you fight it, and also that it has the potential to open you up, to open life up, to deliver you right into the palm of God's hand, which is where you wanted to be all long, except that you were too busy pushing and pulling your life into exactly what you thought it should be. 'I've learned the hard way that change is one of God's greatest gifts, and most useful tools. Change can push us, pull us, rebuke and remake us. It can show us who we've become, in the worst ways, and also in the best ways. I've learned that it's not something to run away from, as though we could, and that in many cases, change is a function of God's graciousness, not life's cruelty.'

Bad blogger am I....

It's been quite the whirlwind these last couple of weeks, and I cannot believe that we're near the middle of November already! God has humbled us and we are so grateful for every blessing that we've experienced recently. March 20, 2010 seems as if it was so long ago, and the planning, coordinating, sweat, tears, and every effort so full of love since that day made October 30, 2010 the most magical, and amazing day of our lives.

I promise to write more soon...I want to give the next post all of the attention, detail, and recognition it deserves and I can't wait to relive that day as I type up our wedding day fairytale for all of you to read!

Stay tuned...

Picture by: Jordan Quinn Photography