Shutterfly Christmas Cards!!!

Heard of Shutterfly? They have fabulous photo cards for numerous occassions! My favorite are the Christmas cards. You can upload any of your favorite pictures from the past year and use them in your card. You can also add a personalized message. Forgot...ink blots and sloppy, embarrassing handwriting. Shutterfly will print your card design and message clearly and crisply on photo paper.
In addition to cards, at Shutterfly you can make a plethora of other gifts using photos, calendars, home decor, and photo books. The thing I love most about shutterfly is their promotional savings. Right now if you purchase one photo book you can receive 50% off any additional photo books you order. If you purchase a calendar, you can receive 50% off the second. And..you can save 20% of their cards. Now who doesn't love saving?

Here's some links to some of the products I mentioned above and more....

Christmas photo cards http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery/christmas-photo-cards
Calendards http://www.shutterfly.com/calendars
Photo mugs http://www.shutterfly.com/photo-gifts/photo-mugs
Thank you cards http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationary/thank-you-cards

To sum it up...I love shutterfly. Check 'em out... http://www.shutterfly.com

Meet Lilly...

About a month ago Josh called me on his way home and said he had a suprise for me and to close all the blinds in the house, listen for the doorbell, wait a minute, and then come to the door.....

I knew he had been in Stillwater that day because he was meeting his friend Ryan there so I thought that he was bringing home Thai Cafe for dinner! It's one of my favorite restraunts and we ate there often when we lived in Stillwater. Little did I know...he didn't see Ryan at all...

Anyways...I answered the door, looked down, and saw this note...

"Hiya Brooke!

My name is Lilly...I already know you because Josh (the coolest guy ever!) told me ALL about you! He said you were highly interested in adoption...and well, I think you'll love me! I am the sweetest creature you will ever know. Josh said that he knew he was supposed to adopt me at first sight. My dear Brooke I love you so much already! I hope you will love me too...I promise to be an amazing daughter! I have a somewhat spotty past but I hope to start an amazing future with my new parents...that is you and Josh! Come see me at the back door if you will...please don't be mad at Josh, he has a great heart and it was my fault because I stole his...it belongs to you though.

Love ya,

Lills! "

And this is what I saw.....

Isn't she cute? She's half beagle but she looks like a little lab!

Josh told me later that he had been planning on bringing her home for a couple of weeks...I definently didn't see it coming.

On a different note...this is what our yard looked like today approximately 15 minutes after Josh got home from work...

Yeah, it's a sprinkler and yes we have a calendar and know it's NOVEMBER! Or at least I do! :)

Josh planted some grass seeds about two months ago and it's quite green and lucious now! His theory is that we can't let it die now because it just came up...so we water it...and our neighbors think we're loco! I caught three neighbor girls playing in it this afternoon!

August 13, 2010

Josh and I received our wedding pictures in the mail last Saturday! I think Josh was concerned; no more like appalled at how excited I was. I did a little dance on our porch, even. I hope our neighbors don't think I'm even weirder now.

It's strange (for lack of a better word since I used weird in the previous sentence) how fast being married has become "normal" for us. When Josh and I started talking about getting married someone told me that weddings are like baptisms in that it is an outward display of what is already in your heart. I like that. P.S. I'd tell you who the someone was..but I can't remember.

It was hard to pick just a few but here are some of my favorites from Amanda Daniels! Find out more about her at http://www.amandadaniels.com


Two of my favorite people. This is when we were talking through the door before the ceremony. I don't recall any of what was said really other than I know I said hi alot. Hahaha must have been the nerves. Keeley says Josh was confused and concerned that I wanted to talk to him.

If I was more creative I would make thought bubbles next to each person's head! Everyone's face cracks me up! Ryan's cracks me up because he doesn't look shocked at all...he's just smiling. And Kaitlyn got caught in action of being suprised.

Hahaha...my little Lacey and Aubrie are feelin' the beat here. Makes me wonder what the song was!

LOVE this one! It's pretty typical of us to not only look like this but to just be awkward in general. I'm seriously considering framing this one.

Don't let the photo fool you...I was not this calm haha...but I was eyeing that Chex Mix! :)

On a different note I was driving home from work one day this week kinda on the grumpy side because I had been dismissed a little early that day but had to do some things on my way out that took longer than anticipated making my early leave not so early. Anyway, that day when I was about 15 minutes from our house there was a really bad wreck . The police or ambulances hadn't arrived yet so I think it had happened in the last 10 minutes or so. Then it occured to me that it could have been me in that wreck if I had left earlier like I had planned to. My grumpiness turned to thankfulness that God had changed my plans for me. Sometimes God does things for us and we don't even realize it. How blessed we are to be his children!

Guess that's a wrap since I've just been summoned to a project at work!

-Brooke

FRIDAY!

Last night Josh and I ventured out to the Beacon Drive-In theater in Guthrie! If you head over to this website: http://www.beacondrive-in.com/, you can sign up for their e-mail newsletter. It'll give you their updated schedule as well as a coupon every once and a while! For instance, last night Josh and I saw Marmaduke for $2.50 each...now that's a cheap date folks! :) And in case you were wondering...no it was not animated..and yes, it was actually pretty funny!

However...we did get there a little after 8 and the movie didn't end up starting until closer to 9:30ish. Unless you want to park really close I'd recommend waiting till 9ish to get there. Next time we're bringing a picnic dinner.

All in all it was super fun! I hadn't been there in ages and we look forward to going again! Wednesday nights you pay by the carfull ($10, I believe), every other night is $5 for adults and $3 for kids. New movies come out on Friday's!

Not to change the subject BUT this was the HIGHLIGHT of my day! I got to work this morning and logged in to check my email and facebook because my facebook is equivalent if not greater than my e-mail. Anyways...one of my most favorite professors from last semester was selling her couch, oversized chair, and matching ottoman via facebook! I immediately about fell out of my chair I was so excited because they would go great in our den/tv room/man area. Let me show you a picture because they are so cute.

Isn't it darling? And let me assure you that it is so comfy as well! She had our entire class over for a cookout at the end of the semester and I tested it out then!

Oh and here is the ottoman....

Have a great weekend!!!!! We are celebrating Josh's sister Lauren's engagement this weekend as well as some possible swim time with my family!

frog.toad.and stuff.

Warning: This post contains a random hodgepodge of things found in my cellular device. Item #1: See the frog/toad? He's our friend. He hides out in our unplanted flowers (left) and the potted plant (right). One night I was watering the turquoise colored pot and the soil errupted. I thought it had gotten too dry and was just re-settling but out jumped this ol fella. He's been around ever since. Also take note of the 50% off sticker on the left? Yeah..we're in the business of bringing nearly dead plants back to life. Talk about green thumb. We're at 3 loses and 12 wins right now but 2 were good ol Lucy's fault. Her stay at our casa was perhaps too uneventful for her and she took the liberty of inhaling our poor cilantro plant as well as an okra plant. Maybe she'd like salsa?

Item #2: Pre-wedding bedroom. Yikes. Brad Henry would name this area a state of emergency in a heartbeat. See that bag of tootsie rolls..center point of photo? Just ate a leftover one. Yum. Although they taste similar to that green package next to it. Nice and minty. I'll never want to eat these types of candy again. Too many leftovers. Better than running out though, I'd say. Yum can't wait for Halloween candy. Can't wait for Gran Jan to get her big 'ol bag she always gets at Sam's! Yum.

Item # 3: This is Keeley! See that yellow thing? It's not a Wendy's cup but one of those little things you use at the drive-thru at the bank. We were returning it. It was a funny story. I'd tell ya but I should probably ask her if I can first. She's in Haiti currently or I would. I can't wait till she gets back and I get to hear all of her stories!!!!!!

Item #4: Josh trimming the hedges near our front porch for the first time. Sorry for the bluriness....I was indoors in the air-conditioning..but before you start laughing...I was probably, I mean most likely doing something productive...like mopping. :)

That's all for today, folks!

And it's July

July. July. July. It makes me cringe! Because I know sc..sch..scho...yuck..I can't even say it. Anyway..IT is around the corner. Now this time next year..I'll be looking forward to it. Why? I'll be sitting behind the big desk. Keeper of the red pen. Recess dismisser. Shoe-tier. Snot wiper. Crayon loaner. De-germer. In otherwords..teacher and happily so. This student business is getting old. Don't ya think. Aren't you guys tired of talking and thinking about my studentness? If so..get tired of it because coming this May I shall no longer be a studentess. And I can go back to loving the smell of freshly sharpened pencils, hot off the press books, and wide-lined notebook paper. Oh and seeing it all get put out at Wal-Mart. Scratch that. Target for sure. Ahhh...

There's a box of Girl's Scout cookies on my desk. Thin Mints. Yup. Yum. Yikes. There's only about 4 left. Jessica ,lovely co-worker and personal friend, (who blogs at jessicakcampbell.wordpress.com) and I just ate 2 each. They decrease in number quickly. But rightfully so. They're delicious.

In case you haven't noticed...this post is well a little random. It's normal for me..but if it's not for you..ya might as well get used to it. Also these (......) commonly known as dots, periods, circles, etc....I'm fond of them and use entirely too many of them in daily writing, texting, emailing, typing.....the list goes on...............................................................

I've really been enjoying cooking/baking lately! Last night zucchini bread. Last week delicious white bread! About the zucchini bread though...had a terrible time convincing Josh that it was not the nastiest conglomeration he had ever seen. Truth be told...I actually think he would enjoy it. That will be a mystery probably until the next batch. Tonight he suggested we have Hamburger Helper. :( It's an insult to my skill but I'm thankful he doesn't expect a 5-course meal daily! Lower expectations of my cooking = a happier and more suprised stomach. Hahahaha

Oh and gardening has been high on my list of fun things as well! We are awaiting our first bell pepper! Yum yum!

Hate to run but my blog post is at a near end due to the approaching 5 o'clock and end to my work day and internet accessibility! Good night to all and to all a goodnight! Gee, I can't wait for Christmas! :)

Good afternoon!

Goodafternoon! Brooke here blogging from CEAT Continuing Education, my current place of employment. Today the most exciting thing happened...we got to see more of our professional pictures from the wedding! Let me just say: Amanda Daniels is the best! Check them out for yourself by going to her blog: http://www.amandadaniels.com/photography/2010/06/brooke-josh-wedding/

No guesses as to Tuesday night's dinner, eh? Well try Wednesdays....handful of pasta, chicken, & zucchini? Come on..take a guess.

On a different note: Today my work had what we call a "food day". Creative right? Haha not so much, but definently tasty. They are quite frequent around here. We usually have some sort of a homemade theme. Today's theme: Potato Bar. DELICIOUS! I always forget how good baked potatos are! If you haven't had one in a while..you should go for it! My lovely friend & co-worker, Taylor, made a delicious broccoli/cheese sauce. Try it out: 2 big bags of broccoli florets; some sour cream; & 2 cans of Campbells cheese soup. Yum. Anywho enough of the recipes.

To pass some time today I made a list of things I take for granted. You should too. I take for granted more things than I thought I did. What are you grateful for today? Spellcheck? Haha.

Well...back to "work"!

WE'RE MARRIED!

...10 days today to be exact! We returned from our honeymoon Sunday and have really been enjoying our new house. We just started opening all of our gifts from the wedding and have already put a few to use! We had our first homecooked meal yesterday evening. Can you guess what it was? Here's two ingredients it included: tomatoes and 1/4lb of ground beef. Think simple. :) And then I made strawberry shortcake...but neither of us ate any...although I had some for breakfast! Yum. Oh and haha..this is funny...we don't have a table yet and so we laid a blanket on the living room floor and ate picnic style...it was quite the site..especially since we don't have any curtains! Hope everyone is having a wonderful Wednesday!

P.S. Here's a preview photo our photographer Amanda Daniels sent us! Check her out at amandadaniels.com

Meet the Wedding Party, Episode 1

Meet Aubrie! Aubrie and I had a plethora of mutual friends in high school but somehow we never met until college. Aubrie was my roomate second semester of our freshman year where we dwelled in a 10 x 12 space! Haha. Aubrie introduced me to rice cookers (which we never used for rice....only boiling eggs), stevia (sugar), and about 10 new words to my vocabulary daily. Just call her Webster...although she likes the Oxford as well. :) One of my favorite memories of Aubrie is when we stayed up all night the night before Valentine's Day making treat bags and cards for our friends. We both had tests the next day so we would study some and then work on our treats all night long. In the morning we delivered them to all of our friends! It was a blast!

Spring Break!

Whoever invented Spring Break is officially my hero! Josh and I had an awesome and relaxing week! We got to do lots of wedding planning and hanging out with our families. And it SNOWED...on the first day of Spring. How crazy is that!?! When Josh and I were at my parent's house we made this......It's called Hot Fudge Cake! We ate it with vanilla ice cream! They were gone before the next morning! I would post the recipe but for one I can't find it and for two we probably didn't follow it anyway! I like to think I inherited the gift of "guess-measuring" from my Granny Jan!

Also during Spring Break we continued our house search by looking at two more houses, ate at Al's Onion Burger (not by my choice.... :), watched a lot of movies, and ate a lot of really great food! Oh and we also celebrated Josh's sister's 2oth birthday!

ONLY 6 more weeks of school left!!!! :)

Bryce's Hoedown Throwdown!

Meet my festive little brother, Bryce! He's a sophomore at Piedmont High School and will be 16 in 19 days! LOOK OUT fellow drivers. I wouldn't set your heart on it but if you're lucky Bryce might perform the Hoedown Throwdown at the wedding! Juuuuuuuussssssstttt kiiiidddding!!!!!! Have a lovely Spring Break and enjoy the video!!!! :)

New Picture!

Hello blog readers!!! Here's another one of our engagment pictures! We are going to try to post a new one each week! Josh is particularly fond of this one because it features the famous Edmon Low Library in the background! For those of us who don't visit the library very often...it is merely a building...but a fabulous picture nonetheless! :)

97 days!

Well...it's been a while since we have updated, huh? I'd like to say that we lost the password to our Blogspot account or that Reggie ate our last post....but neither of those happened. Between our last post and this post a ton of things have happened. First off, Josh found out that his job assignment will be in Guthrie! God is good!! I think he is planning on starting there a few weeks after graduation. Speaking of graduation...it is 2 months from today! It is just crazy how fast this semester has gone already. Spring Break is next week and a week from this coming Saturday is the three months marker on our wedding countdown! Josh and I have begun looking for a place to call home! It's an exciting and time-consuming process...but very fun! This weekend we will go to our second pre-marital counseling appointment. We are still looking for a person/bakery to make our cake so if you have any suggestions please let us know! Hope everyone is having a great week! :)

Beautiful

Hello Everyone!

The wedding is drawing nearer by the day (duh Josh) and Brooke and I are getting excited about being married in less than 5 months! So far it has flown by, and I'm sure the coming months will not slow down. Brooke is doing a wonderful job with wedding planning and I am contributing as I am needed (I mean made).

Brooke and I have known in our hearts from pretty much the time we started dating that God has put us together and that we are meant to be together for the rest of our lives. As is expected, some people don't understand or see why we would want to get married at such a young age. Brooke and I both have had several people try to talk us out of getting married. Even though it is always people that don't know us very well and haven't been around us, it is something that bothers both of us when it happens. We have both heard, "why don't you just want to hang out after college" or "you are making a decision that affects the rest of your life, why don't you just take some more time to think about it" or "your life is over after you get married"(get that one a lot) etc, etc... pretty much saying that we are stupid for getting married. Although it is in a joking manner most of the time, I can also sense that they truly mean it and given their history it is for good reason. I know they are trying to spare us from the pain that they have experienced with marriage.

I never have doubted whether I want to get married to Brooke, but these "talks" people have had with me have made me think of why I want to spend the rest of my life with Brooke.

• Brooke is more important to me than being "free" and actually she has always made me feel free when I'm around her. I can truly be myself with her.
• She makes me happier than any other person or event could ever come close to.
• She makes me a better man by just being around her. She sharpens me and encourages me every day.
• She is going to be the greatest companion through life that I could ever ask for. I look forward to sharing the ups and downs of life with her. She makes me laugh multiple times a day without trying.
• She meets every need and then some that I have for my future wife. That is what really shocked me when we started dating. I realized needs that I never knew I had because she was able to meet them.
• Brooke loves me with her whole heart. She holds nothing back from me and that is a huge blessings and one of those needs that I had.
• One of the reasons I knew we were right for each other is that it just feels right when we are together. My love for her just flows out of me, I don't really have to try. I don't have to pretend to be anyone else but myself when I'm around her. She loves me for who I am, not for who I could be. (Not that it is easy all the time...which leads to the next reason)
• She doesn't give up. You all probably know that Brooke is pretty hard headed. Although, this sometimes can be frustrating it is actually a huge blessing. She doesn't just quit when things are tough in our relationship, we persevere together. We have had some rough times in our relationship and because we trust in God's will and put our hard heads to work we always make it through.
• Lastly, she is the most beautiful person in the world, inside and out. Why would I want to waste time doing other things when I could start an adventure through life with such an amazing person? I remember when I first started hanging out and "talking" to Brooke the only word I could use to describe her was Beautiful.

Obviously, this is not the complete list of the reasons why I want to marry Brooke, but I thought I would share just some of the reasons she is so special to me. I love her with every single part of my heart and how could I not?

"A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies. Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value. She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life." - Proverbs 31:10-12

146

For someone who prefers to bottle up their emotions and keep them to herself, I sure have had a lot of them lately. Josh and I have begun our pre-marital counseling and our first assignment before we meet again is to find out what we think the purpose of marriage is. We have been talking about it a lot but it is hard to pinpoint just one main purpose. I don't know if this is a "purpose" of marriage but one thing I have been thankful for lately is Josh's companionship. God has used Josh as an encourager, supporter, listener, and friend in numerous seasons of thanksgiving and trial in my life over the past two years. It is such a blessing to know and believe that God hand-picked Josh for me for the rest of our lives here.

With the recent happenings in Haiti I am quickly reminded that we are so blessed to live in this country. I have clean water...not to mention I can have it cold or hot in a matter of seconds. I have a shelter, a place to sleep and to be safe at night. I have never had to worry about where my next meal would come from. I take these things for granted without even knowing I am doing it. I have found that lately it has been difficult to plan our wedding without being materialistic. How can I get frustrated on which flowers to choose or what kind of chairs our guests will sit in when people across the world have nothing...absolutely nothing. I'm thankful for the reminder that while our wedding will be a very special day it will be because of the convanent we will make with God to keep Him at the center of our marriage and not because of the color or scent of the candles we burn on the reception tables.

"Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God". Colossians 3: 1-3

Happy New Year!

After a wonderful, white Christmas it is finally 2010!!! As of today there are 160 days till June 13th! Over the break we have had the opportunity to get a move on with our planning! Here's what we have been up to:

1. Sent out save the dates!!!

2. I got a dress (After 3 trips it was about time)!!!

3. We are meeting with the pastor this week to begin our counseling!

4. We won some sweet stuff at a bridal show!

5. We have cake plans in the works along with a photographer, wedding website, and invitations.

6. We got the "go" to have bouncy balls for our send-off instead of rice or bubbles! Yeah..it's going to be awesome! Bounce them gently, please! :)

7. And last but not least, Josh is about to book our honeymoon!

We are super excited that everything is coming together! Thanks for continuing to read our blog even though we took a month off!

Here's a picture of Josh and I and the snow in Stillwater on Christmas Eve!