I'm in love, I'm in love, and I don't care who knows it...

I'm ENGAGED....to the most amazing, Godly man!!! I can't believe I am so lucky to be marrying such an incredible guy!!!!

The story...

So after a busy day of shopping and working out, I went to church and ate dinner with the parentals and some church friends then headed to the youth service to see Steve and my 'little ducklings' from the youth group that I was a counselor for this summer. I stayed around talking to them and Kim (the other youth associate's wife) for a while then Steve (very calmly) asked if I wanted to go look at Christmas lights. That had kinda been the plan for the week so I was excited! I LOVE Christmas lights!!! So he was rambling about something on the way to the car and ended up asking me like 3 times if I had been to the gym and I was finally like "yes Stephen for the 3rd time I went to the gym today" I laughed at him and was like "goodness its not like you have anything big on your mind silly' oh little did I know!!! So being the fatty that I am I was starving and wanted ice cream from Sonic on our little Christmas light adventure. So we casually stopped at sonic (in the mean time Steve is texting the gang to tell them we had to make a pit stop haha!) He opted that we start looking at the lights on the square...I LOVE LOVE LOVE the square so I was all for that! We pulled up and it was gorgeous!!! Every tree covered in lights...pretty much a fairy tale. When I got out of the car I actually told him I felt like I was in a movie it was so pretty!

(This does NOT do it justice...it was breathe taking!)

Despite the fact that it was FREEZING, I put on Steve's coat (I didn't know I would be walking in the cold so I didn't bring one) we got out of the car and began to walk around the square. Steve is still completely calm!!! I had told myself a week or two before that I would know when he was proposing cause he would be nervous and he really can't lie BUT he completely pulled it off...I had NO flipping clue till he was down on one knee and even then I kept asking 'is this for real?"

We walked up to this HUGE tree and of cause me, I began rambling about that. I sure at this point he just wanted to say 'shut up about the tree'! But he didn't, as always he was very patient with me! He finally grabbed my hand and walked me to the foot of the stairs...I'm such an idiot and still do not notice what awaited me in the gazebo. He grabbed my/his coat and pulled me close to him and just looked at me and told me that he loved me!! That was the first time he told me that and the first time he had ever said it to a girlfriend (pretty freaking big deal!) I kinda thought he woudln't say that till he proposed because its such a big deal but I thought, "aww...that was sweet that he brought me here to make that really special!" He told me he loved me again with all his heart. He then grabbed my hand and I think this might be when he got a little nervous and where I began to freak out. He walked me up the stairs of the gazebo into the middle of a circle of white candles and white rose petals (BEAUTIFUL) and before I knew it he was down on one knee and asking me to marry him!!! It was really a blur from that moment but I think I caught a few statements that he said. He told me he coudln't live without me and he wanted me to be his wife. (I GET TO BE HIS WIFE!!!! AHHHH!!!!!) He told me that a lot of things will change, our looks, our locations, but one thing that won't change is my love for you!" Again I'm still going 'is this for real'! He then lifted up the ring box and asked me to marry him and I said "YES I WILL"!!! crazy!! It felt like I was dreaming...still kinda does!!

He then pulled out his bible and read a passage (Matthew 7:24-25) that talks about the wise man building his house on the rock and when the storms come it will not fall. And he said how he wanted us to build our family on the rock and that as believers we are called as a couple to build on relationship on the Lord and when the winds and storms come we will not fall. How blessed am I to have such a Godly man in my life to be the spiritual leader of our family!!!! INCREDIBLE!!! I can not begin to be thankful enough for him! After that the secret photographer and videographer came out and my parents and some good family friends!! It was the BEST night EVER!!!!!!!!! I could not have written a more perfect engagement story!!!

I'm so excited I get to spend the rest of my life with Stephen Foster Short!!!! :)

The best way to spread Christmas cheer...

Last Lighting of the Way at Samford :( It was SUCH a cold night but my roommate and I and two other sorority sisters bundled up and headed out to the quad. There's something magical about Christmas time at Samford....we become a little community as we stand on the steps and sing Christmas carols together, our president reads the Christmas story and at the end of the night we light the massive Christmas tree in the middle of the quad. Such a great memory as I conclude my last fall semester as a Samford student!!

Typical...

THANKSGIVING 2009! :)

I got to spend Thanksgiving in Ohio with Steve's family and it was wonderful!!! I had such a great time meeting his parents and all 4 of his siblings and their families!! It was very eventful but I loved it!!! I hoping we get to go back and see them in January before I head back to school cause the trip was way TOO short!!!

I did miss Thanksgiving with the Oliver's and Mangum's! I can't wait to see them at Christmas time!! :)

Nap time for the kids = Game time for the adults...

I did lots of reading to the little ones...but I loved it!!! Felt like I was at the Oliver's with all those little ones running around!

Last Samford Homecoming as an Undergrad!

Roommate love! My beautiful little!!!

Sweet friends!

Co-chair!! :)

Birthday Bliss! :)

I had such a fun 22nd birthday!! What a blessing it was! Of course I celebrated more than just one day - birthday week ya know....so Sunday I was home and Mom and Dad gave me some happies there and cake on our "you are special plate" (yes I still love it even for my 22nd birthday). Tuesday I got a really sweet surprise from Steve!! He sent me a beautiful topirary of white roses, balloons, and cookies!!! It was so thoughtful! Then on my actual birthday I woke up to birthday signs every where in my room from my amazing roommate! The whole room was decorated and a cute little Vera Bradley gift box was laying on my desk! :) After I taught that morning Steve drove over and took me to lunch! We got to spend the afternoon together which was GREAT! Then because we ended up not having to babysit Steve thought we should invite some of my friends out for a birthday dinner...that was an experience but so much fun!! Then I ended the night with an LNR with my two good friends Ross and Briana!!

It was a GREAT day!!! :)

A little birthday celebration at home!

My sweet birthday surprises from Stephen!!!

Emily's fun decorations for me! :)

BIRTHDAY PRESENTS!!! YAY!

Can you tell I was REALLY excited about the apron...yes I will be cooking in one every night when I'm married! :)

Birthday Dinner at Iguana Grill! YUM! and yes Steve brought my special plate for dinner :)

RACE FOR THE CURE: Saving 2nd base!

This weekend me and my favorite sorority sisters made a little roadtrip to Memphis to run in the Race for the Cure. I'm not a runner...don't let the 5k fool you! But I trained a little (yes trained for a 5k) and the Lord gave me the strength to finish! YAY! It was such a fun experience running with 15,000 people!! In the neighborhood we ran in, there were people outside their homes cheering and they had their houses and yards decorated (in pink of course). It was an awesome experience! After some showers and some rest we headed to our little town square for a yummy lunch and a photo shoot! yes our 2nd annual! :) What a great Saturday!! :)

Wedding Weekend Mania!

This weekend was a weekend on the road. I drove to Memphis Friday for a friend's rehearsal dinner which began the weekend of wedding craziness. Their rehearsal dinner was REALLY nice and Steve and I had a good time despite the fact that he was getting over the flu :( he was a good sport! Of course Mom had instructed me to take notes at the rehearsal dinner since we will be planning Adam's and Amy's soon.

Saturday morning my mom and I got up EARLY to drive back to Alabama to wedding dress shop with Amy! It was SO much fun and we really appreciated her inviting us to this special event! We went to a store in Jasper, Alabam and this place had over 600 wedding dresses...totally felt like I was on "Say Yes to the Dress"! We had a great time and it was so fun seeing Amy in her wedding dress - we'll keep the details of that a suprise until May 22nd! :)

A quick lunch with Amy's mom and sister and we were back on the road heading to Memphis for Anna and Taylor's wedding. Who knew it would be 50 degrees mid-October so we bundled up and headed out! The wedding was beautiful...not to mention my boyfriend looked pretty good in his tux ;) !!! The ceremony was completely Christ-focused and wonderful! After the wedding party took some pics we all headed out to the bride's home for the reception - yeah it was outside in a tent but thankfully there were heaters! It was a great night and I'm so excited for Anna and Taylor as they start their life together has husband and wife!