Day 521: Rachel's Shower

Guacamole. Brittany's perfect recipe. Because the bride loves avocados.

"Sweet Sushi." In honor of the first date.

Apple Pie. Our bride's favorite dessert.

Laura's cheese ball recipe, made by Laurie. It's the grooms favorite...we had it even though he was not there.

Chicken Salad. Great chicken salad. The bride's recipe.

Carrots. Because we thought we should have something healthy.

Rasberry Coffee with White Chocalote Creamer. It makes the world go round.

Red. Our bride's wine of choice.

Green Tea. Hot and cold, because because the bride loves both.

It was a perfect menu for a perfect shower. There is something so personal about a wedding shower. Every bride is so different. And being on this side of marriage, I realize more and more the unique gifts of each couple and each marriage. And in our new home, I realize more and more about engaging personalized attention to detail in our own ministry of hospitality.

On Sunday, our house was the setting for a cozy getting together of 25 women who love Rachel and are so excited she'll be marrying Ethan in a matter of weeks. I never imagined so many people could fit in our living room so well. And Rachel said she was so blessed by all the pictures, notes, and gifts that guests contributed that afternoon.

It was so fun to through the shower with Holly and Brittany. So wonderful to celebrate with women of 2nd. So delightful to watch Kylie and Blakely, from our children's ministry, be our little gift runners. And most of all, such a blessing to get to pray over this bride-to-be and their upcoming marriage.

My the Lord continue to work in them and through them, for His glory!

Day 511: Gibbs Young Life

Friday night we got to serve dinner to the Gibbs Young Life Team. As "friends of Young Life" here in Knoxville, we volunteered to be "team parents". It's how we got to know the Jones and it is how we get to spend time with the fabulous Miss Julia, along with a great group of YL leaders.
So much fun! Plus, there was great chicken lasguana!

Day 508: Babies, Babies, and more Babies

Hensley Kate.

Eva.

Caroline.

Amelia.

Will.

Wyatt.

Piper.

Cameron.

Kaylynn Grace.

And now one more of my bridesmaids is pregnant...

I am surrounded by babies.

At 2nd Pres, surrounded.

Among friends, surrounded.

Everywhere, surrounded.

Disclaimer: Often I resist the urge to write excessively about this. People seem to think that since I am married and Christian and like kids, that I want to have one immediately. But right now, I am a newlywed and eagerly enjoying this season of our life and family. I can't imagine anything else at this point.

Maybe that is because everywhere I turn, every meeting I go to, in the background of every phone call I get, there are babies. I hear them. I see them. I train people to care for them. I listen to moms and dads worry about them. I pray for them. I pray for people who want to have them. I learn about them. I love being with them. I get such a sweet fill of babies.

I think back to the text message I sent on the night I learned Caroline Grace was born. "REJOICE." That was all I typed in response. That was all I could think. And since then, that word, "REJOICE" has been on my mind. I pray continually that our hearts and lives with REJOICE at the beautiful of life. New life and the developmental discoveries babies make are such a captivting reminder. God is good. He is at work. He is worthy of our awe and worship. And when we look into cribs, we get a front row seat to the glory of His creation.

REJOICE.

Day 500: Harrison

What better way to enjoy my 500th day in Knoxville than a visit from one of my favs. Harrison is in town this weekend to see sweet Mary Scott at UT and I am so excited to get to see her.
Here's to friendships that last for a long, long time.

In honor of this visit, I celebrated a favorite moment of Harrison in my wedding (above).

And a favorite picture of her and MSC...



Love you! Jesus loves you more!

Day 467 and 453: Annual Reunions

One of my favorite things about Christmas is time with my favs and favorite high school friends.
Every year, for the past 3 years, I have enjoyed our holiday Christmas Tea with my favs, who i have loved and shared life wiht for the past 8 years...almost 9! this year, I wanted them to know know...

1. Everyone needs a Christmas tree. Not when you have a "big enough place." Not when you get married. Not "next year." We are all a part of Christ's story. Now. This year. Today.

2. Christmas is about receiving! Christ is God's gift to us. Open your heart to this life giving truth.

3. We all have hard times. These girls are incredible. Amazing. Fantastically accomplished women. But even they have hard times and questions about life. And we are blessed with our friends to push us, pull us, and carry us through. Friends are God's way of taking care of us.

This 3rd point is what brings me to another fabulous holiday reunion. every year, for longer than I can remember, I get together with my wonderful high school friends, the Zins. We just get better with age. Lots has changed over the years. Loves. Loss. Marathons. Moves across the state, over the mountains, and to the big apple. Grad schools. Careers. Kids. Through each stage, we have a common thread. And even when one of us can't make it, there is always the promise of next year! These are not just my locker partners...they are soul mates.

But we missed Jess's pic taking this year. Here's some vintage Zin!

Days 379 and 381: The Maple Grove Inn

Thursday was barlap and ribbon and power cords and strings or lights and friends and DYI projects and lights and mason jars and Joe and Mollie! Saturday was their wedding and or Thursday we got to help decorate the Maple Grove in for their fabulous affair!!
No pictures could display the beautiful of this Bed and Breakfast, built in 1799. No online experience could capture the perfect weather of that day. No blog, not even "Style Me Pretty", Mollie's fav, could describe the incredible detail. And no band could get you-know-who dancing like that.

Congratulations Mr. and Mrs. Lacher!

Updated: Photo from Michele Andreck photography->

Day ???: Lunch Club and...

It is Wednesday. So, it is almost time for lunch with Alex, Julia, Michele, and Brittany. I have been working on Kids Crossing all morning and will be at the chuch until late tonight. So, this is a perfect mid-day diversion.

Note: This photo includes lunch club member Alex, as well as another favorite wedding attendant - Meredith!! Happy Birthday Meredith - you are an amazing friend and I can't imagine my life without you! I have learn so much from you and leaned on you in so many ways! Bagels, Duty-disciple-delight, ATL, homemade journals, and so much more!

Here's to the Lunch Club and to Meredith!!

Days ???: The other Newlyweds

During my blogging break, not only did we get married - but so did a lot of our friends!!
We had...

The perfectly Christ-centered, country club party with Taylor Russell and so many fabulous friends here in Knoxville.




Then it was Jess and Sloan's perfect, southern, intimate, playful, yet sophistacted affair. Very "Zin". Very "high class hippie."


(Note pic from engagement session.)


And finally, we headed off to Florida for destination wedding in Destin. Amazing party (all weekend long) with Tyler and Katie. We miss you now that you are back in Germany!



There was also Lee and Brett, Deidre and Todd. But we were unfortunately not able to make it to weddings over our honeymoon! What a happy time of year!

Next up...Joe, Mollie, Shawn, and Marty...

Day 269: Jay & Rebecca!

They are engaged! Congratulations!
Words can't describe how excited I am or how blessed I feel to be a part of one another's stories. Praying for Jay and Rebecca, this season of engagement, and their marriage!

And who took this awesome picture. Great job.

Diversion: His & Hers, Showers & South Carolina Friends

"Friends are the Bacon Bits in the Salad Bowl of Life." - Anonymous

A perfect weekend. Four lovely bridesmaids. Countless wonderful friends. Spicy guacamole. Legendary Bull Hawgs barbecue. Worship at Hope Point. Precious Ellie, M.E., and Andy. A moment to hug two of my favs/Junior Bridesmaids. A stop in for stationary with Sweet Pea and Powder (including our wedding invitations).

As Brad unloaded the car back in Knoxville and I started on thank you notes, I was overwhelmed - we have so, so much to be thankful for. I do miss seeing South Carolina friends on a daily basis. I am seeking after new relationships. I am eager for July 10 to get here and to be married to Brad. I want my faith to grow. I am excited about my new job. I am anxious to be in our new home together. I confess there are so many things like these that I want, but I am overwhelmed with gratitude for the wonderful things about these season of life.

Photo Credit

Day 194: A Grace-full Shower

Sunday afternoon, I had my first bridal shower! Appropriately, it was hosted by two of my bridesmaids, Dori and Alissa and their mothers. It was full of wonderful women from Grace Lutheran Church, where I grew up. My mother cried, my grandmother told wonderful stories, my little cousins Amanda and Rachel arranged gifts. Brad's mom, Jenny, and my Matron of Honor, Marci, both came over from Nashville. I was surrounded by amazing women who have pured into me so much throughout the years. We laughed a lot and in addition to some generous gifts, I got dozens and dozens of great recipes!
I am so, so blessed!

Photo Credit

The 30

I honor of turning 30, here are 30 things I am so thankful for or have been so blessed to be a part of so far in life. So, so thankful.

1. The Landon/Theilen Families
2. Converse College
3. Young Life
4. Model League
5. Visiting Kuwait
6. Visiting Belgium
7. Visiting the Netherlands
8. Visiting Russia
9. Visiting India
10. Rice Bowls
11. The Gore 2000 Presidential Campaign
12. Nike Women’s Marathon (and Greenville TNT!)
13. Anchorage Mayor’s Marathon
14. The New 2
15. Preserves
16. 701 Dupree Drive
17. The Evelyn B. Henderson Mission Home
18. Grace Lutheran Church
19. Junior League
20. The Indivisible Players
21. Tennessee Governor’s School for the Arts
22. Giving Tree Montessori
23. Slice of Life
24. Breakfast groups
25. EC
26. Class of 2002 Class Officers
27. Angels
28. Hope Point Community Church
29. The Body of Christ
And coming soon…
30. The Fitch Family

Day 178: Brad

Today’s post has got to be about my fiancé, on his birthday. I have been thinking about it for almost a month. Earlier this week, I started to type a list of reasons he is wonderful, one for every year he has been alive. But Brad is not the type for cheesy, gushing displays for appreciation. So, I am going to skip that and just say that I love him. I am so glad he was born. I hope he enjoys his birthday gift. I am so thankful that the Lord led me to such a wonderful man.

106 days.

Rachel: Bold and Bald

My friend Rachel is getting bold...and bald. She's raising $5000 for the American Cancer Society and sacrifice her hair to do it.

"I am issuing a challenge. Help me raise $5000.00 for Relay for Life and I will shave my hair!
Why? I have lost both my parents to this disease and figure I can lose my hair to the cure.
Am I serious, I will really shave my head? Yes, I am serious. I thought about this long and hard and I am completely willing to do this but I need your help!" - Rachel

Read more here and donate->

Day 151: Linnea, Tony, Mollie, & Joe

Saturday night, we had some of our favorite fellow new members from 2nd Pres over to Brad's condo for dinner. We hope to do it again soon and perhaps with more of our new friends. It was a great night and here are a couple of the fun things I learn and random surprises.

The oven in Brad's condo really does take a long time to reheat.

You can never have too much Pimento's pimento cheese.

Kitchen sink? Ha!

Michigan makes great Riesling.

Brad learned why we need to register for a trifle bowl.

6:30 turns into 11:30 before you know it.

Looking forward to next time...

Great Strides for CF

Raccoon Holler...Dr. Horvath Office...Hardees...
Words can't describe the incredible memories and all the lessons I learned as a YL leader during my college years. I got to learn from an incredible team, and I got to walk with amazing girls. In particular, the Dorman girls of 2001 really shaped my life. (See Day #4)
Two of my favorite girls from that class were together in an email this morning, as Laura shared her interest in the CF walk and the story of her incredible fiend Jenny. I am so excited to be on her "team"!
Love you!

Jenny and I met our Freshman year of high school. We were both new to the area and looking to meet new friends. Since then, we have become very close...so close that I was the maid of honor in her wedding, and she was the matron of honor in my wedding. Jenny has a heart of gold, and a positive attitude that is very contagious to those around her. In August of 2008, Jenny gave birth to Maddie. Maddie is one of the cutest and sweetest 1.5 year olds ever. One can tell that she has amazing parents who love her and teach her the good in life. Unfortunately, Maddie's Mom suffers from Cystic Fibrosis. This year, I'm walking in the GREAT STRIDES walk at the 2010 Richmond - Innsbrook walk on 05/15/2010. Please help me meet my fundraising goal of $3,000.00 by sponsoring me. Your generous gift will be used efficiently and effectively, as nearly 90 cents of every dollar of revenue raised is available for investment in vital CF programs to support research, care and education. Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a devastating genetic disease that affects tens of thousands of children and young adults in the United States. Research and care supported by the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation is making a huge difference in extending the quality of life for those with CF. However, we continue to lose precious lives to CF every day. That's why your help is needed now more than ever to ensure that a cure is found sooner - rather than later. To learn more about CF and the CF Foundation, visit www.cff.org.

Join Laura's Team->

Day 132: Molly & Bella

Molly is a nurse practicioner who loves the Lord and went to Haiti to serve in any way she could. And, well, long sotry short...she came home with a baby in her arms. Her heart for Bella and for the Lord is captivating.

Here's the story from WBIR:

A Haitian orphan in need of medical care is now recovering in Knoxville after the earthquake.

A nurse brought the 16-month-old back with her to the United States and is now caring for the child, named "Bella."

Just four days ago, Molly Marks ended her two-week medical mission in Haiti with the Provision Foundation.

Marks thought she had seen it all until she arrived at an orphanage.

"She's the one that caught my eye first because she looked so terribly sick," said Marks of Bella.

The skinny and malnourished girl was parentless and sick with phneumonia, bronchitis and giardia, an intestinal parasite.

"Her mom died of some type of swelling or infection," said Marks. "They loved her and they loved her so much they wanted a different life for her."

Bella was taken to a hospital where it became evident to Marks that treatment could take awhile.

"In the end, we were granted something called 'humanitarian and benefit parole,"' said Marks. "What that does is that grants her parole, allows us to enter the United States basically as a refuge, someone needing medical attention for 12 to 18 months."

Now Bella is receiving one-on-one love and treatment in nurse Marks' Knoxville home.

Bella can now move around and even sing a little. Marks said she may eventually pursue adoption, but that's currently not an option.

Right now, it's all about nursing Bella back to health. Marks' bosses at Blackmon Pediatrics in Powell have given her the month off so she can provide that special care to Bella.

Photo Credit

Day 127: Introduction Knoxville

"EXPLORE. DISCOVER. CONNECT."

Thursday I had the opportunity to volunteer with Introduction Knoxville. It was fun to make some connections and hear from great folks about our community. This week's focus was on the political and economic landscape.

"Introduction Knoxville is ideal for corporate, non-profit and government professionals who have moved to the Knoxville area, or who have accepted new positions of greater responsibility and want to become more integrated into the community. This comprehensive introduction to the rich history, culture, natural resources, institutions and promises of this vibrant region will connect you with some of Knoxville’s top leaders and provide a catalyst for a new level of involvement."

Credits and more information->

Day 107: JLK Transfers

I joined the Junior League to impact my community. I transferred to the Knoxville League in order to get invovled in this area. Honestly, all along, I thought it would be a way to connect with other women. Well, no that I am back in Knoxville, I realize I could not be more correct. I've had fun reconnecting with Farragut and Converse friends. Plus, there is a great group of women who have also transferred into the Knoxville League. We have been learning about the city and getting to know each other. Last night, some of us got together for a fun girl dinner at Stir Fry.

Here's a toast to our fun transfer group!

Here's to Shana! Shana is California girl with Southern charm, balancing kids, volunteer work, and always looking perfect.

Here's to Lee! Lee is sassy and savvy about all things Knoxville. This interior decorator always brings life to the party...and always has on a cute top.

Here's to Mandy! Mandy and I might be living parallel lives. We both worked in higher ed. We are the same age. We were both raised in Tennessee. Our chruch search has taken us in similar directions. Her boyfriend Greg seems very similar to Brad, and they are enjoying a romance that spans a couple hours drive.

Here's to Melissa! Melissa is the newest of the new and also a newlywed. In a few weeks, she has already become one of my favorite people to chat with - wedding ideas, lots of laughing, and sharing Christ!

Here's to Nancy! Nancy is the working mom who gives great Christmas ornaments, who moved in a matter of weeks.

Here's to Megan! Megan is another mom with kids to keep her busy. Like the rest of us, she's trying to survive the cold winter, and I am looking for to getting to know her.

Here's to Annazette! Annazette is educating us all on how to survive the cold this winter. She came from Iowa, so she can handle this.

Here's to Abigail! Abigail and I hit it off right away. I have a feeling she hits it off with everyone. Sweet and fun, with great taste in restaurants, Abigail is the picture of Southern hospitality.

Here's to Mariann! Mariann was literally my first new friend in Knoxville. After meeting her at a general memebership meeting, she called me for lunch and the rest is history. Marriage moved her to Knoxville, so she's also been a fun resource on all things about getting married. Plus, she's from Texas, so she helps me understand Brad. Haha.

Now, I must toast our fearless leaders. Amelia is the ultimate connector. She actually transferred herself, as life moved her and her husband to the Virgin Islands a month ago. We're following their BVI adventures. Finally, there is Sarah. Through every change, Sarah's teaching us about he League and providing a fabulous Introduction to Knoxville. She always has an answer and introduces us to fun folks like Shazi. She's a convert to the south and my go-to for Knoxville info!

Here's to the JLK Transfers!

Day 79: Dori’s Bachelorette Party

A great cabin, up a steep hill + Japanese Hibachi dinner with the girls
+ Airbrushed T-shirts + Lots and Lots of Pink + Bridemaids, Bridesmaids, Bridemaids and a Guestbook girl….Hmmm…it most have been a Bachelorette party.
Dori’s getting married!!