Pre-Rehearsal Rehearsal

Well, after all these catch up posts - there are only a few more pictures to go until we are back to present day shenanigans!

After a love-filled February, we are finally into March. And that means something very exciting is about to happen (and coincidentally it involves...even move love.) :-)

It's finally time for these two crazy goons to get married!


The whole thing just seems unbelievable, as it feels like only yesterday this was happening.


And now we find ourselves on the day before the wedding.

As I well know, friends of the bride joyfully pick up extra duties when weddings roll around. BUT, there have been some extra preparations going on around here because our dear and talented Marsha is photographing the big day.

And during some random lapse in judgement, she has employed me to be her second shooter. :-)

Actually, this is probably the 4th or 5th wedding I have shot with Marsha, but our deep love for Becca and Cam does up the stakes just a little. Because of our desire for everything to go perfectly, this week has been full of photography conversations, practicing, and planning.

Since we have never shot in the church where they are getting married, we went up there last weekend and played around with lighting and just got a lay of the land.


It just so happens our incredibly talented friend Sean is providing the music on Saturday, so he met us up there and serenaded us with the beautiful wedding songs.


It was fortunate for us to have Sean there because we received a free concert - it was somewhat unfortunate for him, since he became the subject of many of the practice pics. :-)


Tonight is the Rehearsal, but we met back up at the church last night for a little Pre-Rehearsal Rehearsal.

The main task of the evening was to get the sound system for the music hooked up correctly for Sean (and his awesome friend Joel who will be accompanying him).


We had some special guests joining us last night including the BRIDE as well as her maid of honor - our beloved Kayla!


We also were honored to have the Mother of the Bride in attendance!


It was so great to see Becca's mama again. She is so sweet. I can neither confirm nor deny that while listening to the guys practice the tears already made an appearance. :-)

Moesha just having fun playing around. (Again with the musician paparazzi.)


Kayla studying up on the hymnal.


And me loving on my sweet friend.


I am so happy for Becca, and I can't wait for tomorrow night when she finally walks down the aisle!

Stew's Surprise!

I have long since proclaimed that my college days were some of my favorite thus far in these almost 28 years.

(I actually have not come to terms with the fact that I am merely weeks away from 28. But someone in this post just turned 40, so when I get sad I just think about that old geezer and I feel better.) :-)

My love for the college years was due to many reasons.

The deep and lasting friendships I made....


The good times shared on Merrywood Drive....


And just the freedom to be young and more carefree than I even realized at the time....


One of the biggest reasons my college experience was so positive was because of my involvement with one of the local college ministries. There were mission trips. There was Late Night at Retriever's ("Jesus in a Bar?"). I was even in the praise band!

(Well, I ran the powerpoint with all the words, but still - I went to band practice and I was super cool back then.)

At the helm of all these years serving the Lord alongside my friends and fellow GSU students was this guy:


Stewart (Stew, Stew-Daddy, Turtle-maker, etc) was our fearless leader.

He was a college minister who poured himself wholeheartedly into us and wanted nothing more than for us to learn what it truly meant to have a sincere relationship with the Lord. He knew why that was so vitally important, and he also knew how that relationship would profoundly transform who we were and who we were becoming.

(He also had a secondary mission of always making us laugh hysterically.)


(He achieved both on a daily basis.)

When I think of Stewart and what he brought into my life - 2 things always, always come to mind. Even ALL these many years later, they truly transformed the way I try to live my life.

I can still hear his voice in my head sharing these simple but profound points:

1. Love God. Love People. (Luke 10:27)

2. He came that we might have life, and have it to the full. (John 10:10)

There is no doubt that I love God more and I love people more because of Stew. And my life is definitely more full because of his presence in it.

Which is why I was thrilled to celebrate him last weekend with his many friends and family at his SURPRISE 40th birthday party!


His awesome wife, Julie, planned the affair and it all went off without a hitch.

Old Stew did not have a clue what he was walking into! Hahaaaaaa. Got him.


The party was great, and it was fun to talk and visit with a lot of people I had not seen in a long time. Marsha and I went together and joined the masses there to honor a truly great guy!

You can't have a 40th birthday party without black balloons.


Lined up for the food!


The table was filled with all of Stew's favorites, and this food item made me laugh.


Not because biscuits and honey are funny - I am actually a sold-out supporter of the snack. But it just seemed fitting because it reminded me of a phrase Stewart made up back in the day that we used to yell out at random, seemingly unrelated times: "It's all gravy but the biscuit!"

Happy 40th Birthday Stew!

It really is all gravy but the biscuit! We love you!

Aunt Bean came to town

Since February is the month of love, I had no other choice but to hit the road to visit this sweet-babe right around Valentine's Day.


I love him! Casen finds visits from Aunt Bean to be quite relaxing.


Is there anything sweeter than baby hands?


I am still going to take pictures of his sweet little hands when he is 15 years old. He's not sold completely on the idea, but he'll learn to love it.


I can't get over how the fact that Linnie has a BABY. Like, a real live baby. What does NOT surprise me: his adorableness.


I mean, look how pretty his mommy is!


He loves his mama and boy does he have a good one!




Don't mind me, darling. I'm just going to sit here and admire how adorable your ears are.


Oh, and your profile.


And then there's your cute little pudgy face. I could squish it all day.


It was so fun just to be at with Lindsay and Justin and chill all weekend. On Saturday we just lounged around which is one of my favorite things to do anyway, but stick a baby in my arms and well - that's pretty perfect.




We did get out a little bit on Saturday. We shopped around and then to eat. It was so fun just to be able to sit and talk and laugh, and Casen was a perfect angel.

When we got home it was bathtime!










Being bathed, lotioned, and massaged can be exhausting.




We took advantage of his relaxed state and played with his cute little feetsies for a while.


On Sunday morning, Casen hung with the ladies while his daddy went to church. This turned out to be a decision he would later regret since his mommy and aunt tag-teamed and dressed him up in a sweet little Valentine outfit for a photo shoot.


I know it kind of looks like Casen is giving me the finger in that picture, but I talked to him and he assured me it was an accident. Once he got into it, he really enjoyed being a baby model.




Once Justin got home, we had some yummy lunch....


...and then I spent a little while bit more time with this little hunk of love in my lap.


Much to my dismay, I eventually had to hit the road home. It was a quick visit, but a quality one for sure - I am so thankful for to Linnie and JWeezy for having me, feeding me, and providing me with a baby to hold! True friends.

I just have to share one last pic of this cute little guy. His mama texted it to me the other day when Casen wore some pj's I sent him.


Ok, that double chin/chin dimple combo put me over the edge. Off to plan my next visit. :-)