Christmas Shopping=Stressful!

Can I just say that I'm WIPED out from doing all of Drew and my Christmas shopping the past two days!! I'm so last minute and this year was even worse because of everything else going on including my graduation, my upcoming two showers (which meant buying new dresses!), my sister's birthday (which meant buying her gift), getting my classroom's party together (Friday), and then have time to sit back and enjoy the holiday season. I haven't even had time to drive around with my family and look at Christmas lights! Thank heavens my shopping is done, the gifts are wrapped, and I can just now sit back and enjoy the reason for the season :)

I'm so excited that Codi (Drew's sister) is coming in town tomorrow for almost a week! It will be so nice to catch up with her and spend some quality time with Drew's family. We have Christmas with the Dueitt's Christmas morning, then we are driving to New Braunfels Christmas afternoon to have open our presents Christmas night, and then we are driving back the day after Christmas to relax until my two showers are here. I can't wait for the new few days!! But more importantly, I can't wait for church tomorrow night. Christmas Eve worship is my favorite and I look forward to that night all year long. It's going to be so amazing :)

I hope everyone has a Merry Christmas! And remember...Jesus is the reason for the season!

Graduation!!!

I am now and official college graduate!!! I finally graduated this past Saturday on December 20th. It feels so wonderful to be done and have accomplished this milestone in my life. I have been anticipating this day for a long time. My parents had come down the night before for my oldest sister, Amy's birthday and then for my graduation on Saturday. It was a busy weekend but lot's of family time. After my graduation we had reserved the upstairs room at Waterstreet for a celebration lunch. My entire family came and Drew's parents. It was so special to celebrate this time with my soon-to-be new family as well! Here are some pictures of my special day :)

I did it!!

My wonderful parents :)

My two big sisters, Katherine and Amy

The Power of Prayer

My first cousin, Laurie, and her husband just had the arrival of their second child, Zane Ethan Barker on Thursday, December 11th. He was born about 4 weeks early due to complications inside the womb that were forming and it was necessary to deliver him as soon as possible. There were 5 neonatal doctors waiting as soon as he was taken out to begin the process of figuring out how to heal him. We are praying strongly for this little gift from God. If you happen to stumble across our blog, please pray for baby Zane Ethan.

Currently, he has made the first hurdle and is doing as well as can be at the moment. To read more about Zane Ethan here is their blog and pictures of the little man.
http://junctionbarkers.blogspot.com/

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

I can't believe that it's almost half way through December! Where does the time fly?? Every weekend for the past 8 weeks Drew and I have been all over the place! This past weekend I drove to Houston for some good ol' B&D time (Becca & Drew) :)

We had such a wonderful time just hanging out, going to dinner, seeing Australia, and going to church together at this beautiful church around the corner from Drew's apartment! Drew and I have been on a mission to find a church in Houston that we both love. I'm Methodist for those of you who don't know, my Dad is a Methodist minister, and Drew is Catholic. We aren't opposed to going to another denomination, but our main goal is to find somewhere that we can worship together and with people that we enjoy and are at the same point in their lives. It's so difficult to find young couples who are married without kids or couples who are engaged! Once I move to Houston it will be so much easier to continue to the hunt but until then we are going to visit other churches every chance we can when I come visit.

I'm also thrilled that I have two bridal showers that are coming up in just 2 weeks! Where has the time gone with my wedding planning!! We've been engaged now well over a year and there's only about 4 1/2 months left until our BIG DAY! I just can't wait to be Drew's wife :)

Hope all of you are enjoying this holiday season and we hope to see most of you over Christmas! This is my favorite time of the year, not only because you get to see your friends and family, but it's the time to celebrate Jesus's birth. I just love singing all of the carols and hymns about our precious Lord and remembering that we have Christmas to celebrate him and for the miracle of his birth. Praise Sweet Jesus!

There's nothing better than a Girls Night Out!

Over the Thanksgiving holiday my girlfriends and I got together and had a 'Girl's Night'. It was so fun for all of us to catch up and be all together at the same place and time. We don't ever get these opportunities like we used to in the early days of college life. Now that most of us are graduated, about to graduate, or live in other cities, we treasure the moments that we do have together.
In the next few months, I will be seeing them so much since they are all my beautiful bridesmaids! The only disappointment in the entire night/break was that our other best friend, Gina, (whose also a bridesmaid) couldn't be with us. She currently lives in Savannah, Georgia and is working for SCAD as the Assistant to the President. Talk about living the dream with fashion shows, art galas, and fancy trips! She's SOOO in the world of 'The Devil Wears Prada' lifestyle. So because she is living this glamorous life, she couldn't come to Corpus for the break. So... we photoshopped her in a picture :) We miss you Jean!!

Kristen, Me, and Natalie
Me, Kristen, Natalie, Heather, and Michael
The Girls, plus GINA!! (haha I'm good) :)