tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-39955922635212494842024-03-05T09:24:12.475-08:00The Growing Gleasons.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger229125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3995592263521249484.post-10442922916117967912016-12-21T09:29:00.000-08:002016-12-21T09:29:00.708-08:00Extreme Baby Prep!Since we shared the gender of our baby girl back in early November, we have been busy getting ready for her arrival! I have read every blog and pinned every pin on pintrest, so now it is time to get busy with her arrival only a few months away. But first...time to take it all in.
The day after we found out her gender, we were also celebrating the 3 year anniversary of our first date. On November 1st, 2013 I went on a first date to Napa Flats with a guy my mom handpicked for me. Every day since then Kevin has loved me unconditionally and becoming parents is more exciting for me, because it is with him. He listens to me complain, he supports me and wakes up every time I go to the bathroom, and he spoils me. That day I came home to flowers and his smile...which was enough for me. 3 years ago I wasn't sure if he was the one and that night at dinner we discussed baby names and what our first child will be like over a non interrupted dinner. Definitely a full circle moment for this emotional momma! After dinner we headed to the new Carter's in town and we both picked out our first outfits for our daughter. Here are the two outfits we picked out. It was a fun evening complete with our first shopping trip (which was a quick one, just like Kevin likes it)!
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Next on our list after finding out the gender was starting a baby registry. It wasn't too long ago that Kevin had the scan gun in hand shooting pots and pans for our wedding. Hard to believe less than 2 years later, we are now registering for our first daughter. After visiting a few baby stores, we narrowed it down to Target and Babies R Us for our two baby shopping headquarters. Since most people have access to a Target, this was a no brainer. We tossed around the idea of other places and after visiting Babies R Us, we liked a lot of the products they offered. Since we don't have one in College Station we figured our family and friends who live in bigger cities would have access to this other option. Since I was SUPER excited for the registry and had read up on all the products, we decided to do our Babies R Us registry the weekend of my 30th Birthday. We had already planned to be Austin so I figured we could knock out this task while we were close to one there. Kevin let me do most of the pointing and picking and he did all the scanning! We had fun imagining our little girl using all these goodies. Crazy to see how many different options there are for needed products. From sheet protectors to breast feeding supplies we were a bit overwhelmed! But, after many texts to my sister and other friends about what they used, we now have a registry at both stores. Here are a few pictures from our registry fun!
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Finally, on to the big stuff. Time to put the baby furniture together. While looking for cribs and dressers, I wanted white. Kevin wanted wood. So, we compromised and picked this furniture from Babies R Us! Our parents were kind enough to each buy a piece for her which we thought will be pretty special. Kevin got busy (along with my direction giving) and we now have a dresser and a crib ready for our girl. Putting together items is typically a challenge for Kevin and I. Since I didn't have any brothers, I was usually the one putting things together in my household. Therefore, I clearly know how to do it. Miraculously, we survived both the crib and dresser without one argument. It was a true miracle...parenting must be good for us. Haha! Here are the finished products. Daddy did a great job! She is going to love it.
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Now...we are just missing a few more decorations in her room....and her! More to come soon as we continue preparing for our little girl's arrival! Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3995592263521249484.post-72742818149071692532016-11-22T15:05:00.000-08:002016-11-22T15:05:16.743-08:00The Big Reveal.After keeping the secret for a week, on Sunday we finally got to share the gender with our family. Many people asked us if we were having a big gender reveal party, as many do these days. After much consideration, Kevin and I decided to just have a small lunch with our parents, siblings, and grandparents so that they could all find out together. We were already going to be in Cameron for a family reunion the day before, so Grandpa & Gigi were kind enough to host. Granddad & Granny (Kevin's Parents) along with Kevin's Mawmaw and my Nana also joined us for the big day. We had a wonderful BBQ lunch and everyone had to cast their votes before sharing the news.
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Team Girl:
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Team Boy:
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Kevin and I had been brainstorming a fun and unique way to share the gender for weeks. We considered using cupcakes, cutting into a cake, having balloons, having an exploding golf ball, etc. One day as I was brainstorming, I immediately thought about our engagement as it has taken place in my parent's living room...where we planned to share the gender. I thought back to Kevin using his guitar as a prop and "that song" he was supposed to play before proposing to me. It immediately hit me...we had to use a song! I told Kevin my idea and then became nervous that he wouldn't have enough time to put together a song in just a week's time once we knew the gender. Luckily, as he always does, he came through with the perfect song! It didn't take him long to come up with the tune and I helped with determining the perfect words. When he played it for me for the first time and sang the chorus (I think that's what it is called): "All we want is happy, all we need is love" tears again filled my eyes. Then in true Kevin fashion, he comes back with "I hope it don't look like daddy" to crack us all up. He is so talented and definitely has a way of putting the perfect words into a song while still making people laugh. The song ended with the news of us having a girl. Everyone broke into cheers and excitement...it was perfect, just as I expected.
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Here's a few more pictures from our BIG REVEAL. Thanks to our family for making it such a perfect day.
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It is a day I will never forget. I was nervous and excited to find out, and as usual, Kevin was a cool as a cucumber. It was an extremely foggy morning and we could barely see as we drove from Navasota to College Station to the hospital. Our appointment was at 8:30 so we were the first ones in the perfectly quiet ultrasound area. I laid down and the lady confirmed that we did want to know the sex as not to spoil any news for us. She took lots of pictures and pointed out all the different parts we were seeing including the head, abdomen, the legs, and arms...even a perfect picture of a foot.
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It was hard to determine what we were seeing at first but when she pointed out the two little legs, it finally hit me...it wasn't just an "it" anymore..it was our daughter or son! About 15 minutes into the appointment, she shared the news of what I had been feeling all along. It is a GIRL. Kevin sat next to me and was holding my hand the whole time. As soon as she said "It's a Girl", I was overwhelmed with joy. The tears started flowing and I couldn't get them to stop! From the beginning of the pregnancy, I had not had a good cry so I guess it was due at 20 weeks, right? The ultrasound tech was super sweet and let me enjoy the moment of finding out we were going to parents to a little GIRL. Having two nephews, I feel like I would know what to do with a boy. However, we are overjoyed to welcome the first granddaughter to both of our families! We know she will be spoiled and we pray that we can guide her to be a woman of God. So... let the journey begin of bows (and boots of course) along with tons of firsts with a little lady to love! Here is our first picture with our little girl right after we found out at the hospital!
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3995592263521249484.post-39181459724061718062016-10-26T10:27:00.002-07:002016-10-26T10:27:17.378-07:00Week 19...Finally Looking PregnantIt has been a few weeks since my last update on "The Growing Gleasons", so I figured it was about time for another.
We are currently at 19 weeks, and quickly approaching the half way mark this coming Saturday! It is crazy to think this little one has been growing for 20 weeks. Hitting the half way mark has already made me realize how fast this whole thing happens. Some days it feels like I just found out we were pregnant...and some days I feel like it has been forever! With hitting Week 20, we FINALLY get to find out the sex of the baby! Many of my friends who are expecting around the same time as us found out a couple weeks ago and I was getting pretty impatient. Luckily, the time is now here and on Monday, Kevin and I will know if we have a little lady or a little mister to love on come March! For those of you who are following our journey, know that you will have a little extra time before we share the sex. Kevin and I will find out on Monday at our appointment, but we won't get to share it with our families until Sunday when we can all be together for the big reveal. I promise, as soon as they know, everyone else will to! Keep an eye out on Sunday, November 6th as we share our big news! Here's a few weekly pictures of the growth from Week 12 to 17! I am finally starting to look a little pregnant. I have been joking that I finally look like I didn't just have a big lunch. I am ready to be "obviously pregnant" soon!
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And here I am at 18 weeks...see what I mean...finally, a little bump is starting to appear!
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Since we have been waiting to find out the sex, we haven't been doing much. We talk about a lot such as nursery themes, names, etc...but most of that doesn't involve any doing. We did start looking at registry items and made our first trip to Babies R Us and Buy Buy Baby while in Katy for Owen's birthday. Holy moly, talk about baby overload!! We immediately found a crib and dresser set that we loved and before we knew it, Grandpa and Gigi were helping us order one piece and Granddad and Granny were helping us order the other (as early Christmas gifts)! We think it will be pretty special that the baby's first furniture was given to them by their grandparents! We already received the dresser and Daddy Kevin can't wait to put it together once we decide on a paint color for the room! We also collected some paint samples but now just need to know if it is a boy or girl! Here is Daddy with the baby's dresser!
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This past weekend, I also had the joy of doing a little shopping with my momma AKA Gigi! I had such a fun day trying on maternity clothes and looking at baby clothes. We had a perfect day together and I got to spend my gift card that Kerri AKA Kerri gave me on new clothes! It was a perfect day and a great reminder of how blessed I am to have my mom (and Kevin's mom) to experience all of life's fun moments with. Baby Gleason will definitely be spoiled, and I'll admit, I haven't hated being spoiled either! :)
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As with most other pregnant women, I love reading the daily updates from my pregnancy app, Ovia. Today's message was this: "Baby G!'s tiny little lips are developed, just in time for lots of kisses from you." Most days I read the little facts about the baby's development and move on with my day. Today, however, I was so excited to know that their little lips are formed! Crazy to think of all the words that will come out of those lips and the kisses that are to come. This is all getting pretty real. Be ready for another blog next week as we announce the sex! Until then, we will keep "wondering what you are"!
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This past week I finally broke out the maternity wear! I was fortunate enough to get a HUGE TUB of maternity clothes from fellow mommy, Kayla, and MAN DO I FEEL LUCKY! Not only will this save me lots of money but everything was a perfect fit! I was starting to feel pretty uncomfortable in some of my normal clothes and the top button on my jeans has been a challenge for sure. Now that I have been exposed to maternity pants, I may never go back! They are so comfortable and I have a great selection to choose from with all the stuff Kayla gave me! Today was one of the first days I felt comfortable in the past couple weeks so that was a plus! If you have maternity clothes you aren't using, pass them around. It is fun to share and a nice way to know others are on this journey with you. Here's a picture of me taken today as I wore my first "maternity outfit" at Week 15!
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Now...onto the challenges. First up was the tricky search for a daycare. Yes, I realize that the baby isn't here yet. However, even at 8 months before their arrival, we were behind on the daycare search! After our first call to one of our preferred options, we were told we were #24 on their 12-18 month waitlist! Holy moly, I had no idea daycare was such a top priority for those thinking about having kids. So, word of the wise to those of you considering parenthood, go ahead and get on a list. I know, it's crazy. Getting on a waitlist for something that doesn't even exist yet is awkward, but that was what we learned through our searching process in College Station. Now, if you live in a smaller town or have grandmas or family that live close by, then you are probably in the clear. After doing the tour and adding our name to the waitlist (and praying that 15-20 people randomly want to move away from College Station), we started searching for daycares in the Navasota area. After a couple suggestions, today we finally had a chance to visit 2 more daycares. Since I have never had to do this before, I am finding myself going into "First Time Mommy Mode" trying to figure out what the heck I am supposed to be looking for. Is everything clean? Are they washing their hands ever 5 seconds? Is everything baby proofed? And then I realized...for us, it is more about the people and what feeling I get from them. Are the employees happy? Are the kids smiling? Will these people love our baby as much as we do? After worrying (yes, I already have that part of motherhood down), I realized that it takes a village to raise a kid. Through life, I won't be able to be with my kids every minute of every day so I will just have to trust the people around me and pray for them. Pray that they will love my child, pray that they will protect them, and above all else, pray that they will be a good example for my little one. As we continue searching for the right place for Baby Gleason, please keep us in your prayers. As a first time parent, we need lots of them to navigate these new waters!
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In the next few weeks the waiting game is on as we wait to find out the sex of our baby. Our scheduled dates for the appointment where we will find out is on October 31st...yes, Halloween! So, hopefully it won't be a ghost or a goblin, but a boy or a girl! We are anxiously awaiting that appointment as that will help us start checking off items on our to do list...the nursery, the name, the wardrobe. I have a new found respect for those parents out there who wait until the baby's arrival to find out. After much thought, Kevin and I decided we wanted to know the sex. Truly, it doesn't matter but this planning momma is ready to buy something gender specific! So, about another month of waiting and we will know! In the meantime, we bought Baby Gleason it's first toy! I realize it isn't a cow OR a chicken. We met in the middle and got the lamb. I am pretty proud of myself for not buying many items in the past 15 weeks, but I am sure that will change once we know the sex of the baby! Here's a picture of his or her little lamb!
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As always, thank you for your continued prayers for us. We are so thankful to have such a supportive "village" to share this fun time in our lives with. Stay tuned for more updates as we continue preparing for this little one. Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3995592263521249484.post-68021751242645966592016-09-05T15:27:00.000-07:002016-09-05T15:27:21.820-07:00Baby Gleason...Coming March 2017!After 12 weeks of keeping a secret (well, keeping it for the most part)....we can finally share our exciting news! Kevin and I are HAVING A BABY! Since the day we tied the knot, the questions starting coming. "When are you going to have a baby?" Well, to those of you who have been asking for the past year and a half...MARCH. We are having one in March.
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My whole life I have wondered what it would be like to be pregnant. Would it be fun? Would it be miserable? How often would they have to take my blood? Can I handle it? We have been extremely blessed to have a very smooth pregnancy so far. I haven't experienced the dreaded morning sickness and overall have felt pretty good. Some days I wonder if the baby is still in there and growing since I feel fairly normal. On other days, I wonder what happen to energetic, motivated, nice Lesley. The one who came home and got stuff done around the house and was ready to pack a bag and go somewhere at a day's notice. That girl has been missing the past 6 weeks or so. I have turned into a hermit crab who just wants to stay home and sleep! Avoiding people was also the only strategy I could come up with in order to not spill the beans to every person I came in contact with! Haha. Other than the tiredness and trips to the restroom every 30 seconds during the day and 3 times during the night, I feel great. And we couldn't be more happy about that!
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I also need to make it known that Kevin Gleason is wonderful. He has reassured me on a daily basis that I am doing great. He keeps my water cup full and the gummies coming to help my constant indigestion. He puts up with me when I am feeling moody or nervous or worried. He has let us eat pizza 2-3 times a week because I craved it. He lets me go to sleep on the couch every night at 7:00 and then move to bed at 8:30 because I that is my new bed time. I have been joking with him for months that it would probably be easier if he could just have the baby for us. After all, he is much nicer and way more positive than I am. He agreed, but luckily, he is letting me do the hard part just to prove I can. I have no doubts that he will be an amazing daddy to our little one and I am so humbled that I am the woman who gets to carry his baby. Please pray for Kevin as he continues to be my #1 supporter over the next 7 months. Lord knows he will need it to put up with me as I grow...and complain.
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Kevin and I began praying for a baby pretty early on in our marriage. We weren't ready at the time to be parents, but we knew one day we would be ready. Over the summer we began seriously discussing parenthood and were blessed to see two pink lines not long after. Now days, you just never know. Pregnancy has become more difficult for many out there and we realize that some try for YEARS to become parents. Every story we read motivated us to pray harder and trust in His plan. We realize how fortunate we are for allowing us to become parents and thank God daily for trusting us with this little one. Being trusted in that way by Him is one of the most beautiful gifts I have ever received. We are so unworthy. We will do our best to raise this little boy or girl to the best of our abilities. We know it won't be easy and we know it won't all be glamorous, but we know that each day will be a gift.
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So, what is the game plan moving forward? We are planning to find out the sex of the baby and that should happen in late October! After that, the waiting will continue until his or her arrival in the spring! Please keep the prayers coming for Baby Gleason and for Kevin and I as we embark on this new journey. We CANNOT wait to be parents and to share this little one with our family and friends.
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3995592263521249484.post-63503671842603530672015-12-28T10:27:00.001-08:002015-12-28T10:32:23.442-08:00Reflection of 2015.For the past few years, I have sent out one of “those Christmas letters”, the kind that recap the year and tell you what I have been up to. When I started writing it in 2012 it was a way for me to reflect and document the big things that happened in a year’s time. Since I didn’t have a family of my own to put on a trendy Christmas card, I thought it would be a neat way to count my blessings. As Christmas 2015 came along, I realized that all those years of praying for a family of my own had become a reality in 2015 with Kevin. So, I decided to make a little change and not send out a letter in a card. As the holidays have come and gone, I have realized just how much I missed writing that letter and documenting my year. SO…here it is. In blog format instead of on paper, hopefully you all will enjoy it just as much!
Our new year of 2015 started off in a unique way with my dad being in the hospital with an infection in his leg. Since then it has been a year of hospital visits and frustrations, but somehow he is still farming and ranching every day. His crutches are now normal and we pray that in 2016 he will gain the relief we have prayed for. I know God answers prayers because he somehow was strong enough to make a pretty important walk down our church aisle in May of 2015 (more on that to come later).
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January through May were pretty much overtaken with Wedding Planning. From our awesome “Western” Engagement Party to bridal showers hosted by our family and friends to my perfect Bachelorette Weekend in Gruene….it was a dream come true. Many brides dread the planning process but I wasn’t one of them. Those months of preparation were the most blessed of months. We were constantly surrounded by family and friends who mean the world to me. Kevin and I were showered and loved in a way I could have never imagined. With every gift and wish, we felt so supported. I know for many of you reading this (especially our immediate families) we filled ALL your free weekends with to-dos…so again, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU to everyone who celebrated with us. It truly meant the world to us.
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April 4th, 2015 was another milestone of the year for us as Kevin made a huge commitment to continue his faith journey. After months of prayer and preparation, Kevin was welcomed into the Catholic church family at St. Mary’s in College Station. He has always been an amazing man of God, but this decision was one that we prayed a lot about. I will never be able to describe the fullness of my heart on that day….almost as full as it was on May 2nd.
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May 2nd, I officially became a Gleason as Kevin and I stood at the altar of my home church and vowed to spend our lives together. As Kevin and I have experienced marriage, I continue to feel so blessed. I am so glad Kevin picked me and I can’t wait see what God has in store for our marriage in the years to come! Immediately following our wedding, Kevin and I took our first big trip together as we headed to Lake Tahoe for our Honeymoon. The weather was perfect and enjoyed having some much needed down time after all the planning. If you have never been, we highly recommend it for a vacation!
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2015 also brought with it new jobs for both Kevin and I. In April, Kevin started as an agent with Texas Farm Bureau. His transition has been a successful one and he truly loves getting to help others and prepare for the unexpected through his job. In June, I moved from International Student Services to The Department of Poultry Science at Texas A&M. As most of you know, this was the academic department I called home during my undergrad years. I absolutely love getting to put both of my degrees to work as I work with the students in Poultry Science. I do academic advising, recruitment, and travel around Texas educating people on poultry and the importance of agriculture. I get to work with some wonderful people and students. It was a perfect career transition for me at the perfect time.
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In August, I finally got to experience the fun of a new car as we bought our first car together. We got a 2015 Maroon Traverse and have already enjoyed putting many miles on it together as we travel from place to place.
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September, started out on a high as I celebrated my 10 Year High School Reunion. As Class President, I got the task of planning a gathering and was happy to see so many of my classmates many of whom I hadn’t seen in 10 years! I also had a pretty handsome date to take with me. As a "Cameron Transplant" (which is what he calls himself), I enjoyed having him to show off 10 years later!
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September also had some lows as we said goodbye to my sweet Pawpaw. At 90 years young, Pawpaw was a man of faith, family, and work ethic. He was one of those silent but strong people who impact people without even knowing it. I am so thankful to have learned so much about life from him and continue to see his legacy in our growing family.
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We rounded out the year with a fantastic trip to New Orleans, Louisiana with Kevin’s parents! We had a great time eating our way through Cajun Country and had a lot of fun seeing and doing everything there is to do in NOLA! It was a nice weekend getaway and most importantly treasured family time with a family who has welcomed me as their own daughter. So thankful to have such great in-laws! In December we also celebrated our first married Christmas together. It was a blessed holiday spent with our families and remembering that Jesus is the real reason for the season!
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You knew I couldn’t write an annual letter without updates on our nephews Reid and Owen. Reid is now 4 and will start kindergarten next year and Owen is 2. We enjoyed watching them grow this past year. Reid started soccer and Owen has gained quite the personality! I am in awe of all they learn as they grow up and adore how they have welcomed Kevin as their Uncle Kevin this past year! Here’s a few of our favorite pictures of them from this year.
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We can’t imagine a more blessed 2016. Excited for all that is to come as we embark on a new year and wish all of you a fantastic 2016! May God’s Blessings shine down on you and your families.
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3995592263521249484.post-92167956822334290022015-10-02T07:45:00.000-07:002015-10-02T07:45:10.426-07:00My Bridals.So, it appears that I haven't written a blog since 10 days before the wedding. Man oh man, so much has happened since then. Up first...my bridal portraits. We were fortunate enough to have RayEric Photography, a wonderful couple from College Station as our photographers for my bridals and the wedding. At that point, Ray and Chloe lived here in town as Chloe was finishing up her schooling at the Vet School here at Texas A&M. Since then, they have moved to the Austin area and are still taking beautiful pictures. If you are in that area and in need of a wedding photographer, I would HIGHLY recommend them. As soon as Kevin and I met them at a local coffee shop to talk about potentially being our wedding photographers, we loved them! They were easy going, had beautiful pictures, and just wanted to be a part of our day. Kevin discussed potentially taking "Groomals" in addition to my "Bridals". For a minute, I thought he had convinced Ray to do it. Ray and Chloe rolled with our punches and we had a lot of fun with them. Our wedding photography was one of the easiest part of the wedding planning process for us. I took my bridals on a cloudy day in March. I was worried it was going to rain, but luckily, it held off. It all became real on that day. My hair was up, my makeup was perfect, I put on the jewelry, and then...the dress. At that moment, it really all came together and I realized that this was it. This was what I was going to look like on the day I married my best friend. Mom and both of my sisters tagged along and were a huge help me to me that day. They held my flowers, they added my veil, and yes, even helped me carry my train across campus. I was so glad they were with me to share in that special moment with me. So, here are a few of my favorites from that day. Wish I could share them all!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk_7NQ7ABPDveGS5yxcacYnp5DiBvw7Rn9WFO4z54VPE73anhn_rICqVj_TDo1v6gWExueaPij-5qoRjmDW7NSxoWA9tf6MzdQphxuC5gKzQ-zAb2VBMn7bBL6duUDwXZisZTxcwpFK6E/s1600/19427_10106579034528944_4178523296162196178_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk_7NQ7ABPDveGS5yxcacYnp5DiBvw7Rn9WFO4z54VPE73anhn_rICqVj_TDo1v6gWExueaPij-5qoRjmDW7NSxoWA9tf6MzdQphxuC5gKzQ-zAb2VBMn7bBL6duUDwXZisZTxcwpFK6E/s320/19427_10106579034528944_4178523296162196178_n.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdMNhOOW8YuEuFkHwjk5wgzp78rz3nyFlgVc7cadFvxlkyrT7IftcuRV6UoSOipRtzfKqhGncEo7Ihirub7XWZ2K7UuVQzi2O9JMdsR1RzmM6HHm6T7k0IlYY11wB82w5WcDlTs_isenM/s1600/10857740_10106579037328334_1150527445389336954_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdMNhOOW8YuEuFkHwjk5wgzp78rz3nyFlgVc7cadFvxlkyrT7IftcuRV6UoSOipRtzfKqhGncEo7Ihirub7XWZ2K7UuVQzi2O9JMdsR1RzmM6HHm6T7k0IlYY11wB82w5WcDlTs_isenM/s320/10857740_10106579037328334_1150527445389336954_n.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP_9la85oYl5YyRpV3PkdPoUS5qaAVW0qwxZdllPufUYEgNM-iXToM8_GSGlngN51Ny4ZUD5rqhKkeKT884-yLU73Oab45t9OXdA4EWyo-rBTIwAFY6NalObLrukApq744GR42N3t5aJs/s1600/11059297_10106579036724544_4027991716376212605_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP_9la85oYl5YyRpV3PkdPoUS5qaAVW0qwxZdllPufUYEgNM-iXToM8_GSGlngN51Ny4ZUD5rqhKkeKT884-yLU73Oab45t9OXdA4EWyo-rBTIwAFY6NalObLrukApq744GR42N3t5aJs/s320/11059297_10106579036724544_4027991716376212605_n.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8C5o7_B3fCjjJIAaKu5ny0cp7tZPk817RdwmQz_kJzEvbglTeyhhfEZCh71eSNT8Sq9YZvZQoTuzvj9KYY7GMUr-II9SX9OERrS4-ubiftWDYUHL9ZMZY2mcVvqW1hAcqw00vrEbf6N0/s1600/11148342_10106579035596804_7390765553493979746_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8C5o7_B3fCjjJIAaKu5ny0cp7tZPk817RdwmQz_kJzEvbglTeyhhfEZCh71eSNT8Sq9YZvZQoTuzvj9KYY7GMUr-II9SX9OERrS4-ubiftWDYUHL9ZMZY2mcVvqW1hAcqw00vrEbf6N0/s320/11148342_10106579035596804_7390765553493979746_n.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj70PqpBV4K_MjXnkANRh6RC3V6npXL5MCdmr-q_VZ149t3qp93woYhARyU_ICuXAclMP5kKVWyeElgfUhAoGrBNvAc64gDYSDti7mWk1U5vXCsBeVGzWo6c5-0gGSfXsRd_4N9QKjCAcY/s1600/11162078_10106579035262474_3775978299651752071_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj70PqpBV4K_MjXnkANRh6RC3V6npXL5MCdmr-q_VZ149t3qp93woYhARyU_ICuXAclMP5kKVWyeElgfUhAoGrBNvAc64gDYSDti7mWk1U5vXCsBeVGzWo6c5-0gGSfXsRd_4N9QKjCAcY/s320/11162078_10106579035262474_3775978299651752071_n.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiitcIkdyuqT50hcWN4JP3jAw-fof92MrzP6lFZ3jhalx9S9yHNX5xZug8BH_EECFGJjkTYGurUPmfkHUTOIxQvWiPcAAxPm211-XJpuWAtaAV_4cus8tDLHIoHA_2d2eH74X0ayR4D8Ek/s1600/11257757_10106579034464074_5942576756497778997_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiitcIkdyuqT50hcWN4JP3jAw-fof92MrzP6lFZ3jhalx9S9yHNX5xZug8BH_EECFGJjkTYGurUPmfkHUTOIxQvWiPcAAxPm211-XJpuWAtaAV_4cus8tDLHIoHA_2d2eH74X0ayR4D8Ek/s320/11257757_10106579034464074_5942576756497778997_n.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5QIIZO8w9SX-INlecEL9wv-YxZUKLsNlU-0coziJ6fQ_9E8dR-g0pDSYIAMFfBtSlUHE_iwtXTb-0ZQmolD7z77sb33SMTqzLMbu8wPGUauLXixgtVfagSkBW98yrT1-kvRZqWv78bHQ/s1600/11329907_10106573689570284_6872132099317864119_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5QIIZO8w9SX-INlecEL9wv-YxZUKLsNlU-0coziJ6fQ_9E8dR-g0pDSYIAMFfBtSlUHE_iwtXTb-0ZQmolD7z77sb33SMTqzLMbu8wPGUauLXixgtVfagSkBW98yrT1-kvRZqWv78bHQ/s320/11329907_10106573689570284_6872132099317864119_n.jpg" /></a></div>
Oh, and Kevin got his "groomal" as well...on our wedding day!
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Since January here is what we have been up to! We had two wedding showers...
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We had an engagement party...
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Kevin got a new job and moved to Bryan...
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We did LOTS of wedding planning, we even squeezed in a Bachelor/Bachelorette weekend... <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhETFi7tq1URvuKKhlVF2A2oCXufEyUIynqEn_bjUCcSw9LHn5yRbP64YHIGSAX0wsOJW0CiZknmt-N1HSBuvybkyn5C2_YtH0MNb-o7I-8O-ACjTBzD4_imH4ldFqUwhhV-zYh4BFPD-0/s1600/11015102_10106409135777404_8698921061845260340_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhETFi7tq1URvuKKhlVF2A2oCXufEyUIynqEn_bjUCcSw9LHn5yRbP64YHIGSAX0wsOJW0CiZknmt-N1HSBuvybkyn5C2_YtH0MNb-o7I-8O-ACjTBzD4_imH4ldFqUwhhV-zYh4BFPD-0/s320/11015102_10106409135777404_8698921061845260340_n.jpg" /></a></div>
And we even got a marriage license. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTDTeX6yPrsl9UPoMh7ikprIDFYwCFbOS3T5oJCVdD88Z_cJE1DPMzTAYO39-AIrerM7QPMCQEdkk-TPlkoL2zkzSQbyVIn3iFXwuh-xgSIgKSoOfuLO9fRqjCgr7XCegntzifmoGe5Tg/s1600/11133642_10106421761545264_3221620668380013618_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTDTeX6yPrsl9UPoMh7ikprIDFYwCFbOS3T5oJCVdD88Z_cJE1DPMzTAYO39-AIrerM7QPMCQEdkk-TPlkoL2zkzSQbyVIn3iFXwuh-xgSIgKSoOfuLO9fRqjCgr7XCegntzifmoGe5Tg/s320/11133642_10106421761545264_3221620668380013618_n.jpg" /></a></div>
The last two months have truly been a whirlwind. I really haven't taken the time to stop and realize just how quickly it has flown by. Then, all of a sudden, today, as I was trying to get caught up at work (yes, I do still have a job and have been doing by best to stay afloat amongst wedding planning and work)I had a moment where my heart was just feeling overwhlemed in general. I clicked on Pandora hoping some music would help me relax, and that it did. Marry Me by Train came on and made me stop and really think about the words and what the next 10 days mean. It was just the reminder I needed. The next 10 days aren't about running around like crazy or spending lots of money (which will more than likely happen), they are about paving the way to a marriage...a marriage to my man. Wow, I took that sign and did my best to reprioritize the hecticness. So, here we are. 10 days from now, I get to marry this handsome young man. I am so glad he's mine.
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3995592263521249484.post-80017732138540556502015-03-03T08:19:00.000-08:002015-03-03T08:19:49.745-08:00Lauren's Legacy.Change is one of life's inevitable actions. There are times that I look back at the past 7 years and realize just how much has changed. I see how much I have grown as an individual. I see all the opportunities I've had to travel. I see all the moments I was able to connect with the people around me. But most importantly, I look back and think of one particular lady who inspired my actions over the past 7 years. Without a doubt, her legacy has led me to where I am. Today, 7 years since that sad day, I celebrate the life and legacy that Miss Lauren Lewis left for us. Just thinking about her, always has, and always will leave a smile on my face. Those of you who have known me for a while know that Lauren was an extremely influential person in my life. Her love for education, serving others, and connecting with people is the reason I got into student affairs. I was planning to finish my degree in agriculture and head into the world of extension. But as I got involved in organizations at A&M and saw just how important student affairs professionals are, I knew that was the field for me. Over the past 4 years, I often stop and think of her as I meet with students. I see that same sparkle in their eyes for Texas A&M and leadership. Last semester, we also had the opportunity to talk with Maggies (a women's organization that Lauren loved) about Lauren and the impact she had on so many during her time at Texas A&M. It was an amazing night remembering her and honoring her...a night that I will treasure forever. In my office, I keep her words right above my monitor to remind me of why I am in this field. For being so young, she indeed was wise beyond her years...
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Lauren's passing was a slap in the face for me. It taught me that we are not invincible. We are only here for a short amount of time, and if we aren't helping others, then our time here on earth has been wasted. I absolutely adored this lady. She was intelligent, beautiful, fun, charismatic, and had a heart of GOLD. She made me laugh with her crazy dance moves, made me tired by looking at her filled planner, and made me smile with her sweet East Texas accent. I loved the way she would fit right in my arms for a long hug and loved the way she could make you feel like you were the only person in the room when having a conversation with her. While she was only here for a little while, Lauren lived. And as each day comes and goes, I pray that I can live the way she did...fully and beautifully. In the past year, Lauren has continued to impact my life as she is the reason my current roommate (and one of my closest friends), Megan is in my life. On this day last year, Megan and I decided to meet up to celebrate Miss Lauren. Megan has recently moved back to College Station and was looking for someone who knew Lauren to spend the evening with. I knew that Megan was one of Lauren's closest friends and they had shared so many of life's big moments together. Megan and I knew of each other as we were both friends with Lauren, but didn't really know much about each other. Luckily, Lauren brought us together and sparked a special friendship. A few months later, Megan moved in with me and we've been friends ever since. Over the past year, I have grown to adore Megan Higginbotham. We have been able to laugh together as she makes up ridiculous songs, cook some incredible meals that we have shared at our table together, cried together as bad news has come our way, danced around the house together, and most importantly, we have been able to pray together and lead lives that hopefully make Lauren proud. It is amazing how people continue to bless your life even in their absence. Even though I can't pick up the phone to thank her, I will forever be grateful for Lauren linking us together.
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To you, beautiful friend, I just want you to know that you are missed. Over the next couple months as life brings on more changes, know that you are being remembered and honored. So thankful for the life you led and pray that I can continue to live a life that will make you proud.
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3995592263521249484.post-61795066928237347362015-02-04T16:26:00.001-08:002015-02-04T16:26:56.057-08:00The items that make up life.Right before the Christmas holidays, Kevin and I headed to the stores to take part in one of the most exciting and definitely one of the most tiring tasks that comes with getting married...THE WEDDING REGISTRY! Now, let me start by saying that I have spent a LOT of time looking at registries. I am a professional wedding goer, so if there is a registry...I have seen it. I like to think I am a master at reading a registry. I know exactly where every item is in the store, I know exactly which coupons get me the best deal, and I know EXACTLY how to use that coupon to get 15-20% off! One Sunday after church, Kevin and I decided to head over to the beautiful Bed, Bath, and Beyond. No, not Bath & Bodyworks. Although every time I try to say the name of one, I accidently use the other. While these two stores are unrelated, something about them both having the word "Bath" really can throw a girl off. Kevin and I sat down with one of the workers there and received instructions on how to make the perfect registry. He had lots of good tips that really helped us get started. Kevin took on the important role of registry scanner (which secretly I think he enjoyed), while I took on the task of pointing at items. Hey, both take a lot of skill. ;) After spending almost 3 hours in the store, we had compiled a list of almost 100 items. While to some, these are just items. I burst with excitment thinking of the wonderful conversations Kevin and I will have over a dinner prepared in those pots and pans. I smile when I think of the glasses of wine I will get to enjoy with Kevin after a long day at work. I melt when I think of the memories we will make as we bake cookies with our kids some days using those cookie cutters and cookie sheets. I am thankful when I picture us taking a casserole in those pyrex dishes to a friend who is just had a baby or who someone who just lost a loved one. Really, all these items are just that, items. But as I start to think about all these "items" that make up life, I just get MORE and MORE excited that I get to do life with Kevin. So, to all of you who will take a look at our registry and/or purchase items, please know that we are both so appreciative for these "items" and do not take take the blessings we have for granted. Here's some pictures of us after we conquered the Bed, Bath, & Beyond registry! We were exhausted and decided to take on store #2 (Target) another weekend!
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1. You make me smile.
2. You drive me places.
3. You are a servant of The Lord.
4. The way you hold my hand when you are driving.
5. That we have the same taste in music.
6. When we pray together at church.
7. You look up to your Dad.
8. You are an Aggie.
9. Lazy days with you are my favorite.
10. You always send me a good morning text.
11. You let me pick out your clothes.
12. You always tell me you love me.
13. You can wrap anything in bacon.
14. You pray for me.
15. When you hug me, you never let go first.
16. You let me make the plans.
17. You love my nephews.
18. You love cattle.
19. You spoil me.
20. You fit in with my family.
21. You have strong hands.
22. You give amazing back rubs.
23. You can season any type of meat.
24. You miss me when we are not together.
25. Your random texts throughout the day always make me smile.
26. You don’t know words to most songs.
27. You love agriculture.
28. The way you talk with old men.
29. Your laugh.
30. The way you look in a pullover.
31. Your strong arms.
32. You hug your Mom.
33. That we go to mass together.
34. The fact that you are becoming Catholic for our family.
35. The way you talk about our future family.
36. The fact that you play guitar.
37. Your love for Aaron Watson
38. Your love for Aaron Watson’s family.
39. The way you tell the same stories over and over.
40. You like having me as a tag along when you play golf.
41. God created you with me in mind.
42. We are a team.
43. Your love for Columbia fleeces.
44. You are my designated driver
45. You don’t like to read…neither do I.
46. You love breakfast.
47. The way you offer to help my Dad.
48. You are smart.
49. Home is wherever you are.
50. You drink coffee.
51. You are driven.
52. You carry a bible in your truck.
53. You would pick up and move wherever to be with me.
54. The way you use your charm to impress my Mom.
55. You don’t judge people by their looks.
56. You like being involved in the community.
57. You were on the livestock judging team.
58. When you say you love me, you mean it.
59. You make good choices.
60. You trust me.
61. You mow my grass.
62. You love my friends.
63. You would do anything to help anyone.
64. You donate money for good causes.
65. You always offer to pay for dinner.
66. The way you impress everyone you meet.
67. Everyone knows you…from Facebook.
68. You always have your phone nearby so I know I can reach you.
69. I can picture my life with you.
70. You can make a mean omelet.
71. Sitting at home doing nothing with you.
72. You let me clean your house.
73. You have nothing to hide.
74. I never doubt that you will protect me.
75. When you tell me I am sweet.
76. You don’t need fancy things.
77. There is no one I would rather spend the rest of my life with.
78. It took me 27 years to find you.
79. The way you smell when you get out of the shower.
80. The two little moles behind your ear.
81. The fact that you don’t know a stranger.
82. When I hear your ringtone I smile.
83. Whatever you do, you give it your all.
84. The way you always walk outside of me to protect me.
85. You love church picnics.
86. You want to give me the world.
87. We both like the mountains better than the beach.
88. The fact that we talk on the phone every night we aren’t together.
89. You think about taking care of me when we are apart.
90. You are open to trying new things with me.
91. Whatever I suggest is a good idea (most of the time).
92. That you are willing to make improvements on your house for me.
93. You want to travel with me.
94. We drink our coffee the same way: 1 sugar and cream.
95. You don’t want to use your vacation unless it is spent with me.
96. You are willing to sell anything to my friends when they want to hear you auctioneer.
97. Your soft lips.
98. That fact that you bought my engagement ring from Chuck.
99. You are the Kevin Gleason in Kevin Gleason and the Locals.
100. I can picture you at the end of the aisle looking back at me on our wedding day.
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3995592263521249484.post-78129313928266165522015-01-21T11:48:00.001-08:002015-01-21T11:48:52.637-08:00Engagement Pictures with Bethany Womack PhotographyI am little late but on Sunday, October 26, 2014, Kevin and I were very blessed to take Engagement Pictures with our sweet friend, and one of #LesleysLadies, Bethany Womack! Bethany and I have been friends since high school and have continued a special friendship over the years. Bethany and I have one of those relationships built on trust and honesty. So, who better than someone I trust and who will be honest with me to take pictures of my man and I! I spent a couple weeks shopping for new clothes, digging in the back of my closet, and hoping to find the perfect outfits for Kevin and I to wear for the pictures. After a weekend of laying out every option and not being able to see the bed, we had the outfits selected! Up next, the location. If you know us well, you know that country and laid back is our style. So, I told Kevin to start searching for some cool spots in Milam County. The week before our pictures we drove around as Kevin showed me all the spots he had picked. A few were good....a few were bad....some were impossible to get to in a vehicle. But after searching and searching, we decided to take most of them right behind Kevin's house on his land in Cameron. With the sun setting over the tree line, we knew it was the perfect fit. I had been looking forward to pictures for a long time...I like to think I am a natural in front of a camera. I mean, have you met our family? Pictures are a part of our daily life. I got my hair cut, my nails done, this was it. I was ready!! We started with our first shots in front of the tin barn then decided to drive to Milano to take some at the sale barn. The wood was a really cool tough and some of my favorites. Kevin found pictures a little more challenging. I told him to act normal but apparently, this wasn't normal. Haha...he was fun to watch and after a while started having fun with it too. Right at sunset we came back to Kevin's house and took the last round of shots in the pasture...with us....his cows...and his guitar. FINALLY, this man was in his happy place. And you can definitely tell as a result. The pictures turned out more perfect than I could have imagined. As I look at them (on a daily basis), I can see the love we have for each other captured perfectly in these shots. A huge thank you to my B for loving us, for being our friend, and for taking pictures that I will treasure for a lifetime. If you are looking for a photographer, check her out!
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text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjahJal_I44rCrCGxewOtpf0uv5IeH5QFGiVbueV9Tqk0-JecQC2qZFEUtQcdrwrBjIlUndMsxsAI5iDLGTXWpw__GxnN5BSUoKiKyaWnr6TgR6gppQ-GAhCx4Dgfk0BGoIePwjOhrQju0/s1600/10917370_10105929477820794_2495328653089366811_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjahJal_I44rCrCGxewOtpf0uv5IeH5QFGiVbueV9Tqk0-JecQC2qZFEUtQcdrwrBjIlUndMsxsAI5iDLGTXWpw__GxnN5BSUoKiKyaWnr6TgR6gppQ-GAhCx4Dgfk0BGoIePwjOhrQju0/s320/10917370_10105929477820794_2495328653089366811_n.jpg" /></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3995592263521249484.post-41880663447788607202014-12-15T15:19:00.003-08:002014-12-15T15:19:53.790-08:00Bridesmaid BoxesNow that I had picked my 6 ladies to stand by me, I started thinking of creative ways to ask them to be in our wedding. I spent hours on Pintrest...browsed stores for days...and then finally decided that I wanted to put together a "Bridesmaid Box". These boxes ended up more perfect than I imagined and they were full of special items for each of my ladies. This best advice I can give to others planning to make a box for your bridesmaid, is to make it personal. Buy items that are special to you and your girls! That will make it even more unique and special for them! First, I started with the boxes. I was planning to make them with a variety of pictures but found these at Michael's and decided that pre-made boxes would save me time and money in the long run. So glad I picked these. Next I started collecting supplies to go inside.
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I started with your typical wedding necessities: Kleenex for the happy tears, wine to celebrate all the special occasions, coffee to help us through the morning afters, a calendar with our wedding date circled so the ladies can save the date, nail polish to have something a little girly, and a ring pop...well, because ring pops are FUN!
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Then I made it a little more personal...I bought gold frames and added a picture of me and each bridesmaid in it. To continue the personalization, I bought two different movies to add in. For Lindsey and Lacey (my sisters and Maid/Matron of Honors) I got "My Best Friend's Wedding" and for the other four ladies I got "27 Dresses" for a little comic relief. Everyone always told me that movie was about me. I definitely got some entertainment from the lady at Hastings who asked me if I always buy movies in sets of 4. Um...not usually. Only for special occasions.
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Finally I added a few little pieces that I created especially for my ladies based off of ideas I found on Pintrest. My first was a list of #LesleysLadies so everyone knew who all would be included in the bridal party. These looked better printed, but here is an idea...
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Then I found this cute list of "Bridesmaid To-Dos" that I really liked. I changed up a few things so that it would apply to my ladies perfectly!
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And then finally...I popped the big question along with a personalized letter from me to each of them.
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I was super happy with how they turned out and I think the girls were too! Here are some pictures of the final products!
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They must've liked them because I got six "YES" replies to the questions! I now have six beautiful bridesmaids. What a gorgeous group of #LesleysLadies!!!
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Those eleven days were eleven of the most special days of my life. There is nothing better than standing by your best friends as they vow their lives to their partners. A wedding means a lot to me in regards to the bonding of two people. However, it also means a lot in regards to the bonding experience you have with the women who are included in your wedding. So, naturally, when it came time to sit down and pick the lovely ladies who would be standing by my side as I marry Kevin, it was very important to me that I take into consideration all the lovely ladies that I know and call my best friends. I have been so blessed to have a large group of women who have been a part of of my becoming who I am. Now, for those of you haven't had to do this yet...narrowing down your closest friends to a select few is without a doubt one of the hardest things I have ever had to do. After much thought and prayer, I came down to choosing six lovely ladies who have been integral parts of who I am. Two of these women have known me my entire life and I am lucky enough to call my sisters. Two of these women are not only best friends to me, they are also my cousins. And then the other two of these women are without a doubt my very best friends. Collectively, they have inspired me, loved me, supported me, cried with me, and been there for all the important moments in my life. I am honored that they will stand beside me as I marry Kevin. Naturally, there are additional women who I would have loved to have standing by me as well. I am so blessed to have SO MANY amazing women in my life and over the years this is something that I have not taken for granted. I have been blessed with the ability to really connect with other people. And through my connections I have gained so much as result from the women in my life. I hope that as I marry Kevin, ALL the women who I am lucky enough to call my friends will know that I look up to every one of you. I admire some of you as strong, independent women and I pray that I will always know who I am and fight for what is right.I admire some of you as wives and pray that I can be a wife like you are. I admire some of you as mothers and I pray that I can love my future children in the ways that you love yours. I admire some of you as faithful servants and pray that I can show my love for God the way that you do. No matter which category you are in, please know that I look up to all of you and I am so thankful for the example you have set forward for me as a woman, a wife, a mother, and a friend.
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At Lacey's wedding, my mom swears that she has never been so hot in her entire life. I would like to think it was the wine, but August 2nd definitely wasn't a "chilly" day for a wedding. Likewise, my dad spends his summers in the field harvesting so we wanted to keep that in mind as well to allow him to enjoy the day with us and not be worried about how many acres he could be combining that day. Luckily, neither Kevin nor I like sweating, so we pretty much marked out June-August. That was easy. 3 months down, 9 more to go. Since we were trying not to have a long engagement, September-December began getting ruled out as well. Perfect, 7 months out, 5 months left. The thought of planning a wedding, or I should say, the wedding I have dreamed about, could not be done in a short period of time and after being a part of so many other weddings, I wanted to make sure we weren't rushing anything and giving ourselves enough time to enjoy being engaged! We definitely understand that this is a very special time of preparation for us and we didn't want to cut that time short just to make it official sooner. So, after praying about it and taking all things into consideration: harvest season, planting season, graduations, Kevin's brother being in Qatar, etc....we decided on May 2015! There are 5 Saturdays in May so again, the challenge was set. A couple of our family members had gotten married over Memorial Day Weekend, and I remembered having that extra day off the Monday after was never a bad thing. So, we considered May 23rd. But after visiting with family that weekend wasn't going to work, so we started looking in early May instead. We narrowed it down to May 2nd and May 9th. There is a special little boy who's birthday is on May 9th, and we didn't want our wedding to interfere with Reid's 4th birthday, so we settled on May 2nd! After calling around to make sure the church and hall were available, it appeared that we had SET A DATE! May 2, 2015 it is!
So, after holding it in for a few days, we knew we wanted to have a little fun as we shared this date with our parents. We got them together and let them do a little puzzle solving as well.
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After a little unscrambling, they too were marking their calendars for 05.02.2015! We can't wait for it to be here and look forward to celebrating on May 2nd for many years to come.
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3995592263521249484.post-36186387179564765272014-11-25T08:25:00.001-08:002014-11-25T08:27:28.212-08:00The Dress.Everyone has heard about "that moment" happening when a bride slips on that white wedding dress. Well, on October 25th, 2014, I had "that moment"! It was a day that I hadn't really pictured in my head. Throughout the entire wedding planning experience I have struggled with picturing myself. I could always picture Kevin, walking down the aisle to him, the hall, and my friends and family having an awesome time at our reception...but the one thing I couldn't see was me. That all changed, with my dress shopping day! It was hard to decide who to take with me on the dress shopping adventure. I wanted to take the whole crew of #LesleysLadies, but after reading a few blogs and thinking about it, I knew that due to space in the dressing rooms, I wanted to stick with the moms and my sisters! We have spent many weekends in a dressing room together over the years and they have never steered me wrong in regards to an honest opinion before, so why start now. I also was very excited that Kevin's mom got to join us for the weekend. Having two boys, I knew that this was a special day for her and who would know what Kevin would like better than his mom. So, to Houston to Houston we went. As I got ready I heard some racket going on in Lindsey's living room. As I walked out, I was surprised to see this waiting for me. My family always knows how to make little things into big moments with unforgettable memories. This day, was no exception.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZaLdztr_xvNj0lwBFFv5zakdFdly9bMmIpam-PSMYVFuwaX0rNkj9kZwq7CaxDfV-R4WPy6-R75UxMULPMSJmuADJAPGr-FvA-0RAN0b6rBj3hFCsbKnJdxyodCoiEvd8UjyfFYMzL_c/s1600/1800249_10105596359971634_1648787389258306362_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZaLdztr_xvNj0lwBFFv5zakdFdly9bMmIpam-PSMYVFuwaX0rNkj9kZwq7CaxDfV-R4WPy6-R75UxMULPMSJmuADJAPGr-FvA-0RAN0b6rBj3hFCsbKnJdxyodCoiEvd8UjyfFYMzL_c/s320/1800249_10105596359971634_1648787389258306362_n.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOtXhSSXNOisBNXUs69wC_XLW2a7HzWTLNPt-DieOH0zQZydVnalsRaoOD6weG68FR5JNQWFCgsvUBfjW3QBYbXd_IKEt36DVCVlRrOE_BmRj6wqQLLNtbjnjdKdPUdVpUVBO_1YBwcSc/s1600/10404412_10105596354038524_4723203028425923936_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOtXhSSXNOisBNXUs69wC_XLW2a7HzWTLNPt-DieOH0zQZydVnalsRaoOD6weG68FR5JNQWFCgsvUBfjW3QBYbXd_IKEt36DVCVlRrOE_BmRj6wqQLLNtbjnjdKdPUdVpUVBO_1YBwcSc/s320/10404412_10105596354038524_4723203028425923936_n.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinrC5-A0zKUr1mRc12Kus39QZ7a6-gUxHgJrFvSmRCzV1F5VaiwWu2YACuD-hzUEkUWhzX2LcPW4n5fdIOp0BXKGUn5RTLinUex-uwPJTuJxK1BT73rzOPpWgAGPB9zry9CIhfwgrbY1g/s1600/10632750_10105596359946684_2328813890498215530_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinrC5-A0zKUr1mRc12Kus39QZ7a6-gUxHgJrFvSmRCzV1F5VaiwWu2YACuD-hzUEkUWhzX2LcPW4n5fdIOp0BXKGUn5RTLinUex-uwPJTuJxK1BT73rzOPpWgAGPB9zry9CIhfwgrbY1g/s320/10632750_10105596359946684_2328813890498215530_n.jpg" /></a></div>.
We started out the morning with brunch at an awesome place near Lindsey's house. Clearly we had a lot to celebrate, so mimosas were a necessity. Mimosas take all the nerves away, right?
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A few people had already starting inquiring about when I was going shopping and I was feeling a little behind since this is one of the most important things about getting married, or so people say. I would beg to differ since Kevin told me I could wear shorts and a t-shirt to our wedding and he would still marry me. I decided NOT to go with his suggestion and venture out to find the perfect dress. After 3 stores and multiple slip ons and slip offs, I found the PERFECT dress at David's Bridal. Going into the day, I had a feeling that David's Bridal would be the place I would find it. As I stated before, David and I have been friends for a while now. Minus a few, the majority of my bridesmaid dresses had been purchased there. I always felt comfortable there, they had dresses in my size, and more importantly...in my budget. I had something in mind in regards to the design that I was looking for going into the day. All the other dresses were beautiful and I felt beautiful in them, but none of them were exactly what I had in mind....until I slipped on this one. It was the second dress I tried on at David's Bridal, and it didn't take long for me to realize it was "the one". For those of you who are married, you know that there are no mirrors in the changing rooms. Therefore, you wiggle into a dress, walk out, see everyone's reaction, and THEN, finally get a look at yourself in a dress. So...I put this one on (with the help of my sister, both of which were super helpful to me in the dress sopping experience), walked out....saw some wonderful smiles looking back at me from the girls....turned around.....and saw it. I am tearing up just thinking about it. In that moment, I knew. It was exactly what I was looking for, it was exactly my size, and it was exactly the dress that I wanted to be wearing as I walk down the aisle to marry Kevin. So, "that moment" immediately turned into my neck turning red, me tearing me, and in return the girls tearing up as well. I think I tried on one other dress, for good measures, and then decided it was "the one". I clearly, can't post pictures of the dress just yet, but I definitely want to take Kevin's breath away walking down the aisle in my beautiful white dress, and I am confident that I will. Here are some pictures of the shopping fun...
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3995592263521249484.post-87022301492231523922014-11-10T07:34:00.000-08:002014-11-10T07:34:04.391-08:00Our First Date.For those of you who know me well, you know that I love to reflect. This weekend will mark a full year since my first date with Mr. Gleason. We met back in August but for some odd reason it took that man a whole two months to finally make a date with me a priority. In his defense, October 2013 was a pretty crazy month for my family. At the beginning of the month my dad found out he had a blood clot in his leg which made some new challenges. At the end of October, our family had one of the worst weeks when we lost my aunt. All of these things resulted in Kevin and I having to reschedule our first date three times. I guess it true what they say, third time is a charm. When November 1st came along and I was supposed to go to dinner with Kevin, I honestly wasn't sure I wanted to. Not because I wasn't excited about getting to know him, but because it had been a pretty heavy week. The more I thought about it, the more I knew I needed dinner with someone who didn't know all the sadness we had been experiencing. On Friday night, November 1, 2014, I agreed to dinner with a man who I had no idea I would be engaged to a year later. I had been asking around for some suggestions for the perfect place for a dinner date. I asked around and did lots of research which led to choosing Napa Flats, a new place in town. After multiple outfit texts to Bethany, I found the perfect outfit and waited patiently. As soon as I opened the door and saw him, all the craziness went away and I just felt happy. Happy that we finally had a chance to do dinner and happy for the chance to get to know a really great guy. After an extended dinner that turned into an even longer conversation post-dinner, I was super surprised at just how interesting I found this man. He was smart, played guitar, knew some people I knew, paid for dinner, and made me smile. I had no idea at the end of the night just how much I needed all those things. The next day I got some free tickets to the A&M Football game and was surprised when I decided to invite Kevin to go with me. He agreed (which now might have been because he liked me and might have been because he liked Aggie Football, not sure which). Again, I was pleasantly surprised at just how warm he was and how happy he made me feel. Here is a picture of us at the game on our "second date"...
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I accidently left my parking pass in Kevin's truck which resulted in a very quick third date. We met up in Caldwell, went to Sonic, and sat in his truck and talked. After three quick dates in a three day time period, I ended up inviting him to my birthday dinner the following weekend. That first date turned into many dates and six months later, I found myself back at Napa Flats with that same man. At this point, I was pretty confident that he was the one.
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As I look back at the past year we have spent together, I could not be happier that God put Kevin in my path. He supports me, he loves me, he makes me laugh, and on May 2nd, I am going to become his wife. So, to my love, here's to many more exciting years ahead as my partner! I didn't know I would fall for you so quickly, but when you know, you know. I love you more than you can imagine.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3995592263521249484.post-29936466641817517172014-10-14T08:30:00.001-07:002014-10-14T08:30:21.200-07:00Mr. Owen turns One!On October 14, 2013 (1 year ago today) our family sat in the waiting room in a hospital in Katy, Texas. We were overjoyed and patiently waiting to meet a little boy. We knew he would make his arrival that day and prayed for a safe delivery for Lacey and a healthy Owen. At 1:17 pm, Owen Joseph Abraham was born. He was perfect and weighed 8 lbs, 11 oz, 21 inches long. From the moment I saw him, I knew what a little blessing he was. Although, I had not idea just how much joy he would bring us in the past year. Here are a few of my favorite pictures from his birthday.
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Since that day, Owen has filled a place in our hearts that we didn't know was empty. He loves his big brother, wants to touch everything, and is pretty darn cute (if I do say so myself). I always count down the days in between my visits and look forward to the next time I get to see him. Honestly, my favorite thing about Owen would have to be that he is happy. There is just something so special about seeing happiness in his face. He is so loved. I also have the honor of being this little boy's Godmother. As my first godson, I made a promise to Owen to always be there for him and to be an example for him in my faith. I take this role with great responsibility to live a life that is an example for him.
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuZ2zitIU_VU2a73kAWO7KubVaEpV5a3nbKxwRWT1rmTaLDbWusq7FymwhnP046RUq_Kk7hWlhoo8TlYbEQOMscxZp2wPITxFvkGHCMPVAODhqN3D484SuLjOftflQne5k7JeMSimivxA/s1600/1453359_10104148420469004_367556007_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuZ2zitIU_VU2a73kAWO7KubVaEpV5a3nbKxwRWT1rmTaLDbWusq7FymwhnP046RUq_Kk7hWlhoo8TlYbEQOMscxZp2wPITxFvkGHCMPVAODhqN3D484SuLjOftflQne5k7JeMSimivxA/s320/1453359_10104148420469004_367556007_n.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2uo6lf6yPQnQ6StkvYzlNlyzccMv9HiBSt3GUP16nUL0DDHY0RaulLLBWFDK2KuAEjwORpaDXVyefsN4bjELu1bWcfgAbwK8W7thMVe4mwxKbeK5NxobasAOyts3sihlf73ZoUw1MpjM/s1600/10290667_10104810981661064_2816274234794378577_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2uo6lf6yPQnQ6StkvYzlNlyzccMv9HiBSt3GUP16nUL0DDHY0RaulLLBWFDK2KuAEjwORpaDXVyefsN4bjELu1bWcfgAbwK8W7thMVe4mwxKbeK5NxobasAOyts3sihlf73ZoUw1MpjM/s320/10290667_10104810981661064_2816274234794378577_n.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7Qf70EzpMZhv6sgGGHF-YkfG6BIZ0umuw7zYOVyF_rbRO_5s0xoMvfxIkOSkSx6zJcj9X7Kl4ep8SGRv3JHXUIW2xMS3WRwzFTs4MsTwJ9Dzxq90-zLS63HnmFQZpv83U84BjEDnxVs0/s1600/owen2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7Qf70EzpMZhv6sgGGHF-YkfG6BIZ0umuw7zYOVyF_rbRO_5s0xoMvfxIkOSkSx6zJcj9X7Kl4ep8SGRv3JHXUIW2xMS3WRwzFTs4MsTwJ9Dzxq90-zLS63HnmFQZpv83U84BjEDnxVs0/s320/owen2.JPG" /></a></div>
Also, I want to take a minute to brag on Lacey as his momma. I know I have said this before but there is nothing more that precious than seeing your sister be a mom. Lacey is patient, loving, and caring. If I might brag on her, she is raising two pretty handsome and well behaved little boys. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3caio7pwgWNkeRs1lTUtQMs_BjO4OPai74H6a5chxyFwPWSCk_bqzuFy1mwF16jnmdlsyPooffN6Pyi0rakCbwRZPx6H8O_RULr0MDOZrJio63GFThBQiaSHdS1cAAEq0ngJZY2xy4M8/s1600/1800448_10105529015395704_5170141728816093714_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3caio7pwgWNkeRs1lTUtQMs_BjO4OPai74H6a5chxyFwPWSCk_bqzuFy1mwF16jnmdlsyPooffN6Pyi0rakCbwRZPx6H8O_RULr0MDOZrJio63GFThBQiaSHdS1cAAEq0ngJZY2xy4M8/s320/1800448_10105529015395704_5170141728816093714_n.jpg" /></a></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3995592263521249484.post-70427103120882484252014-09-29T09:22:00.002-07:002014-09-29T09:22:51.303-07:00The Best Marriage Advice Ever.Kevin's dad sent us a link to a list of the marriage advice. Credit goes to http://davewillis.org/the-best-marriage-advice-ever/, I just copied it here to share with all of you. As Kevin and I prepare for marriage, I see a lot of value in this. I hope that is a great reminder for all of my married friends, and something to look forward to for all of my single friends.
1. Choose to love each other even in those moments when you struggle to like each other. Love is a commitment, not a feeling.
2. Always answer the phone when your husband/wife is calling and when possible, try to keep your phone off when you’re together with your spouse.
3. Make time together a priority. Budget for a consistent date night. Time is the “currency of relationships” so consistently invest time into your marriage.
4. Surround yourself with friends who will strengthen your marriage and remove yourself from people who may tempt you to compromise your character.
5. Make laughter the soundtrack of your marriage. Share moments of joy, and even in the hard times, find reasons to laugh.
6. In every argument, remember that there won’t be a “winner” and a “loser.” You are partners in everything so you’ll either win together or lose together. Work together to find a solution.
7. Remember that a strong marriage rarely has two strong people at the same time. It’s usually a husband and wife taking turns being strong for each other in the moments when the other feels weak. (This is one of the many wise nuggets from my amazing wife, Ashley!)
8. Prioritize what happens in the bedroom. It takes more than sex to build a strong marriage, but it’s nearly impossible to build a strong marriage without it!
9. Remember that marriage isn’t 50-50, divorce is 50-50. Marriage has to be 100-100. It’s not splitting everything in half, but both partners giving everything they’ve got!
10. Give your best to each other, not your leftovers after you’ve given your best to everyone else.
11. Learn from other people, but don’t feel the need to compare your life or your marriage to anyone else’s. God’s plan for your life is masterfully unique!
12. Don’t put your marriage on hold while you’re raising your kids or else you’ll end up with an empty nest and an empty marriage.
13. Never keep secrets from each other. Secrecy is the enemy of intimacy.
14. Never lie to each other. Lies break trust and trust is the foundation of a strong marriage.
15. When you’ve made a mistake, admit it and humbly seek forgiveness. You should be quick to say, “I was wrong. I’m sorry. Please forgive me.”
16. When your husband/wife breaks your trust, give them your forgiveness instantly which will promote healing and create the opportunity for trust to be rebuilt. You should be quick to say, “I love you. I forgive you. Let’s move forward.”
17. Be patient with each other. Your spouse is always more important that your schedule.
18. Model the kind of marriage that will make your sons want to grow up to be good husbands and your daughters want to grow up to be good wives.
19. Be your spouse’s biggest encourager, not his/her biggest critic. Be the one who wipes away their tears, not the one who causes them.
20. Never talk badly about your spouse to other people or vent about them online. Protect your spouse at all times and in all places.
21. Always wear your wedding ring. It will remind you that you’re always connected to your spouse and it will remind the rest of the world that you’re off limits!
22. Connect into a community of faith. A good church can make a world of difference in your marriage and family.
23. Pray together. Every marriage is stronger with God in the middle of it.
24. When you have to choose between saying nothing or saying something mean to your spouse, say nothing every time!
25. Never consider divorce as an option. Remember that a “perfect marriage” is just two imperfect people who refuse to give up on each other!
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3995592263521249484.post-7079087091798854562014-09-22T12:05:00.001-07:002014-09-25T09:33:41.228-07:00The Road to Catholicism.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg91JMiNAFqG7wPy3rCj4Rk0KcJH7kKkRk0I0cAePz2ea_JKqIJ_mRyiV02m2a0TQ2A1Qf0FFsrbPT3wVP0C4Vkg2oO39Cjpdp5fTca_-WXLl3XxPLAp9nYI8Y7kRlnSpSwd7q16Az6ZUw/s1600/c149a8442873231ebe499b4ad3e7255c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg91JMiNAFqG7wPy3rCj4Rk0KcJH7kKkRk0I0cAePz2ea_JKqIJ_mRyiV02m2a0TQ2A1Qf0FFsrbPT3wVP0C4Vkg2oO39Cjpdp5fTca_-WXLl3XxPLAp9nYI8Y7kRlnSpSwd7q16Az6ZUw/s320/c149a8442873231ebe499b4ad3e7255c.jpg" /></a></div>
Early on in Kevin and I's relationship we started discussing religion. Discussing God and religion often times is one of those tough topics to bring up when you start dating someone. However, with us it has always been one of the most natural things to talk about. At the end of every conversation about religion I would feel a sense of peace. I knew that Kevin and I were both grounded in the most important thing, our relationship with God. From the first month we started dating, Kevin was extremely supportive of me as a Catholic. He started attending mass with me every weekend and along the way, I saw his heart start to open up to the idea of Catholicism.
Last week, Kevin and I took a very important step by having our first meeting for RCIA. RCIA stands for the "Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults". This program welcomes people into the Catholic Church as adults and focuses on helping them learn the basic fundamentals of the church. This process involves a lot of prayer and is one that I participated in at St. Mary's as a volunteer. Welcoming people into the church is truly one of the most beautiful things that we, as a church, have the opportunity to do. It is a bit overwhelming that I am now sitting on the other side of RCIA next to my future husband.
The RCIA process has already had its ups and downs but through it all we knew that God would show us a path if it was meant to be. As we walked into St. Mary's last week for our first meeting, I told Kevin that I wanted to make sure this was something HE wanted to do. From the beginning, I never wanted this to be about me and my wants for our marriage. He quickly assured me that it was not. Again, that sense of peace was back showing me that this man was without a doubt the spiritual leader, life partner, and soul mate I have been looking for.
We both feel that being the same religion is an important step for our marriage as well as a future family. Being able to participate in mass together is something that connects you on a deeper level than just husband and wife. I can't wait to participate fully with him and to receive the Eucharist together. It is one of the things I am most excited about as we begin this journey. This process has been another reason for me to fall more in love with him. As I sit and listen to him talk to our RCIA coach about his relationship and what led him to this decision, my heart burst with joy. This man truly is the one I have been praying my whole life for. He is strong in his faith, he is happy, and most importantly, he is willing to do whatever it takes for our marriage and future. I know that this is a huge commitment from him and something that I do not take lightly as his future wife.
So, please keep Kevin and his RCIA teacher in your prayers over the next 7 months. I am so honored to stand by and watch as he takes his very important step. Also, keep me in your prayers so I can control my emotions and not cry every week at RCIA. There is nothing I love more than hearing my man talk about prayer, God, and our future. Thanks in advance and God Bless You!
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3995592263521249484.post-69091197422513907382014-09-18T10:35:00.000-07:002014-09-18T20:09:01.748-07:00OH gooness, I am the BRIDE!For the month leading up to the proposal, I was hoping that Kevin was busy making some plans. We had talked about rings and the future and just how beautiful it would be when it finally would be a reality. Early on in our relationship I had told Kevin that we needed to date for at least 1 year. I had this crazy idea that I needed to experience every holiday with Kevin before he popped the question. That makes complete sense, right? We went on our first date November 1st, so I was just being patient until November came around. Luckily, Kevin viewed our meeting as the year mark. SO… on Saturday, August 23rd Kevin’s plan was set into motion.
A couple months earlier Kevin suggested paying for his mom to get a mani/pedi for her birthday. I agreed and Kerri (Kevin’s Mom) sneakily suggested that we wait and go the weekend they came to Cameron for the Marak Picnic. Since we met at the picnic, I thought it would be neat for his parents to come to visit that weekend. That morning Kevin’s mom and I went to Temple to cash in on this mani/pedi followed by lunch with Kevin and his dad. Any opportunity for me to be a little spoiled in addition to his mom sounded like a great idea to me. The entire morning/early afternoon seemed completely normal and I literally had no hints that Kevin would be proposing hours later.
In preparation for Kevin's parents being in town I also invited my sisters to join us for dinner at Oscar Store (one of our favorite places). I had been texting Lacey that week and she shared that they weren't planning on being in Cameron that weekend due to school starting on Monday. That afternoon as I was driving myself home from Temple I got a text from Lacey saying that they decided to come and were at Mom and Dad's. I immediately starting smiling thinking oh what a PERFECT DAY. I would get to see my nephews, have our families in one place, and then a it hit me. Family is in town, nails are done, dinner plans tonight….this was it! My stomach sank in excitement that this could be the day. However, after arriving at home, everything seemed normal, no one was excited, no one was dressed up, no one was acting weird. So naturally, I convinced myself that I had been making all of this up in my head.
The week prior, I was cleaning Kevin's house in preparation for his parents coming into town. As he was outside I moved some stacks around to put them away. One of those stacks included 2 phone books (honestly Kevin Gleason, it is 2014, no one uses those things). As he came into the house he asked where I had moved his precious phone books. Curiously I inquired why it mattered and he shared with me that something very important was in there. He shared that he had been working on a letter that he wanted to give me. After PROMISING that I had not seen the letter he let it go. Well, on Saturday amongst our families Kevin told me that he had finished the letter. He said that he wanted me to read it and of course, Lesley was confused. “Can’t I read it later while we are alone?” "Why would I read a letter in the middle of a group of people?" Then all of a sudden, it hit me...this was IT. We went outside and read the letter (which was perfectly written and shared some of the sweetest words that have ever been written to me). As I finished the letter I prepared to see Kevin getting down on a knee, but he did not. No question was popped and we headed back into the house. Of course, at this point I am thinking, this was a trick. When we go back inside there will be fireworks, a waterfall, Aaron Watson, something? Again, everyone seemed normal and did not address us leaving for a good 30 minutes to go outside.
As time passed I was starting to get antsy. We had a reservation (which was quickly approaching) and we were without a doubt going to be late. If you know anything about me, you know that I hate being late. All of a sudden Kerri mentioned that Kevin should “play that song for Lesley real quick.” Really? We don't have time for this!! And yet again, I finally had it figured out. Kevin would play a sweet song and then after get down on one knee and pop the question. I was so focused on that plan (the plan I knew was so Kevin) that meanwhile, he asked me to get him a guitar pick out of his case. Naturally, I leaned over, removed all the stuff in the guitar case (including a little brown box AKA THE RING!) and tossed it all to the side. My hair was in my face and it was kinda dark so I really couldn't see well but quickly determined that there was no guitar pick to be seen. As I looked up, I immediately saw Kevin, on one knee with the box I had just tossed aside in hand. I was in shock....surprised to say the least (although I was expecting it after the song). Kevin quickly asked me to marry him and of course I said yes.
For all you women out there, you know that when you find the right one, all you can do is think of the engagement. How ill he do it? What will I be wearing? Will my hair be fixed? Will my nails be done? I was right there with you. And as he proposed I started thinking oh gosh, this is it. But all of a sudden a sense of peace came over me and realized that proposals are just a small part of a marriage. I was so honored to share in this moment with my parents, my sisters, brother in law, nephews, and Kevin's parents. But in all honesty, all that really mattered was that Kevin was the one asking me to be his wife. After I realized what just happen, our families prayed with us and we proceeded (as planned and LATE) to Oscar Store for dinner.
Since the proposal we have been in a whirlwind of happiness. We have been SO overwhelmed by the amount of people extending their well wishes and prayers to us. I have always known what a fantastic support system I had, but getting engaged was a perfect reminder of the extent of friends and family we have behind us, rooting for us to be happy. So, here I am...ENGAGED. Be on the lookout for more blogs as I enter this fun time of being a bride. I know I will learn a lot and see a different side of weddings that I haven't seen before. So stay tuned for my journey to being Mrs. Gleason!
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdODwKzCxn_V4DvoO2M0XnFLv7qcapVEShDoBPusmojxrnhvU1tUGFLZp4J6bVLAbYh-EqsYEkwMcpdGZyMJLt8_zUX4wQJsnME1fn9AD_w63LqEiWa0b_Gi7xAfqDCquoC0f2HNuTUbQ/s1600/029a832a0f1165d760f1d7e340b4f04e.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdODwKzCxn_V4DvoO2M0XnFLv7qcapVEShDoBPusmojxrnhvU1tUGFLZp4J6bVLAbYh-EqsYEkwMcpdGZyMJLt8_zUX4wQJsnME1fn9AD_w63LqEiWa0b_Gi7xAfqDCquoC0f2HNuTUbQ/s320/029a832a0f1165d760f1d7e340b4f04e.jpg" /></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3995592263521249484.post-89162285632074744672014-03-04T10:28:00.001-08:002014-03-05T09:19:17.679-08:00I'm back....Hello 2014!Hello 2014! In my time away from blogging, a lot of life has happend! As I started to think of how I could catch all of you up, I realized that I recapped 2013 in my Christmas letter that I send out in December. So, in order to keep all of life documented here on my blog, here is a catch up post of all the ups and down of 2013.
The year started off blazing with an unexpected nomination to be a Fish Camp 2013 Namesake! From the moment I found out about Camp Vaculin, I fell in love with Texas A&M all over again. January-August revolved around me suddenly being crafty, hanging out with 19 year olds, and buying all things BLUE! Getting to know the Aggies involved with my camp was a dream come true. I, without a doubt, gained 26 new family members over the course of 2013 and I couldn’t be happier about that. As I look back, I now realize that being a namesake was probably one of the coolest things that will happen in my lifetime.
They say traveling does the heart good! In September, I took a fantastic trip to San Francisco with my best friend/cousin, John and two of our close friends Ashleigh & Garrett. It was a gorgeous state full of friendly people, fresh air, and beautiful sites! I am so grateful for the opportunity to travel with friends…not because of the places we go, but because of the memories we make.
I always like to look back at last year to see what I wrote about and how things have changed. Since 2012 was the year of weddings, 2013 was the year of babies! On October 14th, I became a crazy aunt of TWO as our family welcomed my new nephew, Owen Joseph Abraham! I didn’t think Reid could get any cuter, but then he became a big brother. There are a lot of things in life that make me proud, but my nephews take the prize. Owen brought with him a new experience for me in making me a first time Godmother. Weeks later (on Thanksgiving Day), I became a Godmother again as my cousin Travis and his wife Kayla welcomed Chancey Lane Dohnalik! These two boys have already stolen my heart and have given me a new sense of responsibility to set a good example in my faith, my love for others, and the way I live.
Unfortunately, 2013 has also had some struggles, as most years do. At the end of October our family said goodbye to my sweet Aunt Lisa after a long, hard battle with cancer. Even in the darkest moments of life, there are blessings to be found. This year I was reminded of how unbelievable our family is. It’s easy to be there for each other in times of joy and celebration. Yet, more importantly, I saw just how blessed we are in times of sorrow and struggle.
As October ended and November began, a new leaf seemed to be turning. On November 1st I went on a first date with a guy that has turned out to be quite the surprise. Kevin has been an unexpected breath of fresh air for me as 2013 comes to an end. If you haven’t met him, I hope you get to soon!
AND there is is. As best of a recap of 2013 as I could do. I look forward to blogging more over the next couple months and hope that I don't bore you with all that is coming your way (since I have a LOT to catch up on). Love you all!
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