Will it matter when you're 80?

This was the title to a post on the Southern Weddings blog today and I'm smitten. What a great way to approach those little stressors in your life.

Wedding planning is clearly a stressful time, if you or anyone you know have been through it, then you know exactly what I mean. It's not just the thousands of decisions that you have to make, but all the people you feel the need to please while making these decisions...and then how you're going to pay for it all!

I think this question can obviously and should be applied to the rest of our lives too. There are some times when you're going to be mad and you can't help but be. Then there are those times that it might help to stop and think. Does this really matter? Am I going to remember this argument and think it was important when we're 80 or am I going to forget why we were fighting in an hour. Normally for me, I forget within the hour, we move on and it's over. So was it really worth the stress and effort to get mad about it? Probably not.

It makes me happy to know that when we're 80, Brandon and I will be celebrating our 56th wedding anniversary and we'll have lived a whole lot of life in between those years (hopefully full of love, laughter and lots of babies and grandbabies!) My paternal grandparents were married for over 50 years before my papa passed away and I hope that our marriage will be as strong as theirs was.

I think old people are just the cutest. I think Brandon thinks I'm insane because I always want to be their friends. How can you not be drawn to people that are obviously still so in love after all those years? There was always this couple who came to Sedgefield for brunch on Sunday's and they were always holding hands and he always pulled her chair out for her. It was always a great way to start the week!



photos via

Tomorrow is FINALLY the day that Brandon graduates from law school and I know this will definitely be a day and moment that matters when we're 80.

Law School Graduation

Sorry it's been so long since I posted, it's been a busy few weeks! Brandon graduated from law school on May 13th and it was absolutely wonderful. He even earned a Book Award for his Common Interest Communities class!

After graduation, we headed to Cafe Luna with a crowd of 15. Mostly our families, but Ryan and Jay came too! Later that night we went to dinner with Sara Beth and Fred at 18 Seaboard. It was delicious and I had the best sangria ever. We then proceeded to Foster's where Brandon and a bunch of his law school classmates threw a party. After that we went to Isaac Hunter's where we ended up running into some of Brandon's fraternity brothers (which is not an unusual occurrence). We ended the night at Char-Grill, which is only fitting after a very long day.  It was an all around wonderful day and I can't believe it came and went so quickly!

Here are a few pics from graduation and right after. I forgot to take pictures at lunch and we were too busy celebrating to remember to take pictures that night.

Oh...and Brandon LOVED his present! I need to take a picture of it to post. It's a signet ring with the MacPherson badge on it. It looks amazing and the detail is impeccable. I got it from Dexter's and could not be more pleased. I also got him some sealing wax, so he used his ring to seal the inner envelopes of his graduation announcements! We're definitely going to be doing that for the rehearsal dinner invitations as well! It's such a neat and personal touch.

The Getaway Dress

Our parents and grandparents would always change into a different dress or skirt suit before they left their wedding reception. Mostly, it was the practical thing to do because they would head to the airport or get in the car and head to their honeymoon destination. Recently, the practice has been used less and less, but it's still a nice idea. That way, even if you don't leave for the honeymoon until the next day, you won't have to worry about someone meeting you or coming to the hotel to pick up your wedding dress. But...if you change, that's a little less time you get to be in your dress.

I think these short, white dresses by BHLDN breathe new life into the tradition.

What do y'all think? Tired and outdated or timeless and fun?

Monique Lhuillier BM dresses

I want this dress. I don't know where I'd wear it to...but I want it.

Yes...it's a bridesmaid dress, but it's stunning. And it's Monique Lhuillier, so it's not very "bridesmaidy" anyways, it's just gorgeous.

She has lots of beautiful dresses that I think any bridesmaid would be happy to walk down the aisle in...if only they weren't so pricey. It's always fun to at least look.

P.S. ONE WEEK until Brandon graduates from law school and finally gets the present I've been driving him nuts about for the past month!

Here are some of the hints he's gotten:

1-No one else in Raleigh has one.

2-He's never asked for it.

3-He's going to flip out and maybe even cry when he sees it.

...and maybe I'm telling the truth...but maybe I'm lying. hehe This has been way too much fun!

America!

Today is a great day to be an American, Osama bin Laden is dead! Even though there are still many years and people that stand between us and a world free of terrorism, we have accomplished a huge victory today! Whether you're a Bush or an Obama supporter, today. it's our troops that are truly protecting our freedom that deserve our gratitude. It's time to celebrate this victory and use this renewed sense of unity to help the people in America still feeling the devastation from the horrible storms.

And let us remember, that God will deliver the worst of it.
Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord.
-Romans 12:1

or as mom put it..."He's burnin'."

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of American and to the republic for which it stands, one nation, under GOD, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.