What happiness looks like...

In 2 days, we will celebrate 2 months of marital bliss. I know now why that phrase was coined -- because there truly is such a thing.

My Marty: Honey, I can't believe the things you've put yourself through this past week just to make your bride happy and content in her new home. Enduring 2 flights with me on Friday, the world's worst plane passenger, all the while holding my head to your shoulder and rubbing my back and telling me funny stories to keep me from panicking...Then on Sunday, meeting my family members and good-naturedly allowing yourself to be grilled, all the while laughing with them and smiling at me from across the room...Then on Monday, putting in 5 hours of tough work to load up a Budget truck of all my 31 years of accumulated belongings from my parents' house, only to climb into the truck cab to drive 9 hours back home to Tennessee, all the while kissing my hand and telling me I'm beautiful (the unwashed hair in a ponytail, no makeup, and grubby clothes prove that love is blind!)...well, I simply must declare myself the most fortunate woman in this galaxy!

I love you, Sweetheart. Thank you for all that you do, and for being who you are.

The beauty of black & whites

The first one is a favorite because we look so relaxed and...Southern! The middle graces the cover of the wedding album, and the last might be our very favorite of them all. (Click on them to see larger...) Once again, I have to thank Leslie for a job well done!

And no, I can't promise this will be the last wedding-picture post. In fact, I have to go finish packing my bag (a new London Fog suitcase, mind you) for our flight to Indianapolis tonight. My parents are giving us an Indiana reception for our friends and family who couldn't make it to the Tennessee wedding. So I hope you'll pardon me for staying in the wedding spirit for just a while longer!

Have a good weekend, everyone!

Try this!

I followed this link after reading about it on Southern Sugar's blog. I don't think ALL of the traits apply to me, but it's eerie that a good many of them do. I don't think I'll confess which ones, either!

What Rebekah Means

You are wild, crazy, and a huge rebel. You're always up to something. You have a ton of energy, and most people can't handle you. You're very intense. You definitely are a handful, and you're likely to get in trouble. But your kind of trouble is a lot of fun. You are friendly, charming, and warm. You get along with almost everyone. You work hard not to rock the boat. Your easy going attitude brings people together. At times, you can be a little flaky and irresponsible. But for the important things, you pull it together. You are full of energy. You are spirited and boisterous. You are bold and daring. You are willing to do some pretty outrageous things. Your high energy sometimes gets you in trouble. You can have a pretty bad temper at times. You are a seeker of knowledge, and you have learned many things in your life. You are also a keeper of knowledge - meaning you don't spill secrets or spread gossip. People sometimes think you're snobby or aloof, but you're just too deep in thought to pay attention to them. You are usually the best at everything ... you strive for perfection. You are confident, authoritative, and aggressive. You have the classic "Type A" personality. You are truly an original person. You have amazing ideas, and the power to carry them out. Success comes rather easily for you... especially in business and academia. Some people find you to be selfish and a bit overbearing. You're a strong person.

What's" Your Name's Hidden Meaning?

technical difficulties

I tried in vain to play around a little with my template and I am paying for it now...all of my links disappeared but worse than that, I can't do anything with my template for suddenly I don't even have the option to do so (my problem is currently in the limbo of Blogger help groups, which means it will get fixed sometime in 2010). My apologies to my friends and family whose blog links should be on here!

Sarah Palin, you had me at hello

As I watched Governor Sarah Palin give her acceptance speech on Wednesday night for the nomination of Vice President, I felt something stir within me that I've never felt in the context of politics before. What I felt was pure and sincere admiration for a strong, capable woman who stands on the verge of greatness. I've felt this feeling of awe before, but this feeling has been reserved for the likes of Queen Esther of the Bible and Queen Elizabeth I of England, even Charlotte Bronte and Agatha Christie and Elizabeth Glaser, all of whom faced a struggle or challenge of some kind and didn't shy away from it, but faced it with strength and resolve and the elegance that only women are capable of, and in doing so, accomplished something wonderful, something unexpected, something great. These women are among my personal heroes, and it is with a bit of wonderment that I confess that Sarah Palin has now taken her place among the ranks of these women. So you may ask, what has she done to deserve this ranking? I admit with total honesty, it's not what she's done (yet), but rather, who she is. And a random conversation with my sister Sarah helped me understand even more clearly just who Sarah Palin is, and why I admire her so much.

In this conversation, I asked my sister to give me her "Sarah on Sarah" thoughts. Just so you know, my sister Sarah is a woman of 33 years and a mother of 4 children (separated from Sarah Palin by only 11 years of age and 1 child). Without missing a beat, Sarah said, "Oh, she's awesome; I love her." Then she went on to give me the reason why she thinks Sarah Palin is so awesome, and her reason surprised me. Before I go any further, though, I should tell you a couple more things about my sister Sarah...

First, she is no lover of John McCain. While I (and our little sister Katie) have been hoping for and endorsing a McCain ticket since since he first campaigned for the presidency in 2000, Sarah has had problems with him from the get-go, which include his voting record on certain issues. Furthermore, despite my liking of McCain, I would characterize all 3 of us (me and my sisters) as rather reluctant Republicans when it comes time to vote. We are conservative in nature and ideals, but we've often been jaded by the doings of the Republican party and speaking for myself, I've often wanted to put miles of distance between me and the GOP! And frankly, this hasn't been easy for us, since our grandfather was elected to serve on our hometown's county council a few times, our uncle Charlie is the current mayor of that same hometown, and our cousin Brent is an Indiana state senator...and all dyed-in-the-wool Republicans! (But I digress...) My point is, there was no party loyalty going on with my sister, no need to ally with John McCain's pick for VP just for the sake of following the Republican crowd.

Second, my sister is the proud mother of a special-needs child. My sweet nephew Ethan is 6 years old, and suffers from autism. My sister has been and continues to be a true lioness in her efforts to give Ethan the best possible opportunities in education and healthcare. She has single-handedly taken on the public school system in her community, having sat several times in front of an education board assigned to Ethan's case to argue with them that he deserves the chance to learn and grow and stretch his little mind, and not simply be baby-sat for 6-7 hours a day. You can probably guess that my sister has indeed earned him the classroom and curriculum that she chose, that she knows as his mother is the best thing for him.

I knew that Sarah Palin's running mate might be the dealbreaker in my sister's opinion of her, but I was thinking that the commonality of having a special-needs child would be the salvation. It turns out, however, that neither of these things (bad or good) is the predictor or basis for Sarah's opinion of the running-for-office Sarah. As my sister said to me, "I think she's awesome because she's so normal." Indeed, if "normal" means you have problems, but you get up each day and struggle through, and attempt anew to solve those problems and make your life and the lives of your loved ones better, then Sarah Palin is as normal as the sky is blue. As the mother of a young man on his way to serve in Iraq (Track), a 17-year-old unwed mother-to-be (Bristol), another teenage daughter (Willow), a sweet bright-eyed little girl (Piper), and a baby boy with Down syndrome (Trig), this woman is intimately familiar with the everyday struggles of motherhood (and an amazing baby-namer, it must be said!). As Sarah Palin herself said in her speech, "Our family has the same ups and downs as any other ... the same challenges and the same joys." Of course I know that her statement was intended to appeal to women like me, to help me identify with her. Well, sometimes the truth still has the power to appeal all on its own. Sometimes a candidate's statements don't require the manipulation of pretty words and a charismatic performance to seal the deal with a voter. Sometimes, all it takes is a simple statement of fact, and this one worked for me! It worked for my sister and it worked for me, because I do identify with her. I'm not yet a mother myself, but I hope to be one some day. I am also a member of a family that has always had its share of ups and downs. Most importantly, though, I'm a woman, and in a day and age where women like Jennifer Lopez and Angelina Jolie are supposed to be role models for me, their extreme wealth (and therefore, distance from reality) prevent them from taking that role with a girl like me. Women like me do need role models who are fine examples of wifehood, motherhood, and womanhood, and a woman like Sarah Palin definitely stands out from the crowd. If you think she's on a pedestal with me, you think right. But you know why? Because she's not on a pedestal with herself (unlike the presidential candidate from the opposing party). She doesn't claim to be perfect; she's already shown her imperfections to us and asked us to see her for who she is despite those imperfections -- a woman who's just trying to make a better America for herself and her family. Essentially, this is a normal girl, a girl I'd love to sit and chat with over a cup of coffee. More than that, she's a girl who's got her stuff together, who can run a home and a family and a state, all while looking absolutely fabulous in designer eyeglasses and gorgeous jackets and skirts. I want to be like this woman!

Sarah Palin, you're a normal chick but you're also on a pedestal with me. I'm going to pray for you, that you stay there by doing all you've been called to achieve with your amazing energy. I'm going to vote for you and stand back and watch you accomplish great things.

Sarah Palin, you had me at hello.

coupons

I shall return to the "ABCs of Me" after this short commercial break...

I just ordered my wedding album from Shutterfly.com. And I hope they don't find this...I googled "coupons for Shutterfly" and found a website called "Retail Me Not," from which I used 3 different coupon codes. Get this...my album, plus 2-day shipping and tax, came to a total of $119. With these coupon codes, I got the total down to...wait for it...$77.50!!! I could hardly believe my eyes. Those of you who haven't yet become addicted to Shutterfly, please visit them now and see what fun you can have with your pictures. And those of you who are addicts like me, never order again without punching in some friendly little coupon codes and saving a handful of cash!

The ABCs of me

Have you ever compiled a list of favorites? I remember compiling an A to Z list of my sister's favorite things for her when she was about 11 or 12 years old (remember that Wormie? Note: for those other than my sister, please don't think I'm insulting her with that nickname; it comes from a time when Katie and I were standing next to each other in a church service singing along during a hymn, and for some reason, getting to the line of "...for such a worm as I..." struck us as absolutely hysterical and became a nickname for each other...but I digress!). Anyway, Katie stuck that list of A to Z favorites on her closet door, along with posters of figure skaters and such, and there it stayed for many years.

So I was thinking about a few of my favorite things lately and thought, how fun would it be to compile my own list, especially now that, as a 30-something adult, I know myself so well? I also thought it would be fun if my blogging friends (you know who you are!) would participate and compile their own lists?

Anyway, without further ado, here's a list off the top of my head! (I've decided to post what I have so far, and will finish my list when I can...)

A = antiques. I LOVE to go antiquing with my best friend Kate at Norma's, the huge shop not far from her house. I've been collecting vintage glassware there for years. However, I have rules about antiquing, the main one being: if I can't take it home and suds it up and soap it down and clean it behind the ears (so to speak), then it's not coming home with me.
B = baths! I've taken a nightly bath since...oh, I was a senior in high school? Well, every chance I can, that is. I should probably exercise better judgment in this area...I think I made rather a nuisance of myself one night when Kate and I were staying in England and I filled up the bathtub and (I think) kept the whole house awake because the pipes were so loud. Remember that, Kate? In Harpenden at Andy and Alicia's? Anyway, I like to take a 20- or 30-minute bath every night and read my book du jour. Another "b" favorite would have to be beauty products. Don't let me go near a Walgreen's with any spare money. It simply won't last.
C = chai tea. Leslie got me addicted to buying the jug of Tazo chai and mixing half a glass of it with half a glass of cold milk. Delicious! And I really can't mention chai without mentioning its far superior big brother, coffee. Oh coffee, my love...especially if you're a two-pump toffee nut latte with whip at Starbucks. Oh yes, Chantelle bras! Oui, oui, they are French! I usually get mine at Von Maur, and I know, they ain't cheap. But they are the nicest bras you will ever put on, and may I stress, it's very important to be measured and fitted properly. Oh, and crosswords. I like to do the daily one on msnbc.com. And y'all already know my thing for chairs.
D = decorating. We're just getting started on putting a home together, but I can't wait to get some more cash built up so I can go all French country on our place!
E = England. I love nearly everything about England and often wonder why I wasn't born there. I love to read about her, especially anything from the 16th century, the Tudor era!
F = France.
G =
H =
I =
J = Jane Eyre. Truly the best novel ever written. In a former life, I once wrote blog post after blog post about this book, and I think they might be resurrected here on my new blog!
K = knitting. Even though I haven't knitted a thing in quite awhile (I've been busy being courted!), I have plans for the upcoming fall and winter. I think I shall knit scarves. Lots and lots of scarves... There's nothing like going into Jo-Ann Fabrics and looking at all the pretty skeins of yarn and imagining the lovely things you'll do with them!
L =
M = manicures and pedicures, or as I should say, "manis and pedis." I used to diligently paint my own fingernails and toenails, and then my friend Ellen went and got me completely addicted to having sweet little Korean girls do it for me. We used to go every other week (I miss you Ellen!!!) when I was still a Hoosier, but thankfully I've found a great little place here in JC, TN. Sadly, I usually go alone...sniff, sniff. I should also mention my love of mystery novels. Just read a real page-turner (Body in the Ivy) by my favorite mystery writer (well, second favorite; none can compare to the great Agatha Christie!), Katherine Hall Page.
N = nieces and nephews. Ethan, Ada, Abigail, and Elijah -- sweet babies -- may you be abundantly blessed for the joy and delight you bring into your auntie's life!!! I love you all so very, very much! (And don't tell your mama, but you could pretty much ask me for anything and I'd pretty much find a way to give it to you...)
O =
P = Project Runway. "In fashion, one day you're in, and the next, you're out."
Q =
R =
S = Shakespeare. Though I must be honest, I'm a HUGE Shakespeare revisionist. I'm also very much into Shutterfly these days. My goodness, what a great way to have fun with pictures! And I wouldn't be a full-fledged girlie-girl if I didn't admit my weakness for shoes. And my favorite season is spring.
T = Tori Spelling. Don't judge me. Honestly, this girl cracks me up! Oh yes, I read "sTori Telling," her autobiography. In less than 2 days. Okay, yes, I own the book. In hardback. I said don't judge me. Must also mention that I love theology (there, that redeems me, right?). Seriously, one of my and Marty's favorite things to do is debate and discuss theological points (it helps that he's been reading C.S. Lewis almost non-stop lately). One of our favorite new sites to read together is Answers in Genesis.
U =
V = Vincent Van Gogh. Yeah, he's my favorite of them all. (I'm sure my art-history-major sister might think that rather unoriginal of me, but well, he really is my favorite! I want "Almond Branches in Bloom" to hang above my couch one day...)
W = Williams-Sonoma. Marty and I have/had a wedding registry there and we are having an absolute blast finishing it up. We travel to Asheville, NC (the closest W-S store to us is there) a couple times a month, and every time we go, we bop into W-S to get more goodies!
X =
Y =
Z =

My favorite pic of me, then Marty's favorite pic of me

Today

Exactly a year ago today, a conversation began between two people...

I first spoke with Marty on August 21, 2007. He sent me a communication over eHarmony (yes, some of you don't know that...I swear I'll tell the whole story here some time soon!) and I responded. He actually got in under the wire; I had been cleaning out my account on that site when I saw his message and his profile. The words "master's degree in English" practically peeled my eyelids back, and I wrote him back, hoping (if nothing else) to talk to someone who loved literature like I do and who could perhaps be a friend.

Today that friend is my husband. Today I'm playing on Shutterfly, building a wedding album with over 300 amazing pictures -- and countless incredible memories -- of our wedding just a month ago.

Today I am praising the Creator of heaven and earth and all things perfect and beautiful for bestowing on me the love of my life, the best friend I've ever had, the prince on a white steed straight out of the fairy tales. True love does exist, friends, and it's the most real thing in my life.

Today I am thankful for my Marty! Happy anniversary, my Sweetheart!

Need a photographer? Have I ever got the girl for you!

She is killing me, they are so good...

Oy, she is good

My dearest Leslie was my wedding photographer. I haven't yet seen all of my pictures, but she sent me this one today to tide me over for a bit.

Vive la France!

Second only to my love for England is my love for France and all things (well, most things) French. I've never been to France but I was this close to convincing my BF Kate to hop on the Chunnel and go to Paris when we were in England in 2002. As it was, we almost ran out of money just touring the Mother Country (there's nothing like calling your credit card company from a hotel in a foreign country asking pretty please, would they mind upping your limit?).















I think I could talk for days about why I love France and where this love originated. I've always been enchanted by the iconic Eiffel Tower, for example. I know many people share this enchantment, so that's not exactly original of me. Oh well!

One thing that is a little more original is my love of lavender. Not only do I adore the fragrance of lavender, but it has always been my favorite color (just ask my mom who labored to find just the right shade for my walls when I got my very first, very own room). I will walk in a field of lavender in the French countryside before I die. I hope.














Of course, it almost goes without saying that the French know how to enjoy their cafe. This is a lovely old photograph from 1925 of two girls doing what girls do best -- chatting over a cup of joe. They just happen to be in Paris! The only thing that has changed seems to be the clothes (and aren't we the poorer for it? Look at those hats and shoes!).













And here we have the inimitable Palace of Versailles. I must have a thing for castles! No culture in the world can do elegance and grandeur like the French, and I can't wait for a chance to experience the height of that grandeur in person by visiting Versailles.














In the mood to fall in love with France? One of the cornerstones of my own love of France came back in the 80's, when my sister Katie and I watched the TV mini-series "Napoleon and Josephine: A Love Story." I don't know if it was actually the life of Napoleon that was so compelling, or whether it was the way Armand Assante played him (ooh-la-la!), but I've been captivated by Napoleonic history -- and the country he was so passionate about -- ever since. Apparently you can only buy the DVD from private sellers online, but keep your eye out for it, since lots of tv series are now coming out on DVD!
Armand, je t'aime!

Fun websites

I'm always looking for new things to explore on the Web, so I thought I'd share some of my old standbys and recently found faves!

SKYfm's new age music radio station (don't let the term "new age" throw you off or make you feel odd; most new age music is very peaceful, featuring pan flutes and soft keyboards and some voices, such as African children and the like): http://www.sky.fm/newage/mini.html

The official Agatha Christie website: http://us.agathachristie.com/site/home/
(If you're not an Agatha Christie fan (yet), take a peek around here and get to know her. She's one of my heroes.)

"The ultimate hook-up for the fashion-obsessed" -- http://www.bluefly.com/
I absolutely adore fashion but can't afford anything but the Target copy-cats or TJMaxx clearance/close-outs. However, you can actually find some good deals at the sale section of this site. Bonus: The site features items from Project Runway, which is probably in my top five favorite shows.

The chair featured in the last post came from http://www.pierredeux.com/
I love the style of French Country, though I definitely have my own version of it.

My castle in the mountains, to which Marty and I have annual passes because it's truly a magical place: http://www.biltmore.com/visit/

I heart chairs

I don't know why, but I love chairs. Maybe it's the way they seem to beckon to a tired body to come sit, relax, take a load off. Maybe it's the way a couple of well-placed chairs perfectly complement a long sofa, or the way they fill up those empty spaces in a room. I don't know why, I just really love chairs! (No coincidence that the last post discussing a peaceful life featured a picture of a chair...I didn't even do it consciously but that's how much I respond to chairs.) Anyway, here are a couple of fun chair facts about me:

• For my 16th birthday, I requested a rocking chair. Nope, not a car, but a chair! I still remember the Sunday afternoon we went to get it. We'd gone to Olive Garden for my birthday meal, then we went to Kittle's and walked around until I found this white wicker rocking chair. I spent many a teenaged hour rocking in that chair and yakking on the phone. That chair knows a lot of secrets...


• During a stay in Charleston, SC (one of my favorite places in the world), I went antiquing one day alone while Leslie had a shoot. I found these precious little silver Queen Anne chair bookends and immediately grabbed them. When I was purchasing them, I got into a very long conversation with the antique store owner, Barbara (yes, a year later and I still remember her name). That summer happened to be a very difficult time in my life, and Barbara was very encouraging and told me she could see in my eyes that I was a beautiful person, and that happiness would come to me very soon. Well, happiness came to me a couple months after that! Every time I look at these little chair bookends, I think of her and her charming Southern way. The way Southern women can look you in the eye and peg you...it's AMAZING.


• At my wedding a couple Saturdays back, I insisted on a few bridal portrait shots taken outside under a tree in -- you guessed it -- a chair. I really hope some of those come out nicely!

Now, don't get me wrong, I don't just like "chairs." As with everything else in life, I have specific taste! I like traditional, classic chairs. Chairs that whisper of olde world and Europe, chairs that are comfortable but not crazy. Chairs you can relax in but also show off (just in case Southern Living is begging to photograph your home...one of these days, Becky!).

And how could a girl live a peaceful life without the comfort of a beautiful chair or two?

(caption: beautiful French Country chair available at Pierre Deux.com)

So...a peaceful life, you say?

Yes, I say. A great buzzword I hear all the time is "simplicity." I read and hear and see things about living a simpler life. Sounds great, but really, does anyone have a simple life? Does such a thing exist? I don't think so, which is perhaps why we're all keening for it. In the New Testament, Paul says that in whatever state he finds himself in, to be content. Whether he is abased or whether he abounds (I love the alliteration there, go Paul!), he was able to find contentment.

Another way for me to think of contentment is to be at peace. Just yesterday in church, we sang that great hymn, "It Is Well With My Soul." Of course, no one automatically reaches this state of soul-wellness. And to me, this is the very struggle of life. Soul-wellness. Once we have found the purpose and use of our souls in Jesus, we have to then daily strive for soul-wellness. And the end product of soul-wellness? Oh yes, it's a peaceful life. (I'm an English major, I have to button things up in an essay.)

I was just telling my husband yesterday that what I want most for us and our future children is to have a peaceful life, and for that to be manifested in a warm and loving and comfortable home, where both discipline and grace abide. Where husband and wife/mom and dad stay madly in love, where the kiddos know the joy of structure and seasons. Where beauty and elegance abound, where words are respected and well-spoken. Where God's presence is always felt but never forced. Where family and friends are welcomed and cherished. Where evil pauses at the threshold and then retreats. Where peace exists and thrives.

I've had many-a-blog in my day, but I'm finally at a place in life where my journey is not so much a moving target anymore. I embrace this new life, this new calm, this new me, wholeheartedly. In doing so, I want to explore this peaceful life through writing. I hope you enjoy what you read here!

The first of many pictures, I hope

My sister took this picture of me and my groom stealing a kiss at our wedding reception. The picture barely does justice to the joy we feel in being married to each other.