Meghan and Brett's Wedding

On Saturday, I attended the wedding of a high school friend, Meghan, and her now husband, Brett. I have been excited about this wedding for many reasons. I mean who doesn't enjoy celebrating the love between a wonderful couple, eating delicious food, and dancing the night away in their honor? And, a wedding in my hometown!!  I have been to close to 20 weddings and have only attended three in my hometown. Hometown nuptials show off fabulous local vendors and venues. Meghan and Brett also met on match.com proving that online dating really can work! Another source of my excitement over this wedding -- the attire -- black tie optional. I have not donned a formal dress since my DG formals back in college. So, I took advantage of the opportunity to shop for the finest and get all gussied up for the big affair!

Hot hairdo, don't ya think?

Almost ready

Final product.

If things didn't go perfectly on the big day, there's no way I noticed! The weather was perfect. June 25th in Washington, DC can be blazing hot with suffocating humidity. This was not the case in 2011. We couldn't have asked for a more beautiful day. Meghan looked stunning in her gown and Brett wore a bright, genuine smile that stretched from ear to ear the entire night! He was thrilled to now be able to call Meghan his wife and it was obvious the sentiment was reciprocated in him becoming her husband.

The happy couple: Mr. and Mrs. Groves!

After stuffing our faces with some delicious food and amazing cocktails and working off some of the calories with some rather unique dance moves, it was time for the bouquet toss. I normally dread this part of the evening. Most of my friends are married so I always feel "single"d out. Not to mention, the bouquet toss can be vicious. BRUTAL. On more than one occasion, I have been knocked to the ground by women who are diving for a fist full of flowers! Hair has been pulled. Flowers have lost their petals. You know what I'm talking about. Standing on the dance floor when the bride tosses her flowers can be dangerous. But, this time, I decided to position myself in the front and see what happens! Meghan flung her bouquet in the air, I reached up in excitement and in anticipation, attempting to maintain my upright position AND get at least a finger on the flowers. My eyes followed the flowers up in the air and back down again. The flowers had landed on the floor. Right in front of me. The bouquet lay parallel to my toes. I was stunned. I hadn't been knocked to the ground. All I had to do was lean down, pick up the bouquet and claim the victory. I did exactly that.  For the first time in the close to 20 weddings I have attended, I could actually say I caught the bouquet. I didn't steal it. I didn't get bruised in the process. The bouquet was mine...fair and square. It's been 2 days and I am still excited about my victory. You know what it means when you catch the bouquet....It's about time!

I left the wedding a very happy guest. Meghan and Brett left the wedding bouncing off to the airport headed to Tahiti, Bora Bora, and Moorea. I have always dreamed of vacationing there so I look forward to seeing their photos and hearing about honeymoon. I wish Meghan and Brett a life full of the same happiness and joy they felt on their wedding day. And, if I am really honest, I am excited for the future and the life full of joy and happiness God has planned for me too!
Congratulations Mr. and Mrs. Groves! You deserve the very best!

Richmond Reflections

Today I received a new University of Richmond t-shirt in the mail. The Alumni Recruitment Committee(ARC) chairs sent it as an expression of appreciation and thanks for the ARC's effort to recruit the Class of 2015. When the UR admissions office asked me to be an ARC member I jumped at the opportunity to promote my school and help shape the incoming classes of future Spiders. Each time I interviewed a prospective student I got a little nostalgic for my years spent at 28 Westhampton Way. Receiving the t-shirt not only brought back that nostalgia and joy, but also reminded me that God truly does know best. University of Richmond started out as the university farthest from my mind and became the school closest to my heart.

Do you remember or shall I rewind? Some of my favorite memories...

- Meeting my roommate for the first time only to discover she is exactly one foot taller than I am! She is just as cool as she is tall. And loves sports just like I do.
-The Jepson School of Leadership Studies. Yeah, call us "Club Jepson" but I befriended some remarkable people and learned some impactful lessons that I still carry with me today. We worked hard, influenced and served others, and had some fun too.  Anyone remember the hot air balloon ride during one of Dr. Couto's classes?
- All things a capella. Perhaps you would call me an Octaves groupie.
- Ring Dance - I will never forget everyone cheering for me as I walked down the stairs of the Jefferson Hotel without my canes.
-Surviving Hurricane Isabelle and enjoying the week long "hurrication" after the natural disaster.
-Marci presenting me with the Westhampton College Leadership Court award.
-Sledding (for the first time in my life) down the hill next to Gray Court.

-Celebration night - all of the seniors around the lake the night before graduation listening to speeches, reflecting on our four years, and enjoying fireworks.
-All things Delta Gamma -- especially my little sister. I knew the moment I met her that she would be a special person in my life :V
-The cats that lived in Annie's ceiling tiles.
-Ukrops!
-Parent's weekend - That meant the lake was clean, the leaves were blown out of the woods, the food was fancier than normal...and the opportunity to eat out at some of the nicest restaurants in Richmond thanks to my parents (and spend time with them, of course)
-Singing and dancing to every single N'Sync song that has ever been composed. Don't judge. My roommate and I had a morning ritual. 
-7-oh-dos
-late night conversations with my roommate and dear friends
  
I am thankful and so proud of the Spiders that I am blessed to call some of my closest friends. It's been 11 years since we all converged on one of the most beautiful campuses in the United States and 7 years since we graduated and spread across the country. Despite the geographical distance between us, we reunite each year to laugh, reflect, and continue to strengthen our bond. I will wear my new Richmond shirt with pride. The shirt is an expression of thanks for my effort for the school. In actuality, I should regularly express gratitude to God, the school, and to my friends for the way they have enriched my life.

Miss ya Spiders. Hope to see you soon.

Grainy photo but almost all of us are there.

Blast off to Summer!

Hey friends/readers!

It's been far too long since I've blogged. Although summer doesn't officially start for a couple more weeks, the weather has tricked me into thinking that we are in mid August instead of early June! My official start to summer is Memorial Day weekend no what the meteorologist says.

As much as I was bummed that I didn't have any "big plans" for the summer, the kick-off did not disappoint. Memorial Day weekend in DC is always a memorable experience. One of the traditions that honors the active, retired, and fallen military members is Rolling Thunder. This year Rolling Thunder consisted of 100 thousand motorcycles riding down 395 and through the Nation's capital on a specific parade route. I have never had any desire to ride or own a motorcycle, but I get so excited when those engines rev and thousands of leather clad individuals barrel down the street. It's a Memorial Day tradition I look forward to each year.

Another tradition I anticipate yearly is the concert by the US Marine Corps band, "The President's Own". Each year, my parents' neighbor invites the neighborhood for a picnic at Wolf Trap and the free concert. It's probably the only time the neighborhood gets together, but we enjoy the potluck and fellowship with those that live near us. Then we all pile into the outdoor theater to enjoy the patriotic music proudly performed by the Marines. To top it all off, at the end of the concert is a firework display that rivals those at Disney World! Those of you who know me can guess that this is the highlight of my evening. A blast off to summer indeed!

Last weekend, I was fortunate to have been given free tickets to Kenny Chesney's "Goin' Coastal" tour.  My friend, Amanda, and I settled into our fantastic seats expecting to listen to the fun summer-inspiring tunes of Kenny ( I have decided he could never tour in the winter. His songs just scream summer sun and island fun!) and whoever was opening for him.  Little did I know, our tickets bought us over 6 hours of music from 4 different bands -- Uncle Kracker, Billy Currington, Zac Brown Band and, of course, Kenny Chesney. This country fan was thrilled with such a surprise! Top this off with a pre-concert trip to Chick Fil-A and I must say I am pleasantly surprised at how my "summer with no big plans" has kicked off.

Tomorrow, I am leaving for a long overdue trip to the beach with three of my friends from high school. Scattered thunderstorms are in the forecast for the whole weekend so I am telling everyone I know to pray for sun. If you don't pray, do a dance. No matter what, we will have fun, though. Nobody/nothing's gonna rain on our parade! I must go pack. Stay tuned next week for a report on our adventures. Ocean City better be ready for us!