Alive and Well!

Hello Friends, Family, Followers!

Scott and I have been terrible about blogging. Like all of you, we have been busy with holiday events, family get-togethers, and plenty of shopping trips. I finished my first semester in my Masters of Public Health (straight A's!), and Scott has had an unusually busy quarter at work. Needless to say, we are both ready to relax for a few weeks and enjoy each other...and enjoy being engaged!

Recapping everything from the last month would be nearly impossible, so let me highlight some of what Scott and I think is important/fun/relevant.

Through my job, we were able to volunteer for an organization called Project Concern. Project Concern is an organization in Indianapolis that aids single, unwed mothers and provides these women with mentors. My office provided Christmas gifts for about 18 women and children. Most of the women provided Christmas lists, but there were a few who didn't. Scott and I's responsibility was to come up with a gift basket for the women who did not have specific requests.

At Project Concern's dinner event, we served as elves, passing out gifts and baskets to the women and children in need. Here are a few pics:



Abby, Stacy, Dr. Lynna, and myself



Scott and I (after enjoying some ah.maz.zing mac and cheese!)



Scott with his parents and grandma!



 Over the last month, we have also been able to spend some quality time with good friends and family. It has been interesting for both of us to learn about each other's families, our holiday traditions, etc. My family tends to be loud and overwhelming at times. There is no such thing as privacy, but it always makes for an entertaining holiday season. Scott's family, on the other hand, tends to be super relaxed, quiet, peaceful... Although our families are quite different, Scott and I have learned to really appreciate the differences between our families and really enjoy the time we spend with them. For example, I love--more than anything!--to go to Logansport (where Scott's parents live) for a weekend and enjoy peace and quiet, and Scott really enjoys hanging out with my crazy 'rents because there is never a dull moment. What a blessing it is for each of us to have future in-laws that we truly love and get along with!

In other news, I have started wedding planning! To be honest, I wanted to enjoy being engaged for a few weeks before diving head-first into the whirlwind of wedding mania. Scott and I booked our venue, the Indiana State Museum, and have a date set! My mom and Teta helped me pick out (read: picked out for me) amazing flowers from Kathy's Kloset of Flowers. The florist (Kathy) is a hoot, and I know she will do a beautiful job. Meanwhile, my mom and I have made a pact (with Scott as our witness) that we would consider each other's ideas/wishes/desires. In other words, I promised to respect what is important to her, and she has promised to respect what is important to Scott and I. In reality, we (my mom and I) are just super excited and get stoked when we have what we think to be a great idea. Thus far, we are getting along wonderfully and have had a lot of fun planning together!

I also asked some of the most important girls in my life to 'head down the aisle' with me. When I asked each of them, I wanted the moment to be special, and I wanted them to feel how truly appreciative I am to have them in my life. I came up with a little book for each of them:



"I said 'yes' to this guy"



"On our special day, everything will be perfect...But you know what would make it better?..."

"You!"

"Will you 'head' down the aisle with me?"

And...here are my girls and their answers...!!:

Maddie/MOH/Sister

Morgan/Sister

Hanna/Cousin

Lauren/Best Friend From College

Nicole/ Best Friend

Krystin/ Best Friend from Childhood

Binal/Best Friend from High School

I feel so fortunate to have such amazing friends and family. Krystin is going to fly back all the way from Hawaii in order to share my special day!!

More wedding plans to come...

(P.S. Scott and I took a break from Super Freakonomics and are now about halfway through Love and Respect)

(P.P.S. Scott was elected to be a board member for Fresh Start! So proud of him :) )

More to come soon. Have a safe, happy, and healthy new year!!