found it.

Yesterday, I bought my wedding dress.

Okay, so in all actuality, my parents bought my wedding dress.  But it's mine.  And I love love love it.  I had found it a couple weeks ago when shopping with Kim and Laura (my roommates and 2 of my bridesmaids) and was pretty sure it was 'the dress'- but I wanted to wait until my mom came in town before making any purchases.  Well, she loved it.

Bonus?  At Yvonne Lafleur's (a wonderful bridal boutique in NOLA) when you buy one of their dresses, you get a champagne party.  So my mom, Kim, Laura, Katie Howe, Katie Schultz and I all got to toast to a beautiful dress, a beautiful wedding, a beautiful marriage (okay, so I think Kim just said, "To Cori and Rebecca!") and I got my first chance to practice not spilling anything on the most expensive (and gorgeous!) piece of clothing I've ever owned.

5 months.

In exactly 5 months, I get to marry the very best man in the world.

I am definitely not ready for the wedding (lots of details left to plan!) but I am definitely ready for the marriage.  I absolutely cannot wait for the day when Cori is my husband.  I love this man so, so much!

a weekend with Lori :)

This weekend, I had a special treat.  My friend Lori came to visit!  Lori is one of my oldest friends- one of 'the girls' for those of you who know them collectively- and we've been friends since 7th grade when we discovered we lived in the same neighborhood.  Lori had some free plane tickets she had to use or lose, so she flew in on Saturday morning and left Sunday evening.

Some highlights:
1. Beignets! 
2. mini-engagement photo shoot (Lori was great and tagged along)
3. brunch at Dante's Kitchen- shrimp and grits, steak sandwiches, something with brie
4. shopping!  lots and lots of shopping!
5. street car to the French Quarter
6. more beignets
7. dinner at Mulate's- crawfish etouffe, catfish, jambalaya, gumbo
8. too many sweet at la patisserie, a delicious bakery
9. church and then lunch at Parkway Tavern- best po'boys in town- Obama even ate there when he came for the 5 year anniversary of Katrina!
10. a trip to the 2 story Target... Lori couldn't resist!

It was a wonderful weekend, and Lori was the best visitor... she was so easy to please and just gushed the whole time about how great everything was!

When are YOU coming to visit me? ;)

reminders

Last year was hands down one of the most difficult years of my life.  My job was painfully hard and I was consistently spiralling downward into a mess of anxiety.  This year, however, has been a complete breath of fresh air.  My kids this year are bright and kind, Cori has just been a joy, and I am overall loving life.

I am so, so thankful for things this year... since Cori and I have gotten engaged, I feel like I've been overflowing in thankfulness.  But, I will say that last year I felt an intimacy with the Lord that come from needing Him so dearly.  I was constantly coming to Him, longing for comfort.  Today, I've come across a couple of verses that I feel like would have really comforted me during that time, and decided to record them.

From the song, "All Must Be Well"
Faith can sing through days of sorrow.

I love it, because how true, yet difficult is that?  In days of sorrow, I can sing, because Jesus has me, and He is my joy.

Psalm 116
I love the Lord, for He heard my voice; He heard my cry for mercy.
Because He turned His ear to me, I will call on Him as long as I live.
The cords of death entangled me, the anguish of the grave came upon me; I was overcome by trouble and sorrow. 
Then I called on the name of the Lord; "O Lord, save me!"
The Lord is gracious and righteous; our God is full of compassion.  The Lord protects the simplehearted; when I was in great need, He saved me.
Be at rest once more, O my soul, for the Lord has been good to you.
For you, O Lord, have delivered my soul from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling, that I may walk before the Lord in the land of the living...
I will sacrifice a thank offering to you and call on the name of the Lord.

excitement.

As it turns out, planning a wedding and teaching are pretty exhausting.  It's been a crazy season, but I wouldn't trade it for anything.  I simply cannot wait for Cori to be my husband.  He continues to amaze me with his kind servant's heart.  Excuse the gushing, but I love this man so stinkin' much. 

And despite the busyness, I love the planning.  (Most of the time.)  I love googling bridesmaid dresses and photographers, love thinking about favors for our guests, shopping for a wedding dress (eee!), and envisioning the day when I become Mrs. Pflugradt.

Speaking of which, my students are adorable.  I told them what my new last name would be once, and I've already had one student come to me in a panic ("Ms. Taylor, I won't be able to remember your new last name!), one little girl write me a note saying she wanted to come to my wedding, and another little girl ask me how to spell Pflugradt.  Yeah, yeah, I'm screwing all chances of these kids learning phonetic spelling, I know.

June 25, 2011... I may not be ready with all the details, but my heart is already there.