The end.

Hey ya'll!  Im back.. but just for a short bit.  I have decided to start a new blog.  No, I don't have a name for it nor do I have it set up.  Hopefully, between my blogosphere friends, I can get this going in no time! :)  I'll catch yall all up on my sweet, sweet life.

I would appreciate your input into my new blog name.  I am wide open for suggestions.. just leave me some love in the comment section below.  I am leaning towards things such as "Life as Small Town Wife" or "Scott land" or "Shoals Perk" or "Land of Scott's" or "Simple. Southern. Scott's." -- I need help.. my heart isn't settled on anything yet.  

On other news, I had to finish this blog.  This blog has served as a creative outlet throughout my college days.  Its has been such a great accountability with goals, documenting moments and my faith.  I am so thankful that I got into this trend and stuck with it.  I love to read my old post... I hope to get this baby printed as it is a huge part of my college career.

Since we last spoke, I graduated from college.  I turned the tassel with a degree in Biological Sciences with a concentration in Integrative Physiology and Neurobiology and also with a minor in Genetics.  I also moved away from Raleigh and I back in Small Town, USA. 

 My degree came in.. and I could not help but love on my parents.  They paid every penny of my college expenses.  Tuition, meal plans, textbooks.. everything.  They supported every decision I made in college.  From doing research, to becoming an Ambassador, to playing intermural sports, to leading YL to quiting YL, to moving off campus, to get engaged during college.  Everything.  The list could take days.  I have the best family in the world.  I have loving, healthy, passionate parents who adore their children and demonstrate sacrificial love at every possible moment.  I have hilarious, sweet and loving siblings.  My sister and brother are fantastic.  They are weird and loud and want the best for me and each other, ALL THE TIME.  My four are the best.

Well, I know its short and its not near as sappy as I assumed it would be... but Im already too excited about the new stage of life I am in now.  I cannot WAIT to tell yall about all the details of the wedding and how PRECIOUS marriage is.  Seriously, my new role as wife is everything plus some.  I cannot wait to share in this journey with yall.

NEW BLOG TO COME.
(leave your new name suggestions in the comments!!)

Love ya'll.

The one leaving Raleigh.

Right before I went to college, my parents got me a credit card.  Don't freak out.. it was a credit card that was meant only for emergencies such as gas and groceries & I had to promise them I would call them every single time I used it.  But anways, they got me a credit card & the design on the card was a city skyline at night.  It was gorgeous.  My parents picked out that specific card because I love cities & they thought if a child of theirs was ever to go away from home, it would be me.  I love the hustle and bustle of cities, the lights at nighttime, the life of unlimited amount of coffee shops, non-chain restaurants, and hidden treasures within the concrete walls.  I love cities.  Moreover, I love Raleigh.  I adore this sweet little college town.

Well Sam is moving home... TODAY.  He is picking up his life in Raleigh and moving back home.  He is starting a new job & looking for us a place to live.. because we will reside back in our precious small town after May 25th.  Put bluntly, Sam is done with Raleigh.  He has had a good time... but he is ready for the big move.  I asked him why he was so done with Raleigh & his reply was simply this:

"Court, where can I hunt?  Whose land can I do that on AND ride four wheelers?  And babe, I am not about to pay to go fishing."






He is a country boy, through and through.  I am so thankful for man that is content with a life full of woods, guns, knives, game, four wheelers, fishing poles and home cooked meals.

I believe I am half & half.  I love cities, but I also love the country.  I love how slow the morning seems to be.  I love being more aware of natural beauty.  I love being outdoors.  I love the community and all the little "finger waves" everyone gives when they are driving down the road.  Everybody knows everybody.  I love it.  Oh, and the sunsets in this place are ridiculous.

On behalf on Sam's last night in our beloved Raleigh.  We tried a new restaurant in downtown called Cafe Luna.  It was delicious.  I had some type of black pasta with grouper, shrimp and tomatoes & Sam got grilled chicken, roasted potatoes & a cute little salad.  It was so good.  The sun was setting perfectly, so we just drove around.  We blared Pandora, opened the sunroof, and heated the seats.  We ran an errand or two.  Then went back to driving around.  The moon became full & gorgeous, creating the perfect send off for Sam.

 

  

  

 

 

Raleigh has been so good to us.. too good.  But life is changing and its for the better, which makes breaking my Raleigh ties a little bit easier.

The one and only, Clark.

Let's take a stroll down memory lane, shall we?

So when I was fifteen my parents started talking to me about what kind of car I wanted for when I turned 16.  All I knew is that I wanted a SUV.  I kept leaning towards a Nissan Xterra -- I mentioned them every time we passed one on the road.  & honestly, I really didn't care what car I got, but for some reason, I just really loved the Xterras. 

One morning in November, my sophomore year of high school, my parents told me that were gonna meet up for lunch with one another, then run some errands and then one of them was going to come pick me up from school.  Awesome.  No big deal.

While I was waiting in the lobby of my high school, I saw this gorgeous Xterra pull up.  It was the most perfect color and it was the newer model!  I immediately called mama.   "Oh my gosh, Mom.  There is an Xterra in the car line at the high school that is the exact car I want.  It's this dark beige color.  Where are you?  Are you close so you can see it?"

Without another word spoken on the phone, the window of that Xterra rolled down & there sat my parents just waving like crazy!!  I freaked out.  I ran a dead sprint to the car screaming & clapping my hands.  I was on cloud nine.

I jumped in the back seat & just ohhed & ahhed over everything.  They pulled over at the local grocery store so I could drive it home and we stopped at Wendy's on my way home so I could show my best friend.  I was freaking out, y'all.  I got my dream car. 

When we got home, I pretty much had a photo shoot with the car.

*cue embarrassing but hilarious pictures*

 

 

My parents got me my dream car for my first car. (I am the luckiest girl in the world to have the parents that I do)  The day I got my car, I named it.  With a slight obsession with Superman at the time, I dubbed my Xterra, "Clark".  Clark has been his name from the get go.  I love Clark, like love love y'all. 

I write all this to say, that my Clark has had some trouble with his transmission.  Sam & I had already been talking about trading one of our SUVs in, so we could save on gas... and we chose Clark because we thought we could get more money out of him.  This week has been a "growing up fast" week for Sam & I.  We have learned more about insurance, loans, car payments, and budgeting than we ever have.  We are buying a new car today & saying good riddance to Clark.  I don't wanna give up Clark, I really don't.  But this new car is a smart decision and signifies an exciting new chapter of my life, my life with Sam. 

More details to come, once we have the keys in our hands and the wind in our hair! 

The blondes.

 So there are these two little dudes that completely stolen my heart. I have mentioned my love for them here, here & here... oh & here & here.  Im sure there are others.. but you get the point - I adore my blondes.  They have become such a huge part of my life here in Raleigh.  Both ways the door swings, in that we all have invested so much time and emotion into getting to know each other.  I know their hearts and what a joy I find in that.  These hearts that are honest, vulnerable, loving, caring yet carefree.  These hearts that also know my own.  We pray together, play ninja and football together, sing together, eat together, eat unheard of amounts of ice cream together.  I really can't explain the fullness of my heart when I am with these boys.  

Okay, my throat has a knot in it.. let's move on.

For Christmas, I wanted to order a canvas of the boys for their mama. (PS I don't know how big/small the blogosphere is.. know if you know these fine people, don't tell Kelly her Christmas gift from the boys!)  So today, my roomie, Liza - who also keeps Will once a week, and I had a mini-photoshoot with John & Will.  Here is a sneak peek of the goodness we captured today.

Merry Christmas, Kelly.

The one for year two seven.

Happy Anniversary to my sweet parents!

27 years, baby!

 

I didn't have a wedding picture on my blog...

prom will have to do.

Love to my favorite couple ever. 

The one with Cutie's prom.

This past weekend my brother attended his senior prom.  Golly, that makes me sick.  He is suppose to be this tiny little annoying kid who won't leave me alone, who wears every shade of red or orange all at the same time, and who quotes Billy Madison constantly.  I have plenty of black mail I will hit yall up when he finally GRADUATES. 

 

After about 5 minutes of picture taking, Ryan was done.  "Court, my cheeks are already sore" "Im gonna have to smile a lot here about 15 minutes, let's save some energy" "Yall have enough pictures"

So we headed to the club house... and I let all the other cameras do work.

 

Plus look who I got to see!! 

My best friend from high school! :):) It had been foooooevaa since I last saw her.

  

All in all, happy day. :)

the one to remember.

With the smell of my daddy's coffee brewing & my mom's famous breakfast stewing up.. I am watching the 9/11 memorial television broadcast.  Today, we remember.  Within a particular age range, Im sure most people could tell you what exactly they were doing when it happened.

 I was in 5th grade when a teacher came running through the door to our classroom and ran straight to our teacher.  They quickly turned on the tv that was positioned in the back of the classroom.  Before I knew it all desks were pushed to the back & all 5th grade students & teachers were piled into our classroom.  We even watched the second plane crash into the 2nd tower together.  They explained everything as it was broadcasted.   They thought it was important that we knew what was going on.  & that's what we did all day long... we only stopped for bathroom breaks & lunch.  A lot of people's parents pick up their children.. & a lot of the staff came into the classroom periodically to watch the broadcast.  It was crazy.  But I am very appreciative that those teachers allowed us to be included & understand the magnitude of it instead of leaving us in the dark of such a traumatic event.

Today, join me in remembering those who were lost & praying for the families affected.  Help me to always support this country & what it stands for.  Join me today.. in remembering.

the one for five years.

So I am in love with a boy & have been since I was 15.  He somehow got my parents to bend the rules of "not dating until you're sixteen" without ever speaking to them.  We stayed together after the first date even though we broke some of those "first date rules": we both planned the date (lots of people told me that was a man's thing - first.. at 16, he's still a boy, & second, geez don't be so strict), I ended up calling him my "boyfriend, sorta" to one of my friends when asked that night, & he kissed me twice.  So we broke a couple rules, but here we are today, exactly five years later -- happy as ever.

First picture of us.. ever.  [Ages 15 & 16].

One of Sam's favorites. [Ages 17& 18]

Most recent picture of us. [Ages 20 & 21].

So on behalf of our 5th dating anniversary.. 
I thought I would post my 5 favorite things about us.
(no particular order)


[one] we hold hands when we pray.
[two] we love to be outdoors & active.
[three] we both are in love with our families (& each others).
[four] we both try to protect each other's hearts at all costs.
[five] we both believe in adventure, change & the power of a good nap.


I am a very happy girl today with a full heart.  I am thankful for Sam & his encouragement throughout my walk with the Lord.  I am thankful for my parents & their support of our relationship.  I am thankful that they too fell in love at a young age (16), allowing them to believe that sometimes (when we get lucky) teenagers get it right.


I love you, Sam.  I am forever grateful for your heart & soul.  I am thankful that you have been in my life for the past 5 years.  You are a daily inspiration of all things & I pray that we continue to pursue one another's hearts.  I know the Lord has some big things in store for us & I can't wait to continue to watch our story unfold.

the one gift that requires you to blog.

I met this girl named Amelia when I was in 7th grade.  She was an 8th grader, a basketball super star & the new girl.  So as a nervous bench-warming 7th grade basketball player, I didn't even think she knew my name.  Until Christmas came along... Amelia got every player (7th graders included) a pillow case with our initials on it.  -- fyi.. I still have it & use it for when friends sleepover!  But anyways... one of my earliest memories of Amelia is her giving spirit.  She did recognize me & acknowledge my presence even when I doubted she knew my name.

We didn't really talk much.  Instead, I was really good friends with her younger sister - who was my age. But then high school basketball came into the picture.  Amelia && I got really close my sophomore year when we were both on the Varsity basketball team.  We would talk, laugh, play, scream, mock, encourage, & support each other.  

Not a great picture.. && the only one I could find on FB -- 

all my other pictures are on the family computer.

In the picture (L to R): Kelsey, Marli (hot shot senior), Milly, & Me.

I remember the day before our first game that year.. I was invited to go to Wendy's & eat with the hot shot senior, & two juniors (Ameila... or Milly was one of them!) before the game.  Seriously, I was honored.  Cheezy, I know but get over it :)  So, before every away game.. that's what we did.  && from there our friendship just blossomed!

If you know Amelia, you know she is hilarious.  She is not afraid to hold back any tact & will tell ya how it is.  She is sweet, caring, committed, & giving... which brings me to the main reason this post is being posted.

First off, another side story.  The other morning, I was watching the news with my parents before work  & we were all drinking coffee.  I couldn't even hold my coffee cup, because it was so hot.  I was like I don't understand why we don't have coffee cups that you can hold that won't burn your whole hand... geez, people.  My mom agreed that we need to invest in new coffee cups or find an alternative.

Well Amelia, and her random act of awesomeness && kindness, gave me my alternative. 

 This morning this is how I am drinking my coffee...

Of course, I am blogging this!  It is a crochet coffee cup holder!  Genius idea! 

Seriously, this gift is absolutely perfect for me. 

I cracked up when I unwrapped it! :)

Mil, I love you so much!  This is an amazing gift.  Thanks for thinking of me.  Seriously, you are so giving -- not just material things, but your spirit, your personality, your humor.  You have always been a huge supporter of this blog & anything I sink my teeth into.  Thanks for being such an amazing person, & unbelievable friend!  I love you Dae!