the best day of my life

i have never been more excited to tell a story than i am about telling this one. i have dreamed about the man that would ask to marry me my entire life, and i am telling you what....the man i got, and the story that comes with it, is so much more than i could have ever imagined! Now for "the story"...

Erik had been assuring me that we would get engaged at some point this summer while I was living in Texas (i am here until the end of June) since we both knew we wanted a Christmas wedding and I had been reminding him- daily- that weddings take a long time to plan. (sounds like me, doesn't it?) Of course, I was constantly asking everyone I knew who may have known something about when he was going to do it, but I couldn't get anything out of anyone...no one seemed to have any ideas. So the first weekend after I got to Texas, I headed to Austin for the weekend to see Erik (i am living in Houston and he lives in San Antonio, so we decided to meet every weekend in Austin to be able to see each other). My brother had pretty much convinced me earlier in the week that there was no way that Erik would do it the first weekend I was there because that would be way too obvious, and he also said he hadn't heard anything about any plans of my parents coming to Texas (which I kinda assumed that they would come whenever he did it) and that he was going to be so mad if they came all the way to Texas and he didn't know anything about it. I totally believed him. So off to Austin I went....semi-pouting the whole way, and with no cute clothes packed- i didn't want to waste any of my cute outfits on a non-eventful weekend! The first night I got there, we went to eat at one of my favorite restaurants in Austin, but it was my idea to go there so I knew he wouldn't do it somewhere that he hadn't planned himself..so no surprise there, obviously. It had been raining all day and was supposed to keep raining all weekend, so we didn't really have any plans for the rest of the weekend....just chilling at his parents house and watching movies in the rain and then going to eat that night for one of his friend's birthday. I had known about that party for a while, because the last time I was in Austin I had met that friend for the first time and he brought up going to do something for his birthday that particular weekend. so no surprise there either. We slept in really late the next day, and while we were eating breakfast, the sun started coming out. We ended up going for a walk in his parent's neighborhood and down to the horse stables...I kept commenting on what a beautiful day it was turning out to be, and Erik seemed to be really surprised too but said he was kinda bummed because he had wanted to stay in and watch movies in the rain all day. After our walk, I wanted him to lay out with me by his parents pool so I could get some sun, and he told me we could, as long as we could leave the house by 4:30 that afternoon since he wasn't really sure how to get to the restaurant where we were supposed to be meeting everyone for Kevin's party. (He had been texting and talking to his friends on the phone throughout the previous week and all weekend trying to figure out where Kevin wanted to go for his birthday, and he supposedly just found out that afternoon what the plan was going to be) So i got myself ready, truly believing we were headed to Ski Shores for dinner. As we were driving, the thought crossed my mind that maybe, just maybe, he was actually taking me somewhere else and was going to propose. No sooner had that thought crossed my mind, I saw a sign that said "Ski Shores ahead"...the restuarant where we were meeting everyone. My heart kind of sank, but I was determined not to get disappointed, because after all, I knew it wasn't coming this weekend anyway, right?!

We were about 30 minutes early for dinner (because Erik "thought it took longer than it actually did") so we had some time to kill before the party started. There was a park nearby that I had heard about last summer when living in Austin that was right on the lake, so he told me he would just run us down there and let me see it. Again, I started to get suspicious, and my heart skipped a few beats at that point. As we pulled up in the park, however, I felt let down- again. It wasn't a very "pretty" kind of park...more like a party park, with people all camping out everywhere and loud parties going on all around the place. Knowing the romantic that Erik is, I just knew he wouldn't propose there, with all those people all around and no place to really be by ourselves. But we parked anyway, and got out to walk around a little bit and go see the boats go by on the lake (and you know how I am about lakes- just seeing a wakeboard boat will make me happy!) We managed to find one picnic table that wasn't occupied, so he wanted to go and sit down for a second since we were still "killing time"and he had paid $8 just to get in there anyway- wanted to get our money's worth. So we sat down on the bench (well, I sat...he wouldn't sit down but just kept looking down the lake alot) and then I started getting suspicious again. He was acting weird and checking his phone alot, and Erik NEVER gets nervous (or checks his phone!!) so I knew at that point that something was going on. He sat down on the bench and smiled really big at me, and started telling me that he had been reading a verse alot lately and that he was really excited about getting to live it out soon...so of course, I asked him what verse that was (we both were smiling really big at this point) and he told me that it was Ephesians 5:25 ("husbands love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her") and that he knew God had blessed and ordained our relationship-from the moment we met up until that very day. He talked for a while about alot of other sweet things (i was crying at this point) and then just smiled at me. I finally asked, "are you going to ask me or not!?" he told me I had to wait though, because he had a surprise for me first. So we just sat there for a while, and he kept looking down the lake - which made me turn around and look down the lake to see what he was looking for, but there was nothing ever down there! After about 15 minutes, he finally took my hand and told me to come out by the lake and stand there with him. So I did, and when we were almost to the water, he stopped, got down on one knee, pulled out the ring, and finally asked me if I would marry him! I immediately screamed "YES!", grabbed the ring from the box, and gave him a huge hug.  As soon as I put the ring on, he told me to look out at the water....there was a HUGE party barge going by right then that started honking, with tons of people on the boat cheering and waiving....our friends and family had seen the entire thing!!! We walked down to the dock at the park and the boat came back to pick us up to join the party. (Erik kept saying over and over, "I did SO good!!") We spent the rest of the evening riding down Lake Austin on the boat, listening to music, eating BBQ, and hanging out with all of our friends. Of course, the weather was GORGEOUS the entire time- sunny and breezy....my favorite kind of day! My parents' flight had gotten cancelled that morning to get to Austin for the party, so the next one they could get on arrived right as the boat was docking....we went straight to the hotel to meet them and show them my new ring! We ended the night by going out downtown on 6th street with all of our friends, and the next morning Erik's parents hosted a brunch at their house for both of our families. My parents' first (cancelled flight) was supposed to leave really early on Sunday morning, but their new flight didn't leave until Sunday evening so we got to spend the whole day hanging out with both of our parents after brunch. Erik also surprised me by getting a flight back to Austin from Houston late Sunday night so that he could drive with me back to Houston on Sunday afternoon. It was the perfect ending to a perfect weekend. :)

right when i saw the boat- so surprised!

some of my favorite people in the whole world.

the first meeting of the in-laws. a GREAT success! 

the ring. obviously.

I could not have imagined a more perfect engagement....on a lake/boat, on a beautiful day, with so many people I love, in TEXAS! I haven't stopped looking at my ring since I got it, and I think I am still in shock that it's really happening! I'M GETTING MARRIED!!! AHHH!!!!! I must say, that God is truly amazing...I have prayed for my husband and this moment my entire life, and I have never seen the goodness and faithfulness of God in such great measure as in my relationship with Erik. People always say, "if it seems too good to be true, it probably is." I say, however, that if it seems too good to be true, it's probably GOD! I could not tell this story without giving the Lord all the credit for the wonderful man I get to marry in 7 short months! 

"Give thanks to the Lord, for He is GOOD!"- psalm 107:1

easter and a fool

let me just say...i have been in desperate need of some warmer weather lately. i am convinced that cold/wet weather drastically dampens my mood, and last week was especially cold and wet in VB...no bueno for lori. however, the weather was AWESOME by Friday...just in time for a fun easter weekend! 

my parents and erik both came to virginia beach to visit for the weekend...mom and dad came in friday morning, giving us the whole day to hang out (and SHOP) since i didn't have school or work. i loved having them in town...they took me and some of my friends out to eat friday night (before erik got in) and then spent the rest of the weekend hanging with just me and E. Erik had to study a little while on Saturday for a big test he has this upcoming week, so we went and shopped some more to "kill some time" while he diligently studied. As most of you know, i am a hardcore shopper, and even more so when my mom is around...we can go to a mall and stay from 8 am until they kick us out at night and STILL not have gone everywhere we wanted to go that day. That being said, this is how i know i am in love-- as soon as Erik texted me telling me he was done studying and that we could come get him whenever we finished, i booked it for the check-out counter with only ONE shirt in-hand (in forever 21, my favorite store!!)...all i cared about at that point was getting back to him as soon as possible. Don't worry, we spent the rest of the weekend attached at the hip....the way i prefer it. :) We took mom and dad to Sunrise (our favorite breakfast joint in VA- also where we had our first "date")  before church this morning, and then hit up the early service at Wave. awesome service, as always. I am going to miss that church next year! After my parents left town (they were planning on driving all the way back to MS today....gross), we met up with all of our friends and went to brunch (yes, we like to eat. don't judge) at Doc Taylor's on the beach. It was a BEAUTIFUL day, so we sat outside in the sun and drank mimosas for a couple of hours...definitely got a few new freckles after that. 

the cutest boy in the world. 

the gang.

in other news, my parents pulled a GOOD April Fools on me this year. So on their drive to Virginia, they were planning on stopping along the way and looking at some jet skis (because they are also planning on getting a LAKE HOUSE soon, woo hoo!). Well, i am sitting in class (trying to create a fake ad on Craig's List for free puppies with my mom's contact information for April Fools--didn't work though, ugh) and she texts me and says, "Dad just bought you two brand new jet skis"...so of course i am thinking HA HA, you got me....NOT...and so I texted back, "very funny, this an April Fools joke isn't it" because if you know my dad at all, you may know that he is very frugal...he has never bought a BRAND NEW anything as far as i know! So my mom continues with the "joke" and swears that she is serious and that they are being put together at the moment and that they will be able to pick them up in a couple of weeks. My mom has never, ever played an April Fools on me before, so I am more amused than anything about this conversation we were having. So then, my dad calls (i can't answer because i am in class still) and leaves a voicemail that I later listened to assuring me it WAS, in fact, a joke and that he would never buy two brand new jet skis (just as i had suspected). SO...the next morning we were at lunch and I was commending mom on her good April Fools joke, and she told me they had a "confession"....they REALLY HAD gotten the jet skis after all! The April Fools was the "April Fools" part of the story after all! At least I got two new rides out of it....me and erik are already planning trips home so that we can hit up the river this summer/fall and try them out! 

reunited

i am so excited about my weekend....i am heading to DC after class today to spend the weekend with one of my all time BEST friends, Natalie! It's her birthday this weekend, and our other bff, Baleigh, is flying up for the festivities. I cant wait to see the girls and catch up on life. Some of my favorite college memories were made with these two girls, and my life has definitely been changed-for the better-by having them in my life. Happy Bday, Nat! Can't wait to see you!

bag check.

so yeah, i officially hate long distance. you all know this. however, i have found the key to long-distance dating: seeing each other...A LOT. i really don't understand how people can date long distance for long periods of time and only see each other like once a month (or even less)...i would be so depressed! i already get so sad when erik is not around, and we at least get to see each other almost every other weekend. in attempts to make our relationship "easier", we sat down the other night (via skype) and planned out every single weekend from now until next December. talk about a task. let's just say i am going to need a sturdier suitcase than the one i currently own if my clothes are going to make it back and forth to/from texas every month.

no but seriously...i am on the lookout for a new one. mine is literally tearing apart from all the traveling/flying i have done in the past seven months. it's been a trusty companion, but i am about to have to send it to its final resting place. it was a good one too--burnt orange....easy to spot at baggage claim. so, i am starting my search for a new, cute, spacious, and TOUGH suitcase. let me know if you have any suggestions.

oh, and i really really want this bag:

jon hart: carry-on tote bag

I just feel like it would make traveling so much easier if i had this cute bag to carry through the airport (not necessarily in red, although i do like the color). and all jon hart luggage is monogrammed, so unless there happens to be another "LAH" out there with a knack for stealthy purse-snatching, I should feel pretty safe about leaving it alone in the overhead bins. 

bangs

so, i got bangs yesterday. i cant decide if i love them or hate them. i mean, i think they look cute...but as you know, i have VERY curly hair and i haven't worn them curly yet. could be a distaster. and i just want to touch them all the time, so that makes my hair more greasy when it's straight. i think they are just going to take some getting used to, but i am glad i did it- i was in a MAJOR hair funk...i needed something different to give me some encouragement to actually fix my hair in the morning. we'll see how long that lasts...

(ps i HATE self portraits...but i wanted to show them to you!)

the in-between

I feel like I am living a double life lately. well, in a sense. My life seems to be taking two directions simultaneously. one headed straight for Texas, and the other firmly planted right here in Virginia. For instance, I will be spending the first two months of this coming summer working in Houston....and the other two months working in Virginia Beach. I will be staying in VB for the first part of my 3L year and then finishing it out in San Antonio. I feel like i spend all of my free time planning/daydreaming about my future plans (all in Texas) and the other half actually getting stuff done in school, work, and Younglife (in Virginia). As much as I am ready to be with Erik in Texas, a part of me is not quite ready to leave the amazing friends I have made here. I have loved Regent since the first time I stepped foot on its campus...and as much as I am ready to be done with school in general, I really would prefer to stay in this little bubble as long as possible! I feel torn almost everyday about this, but I know that God has a plan for me HERE right now and THERE a little bit later....and I guess that really is what is getting me through this little funk I'm in lately.

"I woke up this morning, with Texas on my mind" -Pat Green

and.....breathe.

well, to say i had an eventful spring break would be pretty accurate. i am finally back in Virginia (not happy about it either) from my jet-setter week across the continental United States. My flight pattern went something like this: Virginia-(ATL)-Mississippi-Texas (Dallas, Austin, & Houston!)-California-Texas-(Florida)-Virginia. Luckily, I got to do most of those flights with Erik, so those were more of an adventure than a hassle. I lost my bags once (on my very first flight, ugh!), almost missed our flight back to Texas, and had two planes delayed. Considering all the flights we were on throughout the week, I guess those problems were fairly minimal!

erik, during our flight from MS to TX. poor thing, he was worn out.

Mississippi was wonderful in every way. The weather was awesome the entire weekend, so we spent most of it outside. We did go skeet shooting--no one tried to shoot each other, so that was good. Erik did REALLY good....and of course I sucked. whatever, Im a girl. We went to see Carley/Cole and Harris/Louis in Left Field Lounge later that day....I was so excited about taking E there, and he loved it- esp. since Cole had cooked some bacon-wrapped deer meat for us! we didnt watch ANY of the game...but catching up with the girls was way more important at the moment. :)

my bests. 

We went out that night and saw *almost* ALL of my high school friends, which was so much fun! We flew to Texas the next day and spent a couple of days in Austin with Erik's family (Erik was sick and we both had to study the whole time- not an ideal situation, but we somehow managed to make it enjoyable)

Then I flew to Houston and spent a couple of days with Bo and Emily...I pretty much just played with Maverick (their ADORABLE dog) the entire time- we went on a lot of walks together. I almost killed him at one point when I "accidentally" let him off his leash and he ran full speed around a corner and straight up to a Doberman Pincher. Imagine the scene: me, sprinting after this tiny dog and screaming the whole way, him yapping at this HUGE dog that is literally trying to eat him for lunch, and the Doberman's owner- who weighed MAYBE 115 pounds- trying to choke her dog by pulling him off of Mav, and me trying to keep Mav out of his mouth while also trying not to get MY hand bitten off by the killer-dog. Lesson learned: NEVER let a dog off his leash, no matter how cute or "good" he appears to be. 

yeah, he LOOKS cute...

The night before we left for California, Erik drove into Houston and we went out with some of our friends from Camp. I say "our" because although we were originally supposed to meet up with some of MY friends, a bunch of HIS good friends ended up showing up to this random bar we were at...and everyone in our groups already knew each other!! I feel like mine and Erik's worlds get smaller and smaller everyday with the amount of mutual friends we have that we usually don't even realize until something like that happens! i love it. 

and these are the reasons why i now want to live in H-town.

We left EARLY the next morning for California- let's just say it took some patience and a lot of love for each other-on both of our parts-to be in a good mood traveling so early. Everyone tells me that one of the biggest "tests" of a relationship is how well you travel together. I was happy that we passed that test..for the most part, i loved traveling with him- he is way more patient than I am and doesnt get stressed as quickly as I do about flights, bags, etc.  AND he let me sleep in his lap during every flight. What's not to love? I will post about our Cali trip later (it's WAY too much to explain in this already too-long post!) but it was a weekend I will never forget. I will include one pic from the weekend....but don't judge my no-makeup face. 

our beautiful view of the Sacramento River on the bridge in Redding

Overall, a VERY successful Spring Break! Now it's back to school- my friend Katie reminded me this morning that we only have FIVE more weeks until finals. I almost puked when she told me that. Looks like it is time to start paying REALLY CLOSE attention in class and craming my outlines into my brain!  ugh!