A New Journey

On April 16, 2011 I married the love of my life.  As we settle into married life, many changes are taking place.  I've decided to start another blog with our stories and life together.  So this is goodbye to my "masquerade" and "courage to grow".  Though, may we always have the "courage to grow". 

Please join Ryan and I on our new journey!

http://ryanlaurabates.blogspot.com/

Will you be my...?

I wanted to do something special for the girls who I ask to be my bridesmaids.  I went through several ideas before deciding on this one. I think it turned out REALLY cute! 

 Materials: Card stock, decorative flowers, printer (if you have pretty handwriting just use a pen)

I found a profile of a girl made a stencil.  After I printed the wording I wanted I traced each girl and cute them all out.  A little glue, a cute flower and done! I mailed the card to most of them and hand delivered to those I could.   

These girls have been such amazing friends (and sister) to me!  They have always been there for me through the good times and not so good.  Some I have know my entire life and others only for a few years.  It is an honor and blessing to even have them in my life and now to be able to start a marriage with them standing beside me know they will be there through it all to support Ryan and I. 

I LOVE YOU LADIES!!

"She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come.  She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue. Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.  Honor her for all that her hands have done, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate." Proverbs 31:25, 26, 30, 31

Eat This! (really you have to try it)

Round Two: Cookies

Round two of the friendly bake off has come to a close.  Without planning it, we all ended up making a type of cookie! Anna made mint chocolate chip, Jessamie made cake cookie sandwiches, and I made cranberry-orange shortbread cookies.

 Around the holiday season I love to bake with seasonal ingredients.  For me cranberries and oranges come to mind.  This is a really simple recipe that I found from an old Southern Living.  Now, I love shortbread cookies, but if your aren't a fan just grab a sugar cookie mix and add in these flavors. 

 Dried cranberries, fresh orange zest, vanilla, almond extract.....Yum...this batter not only smelled amazing!! It tastes AWESOME too! (you know how I love my raw dough, haha!)

 It made two logs, which made about 20-22 cookies per log (depending on how think you like them).

 A little melted white chocolate drizzle on top!

The pile looks a little small because we could not stop eating them!!  As my dear friend Jessamie said in her entry about round two, this recipe is for those who are fully embracing the holidays and all its glory.  

Check out my competition and some really great holiday ideas at:

The Brown Bunch

Jason, Jessamie, and Georgia Beam

Beloved

“Let the beloved of the LORD rest secure in him, for he shields him all day long, and the one the LORD loves rests between his shoulders."

December 2008 I got this tattoo on my left wrist.  Beloved. Its in Hebrew from the above verse in Deuteronomy 33:12. I had gone through a period of emotional and spiritual distress and depression the year before.  Earlier in 2008 God had begun to reveal himself to me in a new way.  A lover. His Beloved.  After over a year of being heartbroken and searching for answers to so many questions, I found peace and love right where I left it. Jesus.  I got this tattoo to always remember that I am God's beloved, I can rest in him and be secure in him alone.  No other can love me like my God.  God does however allow us to experience the greatest love we can here on earth.  Marriage.  He has allowed me to find this kind of love.  The love of a husband.  November 5, 2010 I became engaged to the most wonderful God-fearing man.  I truly believe that God has chosen us for one another before we were even born.  He plans these things.  He know because He created it all.  Though God's love cannot be matched, he allows us to experience as close a love as we can here on earth through marriage.  We have been together for about 10 months and are planning an April 2011 wedding.  I cannot wait to see how God shows his enormous love to us both (and hopefully those around us) though the gift of marriage.  

 I guess I haven't really told you much about Ryan.  We had been friends for a while before we got together.  We just seem to fit.  I have always been so comfortable with him and we've always been able to be completely honest with each other. Which for me is so important!  He is finishing his PhD in neuroscience at the Medical College of Georgia.  Smarty.  He loves college football and most importantly he loves the Lord and continues to seek him.  He doesn't just take things a face value.  Ryan is the kind of person who challenges you to know why you believe and think certain things.  I guess its the scientist in him.  But it has really challenged me to dig deeper in my life, especially in my faith to know why I believe and what it is I believe.
The Proposal....Ryan's dad is a pilot. So he took us up for a sunset flight around Augusta.  It was beautiful! Unfortunately, I get motion sickness really easily (even after two Dramamine).  I wasn't feeling that great after the plane ride, but thought dinner and some fresh air would help.  We went to dinner at a little restaurant downtown  and then went for a walk on the riverwalk.  I had no idea the whole night! Not until we walked up on some candles that spelled.....

 Ryan got down on his knee and asked if I would marry him. I said yes!! Well, I actually said, "OF COURSE I WILL!" We then went to his house to celebrate with our friends and family!

"Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD." ~ Psalm 27:14

One of my Favorite Places

The Farm

This is my family farm.  Its where my mom's parents lived and where she grew up.  I spent my childhood out here running around, riding horses, baling hay, fishing, exploring, swimming in the pond, and following my granddaddy around.  In front of the barn, a few pictures down, there was a pecan tree with a tire swing.  I also learned to drive through the woods when I was 8 years old (my grandaddy's doing).  I love this place!!

Brown v. Vincent v. Lee

I have two really good friends from college who have been in a little friendly competition of baking.  Having a little competitive nature in me I've decided to join in this little challenge! To start of they were in a pumpkin/Halloween bake off and I just happened to make a pumpkin cake the week before:) What should we try next??
 
Get your baking sheets and rolling pins ready ladies!

Peanut Butter, Pumpkins, Birthday!

So I've seen the cutest pumpkin cakes and I decided to make one for my mom for her birthday (Halloween). She also loves peanut butter and Reese's so of course I had to include both in the cake! Chocolate fudge cake (this time I cheated with a box mix for time) with peanut butter chips baked in, Reese's pieces in between the  two layers and peanut butter icing, and of course Reese's for the stem! Plus curly green candles! It tasted amazing. Like you were biting into a giant Reese's....YUM! I think it looks pretty cute too:)  Along with it are two little pumpkins I carved at a pumpkin party the other night.  They're pretty cute too. Hope you all are having a wonderful fall so far!

 Looking a little like giant donuts....I split the batter into two smaller cakes to get a more round pumpkin. You could do two whole cakes if you had a lot of people.  This was just for family.

 Peanut butter icing from Ina Garten 

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/chocolate-cupcakes-and-peanut-butter-icing-recipe/index.html

 Yes, this was a really good idea:)