BLISS.

Two posts in one day.....YES! I just want to highlight one of the happiest moments of my entire life, last Saturday, April 11. If this isn't happiness, I don't know what is.....

"an epic love."

So Ivy sent me this perfect (all things wedding-type) book in the mail and I received it today and have not put it down yet.....okay, maybe I've put it down a few times, but you get the point. Although the book is going to be so helpful and will be my reference for EVERYTHING, my favorite part was the short note Ivy wrote me--it is my bookmark now! She was congratulating us on our engagement and sending her love, but my absolute favorite line in the note:

"You are so deserving of an epic love."

And as well as Ivy knows me, I don't even think she knew how much this sentence meant to me. I cherish people's words and thoughts tremendously and love when words and sentences capture emotions perfectly. Ivy does this beautifully and I have saved every one of her notes she has written me--all the way back to sophomore year in high school!

I know everyone dates Mr. wrong at least once and not everyone has a grand love story, but there were so many times I knew I was never going to find my soul mate. Actually, I stopped believing in soul mates altogether..... and then I met Taylor. I had absolutely and completely sworn off boys and then Taylor walked into my life the very next weekend. God sent me love just in time. I don't believe in fate or destiny per se, but I do believe that God creates two souls to walk this life together, hand in hand. God has shown me that all of the heartaches and pain I have been through were all a part of his grand plan. He hadn't forgotten about me after all. He was teaching me to trust and to love and to hurt and to feel and to remember that He would always be my mighty power--I was never alone. With His guidance, I was able to believe that love deserved a second chance. And then I trusted Taylor. And then I loved Taylor. I forgot that love had ever let me down and all I ever needed was this one epic love. and I am going to trust and love Michael Taylor Scott forever.....

so thank you, ivalina for believing this love would come my way someday....

Happy [early] Easter!

It's finally Thursday! Which means several FANTASTIC things:

1. My comparative psychology test is over (and I do believe I aced it?) WHOOP
2. Holiday weekend is officially in FULL GEAR.
3. Taylor's office closes at 3pm today, so he'll be home when I get to Dallas!
4. Good Friday is tomorrow (Taylor is off-bank holiday!) and it's my day of Anniversary fun! I am taking him to a vineyard in Grapevine and great Italian dinner... and several goodies along the way :)
5. Then Saturday arrives and it is our official one year anniversary :)
Taylor is planning Saturday so I have no idea what's up his sleeves, but dinner at the Four Seasons that night!
6. EASTER SUNDAY at Highland Park Methodist--we're trying out this church and it's our first "compromise" church. (Taylor grew up Baptist and I was raised Lutheran and go figure, neither one of us is willing to "switch" denominations...) So we are trying this new Methodist church Easter Sunday and I am thrilled.
*Shout out to Mindy and Melanie's 22nd Birthday on Friday!

I will post pictures after this weekend of Anniversary festivities. I have been working for two months one of his gifts and can't wait to finally give it to him!


Hope everyone has a fabulous Easter weekend and truly remembers what this Holiday means to us as Christians. Because of Jesus' death and resurrection we are no longer condemned by our sins, but made free by His grace and mercy!
How blessed we all are......

Bachelors of Science in procrastination

I should be writing my paper for psych of women right now. not wasting time internet browsing. and not blogging. if i'm going to write, shouldn't i be writing my paper due on monday? nope. and you know why? because i don't like to be forced to write. actually, i don't really like to be forced to do much of anything..... for example, my mom always asks me why i enjoy running now because i dreaded it so much in high school. And it's simple really--no one is telling me to run now. i run when i want to and only if i want to. So clearly this psychology paper is not going to be written until i am good and ready (or it's late sunday night?) Either way, I have no inspiration tonight and would rather sit in my robe and waste time on the internet. so sue me.
*currently obsessed with catching up on tv i missed and/or forgot to record on HULU.COM. What a fabulous invention.

I don't know if anyone follows the real housewives of [insert city], but I do and it's safe to say it's an unhealthy addiction. Housewives of NYC is on this season and I just get entirely too involved in this ridiculous "reality" show. These East coast women are a different breed, I tell ya. They have no southern charm (obviously), subpar social skills (going to socialite parties does NOT make you sociable) and possess little to NO tact. Some episodes are painful for me to watch--really, I have to walk away. They are always engaging in awkward conversations and confronting their friends about snide comments they made three weeks earlier. ANYWAYS......I am only writing about it because this week was INSANE. Kelly, the new housewife (who, in fact, isn't even a house wife at all. she is not married, nor does she live in some lavish real estate) really really gets under my skin. I know, I know, it's television. But this woman is ridiculous. She confronted Bethenny (whom I LOVE) at a bar last week and was completely irrational, illogical and completely out of line. Ugh, if you don't watch the show you won't understand, but that girl has GOT TO GO. Her confrontation with Bethenny made me get on the internet to post something on bravotv.com. I hope they read "Rachel from Texas'" comment aloud on the reunion ;)

I am going back home tomorrow and am really excited. I love love love weekends at home during college. I feel like I am a guest in a home that I know so well (which means no chores!) and my parents always act like it's a treat when I'm home. Can't beat that. Randy is actually driving us home tomorrow, so I don't even have to drive--such a tough life I lead....
but I do have a busy weekend ahead of me filled with shopping (again, tough life), finishing Taylor's anniversary present, and alas some homework I have put off all week. I am really excited to be finished with Taylor's gift and will post pictures next week after we celebrate. Our one year is April 11th so we both have Good Friday off and are celebrating Easter weekend (+anniversary!) together in Dallas. We're even trying a new church in Highland Park down the street from Taylor. Lots of new, fun things!

I'm off to watch re-runs of either Sex and the City, Jon and Kate plus 8, or whatever food network has to offer me.... hey, i might even stay up late tonight--if there's a SATC marathon on ;)

oh! ps, my roommate told me today that she read online that Countess de Lesseps and the Count are getting a divorce! (again, Housewives of NYC drama that I have unnecissarily engulfed myself in.)

This GRAD needs a [fab] DRESS

Two posts in ONE DAY? Believe what you see.....
However, this post has a purpose--I need a dress to wear for graduation! (and let's be honest, I am just always in the market for a new dress.) On top of the countless weddings that I'll need dresses for this year, I have to have a perfect one to wear the day I graduate from TAMU! All of my family will be in town PLUS all of Taylor's family, so of course I am shopping now. Here are a few of my top picks from online shopping thus far:

White House Black Market

J.Crew

Okay and I have a few more "favorites" but can't post their pictures online. I put their links below for for your viewing pleasure! Let me know which one is grad-perfect!

KENSIE

BCBG

Donna Morgan at Nordstrom

My own March Madness

First of all, I just want to say that I am so tired of watching college basketball! I have never really been a huge basketball fan--but once the Aggies lost to UCONN, I had absolutely NO reason to watch the tournament. Unfortunately, Taylor feels completely different than I do......so I have been watching the tournament against my will. The things I do for that boy!

Anyways, it certainly has been MARCH MADNESS around here for this girl! I think it has been this way since I was little--so much packed into March! Between birthdays, spring breaks and anniversaries (my parents) there is never a dull moment. A re-cap for all who wonder why I don't blog enough:

• Houston with Taylor to see my parents and see Josh Turner at the rodeo
• Dallas to get ready to leave for VEGAS with Ashley
• VEGAS from Tues-Friday of Spring break
• Back to Dallas Friday night at 10:30 pm
• Drive to Longview Saturday morning for a wedding with Taylor
• Tyler on Sunday morning to see Stacey and the babies
• Back to College Station Monday morning before class to start another week.....

Luckily this past week only had one major assignment, because as you can see from my above schedule, I did not open my back pack during Spring Break. I also celebrated my 22nd birthday this past Thursday and it was great. My Mamma came up during the day and took me to lunch and we ran a few errands around town. We had such a good day together. I even got some great presents :) My good friends from home Robert, Colin, and Aldo got to come to College Station to help celebrate Thursday night and it was a blast! Let me show you....


There is never a dull moment with all of these boys and I don't know what I would do with out them! In fact, Margo, Steen and myself laid around ALL DAY on Friday and did absolutely nothing. Do you know how fun that can be?!

Well, I know this was a random-out of sorts-post, but my last month has been fairly random and out of sorts, so it's fitting. This week I have one test and a few papers to write (I'm sure...) but I WILL be blogging more. I plan on putting school as my number 2 priority because there are just more important things I need to get done! Um HELLO--Taylor and I have a one year anniversary in two weeks and I am not done with his gift..... school can wait ;) Have a fabulous Monday!

reasons to smile.

Here are a few reasons I'm smiling these days.......

Taylor sleeping with Miss Kate on Valentine's Day <3

Brad, Stacey, Taylor, Rachel and Madelynn & Kate! Valentine's weekend in Tyler

Aliece, me and Stacey with the girls. six weeks old!

Babysitting the angels during Mamma and Daddy's Valentine's dinner

Me, Ashely and Margo! Roommate fun on rooftop at Corner.

Girl fun in Austin!

Another busy week here in Rachel land......17 hours is getting VERY OLD and I'm taking my clep test this Friday, so I feel like I'm taking 20 hours this week! blah. Taylor is coming in this weekend and I am very excited; I haven't seen him since Valentine's weekend and he's only 3 hours away! On another happy note, Vegas with miss Ashley is in two weeks! Graduation in two months! and Italy in two and a half months! So much to look forward to....so much unfolding!

Update on my future: I am currently in the application process for applying to be in a program to become a certified teacher. I will find out in the next month and a half or so, and am thrilled that I have found something that brings a smile to my face. Thank goodness I happened onto this Project Achieve experience--I realize how much I love working with kids and would love to do so in an elementary school setting. God is so sneaky sometimes! I just have to remember that He is in the driver's seat..... life is so much better knowing that. Hope all is well with everyone, everywhere :)