Lately, life has picked up its pace, and it’s been pretty nice for the most part. While the work days are still very slow because camp season is over, I’ve found ways to keep myself busy by recruiting new business and focusing a lot of my time and attention on the Muscular Dystrophy Association, whom I already do business with, but would like to do more!
Since work is not the exciting part to share about, here’s what’s been going on beyond the 8-5 daily grind:
- Everyone is back in College Station, and I mean everyone. The roads are once again packed, and my 5 minute drives have all turned into 15 minutes. Oh the joys of living in an overcrowded college town.
- Clayton got to work full time for most of the month of August, which was such a blessing and an answer to prayer. The best part is he still gets to work there during the school year, and it works great with his schedule and doesn’t require him to work nights.
- College Station is abuzz over Texas A&M leaving the Big 12. That much is at least official, we’ll see if and when we make our move to the SEC. I’m thinking this is more of a question of “when” since I don’t think our leaders would resign from a conference with no secure future.
- I’ve finally been a consistent worker-outer this month. I’ve actually been pretty decent about it this whole summer, but it’s like I finally put my game face on in August. I’ve just been doing lots of running and trying to eat healthier on the whole, and I finally feel that it is just starting to pay off. I know as that wedding date approaches, the pressure will only increase!
- We took our engagement pictures a few weekends ago. It was so much fun to traipse around Dallas with Jennefer before the sun had fully risen, and even though we were all drenched in sweat by 9am, we still had a blast. I cannot wait to see them all!
- We started Growth Groups back up at Grace Southwood, met our new Coach Group, and are so blessed to get to share life again this year with the McGeevers, as well as all of our new friends! Can’t wait to really get started and meet the girls I’m going to be leading this year on Thursdays.
- I got to stay in College Station for the first weekend in so long this past weekend. It was lovely. All I did was hang out with my best girls, spend time with the mister, and enjoy lounging, napping, football, and blissful down time. Looking forward to a little smaller taste of that this weekend.
- This weekend brings with it the first Fightin’ Texas Aggie football game of 2011! WHOOP! Although it is on a Sunday night, I’ll still stand proudly and faithfully in the blistering Texas heat and endure the pain and suffering of waking up for work on Monday morning. Yes, you read that right. Here in College Station we labor on Labor Day. whoop?
The month of September is looking to be a fast and furious one. I feel that it is the last month I have before wedding madness becomes all-consuming. While we do have the majority of our planning behind us (the big stuff anyway), there are still so many odds and ends that will need wrapping up, and our biggest time devotion will be to showers coming in October. This month will consist of finishing out the registry, starting alterations on that pretty white gown, finalizing a honeymoon location, beginning to look for a place to live come January, picking out tuxes and invitations, and finally picking a florist and nailing down details of all of the floral arrangements and bouquets. How I’m going to do all of this when I will only be home for one weekend in September is beyond me. We will make it work through the power of the internet and multi-tasking. So far, this whole wedding planning process has not felt too difficult, which definitely worries me. I worry that I haven’t even stepped foot into all the craziness that is waiting for me, but we shall see. I have pledged to never be a bridezilla for any reason whatsoever and to never let matters surrounding the wedding weigh on me heavily. So far, gold star for me! I just hope I am not being too naïve.
I cannot wait for the fall and all the lovely treats it brings. It has become my absolute favorite time of the year and I am very sad that it does not stick around very long in Texas. Nonetheless, I am ready for fall apparel, the taste and smell of all things autumn, and everything that comes along with the changing of seasons. I am over this heat. Long over it. It serves no purpose for me as a working girl. This fall brings with it so much excitement, but also a lot of lasts that will be bittersweet to let go of.
- The last football season in College Station
- The last semester I’ll ever live with girls
- The last time I’ll share a bedroom with my baby sister
- The last time I’ll be Raegan Branch
Good thing the winter (and 2012) brings with it so much goodness and excitement! I cannot believe it is getting ever so near. And for the first time in a long time, I’ve just been really soaking up the moments. Summer was hard in a lot of ways, but I think that the excitement surrounding CS this fall, and all the lasts I want to live up, is the perfect balance to the anticipation of January 7th. I feel like I’ll truly be able to just enjoy and savor this sweet engagement time, and I just feel so thankful that the Lord is bringing me out of a period of spiritual drought by restoring community and reigniting passion in me. Looking forward to all that these next few months bring!
