Double Digits

We have finally hit the double digit mark for our wedding! I will be Mrs. Mike Staton 99 days from now!!! Can you tell I'm ready to be married?!?!

In other news, Mike moves to Knoxville on Sunday :( I'm selfishly sad that I won't see him everyday, but I'm also worried that he will be all alone in TN. He is moving into our rental house with an air mattress, TV tray, chair and a few plates/utensils. Pathetic, I know. Mike isn't going to know what to do with all that extra space!!!!
So don't mind me if I have an emotional breakdown all next week. Mike has already been asking people to come check on me to make sure I'm surviving!
Mike, you will do great things in your new job and I'm so proud of you!

Since every post is better with a picture...

Mike with our friends, Adam & Mandy's, baby boy Liam!

Perfect

That is the word I would use for this past weekend. I had the perfect bachelorette weekend at the beach with all of my bridesmaids, and they went out of their way to make everything wonderful.
Em's best friend, Becca, let us use their AMAZING beachfront house complete with a pool...I was in heaven!!!! The sun took advantage of a few people, but I am proud to say that it wasn't me! For once in my life, I used a lot sunscreen and didn't really get burnt.
I had a ball hanging out and laughing with all my best friends/sisters. The weekend was filled with all my favorite things and I couldn't have asked for anything better.
Here are a few pictures I will share...

First Tee

Yesterday there was an article in the Charlotte Observer about the First Tee of Charlotte. You can read the article here.
The First Tee Organization has been close to my heart for the past 5 years. My aunt & uncle are the Executive Directors of the First Tee organization in Ohio, and I have helped plan the Bank of America/First Tee of Charlotte Golf Tournament since 2005.
We have worked hard for the past few years raising money for the new facility. It opened this past April and has been a HUGE success. The kids love playing at their "own" course and everyone feels safe.
The First Tee is a great organization that uses golf as a foundation to teach life skills. They always say, the program isn't training the next great golfer...they are training the next doctor, teacher, fireman, lawyer.

They are ALWAYS looking for volunteers to help around the facility. You don't have to be a golfer (b/c I'm not), you could be a mentor, help tutor and so much more. They have a lot of summer camps coming up and could use some extra hands. If you have a few extra hours this summer and want to make a difference in a child's life, you should consider volunteering for the First Tee of Charlotte.

The first of many

We made the trip to Knoxville this weekend to figure out our living situation. As we were driving, we started talking about the number of times we will be driving this stretch of road. Needless to say, Mike will be taking the Honda and I'll be keeping his Jeep. (Dad-Mike has promised to take good care of the car).
We began our search on Friday at what we thought was a promising house for rent near downtown. A few street before the house, we got a bit nervous and decided this was a bad idea. The house was TERRIBLE and it looked like it was built in 1789. On to option number 2, we pull up to the townhouse community and were taken on a tour. I asked the gentlemen when it was updated last (b/c it was struggling), he said probably around 1978...yes, before I was born. I don't need much...just maybe some appliances from at least the 90's!! Place number 3 had some promise because it was near one of our friend's houses. Well, no such luck either. We walk in and it smelled like Deedee & Gregg's house, had AC window units, orange carpet, and had 100 cats. Nope- couldn't handle that one either. About this time, Mike decided I was a ticking time bomb emotionally and needed to call it a day....good idea.
We headed to Market Square for dinner and ate at a great place called Cafe 4. A friend recommend Market Square and it was a hit...great drinks, food, shopping and people watching.

I won't give you a play by play of our day Saturday...but it was a MUCH better experience. We looked at a TON of places and I think I memorized every road in Knoxville. We met our friends, Tony & Lauren Pugh for dinner Saturday night at a brewery downtown. They moved from Charlotte a few months ago so it was nice to hear how their transition has gone...and it gave me lots of hope. After dinner, drinks and lots of laughs, we headed back to our hotel at 1am. (yes, I am very proud of myself for that 1am bedtime)

It was actually a great weekend minus a few bumps. We found a great house to rent until we find one to buy, enjoyed the greenways, ate great food and were introduced to a few people that could be potential friends.
Tennessee, you might not be so bad after all...

Chapters

It all started in January of 2005. I graduated from college in December 2004 and moved to Charlotte not knowing anyone. I started a new job in a "big" city and began my new life. I was scared and miss my friends & the comfort of my life in Boone.
Slowly but surely, I began making new friends and really loving Charlotte. Some of my wonderful friends from high school and college moved to town and we all became one big happy family.
Fast forward to June 2007 when I met the man who will be my husband in less than 4 months. I introduced him to my Charlotte family and they have welcomed him with open arms. Life is good and we have been blessed with so many great relationships here!

With all that to say, I am starting a new chapter in life.
We are MOVING to Knoxville, TN and can finally share the news...yes, you read that correctly. After months of prayers, discussion, emotional breakdowns (me), interviews and pros/cons list...we have made the decision to start our married life in a new state. Mike was offered an amazing opportunity at another company and we decided to take it. This will be good for his career, our marriage and our future!! Everyone knows I'm not a fan of change and LOVE my life in Charlotte. Maybe this means I'm growing up, getting rid of some of my control issues or just trusting the Lord just a little bit more.

The bottom line is that we are moving, and we are both getting excited about this new adventure we are about to start together. The good news is we know 5 people in Knoxville so that is more than I started with in Charlotte...AND my sister and family will be SO much closer!! (Bones- TN is calling your name too!)

More to come on this crazy news later...

Life

Sorry for the lack of posts lately...so much going on here!

CT & Hef were married on April 24th and I wanted to make sure I shared a few pictures of the fun evening. CT & I have been friends since high school. He is one of the most genuine people you will ever meet in your life. I have never seen him as happy as I did on his wedding day. When he saw his STUNNING bride for the first time, he couldn't hold back the tears...what a special moment! I had so much fun catching up with friends at the reception!!!

Congrats Mr. & Mrs. Turner