Wednesday, June 16, 2010

Graduations, Weddings, Vacations, Oh my!

Well it seems, my friends, that summer is among us. After making it through Prom season at work, there are weddings galore. We only went to one graduation this year because of all of the wedding festivities, but it seems our weekends are booked solid for the next two months. And with weddings come showers, bachelor/bachelorette parties, rehearsal dinners (for those of us who are a part of those weddings), and of course the big day. I was honored to be a part of my one of my best friends wedding a couple weeks ago. Ashley and Matt had a beautiful wedding and Adam and I were so thrilled to be standing by their side. Having our newlywed friends home from Cancun has been so wonderful =) (although I'm sure it was torture for them boarding the plane to come home). Right after that wedding, one of my coworkers Jessica got married and they returned home from the Bahamas just this week in fact. This Saturday, Adam is the best man in another wedding of our good friends Jeremy and Sara. Summer is a time that we all look forward to, whether we're in school or not. It's like a 3 month long celebration of something. Here are some pics of the weddings we went to and the Graduate we were so proud of...


Matt and Ashley saying a prayer..so sweet <3

One of my favorites, because Ash was soo excited!

Me and my Ash swayin to the music =)

                                         Beautiful Briana- now a graduate from Bullitt East
                                                                             


However, one of my most favorite parts of summer is traveling. Adam and I plan to travel the world one day, but this year, we are headed to Seattle, Sandusky, OH, and Gatlinburg. We fly out to Seattle next Thursday and I am oh so excited. One of my most dear friends live there with her little baby Maverick (that I have yet to meet) and her hubby, Aaron. They are going to be so kind to let us crash at their place and show us around the city. They live in Tacoma but I am excited to visit Seattle and to see a new part of the country. The last time that I saw Crystal was my wedding, a year and three months ago, so I am beyond excited to say the least. I am terrified to fly, though. I keep convincing myself that people fly everyday and it's not a big deal, but I am still tempted to look up that guy that landed that plane on the Hudson River- he could totally be my pilot any day! I think Aaron and Crystal plan to show us around and I am pumped about that, but most of my time will be spent kissing all over Maverick's face and catching up with a best friend.


Aren't they like the most beautiful family? This is my bff Crystal and her hubby and baby

Meet Maverick! Well, I haven't officially met him yet but can't wait to!




When we get home from there, we'll be jumping in the HHR (my new ride, btw), headed to Sandusky, OH. What is there, you ask? Well, Cedar Point of course! We went a couple years ago and loved it. Adam got me four tickets for Valentine's Day (he knows the way to my heart) and we are taking the McCulloughs with us so it will be much fun! It's a 7 hour drive or so to our destination, but road trips are so much fun, with the right people of course. I know Matt and Ashley were a good choice =)


Yay!! 

                                                            Yes, you should be jealous!


Once we are home from good 'ol Cedar Pointe, we'll be going on a girls' trip a couple weeks later to Gatlinburg. My mom, suffering from empty nest (not really...she cleaned out my room not even a week after I moved out haha), declared an annual girls' getaway weekend exclusive to her, me, Victoria (younger sister), Tonya (older sister), and this year Mikayla and Alexis (Tonya's daughters). We went to Nashville and Memphis last year and had a ball. It is so necessary to get away and bond with the women in your family I am convinced. I love my husband, but we all agree that this is a trip that everyone is looking forward to. Although we will be one lady short, we don't plan to let that ruin anything. My mom deserves to have the time of her life, after the year she's had with taking care of my grandmother and losing her to cancer. Victoria and I plan to drag her all around Gatlinburg, visiting the Titanic museum, maybe Dollywood, and stopping at some shops along the way. She is an amazing mother and friend and I am so excited to get to hang out with her and my sister and nieces for that weekend. 
So, as you can see, the Pryors are very busy this summer. But it wouldn't be summer if we weren't. We feel extremely blessed that we are financially able to go places and see things. And I hear after children come, it all changes, so we must get away while we can. (no bun in the oven, though, so don't go assuming things.) I will post a blog and some pics when we get back from Seattle!

Tuesday, June 8, 2010

Things are a changin'

Wow..it has been way too long since I've update this blog of mine. Almost a month, I'd say. My last entry was very difficult to write. In fact, the past few months have been quite the rocky trail indeed. It seemed I was completely caught off guard with this uncomfortable ride, forgetting to put my helmet on and losing my safety gear along the way. A caution sign of some sort would have been nice. And, who knows, maybe all the signs were there, but I was too distracted to see them, leading me to my own danger. I know this may sound like spanish to most, but to me, it's the resounding gong of how my life has played out lately. So, with many tears, heartache, and convictions, I feel like God is wanting to take Adam and I in a different direction. Not to a new location or church or even jobs. We are very happy with where we live and with our church. Our jobs are very stable and Adam is moving along nicely through school. It's more of a "priority list" change, one that will effect our social circle and our ministries that we're involved in at church. A change that will hopefully draw us closer to each other and the Lord, while looking forward to the future.
Losing Grandma a month ago has completely turned my world upside down. I drive and cry. I think about her and cry. I go out to eat with Adam and cry. She is everywhere and in everything. Our memories together are all I have to cling to and they are making themselves very present. I don't talk about my loss very much with any of my friends, because it seems too depressing and it's not their loss. I mostly confide in Adam and my sister, Victoria when I can't seem to contain my heartbreak. I know that she wants me to be happy and to move on, but the wound is still so fresh and the bandaid I keep trying to put on it won't stay. So sometimes I have to let the wound bleed and hurt and burn so it can begin to heal. Those times are most difficult and I thank God that He has given me a husband who will do anything to see me happy. He has gotten me through those really rough patches.
My eyes have also been opened to some things that I don't like about myself. I have built up so much animosity towards some people and I don't want those feelings steering me so I am trying to bury them fast. I don't want to be angry and bitter because I know it's only Satan's ways of pulling me down and making me break. So, that is where the social change is taking place. Adam and I are trying to surround ourselves with some different people, and different places. We want to be encouraging to each other and other people and the way things were going, it seemed everyone wanted to hurt everyone else. So far, this change has proved beneficial. I have started a bible study with my mom on Wednesday nights and Adam and I went to a new class this past Sunday that we both enjoyed a lot. The study is great for Mom and I to do together, especially still grieving. 
Although, we aren't moving anywhere, change is still alive and molding us. We are trying earnestly to make the Lord our first priority and to make each the very next priority. The biggest thing we've learned is we can't fix everyone else's problems. It seems everytime we get pulled into something going on in someone else's life, it backfires. Yes, I've stepped on toes and I've made people feel uncomfortable. I have talked when I shouldn't have and blown up when I should have bitten my tongue.  Being kicked while you're down is one thing but I feel we've been beaten to a pulp. So, as you can see, something had to change. Without pain, there is no growth and no healing. I am looking forward to how the Lord is going to use us in the future and who He is going to bring our way =)