Wedding Dress

I went wedding dress shopping with my mother, Hannah, Summer, & Datha today, and I found my wedding dress!  Yea!  It took a little while, but I finally found one I like!  I really enjoyed dress shopping more than I thought I would...you get to try on as many dresses as you want to, and the bridal consultants just keep smiling!  =)  I had a really great consultant named Mary.  She was so nice and made the whole day so enjoyable.  I tried on lots of dresses, and within 3 hours, I paid for the one I wanted...it's hanging up in my room as I type this.

After I found my dress, I asked if I could try on a really fluffy dress just for the fun of it!  It was so big, I could hide my entire bridal party under it!  =)  I knew it would look really silly on me, but I'm only getting married once, and I felt like I would miss part of the experience if I didn't at least try one on.  I hope you like the picture of me in it!  I had to blur parts of it, because my arms are showing.  ;)

So, the day was wonderful, but I am so glad to have my dress bought.  A really big worry taken care of...yea!!!

Fireproof!

I saw the movie Fireproof tonight, and it was AMAZING!  Our pastor showed it at our midweek service, and what a wonderful idea.  The movie had so many good points; I really think it gave all married people (and people like me who are about to be married!) something to think about.  Of of my favorite lines in the movie was, "You never leave your partner, especially during the fire."  This was first said to a fireman, but then repeated to a spouse.  How true that is.  Although I am not married yet, I have watched many couples, and when things got rough (financially, spiritually, physically), their marriages got rocky.  I assume marriage is much easier when life is progressing smoothly, but I hope I always remember that when turbulence comes, that's when Phil needs me and I need him the most.  Nothing - EXCEPT JESUS - is a cure all for marriages, but I highly recommend Fireproof: it will give you ideas and hope.  Now, I know I am not married and know close to zilch about marriage, but I am doing the best I can by reading marriage books before my marriage actually begins...that way I can avoid as many problems as possible.  That said, I highly recommend Love & Respect to all couples.  This book is for men and women, and it will show you how to portray love to your spouse.  It has changed the marriages of many couples around me, and I am so excited that Phil & I were able to read it before we got married.  One of my best friends just told me today that after I recommended the book to her, she did the same to a friend of hers, who called her bawling the other day telling her what a wonderful book it was and how much it changed her life.  Buy it!  Read it!  You'll love it!

On another note, I miss Phil tonight!  =(  He's shoveling snow in the middle of the night, so I do not get to video chat, and I don't like it!  I like seeing him right before I go to bed.  I like my I love you and goodnights.  Take pity on me...I'm lonely!

The Cycle Continues

In September 2004, I quizzed my last quiz as a Senior Bible Quizzer.  At the Prayer and Share Service in Salt Lake City, I mentioned how I would like to be the Senior Bible Quiz Coordinator for Florida one day.

Well, today, that dream has been fulfilled.  I quizmastered my first tournament, and it was so much fun.  I always knew I would enjoy quizmastering...it's not the idea of being in charge, but it's the fun of getting to decide the accurateness of the quizzers and questions.  I made a few mistakes, and I've already learned so much, but I am so happy to be involved in such a wonderful ministry.  Bible Quizzing helped mold me into the lady I am today, and I would not be who I was if not for it.

I can't wait to see how Bible Quiz is going to improve these next couple of years!  

Ageist

This is what my mother so often calls me.  She says I'm prejudice against people older than me.  Sometimes I think she's right.  Older people do frustrate me more...I feel that since they are older, they should know everything, but so often, they don't.  I know I'm unfairly judging them, but it's so hard to stop.  Really, what frustrates me most, is slow people (talkers, walkers, doers, you name it), and unfortunately most people who fall into this category tend to be what I consider "older."

Well, I've come to realize that it's not just me!  My generation is full of ageists!  When someone is driving slow, we say that they are driving like a grandma.  We abstain from going to certain stores and restaurants because they are always full of "old" people.  When some place smells funny, it's said that it smells like a old person's home.  Being around this kind of behavior only stems more ageist comments.

But, I've also realized that my generation needs to give the older generation a break.  And I thank Facebook for my realization.  Upon joining Facebook, I was astonished at all the "old" people on the site.   In my mind, Facebook (and other social sites) were for teenagers & college students, NOT mommies and daddies of teenagers and college students.  It aggravated me that these people joined these sites to "be cool and fit in."  It hit me then, that I've got to give these people a break.  So often we berate the older generation for not staying up with the times and being technologically savvy.  There on Facebook, our parents are trying to do both. 

So my fellow young readers, let's relax.  It feels a little silly to be communicating with our parents on Facebook, but at least they're trying.  I'd much rather my parents be on Facebook, then avoid all things technological any day!   

I LOVE Technology

As I type this, I am surfing Facebook, making notes on my computer's stickies, video chatting with Phil, and playing virtual scrabble with him.  Oh, how I love technology!  Even though my fiance' is over 12 hours away, it's almost like he's right here with me...except I can't kiss him! =(  We've been dating over a year (we talked for a few months before then), and he has lived in St. Louis the entire time.  If it wasn't for video chatting, I don't know if I would have survived.  I can tell you for certain, though, that our relationship is much stronger than it would have been without this daily face-to-face conversation.

As much as I am going to miss my family and friends when I move to Fort Myers, I am so thankful for outlets like Facebook and blogs that will allow me to keep in touch them.  I don't want to miss out on any parts of their lives, and I hope they don't want to miss out on mine either!

Pet Peeve

I hate being told what I'm going to do.  Not in the way that a parent tells their child what he/she is going to do, but in the way that people think they know exactly how my life is going to turn out.  I hate it when people tell me that I will have pets one day, or I will have children soon, or my feelings about yada yada yada will change...and the list goes on and on.  Almost nothing turns me off more than when someone makes a declaration like this about my life.  It absolutely bugs me!  It almost makes me want to purposely not do whatever they said I will do.  Who knows if God will give me a child before I plan on one?  Who knows when I'll get a pet?  Who knows when I'll like bananas?  I don't know, just as these nonsense speakers don't know.

And that, ladies and gentlemen, is my rant for the month.  Check in tomorrow for happy thoughts!

6th Bridesmaid Dress

Yep, as of March 20, I'll have been in 6 weddings: Kasi's, Summer's, Amy's, Maydee's, Barbra's, & Alonda's.  I've accumulated lots of dresses, some of which I've worn again and some that continue to collect dust in my closet.

Tonight was bridesmaid dress shopping for Alonda, and I'm proud to say that we completed the task!  It's certainly the most interesting wedding ensemble I've worn, but with Alonda's touch, I'm sure it will look fantastic (or at least I hope it will, because I don't want to look stupid walking down the aisle!).  As we were shopping tonight, I reflected on all the wonderful friends I have.  I consider it a privilege to have been in so many weddings.  I hope it is a reflection of the true friend I endeavor to be.

As I prepare to move away in 6 months, I hope I take advantage of the last few memories I can make with my friends and family.  The older I grow, the more I realize how important my family and true friends really are.

I'm a Blogger!

I'm a faithful reader of many blogs, and I finally decided to create one myself!  Although this blog is written by me, Taylor Shay Billingsley, it will depict the life of myself and my fiance, Phillip Andrew Locke.  Yes, I am engaged to the most wonderful man in the world, but more about that later.  =)

The main purpose of this blog is to have a way to keep in touch with my family and friends, as I will be moving away in July.  I decided that this was the easiest way to share stories and pictures of the life Phil & I will be starting on our own.

Grab your coffee and hang in there with me as I figure out this whole blog thingy!  =)