299 Days

Countdown is 299 days till our wedding! Though we still have about 10 months, I hear the time will go by quickly. I feel good about where we are in the planning stages. Our next step is to decide on a color scheme -- something I thought would be relatively simple, but the more I look at wedding magazines, websites and blogs, the more I just can't decide. Here's what I've found for inspiration:

My mom and I are meeting with a florist, Deedra Stone, on Friday. This should be helpful in brainstorming ideas. We're also meeting with at least one other florist in the coming weeks.

As another update, Brian and I selected a photographer for our wedding! His name is Jacob Slaton, and he lives in Little Rock, Ark. A woman I've worked with -- who's a wedding planner -- recommended him. I love his work, and he's been great to work with so far -- very organized, which I love!

Reunion

Friday night I traveled to Jackson, Tenn., where Molly lives! Sarah and Andrea drove in from Nashville, and we all had fun catching up. It's been too long since I've seen them!

Pup Update

It's been two weeks since we first adopted Emma. She's fitting in just nicely with our family.

She started puppy training last Saturday at Pet Smart, and she's doing so well. Before the class, she was wild...chewing, niping, etc.

I attended her second training class yesterday with my dad and sister -- a parent-teacher conference, Brian called it. I wanted to learn proper training technique! She's shown such improvement and listens to us much better. She's learned how to sit and lay, and she hardly nips at us or chews on furniture anymore. She's potty trained, too! If she didn't chase her own tail so often, I'd think she was brilliant!

10 Races, 5 Months

Last week I signed up for the 2011 Road Race Series hosted by the Memphis Runners Track Club. I sure hope I don't regret it!

Registration cost as a non-member was only $75, which I think is pretty good for 10 races! But 10 races between now and November is a lot for me. I like to run regularly, but I'm not a "racer." In fact, I've only run two races in my life.

The first race, a 5K, was on Sunday at Overton Park. I did fine, considering the intense heat. Emma and my dad came for moral support.

Next race is July 24 -- another 5K!

A Happy Birthday

Today is my dad's birthday! Happy birthday, Dad!

Dont' worry, Dad. This isn't your birthday card. I just thought it was funny.

We celebrated last night with dinner at Corky's -- a favorite of his. My grandma, who's visiting from Indiana, loves BBQ ribs, too.

I am a fan of BBQ nachos. :)



Meet Emma

I have a new roommate at Laurel Hollow. Meet Emma.

I was in Birmingham visiting Brian when I got a text from my sister who was at the Memphis Famers' Market with my mom and dad. "I found a puppy at the farmers' market. A German shepherd mix. I cried," it read.

For those of you who don't know, we lost our beloved mutt Madison in February. She was 13 years old and sick with cancer. It was a fast decline, and we eventually had to put her to sleep. It was tragic, and we still miss her so much. I was 9 when we adopted her. Leah was 6. Though we don't know her origin for sure, she looked a lot like a German shepherd mix.

I didn't think much of Leah's text at first. But then she proceeded to tell me how much she can't stop thinking of the puppies (there were two). They'd left the famers' market and gone to breakfast, but Leah was devastated that they'd left the puppies behind.

I couldn't help but think how ironic it all was. A German shepherd mix whose mom was stray just like Madison's. The owner had found the mom and puppies in a junkyard. A "rescue dog" just like Madison. And it was Madison's 14th birthday. We'd always said that we wanted a German shepherd next... someday when we were ready.

By this time, I was talking to my mom on the phone. They were headed back to the farmers' market to take a second look, she said. My dad was the only one still opposed. The puppies were still there when they arrived. But one of the two -- a boy -- had been promised to another family. While they played with the puppy, they talked to the owner about the adoption process and about the pup's personality. They learned she's 12 weeks old and a mild-mannered, sweet dog. She still needed two more shots. Leah sent me a picture.

With the farmers' market about to close for the day, my family agreed to meet the lady and the puppy at a nearby Pet Smart to talk some more. On the way to Pet Smart, my parents started to have second thoughts. (I, of course, was on and off the phone with them, freaking out 200+ miles away.) Spontaneity is not an Adams thing when it comes to big decisions. Leah, too, was worried we were replacing Madison too soon.

But once they saw her again at Pet Smart, they were hooked.

So just hours after my family first laid eyes on her at the farmers' market, she made herself at home at Laurel Hollow -- with a green polka dot collar, a water/food bowl, a brand new kennel and leash, and a name: Emma. She's here to stay.