November Gratitude: Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving really is my favorite holiday. It's kind of incredible that in a country so preoccupied with consumerism, we have a day devoted to gratitude.

This year, I'm especially grateful that I married John Concklin, truly the best gift I've ever been given. His support, in big and little things, is unwavering. He has shown me what it means to take care of another person. Also, he does the dishes. Our dish washing philosophies are different. I would rather relax for a while after dinner and force myself to clean up later, and he would rather do them immediately. This, as you can imagine, works out very well for me!

Our Wedding {Ceremony 2}

Our longtime friend Sue helped my vision for flowers become a reality. I told her I wanted them to look slightly wild, with lots of peach and yellow and soft orange. Not only did she do a gorgeous job - she was also a joy to have around. It makes a difference to surround yourself with sunny people during a time that everyone seems to think should be stressful. 

John and I are both classical musicians, which is probably why we didn't want that style for our ceremony. We had been thinking fun, laid back, and "bluegrassy" all along, but when I decided to walk down the aisle to a folk song, it sealed the deal. I remember being surprised to hear singing when I walked out expecting instrumental - and laughing in the back of my mind, thinking if this is what will "go wrong" today, it's fine with me.

One Big Circle

With Mom and Dad at the Peace Center for the 2003 Senior Showcase. 

Moving back to the South wasn't something I planned to do. When arrows started pointing in this direction, I was dubious at best. I thought I had too much to do and too much to see to come back so soon.

Luckily, I followed the signs and ended up with a job at a life-changing school that I love. SCGSAH is the place that really started shaping the person I would become, and there's something comforting about the cyclical nature of my return to Greenville. Now I have the opportunity to give others what I was given, and it's really an honor.

And no one believes me when I tell them about the good old days:

there were guys who spent the entire summer of 2002 rafting the Reedy in duct-taped blow-up chairs,

the Raid really happened,

and a trip to Cherrydale on an old yellow school bus was something to be excited about.

xo.

P.S. We were all thrilled to see Newsweek's list of the top high schools in the U.S. - SCGSAH was number 42!

Our Wedding {Kid Photos}

John made a slideshow for the Rehearsal Dinner using photos from our childhood. Here are some of my favorites!

Just driving my airplane.

The Thing About Bridal Showers

In March, some of my closest friends and family gathered for bridal showers that I'll never forget. Here's why:

I've never been an Elizabeth Gilbert fan. I thought I would be at one point. I was eager to read Eat, Pray, Love, only to put it down after a few chapters. There's something about her voice that annoys me - the sarcasm, the constant attempt to be clever?  I'm not sure.

Despite this aversion, my curiosity was piqued when she published Committed last year. Maybe it was the shiny new ring I had on my left hand, or maybe it was the 20 hours I had in the car between Brattleboro and Atlanta. Either way, in that desperate moment when early radio programming fades to mid-morning oblivion, I found myself downloading it on my iPhone.

What I got was typical Gilbert paired with some fascinating information on infidelity studies and the gene that makes men good partners. Last month's showers left me thinking a lot about my favorite part of the book - the description of Laotian wedding customs. 

According to Gilbert, when one receives a wedding invitation in a Laotian village, he puts money in the envelope and later gives it to the couple on their wedding day. The bride and groom then carefully record each gift in a ledger that they will later use to see how much they should give that individual on her wedding day. The understanding is that you give that amount back - plus a little more (interest) if you can. So this wedding money isn't really a "gift" at all; it's an investment in the new couple's lives. It's a foundation that allows the couple to buy a home or start a business in a way that wouldn't have been possible without this community support. Gilbert elegantly describes it as "an exhaustively catalogued and ever-shifting loan, circulating from one family to the next as each new couple starts a life together." It says - we believe in you, and we want you to succeed.

After getting engaged, I felt a little weird about creating a registry. It seemed presumptuous and greedy to send the message that those invited to celebrate with us "should" give us a gift. I didn't want others to feel that I expected these things. I was convinced by our mothers that people appreciate the guidance, so off we went with scanners and checklists.

In March, I was overwhelmed by the generosity shown at our showers. My friends know me so well, and they are wonderful and fun and loving and kind. Their support makes the Maxwell-Concklin foundation feel even stronger than it already was. They are, like the little Laotian village, generously investing in not just our kitchen, but us. They are all pitching in to help get us on our feet. And now, for the rest of our lives, we will be able to do the same for young couples to come. What a lovely concept, and what an honor.

                                       xo,

                                          Lauren

P.S. This talk on nurturing creativity by Gilbert is wonderful.

P.P.S. Some photos of a shower in Greenville, given by my MOH, Ellen:

oldest friends and bridesmaids - Britt and Tara

Mom and Tara

An April Hello

John and I spent this past weekend with my family in Aiken celebrating my little brother's birthday and doing last minute wedding planning. Josh and John rode go-karts while Mom and I checked out Halo Salon, where we'll be having hair and makeup done on the 28th.

I've got lots to say about the wedding planning process, but lately I've been realizing something for which I'm especially grateful: my family is amazing!

They have been such a pleasure to work with during this time. Supportive and fun, John and I couldn't have made a wedding happen without them. We are so grateful!

                                                 xo,

                                                    LM

p.s. Only 19 days!!!!

Valentine's Baby

Today is my mom's birthday.

Having a Valentine's birthday suits Mom really well; she looks good in red, she savors a good box of chocolate, and she loves her family more than anything.

She displays her affection by working harder than you could imagine - Mom cooks and cleans. She answers endless wedding questions. She went joyfully to every voice recital and every basketball game. She has spent the last 17 years devoting hours and hours each day to my littlest brother.

Mom loves to have a good time. She taught us not to take ourselves too seriously. She taught us that family is most important, and she showed us how to find a bargain. She taught us about being selfless.

Happy birthday, Mom! We love you so much.

Big Week, Wonderful Week

from Wolf and Willow

I'm so holiday-excited this year. Maybe even more than ever.

1. First official Christmas with John, even though he did give me a gift last year and he was the first person I heard from on Christmas morning.

2. We're driving home to see our parents on Thursday, with Herb and his Christmas toys in tow.

3. I can't wait to hang with my Mom, or to see John's Mom. And the two of them will meet!

4. Before the drive, John and I are having our own celebration, and I'll be busy working and spearheading several creative gift giving/baking/projects designed with a low budget in mind.

5. This is the first White Christmas I've ever seen. It's lovely!