Fall Date Ideas

Build a scarecrow | Casey and I did this for the first time last year and we enjoyed it so much we've decided to make it a new tradition. Thrift a few fall clothing items (shirt, pants, hat, boots) and use one of those plastic pumpkin candy bowls as the head. Pro tip: You get a much better deal on hay by buying "Halloween Hay" at the feed and seed than those tiny little bales of decorative hay at Walmart.

Pumpkin carving or painting | We've done both! Painting is easier and faster if you're short on time (or don't want to deal with pumpkin guts). 

Soup and Cider | Try a new soup recipe and enjoy some apple cider (or another hot drink of your choice). This is a great one for when the weather starts getting cold. Eating soup on the porch when it's chilly is so lovely!

Movie night! | Halloween movies, cheesy autumn Hallmark movies, whatever your choice. Add a hot beverage and cuddle under a cozy blanket!

Visit a pumpkin patch | Get a pumpkin to carve or paint and make sure to take cute pics!

Date Night: Old Town Slidell Soda Shop

Casey popped in for lunch the other day and said, "I was thinking we could go to Slidell for date night. I have a surprise for you... I found a mom and pop book shop and a cool restaurant for us to try." I was pretty excited because books and food are totally the way to my heart. 

At 3:00 we hit the road, aiming to get there around 4:00 since the book shop closed at 5:00. Unfortunately, we got caught in traffic behind a wreck and pulled into town right at 5:00, missing the window to go to the book store. Fortunately, Casey had a backup plan, so we went to Dirt Cheap and I got two new-with-tags Target dresses for $7 each. (I'm thinking of giving them a mini-makeover... we shall see.)

After Dirt Cheap, we headed to the restaurant -- Old Town Slidell Soda Shop. It was so cute! I love a 50s themed diner, and this one was painted PINK on the inside. All the decor was super cute--I loved all the fun vintage decor touches and the arcade. The homemade ice cream was AMAZING. I sampled like 5 flavors and ultimately chose Samoa. Oh em gee. It was so good. None of the flavors were too strong and they were perfectly balanced. It was so nice to get touches of coconut in my bites--so perfectly summer!

Ice cream in hand, we explored the arcade then went outside. The Soda Shop has an adorable outside area, with picnic tables under a plant-covered pergola, a cage filled with pretty birds, two fountains, a big red barn, and... a Little Free Library that looks like a Tardis!!! (It really is bigger on the inside.)

Then we enjoyed walking around the cute downtown. We love towns that have adorable, well-kept old downtown areas. I grew up in a city that had let many of the old downtown buildings crumble, and it always made me so sad. I love living in a town that has spent the last 20 years being purposeful to keep the old downtown alive, and I love visiting other towns that do the same.

I Said YES!!!

"We're just so relieved she said YES!"

That's what Bro. Alan kept telling people when they found out we got engaged the second day of our mission trip. Then Casey and I would just give each other a look and a smile. He knew he didn't have to worry about what my answer would be when he asked me. There was never any question.

YES!

"Why Singapore?"

That's what everyone kept asking us. We thought it was a strange question, but I guess most people don't realize how special Singapore is to us. It was the place of both of our first missions trips. It was the first place Casey held my hand. It's the place where some of our favorite people live, people we wish we could see more often, people we love and care about more than words can say.

And many of those people were there when he knelt down on one knee and asked me to marry him. That was not the plan, I later learned. He had planned to propose on Tuesday at the Merlion statue. He had not planned on the youth group of the church we were working with to insist on taking us to dinner that night. So he let them in on the secret and they made sure we made it to the Merlion after dinner. They were all surrounding us with phones and cameras as he sweetly asked me to be his wife.

And the ring! Oh, the ring. It's gorgeous. I can't help but stare at it. A lot. People ask if he picked it out himself and YES. He did. He did so good. It's absolutely perfect and so very me.

I'm beyond excited to have the privilege of marrying Casey. He is amazing and wonderful and more than I could have ever asked for or dreamed. God really outdid Himself with this one.

Our relationship hasn't always been easy or perfect by any means, but it's been a wonderful adventure, and I'm excited for what's to come. Here's to forever with my favorite human!