The meaning of Generosity

gen-er-os-i-ty [jen-uh-ros-i-tee]-the habit of giving freely without expecting anything in return

I have definitely learned a lesson in generosity lately...from the generosity of the guests at our engagement parties, to our parents, to our wedding party, and everyone else.

First...our engagement parties. Thank you again to everyone who attended the Harrisonburg and Newport News engagement parties. We expected nothing from anyone, just time to share in the happiness that Corey and I get to share everyday. BUT EVERYONE WAS SO GENEROUS!! It's crazy, you get engaged and people just start giving you stuff, just because you're engaged. I've never experienced anything like it before.

Our parents. Besides the fact that they raised us, and didn't kill us or abandon us in the process, both of our parents have been more than generous. Corey's parents have taken so much time out of their schedules to come and visit in order to be with us. His mom even spent her birthday in Newport News at our engagement party. And every time we talk about the wedding, there's something else they want to do for us! GENEROSITY

My parents have already been beyond amazing. I know I like to think that they don't mind coming up here because "they love the mountains" but they have rearranged their schedules so many times to be up here, even at the drop of a hat, for dress fittings and game weekends, and just because. They are there when I send 30 emails with the slightest changes to the Save the Dates I designed, and respond with their suggestions-while always following it up with "do what you want". They are there on weekends to support me when my dress comes in, to buy wedding shoes, to support Corey by coming to every home game, and they are there at 2 am, 3 pm, or whenever else I call, even if it's not related to the wedding. And they have bent over backwards, kept their mouths’ shut, allowed me to change my mind 5 times about the wedding colors (and have provided GENTLE reminders to stay within the budget ;) ). GENEROSITY

My bridesmaids....o how I love you girls.

First, my sister (MOH #1).....I think my sister was in love with me before I was ever on this earth. It is because of my sister that I am Shelby Nichole, and not Meredith Elizabeth, and this picture keeps coming to mind of us in the hospital when I was first born. You can just tell in the picture that little 2 1/2 year old Lindsey just couldn't wait to meet her baby sister...to hold me, kiss me, love me, and protect me. And that's what she did. Lindsey has always been my little guardian angel, looking out for me....one of my biggest advocators, and biggest spoilers. I can remember countless Christmas's (of which I am now embarassed) that I gave Lindsey one gift that was probably as exciting as a paperclip, and she would shower me with gifts....and not even care, because she got more delight out of watching me open the present from her, than from any gift I could give her. I feel like I will never be able to repay the GENEROSITY that she has shown me over the years. And now, getting married, I know that she will be there for me, whatever I need.

MOH #2-Chrissy. O Chrissy....what would I do without you. Chrissy has gone above and beyond the call of duty. She has sat through countless conversations with me, whether it was about the wedding, registering, the bridal party, food, ghosts, camping, wedding dresses, wedding disasters, dreams, girl problems, food, uncertainties about jobs and living situations,...did I mention food. She was the one I confided in no matter what it was. She has taken me on numerous dates, and we finally got our men together and they love each other :). She spent a whole day taking me around Washington D.C. in 1000 degree weather just to look for bridal jewelry. No matter whether I'm with her or not, she always has an eye out for something I can use for the wedding, including FREE antique books (which debuted in our engagement shoot), as well as the canning jars that were supposed to be in our shoot, that I had been killing myself trying to find. She has tagged along on numerous shopping trips and made some on her own for the wedding. She has given some of the best advice during some of the most difficult situations, and has shared her own very personal experiences to help me through my own. She is there at a drop of the hat, and comes to ME asking what she can do, rather than me having to ask for a favor. I cannot believe how blessed I am that we became friends, especially since I never thought that that diagnostic partner that I did not want to work with would become my best friend, my maid of honor, my life friend. I love you and your GENEROSITY!

MURRPPPHHHHH- Shannon Murphy. I love you so much. You are always thinking about me as well. And what would I do without your stumbleupon websites that you forward to me. Or the many bride's blogs that you sent my way. You were always on the lookout for a post or picture for inspiration for me. Many of my "brilliant" ideas have come from your procrastinating moments when you sent pictures/blogs my way.

Lauren Block-I miss you so much now that you live in C-ville. I will never EVER forget the night that Lauren came over, brought her laptop, and rattled off a list of questions she had about the wedding, and then typed madly away as I answered them, and saved the file on her computer. How awesome is that. Just another example of how my bridesmaids have come to ME over and over again, offering their help. I can't explain how nice that is. To have every single one of the girls offer their help and ask what they can do, rather than me having to come to them. It's a true testament that they really WANT to be doing this and I haven't burdened them with an obligation.

Laura D.-Oh how I miss my duet partner. I'm trying to find a way to incorporate karaoke into the wedding somehow :) you have been there from the beginning......listening to me go on and on three weeks into the relationship about 'how I thought Corey was THE ONE, but I had to be crazy because "it's only been three weeks" and how could anyone really know that soon'. Thank you for reassuring me that I was, in fact, NOT crazy. And for continuing to believe that neither of us was crazy when we got engaged three months in :) I will always appreciate your enthusiasm about our relationship, the wedding as a whole, and the particulars of planning....like how excited you were when I showed you the bm dresses I picked out. Or the continued offers to help with the growing list of DIY projects. Maybe I want ribbon wands to see us off.... :D

And last but certainly not least....my roommates. Even though we have only been roommates for a short amount of time they have been extremely GENEROUS and patient with me. They have to deal with articles from the wedding/engagement shoot, always lingering somewhere around the house. And because I just don't ever seem to have the time to get my life straight, there's always something of mine sitting on the kitchen counter that hasn't quite made it upstairs to my bedroom yet. Currently there are birdcages, chalk boards, picture frames, and david's bridal bags sitting in our living room. Not once have my roommates complained about anything, they simply tidy up a little better than I've left things and go about life around my stuff. They will never know how much having one less worry means to me!

I have to mention one more group of people that have been ridiculously generous. I don't want to mention their names because they are also humble but our vendors have been BEYOND WORDS gracious with us. Between giving us discount, previously agreed upon pricing, and free stuff...I couldn't ask to be surrounded by a better group of people to be taking care of us on the most important day of our lives!

GENEROSITY.....it means something a little different to everyone, but I've been blessed with ridiculously generous people and think I have a pretty good definition for the word