As promised here are a couple pics of my wedding dress. 

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We have our HONEYMOON!

I put our deposit  down on our Honeymoon this afternoon!! We are staying at the Grand Lido Braco Resort and Spa! Its an all inclusive resort in Trelawny Bay Jamaica and I am stoked!!!

I pick up my wedding dress on Saturday, I'll post a pic or two since I know Josh doesn't get on here. 

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the one where Belle's face is completely covered in mashed potatoes.

I have been meaning to post for a while, many things have happened in the past few days or weeks but I've been to busy really... however what happened last night has basically forced me to give everyone an update... 

we had dinner last night and I had our plates on the counter with the food we didn't eat (some shells and cheese and mashed potatoes) I took Belle out and when I brought her back in, I left her in the kitchen and went back into the bedroom to get something. When I came back into the kitchen to find Belle standing up with her paws on the counter her face absolutely COVERED in mashed potatoes... It was all I could do not to laugh, unfortunately she had to get a spanking and go in her crate, I only regret that I didn't get a picture. It was hilarious....

In other news, Nissan sucks big fat monkey balls. I will post more about that later. Right now I must get ready for our date today.... Josh is taking me to the zoo! YAY

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Not once...not twice...but THREE times

That's the number of times my car had to be jump started today... It all began this afternoon when I got out of class and started (or so I thought) to work. Mind you it was raining today and I of course forgot my umbrella so I'm pretty wet from walking to/from class. I get in my car and turn the key and... NOTHING. It clicked a couple of times but overall nothing....

Thankfully Mamma and Ricky had taken off work today for one reason or another and after a while I finally got ahold of them. I tracked them down at my Mema's house (which BTW I am her favorite.) They came and jumped me off and when I inquired as to whether or not I should even drive my car to Gainesville they assured me I should be ok.... just make sure I'm not the last one to leave from work.... reassuring. 

That was jump off number one.... where you might say my parents who are supposed to love me kind of threw me under the bus.....

Number two came after work when as I got into my car and turned the key the radio came on but again NOTHING.... excepted that dammed clicking noise. Rachel jumped me off but something didn't feel right... it hesitated and the radio kept cutting in and out....

That was jump off number two. 

I called Josh and told him that I had to be jumped again.... he told me to come strait home. But I needed to go by Best Buy and pick up one of his birthday gifts. I persisted. I figured it would be ok as long as I didn't turn the car off.... I thought wrong. 

I parked in front of the doors turned my hazards on and went inside to get the present (which he loved btw) all was good until I came back out and turned off my hazards. With those lights went all the power from the car and it died. :( 

I get out and scan the area for a safe looking person to ask for help. I spot a very large black man getting out of his truck and he reminds me of Big Black from Rob and Big so I ask him to help me and he pulls his truck up and we attach the cables and proceed to try and defibrillate my car back to life.... While this is happening a lady I know was heading into Best Buy and she stopped to make sure everything was ok and stayed to make sure I wasn't molested or taken hostage.... I wasn't but shout out to Kim Caldwell and thanks for looking after me!!!

While we were waiting a few more people stopped to make sure everything was ok and to see if I needed more help and I was really encouraged about society.... 

That was jump number three in case you lost count.

Now I'm safely back home and wondering how much car batteries are.... yay.

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Fat Tuesday...Ash Wednesday...Palm Sunday

Today is Fat Tuesday...the start of Mardi Gras, for those of you who are episcopalian or catholic you know that tomorrow is Ash Wednesday and the start of Lent. I don't practice these religions, but I have done lent a couple of times. (In case you don't know its like a form of fasting... you give up something for 40 days, until Palm Sunday. You can't have your given up item except for on Sundays.) Usually I am ok for the first little while but then I forget and eat or drink it.

I'm trying to decide if I want to give something up.... I also can't decide what I would like to give up... I'm thinking either sodas or chocolate.... it will definitely be a challenge either way.... keep in your prayers about it.

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A song of praise

I've been feeling very blessed lately. Don't get me wrong, I know that I am always blessed, but overall things have been very good for us. Josh has been able to negotiate so he's getting more Sundays off so we have been able to start going to church regularly and we both love that so much, it is becoming a definite need in my life. I crave it, I love listening to Les deliever God's word so passionately, watching the children who on the outside may not seem like they are paying attention, but are really soaking up the message like a sponge.... its a great stress reliever. I can really see a difference in our outlook and day to day happenings since we've really been making an effort to go to Church. I love it.

The past year has been pretty stressful except for finding Josh and getting to know him on many levels. We have been through a lot during our first year, and are still dealing with things everyday... the one consistant through everything has been our love for each other, it has never waivered or stumbled only grown stronger with each passing day... I have never in my life (outside of my family and God) experienced a love so pure and strong and unfaltering. I know that he will always be by my side and help me to get through any road block life may have. It is the most amazing thing I've ever felt on earth.

We were talking just the other day about how amazing the feeling of having absolute trust in your spouse, knowing that you never have to worry about what they are doing or who they are with, neither of us have ever experienced that before... honestly I never knew it existed. I thank God everyday for giving me that in my life...

Money has been really tight, especially these past few months but somehow God sees us through each week and we continue to make it, I am continually amazed at His unending love and power. He has given me the love of my life who I continue to fall in love with every day, an amazing family who supports all of my decisions, a steady job, good health, a Savior who loves and died for me, and everything I want and need in life, how could I ask for more than His sweet grace?

Let this be my song of praise Lord, that I may worship you with my every breath, everyday...

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The "Octo-mom"

Lately I have been hearing a lot about the lady in CA who recently gave birth to eight healthy (thankfully) babies.

I just want to say that she PISSES me off.

This lady, actually that connotation implies that she has class and common senses even. That woman already had six children all through IVF, she is a single mother (none of the children were born using her husband's sperm) who is living at home with her parents. Her mother, the children's grandmother is the primary care-giver to these kids. She can't even take care of the SIX she already has. I believe that is is pure selfishness for her to spend THOUSANDS of dollars on IFV to have more children when she can't provide for or take care of the ones she has.

She does not give her mother or father in financial support for letting her and her gaggle of children live in their THREE BEDROOM home, she has no job, but rumor has it (and this is just speculation so take it with a grain of salt) when you see pictures of her now and pictures of her after her first 6 were born she looks totally different. Favoring Angelina Jolie slightly....

does anyone know why its ok for A.J. to adopt a baby or two from every country in the world and have a few of her own? A. she has a shit ton of money to be able to support the kids and provide them with what they need B. she has a husband to help her out with this (not saying you have to have a husband to raise kids properly, but you do need help from somewhere).... This woman was single mom... she would have had a difficult time finding a man to take on her and SIX kids, I hope she likes being single because I don't think there is a man out there willing to take on FOURTEEN kids.... that's a football team practically.

She also pisses me off because there are so many good and deserving families out there who can't have one child. And she is going to go and *artificially* have FOURTEEN. I say artificially because she didn't use her husband when she had him and this time there wasn't even a man in the picture. I know many couples use IVF and there is not a problem with that. Its wonderful that we have the technology to allow more people to be able to conceive.

I also want to know what kind of doctor would implant SIX embryos in a woman's uterus. I realize that they plant multiples so there is a better chance of one of them taking, but you have to know there is a risk that when you plant SIX that SIX could be born. And that puts the babies in danger of not being able to develop and form properly. His license should be revoked. That is unsafe practice. I don't even know how he can sleep at night to know that he brought EIGHT children into this world for a slefish woman who can't take care of the SIX she already has. Nothing about this was a good idea, not even for her to want or have one more child. She can't give her existing children what they need.

Ok, now that I've got that out I feel better. Have a good day.

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Instead of being super happy...

I feel a little like I'm drowning... very slowly (which I think is the only way you do that so whatever).

I got my wedding dress yesterday, which normally should be super exciting and I should still be riding the cloud nine happy train I derailed somewhere in the ocean and now I can't breathe. 

We got Josh's insurance statement yesterday and instead of it being the amount we were quoted when we signed on for State Farm in December it was about double! So I called them today and found out that apparently when we were getting our quote and everything a ticket or a wreck or something wasn't showing up so we had a lower price and it was just recalculated or reran or something and it showed up so not only did his premium increase we are having to pay back the difference from the three months that we'd originally paid. So now, his insurance payment is almost as much as his car payment, which we could barely afford to begin with, plus we have to come up with the money for other bills, and essentially I just don't know how its going to happen. I think we might drown. Slowly and surely. 

I'm so stressed out right now, I don't even know what to do. I don't know how I'm going to be able to even focus on studying or thinking about school because all I can think of is how we should be working. I don't know how I'm going to be able to afford to buy Josh a birthday present, let alone a Valentine's Day present. Basically, we can't do anything right now. 

Keep us in your prayers.

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Its been a while...

but I have been so super busy with classes and even now I shouldn't be typing a blog, I should be finishing all of the work I have due tomorrow and then studying for the tests I have next week and working on the project I have due.... my head is spinning like crazy just going over that much in my head!

So as I mentioned, we got our wedding bands over the weekend and I absolutely LOVE them! Mine is a vintage looking diamond guard that fits all the way around my engagement ring and Josh's is a tungsten ring with a single diamond in the middle. It suits him very well. 

Sunday we're going to look at wedding dresses and I am so excited! I hope we find a perfect one! 

In other news, I am so proud of myself because I actually got up and worked out this morning, I was so proud! It felt really good. I really really want to try to start doing that three days a week. I only have to get up about 30 minutes earlier than I would normally. 

Oh, so Belle has started eating her poop. We think she's trying to hide when she has accidents in the house so she has decided that the best way to do that is to eat her poo... its pretty gross and she is no longer allowed to lick me. It makes me a little sad to know that she feels she has to eat the poo..... If anyone has any advice on how to discourage poo eating let me know. 

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wedding update

We got our wedding  bands!!!! YAY!!

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Time for a Change.

I just finished watching the Inauguration coverage on CNN.com and I must say that President Obama's speech gave me chills. He is such an amazing public speaker I am in awe listening to him.

I am excited and hopeful for the future of the United States. I believe that we have a vision and ambition in the White House and that change will come. I'm not sure that all of the goals that have set can necessarily be achieved in the 4 years that President Obama will be in office because somethings take time, but I feel like America has elected someone who is proactive and will give our country what we need.

I'm sure many of you have been nervous throughout the campaign and were biting nails during the election and are now wondering about the outcome, if this new and historical day is an ominous one warning of dark times to come but I urge you to keep an open mind. To allow change to come, because in reality America needs a change. At this point, the best thing that everyone in our country can do is to pray, pray everday and pray hard. Pray like you have never done so before, because no matter what prayer is the only thing that can truely save our country from any threat we may face.

As citizens of the United States it is our job to support our President, our Commander and Chief. More importantly, as Christians it is our job and duty to pick up the Armor of God and to pray for our President. Pray for his protection and that of his family, pray for wisdom, and courage in the face of our foes, pray that he will turn to God for guidance and direction.

The United States has always served as a lighthouse in a dark world to those less fortunate, now is no different. Together we can be the beacon that our forefathers intended us to be. The world is looking and watching now, to see how the United States can handle change, to see if we really and truely have came has far as today's events show.

Listening to President Obama and watching him with his family, I can honestly say that I am proud to be an American and I am proud to support our 44th President and I pray that he will lead us, under God, into a new and glorious era.

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Another update!

Only have a few minutes before class, but I wanted to share with everyone that we finally book the wedding location and coordinator last night! I'm so excited cause that is a huge load of stress lifted off of our shoulders. I will post more details later!

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Wedding Update #5

I confirmed my bridesmaids today, Shannon and Becca and Josh's cousins Natalie and Jennifer. I'm pretty excited, we're going to David's Bridal next Saturday to look at dresses so that is going to be fun!

The house fell through that we were going to get so it looks like we are going to have the wedding at St Andrew's State Park, which will be just as pretty... it will be more secluded. I know that mamma will make it beautiful no matter what, she could have been a wedding planner, lol. 

One thing we do have to accommodate is that it is turtle season so we can't do anything that would disturb the turtles or their nests..... damn turtles.

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How to hug a baby...

Josh's aunt Lisa sent this to us and I just had to share!

Instructions for properly hugging a baby:

1. First, find a baby

2. Second, be sure that the object you found was

Indeed a baby by employing classic sniffing techniques.

3. Next you will need to flatten the baby before actually beginning the Hugging process.

\

4. The 'paw slide'

Simply slide paws around baby and prepare for possible close-up.

5. Finally, if a camera is present, you will need to execut e the difficult and patented 'hug, smile, and lean' so as to Achieve the best photo quality.

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Wedding update numero 4!

We finally set a date!

1 August 2009

now the fun begins!

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Wedding update and Finale of the Hampton Inn Saga...

First the Hampton Inn finale.... wait for it..... I get my money back!!! Plus $25 for fees charged by my bank at the fault of Liberty at the Hampton Inn..... so once again, I will recommend Hampton Inn for all of your long distance traveling needs.... just make sure you really look at and double check your reciepts.

And now for the wedding update....

My mom had a wonderful idea the other day about our wedding bands and to make a long story short, I think I am going to have my mother's original wedding band with my father melted down and made into a custom ring that fits around my engagement ring and Josh is going to use my Daddy's wedding band. And this way all of our rings will have very special meaning to us... I'm excited.

In other news, Mamma got the chairs for the wedding rented and got a great deal on them, we've pretty much decided on 1 August, and I think soon I will be making an appointment at David's Bridal to go look at dresses, I have a few ideas so hopefully (keeping my fingers crossed) this will be a fairly easy process... I do have to go and get some sort of corset or garter or something to hide my tattoo under the dress (this is mostly so my mema won't see it as she has yet to find out about my hip tat.... literally the tattoo on my hip, not "hip" as in cool... although it is....)

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Wedding Update numero dos

We're starting to think of all the little details for the wedding and I can tell that my mom and I are going to be majorly butting heads a lot until the day of the actual wedding... and probably during that day too. But I love her, she is busting her a$$ trying to make sure that I have my dream wedding, where I begin to get frustrated is how she wants to make or do everything herself instead of just buying or hiring.... I know we are on a budget and money is tight and believe me I get that, I just feel like we will wind up spending just as much or more trying to do it all ourselves, not to mention have one giant headache....but we'll make it. I know that it will be the most special and beautiful day ever no matter what!

Josh and I started looking at honeymoon places... we like the Sandals all inclusive resorts we just have to talk to his uncle to find out what our honeymoon budget is.

ps. no action yet from Hampton Inn... they have until tomorrow at 5.

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Still waiting on word from the Hampton...

Mamma and I called the corporate office today and talked to a nice lady and she told us that the hotel would have 3 days to make this right or she would take care if it herself... it sounds like maybe there is a chance I'm going to get my money back... keep your fingers crossed.

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The one where Hampton Inn screws you over on your engagement night...

As everyone knows, Josh and I went to Hampton Inn in Helen for New Year's Eve when he proposed to me :D 

When I made the reservation I held the room with my debit card and very clearly told them NOT to run this card that I would be paying differently when I got there. I was assured that the card would not be run that payment would be settled upon checkout. Relieved, I hung up. 

When Josh and I checked in, I used the $100 gift card that his aunt and uncle gave us for Christmas to pay for the room and then we paid the remaining 10 in cash. I watched the girl swipe the gift card in there machine and we told her she could throw it away because we used all the money that was on it. We had a magical night and all was well....

Until yesterday when I went to check my bank account and saw that I was overdrawn due to a $100  debit from none other than Hampton Inn.... Josh and I and my mom have been on the phone all morning trying to get everything straightened out and we still have to wait to talk to another manager in the morning but its looking like unless his aunt and uncle happened to have kept the receipt for about 30 different Visa gift cards..... so anyway I will know tomorrow if I'm out about $200 or not.

keep your fingers crossed.

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Engagement Update numero uno...

I figured this would be the perfect time to post consistent blogs and keep everyone updated on the engagement and wedding planning. I'll try to keep everything short and sweet :)

We are still thinking about dates, right now the first of August is in the lead (sorry to the summer haters.... that means you Shannon). But nothing is official, except for the fact that school seems to throw a giant monkey wrench into most good plans.... i'm either going to have to juggle school and planning or plan during the summer and get married in fall and not be able to take a honeymoon because of school.... so it seems that juggling planning and school is the only realistic option. 

I did get some good news today, my mema remember that she has a first cousin who lives in PCB and will let us us her house and private beach area.... YAY. That part is very exciting since a wedding on the beach is my dream.... guess they do come true after all :)

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The one where I confess my clumsiness....

The morning after Josh proposed, I was going to get into the shower and slipped as I was getting in. (In my defense it was a really big step because it was a whirlpool tub) 

The bottom was slippery from the night before when we used it so right as my foot hit the base of the tub it slipped and slams into the drain (one of those that twist down or you can remove it all the way out... which my foot did, btw) all of that happened simultaneously as my face slammed into the wall of the shower. The very loud noise alarmed Josh who yelled from the bedroom to see if I was ok. I shout back yes (as I'm spitting blood out of my mouth)

Now I have a nice half moon shaped cut and big black bruise in my cheek. And the bottom of my foot is SOOOOO sore, I have a feeling I'm going to develop a pretty nice bruise on that too.....

Pray for our kids.

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The one where Josh and Gretchen get ENGAGED!

Last night Josh and I went to Helen to celebrate New Year's. We had a suite at the Hampton Inn, it was really gorgeous...2 room, whirlpool tub, and a fireplace... the only thing it was missing was a balcony but we were very happy with it. 

Mamma made us a little gift bag with chocolate dipped strawberries, cheese and crackers, peanut butter balls, a bottle of wine, and some candles. (don't tell me that she doesn't know we're having sex, or that she has a problem with it... you don't send a couple off to a hotel with a bottle of wine and candles and strawberries and think they are not going to make love) When we left the house, Josh told me that Mamma had given him a letter and told us not to read it until midnight, which didn't set off any alarms with me because my mom does cute little quirky things like that. So we get to the hotel and settle in and go our and get some Wendy's, after we ate we were checking things out and deciding when we wanted to get in the whirlpool and I get the bright idea around 7:30 that we should go ahead and read mom's note, I mean who's going to know that we read it 5 hours early? 

Little did I know that what mom had actually told Josh when she gave him the note was for us not to read it until he had asked me. So Josh kind of reluctantly agreed to get the note so we can read it. I was standing in the living room near the fireplace when I heard Josh come out of the bed room, I started to walk towards him when I noticed he had the ring box in his hand....

He dropped down on one knee and said before we read this there is something that I've been wanting to ask you for a long time, then he told me how much he loved me, and how he wanted to have me forever, and asked if I would take him as my husband, he started to tear up and so did I and of course I said yes!!! 

So we sat on the couch and read mom's note and talked about everything and then started sending the text messages and then we enjoyed a very wonderful night together!!!! 

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