Wedding Shenanigans & WYWW No. 12

Welcome to What You Wish Wednesday! Happy WED-nes-day!!!  Today, I WISH to share with you the lovely wedding we attended this weekend.  Some friends of ours joined in holy matrimony and it was and honor to play a small role in their special day... I handled the bouquets, boutonnieres, and a few other details for the happy couple's big day.  I was thrilled to serve them!

 Aren't these boutonnieres adorable?

 The hydrangeas, baby's breath, and burlap/lace ribbon were stunning together.

 Oh yeah...my sweeties were the flower girls and they did an awesome job!!

pre-wedding practicing

The wedding was outdoors and it was the perfect temp...in TEXAS...in AUGUST...Can you believe it!?

the girls and the beautiful bride The reception...

Graham officiated the ceremony, but lost the tie and cut loose afterwards. :)

 a little father-daughter dancin'

I just love weddings!!  I'm happy for our friends and so excited to be able to watch as the Lord works in and through their marriage to grow them in godliness and point them and others to Him.

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On to the party...

Here are the details:

• Share a recent post from your blog. 
• Include the WYWW button and/or a visible link-back to this post.  
• Follow one or all of the hostesses: Leslie, Stasia, Nikki, and Melissa
• Check out a few of the shared links.
• By submitting a link, you are giving me authorization to feature your post.  If your post is featured, I will include a picture and a link to your site to share the love!

Goodbye to a Decade: 22-24

I am continuing my look back at the past decade of my life.  For the first post, click HERE.

Where was I?...

*Twenty-two - Married my Mr. Wonderful on May 31, 2003.  The best decision I ever made!

I still think back to our wedding day.  It was just perfect.  Although fads come and go and new wedding trends are really snazzy, I wouldn't change a single thing about our day.  It was an intimate ceremony and an absolutely stunning reception--just perfect for us.

We headed to San Antonio, Texas for our honeymoon.  

We moved to Olive Branch, MS right after the honeymoon.  I loved getting our first place together.  I remember thinking it was great!  And...it was.

July 2003:  I started school at Blue Mountain College in Blue Mountain, MS.  In my opinion this is THE BEST school for students wanting to become teachers.  I got a top notch education while at BMC.  Even though the school switch delayed my graduation date and made me a 5th year senior, it was the best thing for me in the long run.

August 2003:  Graham and I began working at Shepherd's Haven, a home for men who are mentally challenged.  We filled-in for the house parents about two weekend's a month.  We have some of the most hilarious stories from our time there.  Today, that ministry is thriving--God is so good.

JOYS:  being with my man, meeting new friends,  jogging around seminary housing on beautiful days, series finale of FRIENDS
WOES:  first year of marriage stuff,  making the long drive to school every.single.day., getting adjusted to life as a wife instead of life on my own;  my car (from high school) died and we had to get another one; series finale of FRIENDS

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*Twenty-three - I graduated from BMC and got my very first teaching job in Desoto County School District.  Boy, was it a doosy.  As a first year teacher, I was low on the totem pole and got stuck with some real challenges, but we (my students and I) made it through it!

We continued to work at Shepherd's Haven two or three weekends a month.

JOYS:  growing closer and closer to my Lord and Savior,  graduating from college, starting my first real job 

WOES:  balancing work, church, and family; general stresses in life

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*Twenty-four -Summer 2005, Graham and I stayed in Springdale, AR while he completed an internship.  We went to Brazil on a missions trip.  It was a fun summer for me because I didn't do anything!

 Internship in Springdale

trip to Kansas City

Aug. 2005:   I continued to work as a 4th grade teacher at HLIS, went to the gym religiously (ran, swam, lifted weights 4/5 times a week), continued working several weekends a month at Shepherd's Haven.

I went to a Reading conference for children who can't read good with several teaching friends.  Our principal put us up in a nice hotel and we each got our own room.  It was so nice.

On the weekends, Graham and I would go to The Peabody Place, Beale Street, the movies, The Riverwalk, Germantown, dinner with friends, or just spend time at our apartment playing Rummicube.  Man, life was different back then.  Good.  But, different.

JOYS: a daily routine, loved my job, great friendships, spending time at the gym, weekends with Graham

WOES: car payment, kidney stones, insurance issues, Graham's back problems,

To be continued...

Goodbye to a Decade: 20 and 21

I can't believe I'm saying goodbye to my 20s.  What a GREAT decade.  Aren't the 20s great?

As I was running tonight, I began to think about the past decade of my life...WOW, what a difference ten years makes!

I don't typically get sentimental about age, but this decade included some pretty major stuff in my life...and well, it's pretty special to me.

Here goes:

*Twenty - I'm not gonna lie, I thought I had arrived.  No longer a teen, no longer living with the folks, making my own schedule, still getting moolah from my parents--yup, I'd arrived alright.

I was living in an apartment with a friend and going to school at UCA in Conway, AR.  There was lots of late night chats, petty arguments, and a ton of fun--too much!

Uhhh...That would be moi at my apartment.

(throw away camera age...more poor quality pics to come)

Tid bit o'info: gas prices - $1.52 a gallon.  How bout that?

Jan. 2002:  I met the LOVE of my life.
Before we were introduced, I spotted him and  thought to myself, I'm gonna marry that guy. (pause)  Yeah, right.  You silly girl.  
If I'm lyin', I'm dyin'.

You can see why I fell for this guy! :)

Feb. 2002:  We went on our first date and the rest is history.

Joys: running at Salem Park after work, watching FRIENDS with friends,  layin' out at the pool, Friday night parties
Woes: struggling to live on a budget (great preparation, though); balancing school, work, and fun; arguments with friends

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*Twenty-one - I was still living in my apartment in Conway, attending UCA, working at a daycare, and dating Graham.

Spring 2002:  Graham had two back surgeries back to back (pun intended).

July 04, 2002:  After 5 months of dating, Graham asked me to marry him.  At the time, that was the happiest day of my life.

Engaged!

Aug. 2002:  Graham moved to Memphis to begin seminary.  I thought it would be the longest school year of my life, but we made it!

Me - at one of our wedding showers

April 2003: We loaded up all of our belongings and moved them to our new apartment. I finished up school and moved home for my final month as a single lady.

Move in day:  I guess I was pumped about our new place.

Joys: planning my wedding, finding the perfect wedding gown, hanging out with my new family, wedding showers, going to church, hanging out at Jeff & Yvonne's with Graham

Woes: spiritual growing pains (definitely not a woe, but it felt like it at the time),  saying "goodbye" to college friends

More to come.  Stay-tuned. . .