Engagement Pictures

Well today was the day, engagement pictures. Jeff and I had decided to go to Sam Houston Park in Downtown Houston to take our pictures. With the photographers help, we also decided to wear black and denim. We arrived at 7:30am and started taking pictures right away.

We walked all around the park and took pictures for about an hour to hour and half. It was starting to get very hot, Houston in July. I loved the old homes, the water, and the gazebo they have there. She made sure she captured us many different ways, poses, and facial expressions. I hope there are some in the group that are great. Jeff isn't much for having his picture taken but I thought today he looked very handsome in his black and with his cowboy hat on too.

I really do like our photographer, she is very sweet and very good. Her company is named Big Oak Photography out of Montgomery. The link is in my favorite links secion on the side. She has an eye for the pictures and tried to get lots of different angles and things in the background. We have about two weeks until they are done, I can't wait!

Dresses, Furniture, and Jewerly!

Jeff is off this weekend and poor thing, I am seem to run him ragged every time he is off. The sweet guy that he is, he very seldom ever says anything about not wanting to go somewhere or do something. He is a real trouper...

This Saturday started off with us picking up Mimi and going to David's Bridal to bridesmaids dresses. We met my cousin, Karen, Paige and Aunt Anne there. Karen was picking out and getting her dress and shoes for the wedding. She seemed to like the dress I had picked and we were able to get it ordered and shoes ready to be dyed so they will all be ready to pickup later in August. I really enjoyed having them there with us, always fun to have the family experience all the fun that comes along with planning a wedding. Mimi also volunteered to buy my veil for me. That was a huge surprise and a wonderful gift from her. Aunt Anne was a big help in getting my veiled picked out and making sure it was the right color. THANKS!

From there, Jeff and I went to Gallery Furniture. We had intended on buying a bookshelf and some kind of entertainment center. Well, that isn't exactly what we came out with. Instead, we walked out of there having purchased a new couch, love seat and over sized chair and ottoman. It is a chocolate, suede color fabric. We both really liked it and I know it will be great in the new living room. The furniture is being delivered on Friday, so I can't wait to see it in our new house.

Finally, our last stop of the day was at Zales. Jeff had wanted me to get something for my birthday there. Of course, me and jewelry...what a difficult thing. I found a cross that I just loved. It is a perfect combination of yellow and white gold, just like the bracelet he gave me on our first date. It also has some very beautiful diamonds in it, can you tell I LOVE IT!!!

We rounded off the night by going to dinner with Pam and Brandon...it was great to meet them and just unwind. I know Jeff was tired but he did great and we survived another day of running around and taking the steps towards starting our life together.

Our Wonderful Gifts

As we have gone through the planning of the wedding, Jeff and I have gotten some wonderful gifts already. My dad and Cindi for an engagement present gave us a margarita machine, okay do they know me or what. I can't wait to open that thing up and get it going, I have been so tempted already but trying to wait. Also, Mom and Barney bought our honeymoon for us, a cruise. For my birthday I got gift cards to Kirkland's (thanks Terra and Casey), Target card and memory keepsake book (thanks Mom), candle holder and wall plaque for our new house (thanks Bill, Genevieve, and Nedra), to lots of other thoughtful things. All the gifts have been so sweet. This past week, Jeff and I received a wonderful wedding present as well. His aunt Nedra, had already bought our gift and could not wait to give it to us. We were so surprised and excited when his dad opened the garage up and showed us the brand new grill we had registered for. WE LOVE IT! She just thought it was something we could use right away and "why wait till November" she said. I can't wait to try it out myself, seems easy enough. Jeff LOVES to grill and he was happy to have gotten it, I know he can't wait to use it. We both were very touched by the gift and her generosity, it means a lot both of us. We are both so blessed to have a family that loves us, supports us, and is so happy for us. That in itself is the really blessing of our marriage...

House Changes Part 2

Before

Yesterday and today Jeff and I have been working on our dining room. We knew from the beginning that we wanted to paint it and make it look different but we weren't exactly sure how to do it. Well after deciding that the white walls had to go, we decided to make them red. I know RED but it turned out great. Jeff found this great red color, almost a brick red and we went with that and khaki. Also, we decided to install a chair rail around the room and replace the blinds. We painted the chair rail a little darker tan color and the blinds are brown. All in all, we are very HAPPY with the room. He and I said today, this room looks great! It was a long, tiring process, but worth the effort.

After

Dresses

Sunday, July 13th saw Jennifer, Mom and I going shopping for bridesmaids dresses. I had picked out several styles, with Debra's help, and then showed them to Jennifer. We all thought that this one certain style was great. It can be called a Roman style dress, it will be brown and this all the detail I am giving...have to wait and see. I think that once all the girls try it on, see themselves in it, they will love it too. We have decided to add another bridesmaid and groomsman to the wedding as well. That brings our total to 7 each! Jeff was really torn over not having a certain friend in the wedding, so we made that decision. His friend will be in the wedding, I added Macy (his niece) as a Jr. bridesmaid and we made his nephew Ross, a third usher. We needed another usher and I think Ross will be really good. It is hard sometimes to know where to stop or what to have people to do. We don't want to hurt any one's feelings but at the same time, we can't 20 people up there for each of us. SO I think who we have will be great....Jennifer, Shannon, Karen, Pam, Debra, Sarah, Macy and Grace (flower girl, we hope) for me. I have two great friends in my house party, Brandy and Dee. It is now getting down to planning the little details, this is the fun part. All and all I am having a blast, it is great to be planning a wedding to your prince charming.

Seeing Love

For those of you who know my families recent turn of events, you will know that my mom lost her husband just about two months ago. That is hard for me to believe Barney has been gone that long already. For those of you who knew him, you knew what a kind, generous, loving man he was. He gave and gave and gave until he had no more to give and God called him home. As I watch my mother, who had finally found her love after all these years, go through the VERY difficult process of starting life without him, I am amazed. She has an amazing strength, courage, and determination. I know some of it comes from the madder she gets the more determined she gets but I also believe that I am watching someone fight for the love of her life. I know they were only married 14 months, as it has been pointed out to her and us all recently, but it that 14 months we were all blessed with seeing a wonderful love. There are those in his own family that knew him much longer and missed out on that love. They never stopped thinking of themselves and what "they" wanted long enough to appreciate what they had. I am so grateful to have been able to see that love for myself.

Jeff and I have talked a lot about my mom, what she has been through, and what has happened since. We both hope as we grow older we will have many, many years together but we also know that life about expecting the unexpected. Loving someone doesn't start or end on a certain day, it is forever and sometimes starts in an instant. Love can be tested, or easy, or leave this earth all to soon. But I believe it never leaves you and I only hope that someday my children will be able to say they saw love and know what a wonderful feeling it is.....

The Church...The Church

Today, Mom, Mimi and I ventured to the first of several meetings (I am sure of) with the church wedding coordinators. They are both very sweet, easy to work with, and they know their stuff. They gave us some great suggestions, told us what we could and could not do and helped us to establish a time for the rehearsal to start. I had been trying to decide on a good time and what I should tell the bridal party, so with their help I now know. The rehearsal will start at 5:30pm, a little bit early but that does give us time if people are running late and gives us plenty of time for the rehearsal. We have a large wedding party, of 7 attendants each and two ushers, so making sure everyone is there on time and knows what they are doing the next day is going to be a funny thing to watch. We counted off the number of pew decorations we will need, discussed candle options, and guest book table placement. We also decided who was going to sit where, saw where Jeff and I will be "kept" the day of the wedding and the staging room for our parents. Overall it was a great big hello to First Methodist as far as a wedding is concerned.

My mom has gone to that church for years, they have been so good to her. I can tell when she walks in the doors it feels like she is coming home. That is what I think a church really should be, a place where you feel welcome as soon as you are there. I so glad to be getting married there, it has a many happy memories for my family.

The more and more planning I do, the more anxious I am becoming. I can almost see it in my head and I am dying for it to all come together. Jeff and I also want the wedding to have a very personal, family touch. Our families are a huge part of our lives and I think throughout the wedding that will be felt. That is a goal of ours and I think we are doing a great job of seeing that come true.

Bridesmaids on the Loose!

What a day!!! Well today Debra, one of my bridesmaids, joined me for a day of planning. I had heard from some people that Men's Wearhouse was a great place and a cheaper place to go for the tuxedo's. We already have them reserved at Al's but I wanted to check it out. Well they were right, Debra and I ventured into the store and about an hour later we came out with a new tux order. First they were really professional, very knowledgeable, and the quality was much better for the price. I made sure that I followed the selections that Jeff had made this past weekend. I also managed to save the guys about $20.00 each, so I was really glad about that. I know it isn't a ton of money but 20 is 20 as far as I am concerned. Also, I was glad that the quality of tux was better and the new one looks much more formal and for a lesser price.

Then it was off to dress shopping. I hadn't looked at the bridesmaid dresses at all in person, just online. Debra graciously volunteered to try on the dresses for me. We went to Alfred Angelo...not impressed at all. The whole experience wasn't great and so after about thirty minutes we left. Then it was on to David's Bridal. This is were I got my dress and they had a great selection. We were there for about an hour and a half. She tried on dress after dress. Separates, mermaid skirts, full skirts, halter tops, cap sleeves, etc. Finally we picked about three separate outfits and two dresses. I had always originally planned on going with separates but after seeing those dresses, I am thinking that might be the way to go. The dress looked good on her and I think it will look great on everyone else.

We have finally started the final project of the wedding, the bridesmaids dresses. Once we get that done, all the major stuff will be done and we can concentrate on the little details and getting ready for our vacation to Georgia.

Flowers and Music

Today Mom and I began the task of the flowers. We met over at Diane Covey's house, who is going to be doing our flowers, we discussed, discussed and discussed some more about what I wanted to do for the flowers. She told us what went with what, what flowers were good to use and how many we would need. We have chosen all fall colors to go with, so Diane is going to let her imagination run wild. She is a wonderful friend of my mothers and a wonderful florist. I know she will do an absolutely beautiful job.

Also, today we booked a DJ! After looking for about two weeks, everyone being booked, we have finally gotten a DJ and I think he will be just great. He is going to play a variety of music and asked if there will be any problem getting people up to dance. I had to laugh...my family...hahaha. Getting some of them to sit down will be a problem. It is really beginning to come together. That was the last major hurtle to overcome and I am so relieved!

I am getting more and more anxious to see the final product. It is like trying to piece a puzzle together and wishing you could see the whole thing. One thing that I know or have relearned through all of this, it is the importance of family. Today, I will admit the cost of things started to really get to me, I wonder why does everything have to cost so much? My mom, the amazing pillar of my life, told me today and it does not matter, she wants me to have the wedding of my dreams. That is what I mean, family, they are with you in the worst of times and in the best of times. I have been very blessed to have one that has been with me every step of the way.....

Let Them Eat Cake!

Today started off with Jeff, Mom, Jennifer and I going to a cake tasting. We had decided to go to Bakery and Cakes here in Conroe. Through the years my family has gotten several cakes there for different occasions and always been very happy. We sampled the different cakes, discussed various shapes and designs. We finally settled on something that is just perfect for the wedding cake. I love it and think it will be just beautiful. Jeff, had his own idea about the groom's cake. He described his "vision" to the bakers and they came up with a great design that I think everyone will love. From there we ran more errands and Jeff and I went to Al's Formal Wear to decide on the tuxedo's for the guys. Who knew there were so many choices on vests, jackets, ties, shoes, shirts, and color patterns. But I think what we picked out will be just beautiful...all the guys will look great.

We are really starting to close in on the big things as far as planning goes. That is what I wanted to do, try and get as much of it done this summer before school starts. Now, if we could just find a DJ and get the bridesmaids something to wear we would be in great shape. I am on the trail of a DJ and have a dress style in mind so that is part of the battle...just need to find the time to go and look. But so far, I will say this has been a great wedding to plan. I am so blessed to have so many people who are such a great help. I couldn't do it with them!