Our Wedding Ceremony Playlist

With our One Year Wedding Anniversary just around the corner I thought I'd make a few posts about the wedding...that I didn't post before.  This post is going to be about our playlist for the ceremony.

Ceremony Music

My Best Friend by Tim McGraw

Love is a Beautiful Thing by Phil Vassar

Feels Like Home by Chantal Kreviazuk

Me and You by Kenny Chesney

Amazed by Lonestar

You Save Me by Kenny Chesney

When You Love Someone by The Obscure

East Bound and Down by Jerry Reed

Livin' Our Love Song by Jason Michael Carroll

We had a slideshow at the beginning of our wedding starting off with pictures of us growing up and then pictures of us together during our high school years and then eventually into engagement pictures.  I hope to one day get that uploaded so you guys can view it.

My Best Friend by Tim McGraw played during the entire slideshow.  Immediately after the slideshow Love is a Beautiful Thing by Phil Vassar. 

As soon as the words started the pastor, groom, & groomsmen walked out.  When the chorus started the bridesmaids walked out and the song finished playing.  

Feels Like Home by Chantal Kreviazuk then started and when the words started the doors opened and my father walked me down the isle.

 Feels Like Home continued playing quietly in the background...We had background music thru the entire ceremony.  Once they announced Husband & Wife the audio guy skipped straight to East Bound and Down by Jerry Reed.    That's what were all smiling about in the photo..the song came on and the crowd starting laughing...haha

We also added an extra song at the end for any straglers we may have..

Well hope that gives you guys some ideas for wedding ceremony playlists.  I was not a traditional bride and did not want the traditional song walking down the isle.  EVERYONE that I talked to LOVED that our wedding was SO UNtraditional.  They all loved that song and felt it was so much more personal and emotional then the boring wedding march song.  It's an amazing song and I've always known that I would walk down the isle to that song...I fell in love with it years ago.  Everyone should download it...it's amazing.  The funny thing is out of any of the songs (even the songs we danced to) the one JC says reminds him most of the wedding is Love is a Beautiful Thing by Phil Vassar.  When it comes on the radio he actually turns up the volume and sings along... 3 months before the wedding when I told him that I would be using that song in our wedding somewhere he told me he hated Phil Vassar and did not like that song or any other song he sang.  It was just SO PERFECT for our wedding day...I'm so happy he loves it now.

Forever n Always Scrapbook Layout

So... this is my first scrapbook layout.  I think it turned out pretty well.  What do you think??  Yes I know i'm 25 years old and this is my FIRST scrapbook layout. haha  I really enjoyed making this one and look forward to lots more.

Thickers & Heart Paper by American Crafts

8 great years, looking forward to many more.

I've heard people say that after you get married you really can't count your "dating" anniversaries anymore.  Well, I think even though were getting ready to have our 1 year wedding anniversary in July, I still think we should celebrate our "dating" anniversary.  If it wasn't for these past 8 years then we wouldn't be here getting ready to celebrate our 1 year wedding anniversary.  The last 8 years have been the best years of my life.  I've had the chance to grow up with my best friend.  I am definately looking forward to our 1 year wedding anniversary but I didn't want to forget this day too.  April 29, 2001 will always be the day that changed my life for the better.

Justin - I know sometimes you randomly come across this blog and most likely with your busy work schedule you won't for a while but I want you to know your the most amazing person (other than myself of course) that i've ever known.  You've been there for me thru everything and I can not imagine life without you.  I look forward to many more years together...I love you my little goat. ;o)

John Cena is an amazing kisser

atleast in my dream he was. hehe

You know how sometimes you have many dreams in one night or sometimes you don't dream at all?  Well last night I only had one dream but it was a VERY good dream. ;o)  Of course, I won't go into details but let's just say the dream lasted ALL NIGHT LONG. hehe  I'm always been a huge fan of his since he came into wrestling back in 2002.  I think is the sexiest man alive and love to watch him wrestle every monday night.  I also love his movie The Marine that came out back in 2006.  That movie made me fall in love with him even more.  It could be his "hero" roll he played but either way he was amazing in it.  In about 3 weeks his new movie, 12 rounds, is coming out and I can't wait to see it.  By the way the previews look it looks like another "hero" movie...but thats fine with me.
Unfortuantely for me the internet says he is engaged and is planning on getting married sometime this year.  and I guess unfortunately for him I'm married. hehe But ya never know what the future holds. 

I Want it Wednesday : Valentina Designs

It is Love by Valentina Design

You and Me by Valentina

Something Good is Going to Happen by Valentina

I was surfing around on Etsy and came across a shop named Valentina Designs. It is artwork by artist Valentina Ramos. After scanning thru her etsy shop I realized I must see more of her work. So I found her blog and website. I fell in love with just about every single item she has ever made. Including an awesome calendar with owls...but it's not in the shop anymore which totally bummed me out. BUT...her shop is still full of lots more prints that I want to put in my craft room on my inspiration wall and a few prints I wouldn't mind hanging up in our bedroom. I of course added her blog to my blog list that I read everyday and plan on ordering some of her prints one day when I get a job...but until then I'll continue to just drool over all her artwork and try to tell as many people about her as I can. She's an amazing artist and I hope she continues to create for a long time. Oh...and my favorite print...I would have to say would be "You and Me." I love the birds, the tree, the colors...everything about that print is AMAZING..and would look beautiful in our home. That will be my first purchase one day. . .

Our Valentine Tradition: Handmade Valentine Cards

Hope ya'll are having a great Valentine's Day.  I don't "celebrate" Valentine's Day by spending alot of money on gifts, dinners, candy, flowers...etc.  But I do love making things for Valentine's Day.  My husband and I started a tradtion about three years ago where we make eachother handmade Valentine's Day Cards.  This year I downloaded the Kurt Halsey Valentine's I told you about and used them to make a card for him.  I think it turned out great...he liked it.  He's not that into Kurt Halsey but he appreciated my hard work and creativity I put into it.  He got much more creative this year when he made his card.  Usually he just takes some sharpie markers and draws some funny picture of us... This year he used markers, stamps and even cut a piece of felt and used it as a tongue on a dog.  The dog was made completely out of hearts.  I love it!! 

Last night we went and saw the new Friday the 13th movie.  It was okay.  It wasn't as good as the originals but what movie is, right?  I mean basically the EXACT same thing happens in this one as the other 11 or how ever many there is.  Jason...is the killer...obviously. Dumb kids go to Crystal Lake to stay....and they get killed.  Sorry if I spoiled it for any of ya. haha  But it was a fun "date nite" with the hubby... Then we went by our local Circut City that is going out of business to see if there was any good deals.  I am really interested in getting a new printer/scanner/copier combo that is wireless but they really weren't on sale that much.  So I think I'll wait a little while.  JC is wanting a GPS but they really didn't have good sales on that either.  I'm hoping when it gets closer to their closing date or whatever they'll really mark some stuff down.

I also wanted to say thank you to Jennifer over at Earth Friendly Weddings Blog, for featuring some of my eco-friendly felt keychains and coasters on her blog.  I really appreciate her doing that.  I was totally suprised!  I was just going thru my google reader, catching up on blog posts for the day and all of a sudden saw pictures of my keychains and coasters.  I was like...hmm...I didn't post anything today.  I don't think I had a post scheduled for today...what the heck?? Then I realized it wasn't a post from my blog it was a post from Earth Friendly Weddings... I was soooo excited!! I have NEVER been featured on someones blog before.  So Thank you Jennifer, that meant so much to me and really made my day.  She has over 100 people that follow her blog so if anyone of you are reading this and made your way to my blog, welcome and I hope you find something that interests you.  Please leave me a comment so that I can check out your blog.  I LOVE reading new blogs.

Well, I'm off to watch the All-Star Dunk and Skills Challenge.  If you want to see more of the card I made my husband for Valentine's Day check out my flickr account and look in the Set titled Paper Crafts.  Happy Valentine's Day Everyone!!!

My 100th Blog Post

I always knew I would make it to 100 posts but I don't think I knew I'd make it this soon. My first blog post was on March 17, 2008, so it hasn't even been a year yet. (yes if you look in my archives it says I posted in 2006, but I actually took blog posts from my myspace blog and posted them here when I deleted my myspace blog) If I would have been employed the entire 2008 I'm sure I definately would not have made it to 100 posts this soon. But with having no job for the last 5 months of the year it left me with plenty of time to keep track of my random thoughts and such. Obviously I'm not going to sit here and update you on the last 100 posts of this blog (you can check the archives for that) but I am going to look forward to the next 100.
As much as I hate the thought I know I'm going to eventually have to get a "real job." I would love to continue to stay at home and create and design but at this time its just not realistic for us. JC was fired from his job yesterday as was 80 other employees from Aisin. That's their way of getting out of paying Insurance, Severance pay etc. So as of right now the most important thing is one of us to get a job as fast as possible with Insurance. We don't use it much except for petty things but knowing our luck as soon as we didn't have it, we'd need it. I'm not really gonna get into the whole JC/work thing in this post because this post is for looking ahead towards a "bright" future. (we'll save that for another post of ranting..hehe)
Anyways, I've went to 3 job interviews but have came away with no jobs. Two of the three I was really excited about and was very hopeful that the job could possibly be mine. Apparently it wasn't. If JC still had his job my plan was continue looking for a job but I wouldn't have to pick just anything.. I could actually do something I enjoy with good pay. With him not having a job now I've got to pretty much take anything I can get. That means that it could have bad pay, bad hours, etc. which also means less time to work on my dream...
Hopefully that doesn't happen, hopefully something perfect comes along for me and JC... something that we both love and something that we can still spend plenty of time together.
I know having money is important because you have to be able to have a roof over your head and food on the table...but more importantly my husband is the most important thing in my life.
I don't know...this post is sorta pointless. Weeks ago I was looking ahead planning this big giveaway and huge ordeal with my"100th Post" but now with all circumstances I just can't see doing it. So hopefully you all hang in there with me...times are tough but I have faith we'll figure this thing out together. Also, to those of you going thru the same thing...please feel free to give us some advice...we'll take anything we can get.

looking forward to 2009. . .

Looking forward to 2009. . .I plan to continue to enjoy life and always stop...and think what is important to me. I have learned over these past 12 months that there are some friends that will always have a special place in your heart but won't always be your "best" friends. As people grow up some choose to grow up and make adult decisions....and some choose to still follow their "young ways" and make choices and decisions that aren't "adult like." They make decisions that aren't the best for them. I have tried for many years to be the friend who supports their friends yet makes sure I tell them how I feel. As many times as I've been right (sometimes I didn't want to be) they still continue to not take my advice. I know people have to learn on their own but by the time you get to a certain age you would think that you learned your lesson from all the stuff you went through before and by now at this age you'd know what to do. When they are faced with a situation I would love for them to say "what a minute...been here done that...don't want to get screwed again" and would make the right decision. Yet...its like they say... "oh well...let see if it happens again." I don't understand. I personally don't want to surround myself with a certain type of person...if my friends choose to then that is their choice and I understand it. But I don't have to be.
So in 2009 one of my goals is to let some friends go...I don't mean ignore them, hate them, never talk to them again.. It means...still be there friend..but don't rely on them so much.  It means don't get so upset when they don't call you and invite you to do things. It means start surrounding myself with friends that make an effort. Some of my friends I don't talk to for weeks at a time. Or see for months at a time. Some I'd love to do things with them but can't because their significant other doesn't like me because they know I don't think they should be dating my friend.. etc. We'll see what happens...I'll always be there for my friends if they need me but our friendship just won't be the same.
Over 2008 I met a lot of new friends and got reacquainted with some old ones...and I realize that you won't be friends with someone forever...I live my life a certain way and I want to be able to have friends in my life that can not only spend time with me, but my husband too. I also want friends who are able to bring their mate over and be able to get along with JC. He's my number one priority in my life.... I get along with his friends spouses/significant others and so he should get along with my friends significant others. I don't know. It's something I've been thinking about for a long time. JC likes my friends and I like his. But when we want to have get togethers we have to have separate ones.. Ones for my friends..and then ones for his. His friends bring their spouses/significant others over because everyone gets along... When I invite my friends over only two of them can/will bring their mates over. One of them dates someone who doesn't exactly live the same lifestyle as we do and after the way he treats her its like shes ashamed to bring him around me or vice versa. One of my other friends just recently started dating a guy who I don't know much about but I was told he's been in prison for drugs and repeated DUI's. Now for someone who's brother was almost killed by a person who was driving under the influence....its hard for me to understand why she would even give that person a time of day. It just saddens me that we can't all just be one big happy family. I want friends who JC and I call "our friends." Not just "my" friends and "his" friends. We want to be able to have people over and have fun and it just won't ever be like that... The thing is...because those friends choose guys who are alike...they can do things together...yet JC and I aren't invited because we don't. We don't smoke, drink, do drugs, get our driving license taken away, etc. So all my other friends can get together and hang out and do things together...yet its like JC and I because we make good decisions in life and actually have things, then were not invited....it hurts me when I find out they all go out together because It's like I'm getting punished for finding a great guy and punished for making good choices. It hurts that we can't be included too. :o( So in reality... I guess its kind of a way for me to stop getting hurt.

I still have high hopes for my future even thought I'll be starting 2009 unemployed. My unemployment will run out by March and while I hope I have a good job by then, if not I plan on just trying to get a part time job somewhere and then maybe go to cosmetic school or something to where I'll be able to do school and a part time job. I'm still hoping that I'll get a full time job...but we'll see what happens. My dream is to of course own my own business creating and designing things. I will continue to push this dream until it comes true. . .

JC's career may change drastically in 2009 too. He has always wanted to be in law enforcement and has been non-stop applying for jobs since he heard that his current job could start laying off next year. He's been applying for jobs in Michigan, Illinois, Florida, California... Our main goal is to one day live in Texas. That's where we want our children to be raised but you have to have at least 2 years of experience in the field before you can get hired there. So it looks like we'll have to either stick around here for 2 years if he gets a job or if he gets a job out of our area...we've discussed moving and renting for two years and then renting out our place here to someone....and then after his two years experience hopefully be able to move to Texas like planned. So 2009 may just be the tip of the iceberg...but it hopefully will be a good building year that will help us build our future.

I am so excited to see what 2009 brings. After the holidays are over and done another goal of mine is to hopefully have my etsy shop stocked with all kinds of things. I've been working on a lot of sewing and crafting projects and hopefully will be able to start making some extra money doing that. I wish to one day be able to make enough money that I won't have to work. Depending on my job status I hope that this spring/summer I will have enough product made that I will be able to have a stand at the local flea markets, festivals, etc.

Below is a list I came up with 9 things I want to do in 2009.
01. Travel More. - I would love to visit Florida again...or Tennesse...
02. Play More Softball. - I played softball August-October but I'd like to play alot more in 2009.
03. Visit my Dad more often. - When he gets back from Florida in April I plan on visiting him alot more in 2009.
04. Cook Out More. - JC and I used to cook out every weekend in the summers, in 08 we didn't cook out once.
05. Do More to help our Earth and our Environment. - Go Green!
06. Buy Less, Make more. - I already promised I will never buy another handbag again unless its handmade by me or someone else. But I hope that I can start making other things that I can make instead of buy.
07. Do something special for our 1 year Wedding Anniversary. - not sure what yet...
08. Spend as much time with my cousin Derrik before he goes off to college. - He's super smart and has already got accepted to many colleges...unlike his lazy cousin. :o) me!
09. Christmas 2009 - All Gifts HANDMADE.

I hope everyone has a wonderful 2009. Remember to "...stop, take some time to think, and figure out what's important to you..." I did...and though I lost a very dear friend to my heart...2008 was my best year yet.

It is awfully chilly outside today. . .

That was the sentence I was given at our 7th grade spell bowl tournament. Me being the cocky, so sure of myself, type of person. I set up straight in my seat and wrote down Chili. C-H-I-L-I. We had a teacher/parent sitting next to each person from each school and when told, they are to raise their hands if the child next to them is right. My person was the ONLY one who didn't raise their hand. I looked over in the bleachers at my team and they all had a very confused look on their face. haha I was wrong. I knew it was CHILLY, that is like the easiest word EVER...and I wrote CHILI. I will never know why I did that. haha Probably because it's one of those "its so easy that I just overlooked it" but maybe it was because it was cold in that gym and I was hungry and wanted chili. haha who knows. Its just one of those memories I'll never forget.

Speaking of not forgetting things...lately I've been forgetting things..A LOT. In the past 2-3 weeks I've left my cell phone EVERYWHERE. I never do that. I'm a very OCD person who makes sure I've got everything..and everything is in its exact place..etc. But I went out to eat with some friends at Garfield's a couple of weeks ago and as we started walking through the mall I realized I had left my cell phone on our table. Then last Friday when I was at Derrik's basketball game I left my phone on the bleachers... Thank goodness my aunt was there and grabbed it for me. What is wrong with me? Maybe its age..I mean I am 25. Maybe at 25 your memory starts going.. I don't know...But I've always been the type of person to where someone can come up and say "hey remember that one nite when we did this..." and I can think about it for a second...and I can give them the day of the week it was on or the shirt someone was wearing.. I have an extremely good memory. Or maybe I should say I HAD a good memory.

The picture above is of JC & Bella sleeping next to me while I was sitting on the couch on my laptop the other nite. Bella opened her eyes when she heard my digital camera turn on but it didn't really effect her any. It's like she's giving me the look "mom...put the camera away..I'm trying to sleep."

looking back at 2008. . .

so before I had a blog I had a livejournal. I've actually had a livejournal since like 7th grade. sometimes for fun I'll go look thru my livejournal and see where I was or what I was doing 3 or 4 years ago. It's actually sorta interesting. I've really changed alot and learned alot since then. Anyways so I couldn't remember if I had a resolution last year. Usually I come up with something but never do it...like lose weight, eat healthier..etc. haha But last year my resolution was the hardest resolution I had ever made . Technically I don't really know if it was considered a resolution or not.. it was kind of a challenge. My friend Katie Jo posted a challenge for herself and for her friends.

She wrote "My challenge for everyone this year. including me (in the words of a song I heard recently): "...stop, take some time to think, and figure out what's important to you..."

I did it. I completed my first New Years Resolution (Challenge). I am so proud of myself. I did this and more. EVERYDAY I realized what was important to me.

So this post is going to recap my life of 2008 and look forward to 2009.

January thru March Justin & I planned our wedding almost every nite. It was starting to be a ritual...go to work, come home, eat dinner, wedding planning...every day. I was starting to worry CRAP what will I do after the wedding is over? haha This is all i've done for 3 months...and will probably continue to do for 3 more months until the wedding. Also in March Justin had a men's softball tournament in Kentucky. So we drove down to Kentucky for Border Wars. It was really really COLD. I had alot of fun down there with all his friends who became my friends over the rest of the year....but I think it was the coldest weather I had ever set out in for hours... **Picture is of JC & I at our hotel during this trip.**

April and May I finished up pretty much all of the wedding plans. JC played alot of ball during these two months. Sometimes he'd play 2 or 3 times during the week for league ball and then he'd play tournaments on the weekend. It seemed like I was constantly at a ball diamond but I had so much fun. JC's guy friends became my guy friends and I felt like I was sorta part of the team even thought it was just a bunch of guys. I was kinda like their mascot or cheerleader haha. I had so much fun traveling all across indiana to watch them all play. April 29 was our 7 year dating anniversary. It was weird that it was the last time we could have a "dating" anniversary because next year we'd have a wedding anniversary. Just two days before our "dating"anniversary the wonderful Sam McGranahan of The Roxy Studio took our engagement pictures. It was so much fun. JC was kinda "not so sure" at first but he came around after a few minutes and I think he actually enjoyed it, even though he wouldn't admit it. **the picture to the right is one of my favorite engagement pictures**

June was a really busy month. Every weekend we had something going on. JC was either umpiring a softball tournament or playing in a softball tournament. He made alot of extra money to help put on the wedding but it was definately a hectic month. I also had my bachlorette party/bridal shower during June. Every June is super busy for us because it is the "peek" of umpiring season for JC and then of course he still plays softball.. so we always have alot going on...then on top of all that this year we had wedding planning too. **picture on left is us at Demo Derby in July**

July was here before you knew it which meant our wedding was just a few weeks away. I had everything pretty much done with by the beginning of July except for paying off all our wedding debts. Photographer, DJ, Reception site, hair stylist, etc. So JC continued to umpire every weekend so he could make extra money to put towards the wedding. On July 4th we went to the lake in Sullivan to watch the fireworks like we do every year and on July 18 we went to the demolition derby to watch some friends that derby every year at the Sullivan 4-H Fair. On July 26, 2008 Justin & I were finally married at 4:29 pm. It was the best nite of my life. The whole day was so fun. JC & I slept in until about 10am then we took a shower and I got my make-up on and he ran to the Dairy Queen and bought me a hot dog because I was so hungry. I headed over to the church about 11:30 and my bridesmaids were there getting there hair done by my hair stylist. I hung out there with them just laughing and telling stories and then getting my hair done. JC showed up so I talked to him and everything was just so casual and fun. No nerves or drama or anything. So we started getting dressed and took some pictures and at 4:29 pm our slideshow started of how we became and the wedding followed. We loaded up in our non-air conditioned limo..haha and drove on down to the reception...The rest of the nite was so much fun just hanging out with Justin and family and friends...But the nite may have been too much fun for my groom because he drank a little too much and I couldn't get him up for our flight to Florida..haha So we had to cancel and get another flight...So the last few days of July we spent in Orlando, Florida. It was so much fun. The best thing of the whole trip though was spending quality time with my new husband and watching his face when he saw all of the cool stuff in Florida. He had never been there so everything was so amazing to him. And I Loved that I got to share that with him. We were planning on trying to go back next year but with what happened in August we don't know if we will be able to. **picture at right is one of our wedding pictures** **picture at left is us at Gatorland in Orlando, Florida**

So August came as we came back to Indiana and I started work back. Three days before my wedding I was told by my manager that there may not be a job for me when I got back. After she saw how upset I was when she told me that she said "oh, don't worry...go have fun at your wedding and honeymoon." So four days after I got back from my honeymoon and the day before my 25th birthday I was called back to my managers office and she said "happy birthday, he's your gift card, now I have bad news. Today is your last day." I asked her why she was laying me off instead of a few other employees that had been there less than me and she said it was because I was married and had insurance thru my husband. The other two depended on insurance thru there. Even though I was more reliable and a better worker, I was let go. So the next day, which was 08.08.08 my 25th birthday, after I went to the unemployment office to file for unemployment, I went to the tattoo parlor and got two new tattoos. I had been wanting new tattoos for a while but wanted to wait until after the wedding.... I just needed something to make me feel good. I love the way getting a tattoo feels.. (not the pain of that tattoo but the feeling you get when you get one..i can't explain it but its awesome..so much adrenaline) The next day JC, Kris, Me, Q'ball, Ronnie (my cousin), & some more guys went to Avon, Indiana for Men's State Softball Tournament. We ate at a really good mexican restaraunt in Avon where they brought me an awesome brownie and ice cream out and sang Happy Birthday to me. It is definately one birthday I won't forget. Anyways, the rest of the month I started playing softball with Justin on his co-ed league team. I wasn't working so sitting at home thru the week was driving me crazy. So playing softball on the weekends actually gave me something to look forward to. I also found out when we got back from our honeymoon that one of my bridesmaids decided to get married.

September was a really fun month too. I played softball every weekend with JC and our friends and just really enjoyed the atmosphere of being around the diamond of everyone there. **picture on the right is of Justin & I at Robyn's wedding reception**

October I continued to play ball every weekend except for the weekend of October 11 which was when my friend Robyn and her fiance Ian got married. The wedding turned out beautiful especially for only planning it in 2 months. Everything went really well and I had alot of fun. JC only came for a few minutes because he had played flag football & softball that day. But my friend Q'ball(his name is Matt Agresta, but I've always known his has Q'ball) came and we had alot of fun. The next two weeks I played softball every saturday and hung up at the diamond. On October 25 it was our league tournament. JC & I showed up to the diamond around 8 am. We weren't scheduled to play until 10 but he likes to get there early and wanted to watch the 9am game. When we got there we found out the 9 am game was a forfeit so JC, Q'ball, & I went into the school gym and hung out for about an hour..just staying warm and talking. We played our game at 10am and then hung out there. We played 3 more games that day between 10 am at 4 pm. Q'ball had drank since our first game was over at like 11am and he was pretty drunk. He struck out twice in our last game and was pretty upset when he left. He got his stuff and walked out of the dug out and out to his car before most of us had even got into the dug out. I'll never forget that view of him walking off in his orange Agresta #88 Fast Track Apparel Beavers Softball shirt and his navy blue striped softball pants..with his bag over his shoulder. I told JC hey..q'ball is really upset... we tried to get our stuff and catch up with him but by the time we made it to the parking lot he was already in his car and down the road...On our drive home I texted him to make sure he'd be there the next day because we would play like 3 or 4 games on sunday including the championship game as long as we kept winning. He didn't text back he called back and I handed the phone to JC and he said he'd be there tomorrow and he was really upset about striking out twice. JC told him that it was probably just because he had drank a little too much and that he wasn't his athletic ability or anything...JC reassured him everything would be fine tomorrow and the last thing he said to him was "Be Careful." Three hours later Justin and I were sitting at a volleyball game and got a phone call saying "Your friend...Q'ball...he's dead." I will never forget the last 8 hours I spent with him that day. We talked about so much stuff....I will never forget my birthday dinner I had that year.. he was there...or the entire spring of 2008 that I was around him. Everytime I watch the eagles play I know he's watching too. And everytime the Cowboys lose I know he's laughing... And EVERY sunday during the football games I sit by our phone just hoping that it will ring and to hear his voice on the other end... He was an awesome man and I will forever be changed by knowing him.

So far November and December has been months of staying home where its warm and just spending time with my husband and my family. We decorated our house with christmas lights and decorations and have been making and buying gifts for our family. Times are hard this year, more than they have ever been in previous years. But we are trying our best to have a nice christmas.

Stay tuned...my next post is "Looking forward to 2009."  It will be posted on 12/20.

Britney's back BITCH!

that's right people...i'm the proud owner of Britney's new CD.  I have been a fan of her since 1998 when "Baby One More Time" first hit air waves.  Ever since I have dreamed of the day that I will get to meet her.  Unfortunately, I have not been able to see her live.  I had tickets for her tour back when she hurt her knee and had to cancel.  I always told myself that no matter what if she ever came back on tour I'd do whatever it takes to make sure I'm there to see her.  Wouldn't ya know it that i'm unemployed and tickets go on sale 3 weeks before christmas.  There is NO WAY i'll be able to afford tickets this year.  I am crushed and upset beyond belief.  Britney is the only person I would ever leave my husband for. LOL I'm serious.  I'm in love with her and think she is an amazing person.  I cry everytime I see her perform or talk because I feel so sorry for her because I feel that she is so sad and lonely.  I wish that I could be there and be her friend and try and keep her happy.  There has been SO MANY TIMES that i've been sad or lonely or whatever..and all I have to do is have a "Britneyvention"...and everything is okay.  I'd either pop in Crossroads and watch it.. or start with her first cd...and just drive around and play thru ALL HER CD's....singing and even doing some dance moves as I'm driving down the road...yes I can multi-task..haha  Anyways everyone that knows me knows that I am completely obsessed with her (in a good way) and that no matter what I back her up.  In the past 10 years that she's been in the spotlight she's been thru alot of ups and downs..and no matter what I've never stopped being her fan.  There were sometimes that I was scared to death she wasn't going to make it thru...and still to this day I'm so afraid that those crazy papparazi people are going to cause a terrible accident and kill her. (princess di) Anyways...she is awesome, her music is awesome..and my life is awesome because of her.  So go check out her cd...because its awesome.

Happy 24th Birthday to my wonderful husband

Happy 24th Birthday to my wonderful husband. I know your family doesn't "celebrate" birthdays but my family does so I know you don't think today is a very special day but I do. So just like I have the last 8 birthdays I plan on making today as special as I can for you because you make everyday special for me. I love you.
So, my husbands birthday is today so were having Taco's for dinner tonight...yumm.. and I'm making him some birthday sugar cookies (he doesn't like cake) today and then this saturday I have invited a few of his family members over to have cake and snacks.

I have been a "wife" for 100 days. . .

Well today Justin and I have officially been married for 100 days. Every single day gets better and better. Before we got married we had been together for 7 years so I really didn't think it would be much different after the wedding. Which to a point it is the same but at the same time there is just something there that makes it feel a little more...secure...forever. I don't know what it is exactly. But before when you were a "girlfriend" and he was your "boyfriend" when you'd be talking to someone have say "oh my boyfriend..." even though I knew it was gonna be forever...the people who didn't know you instantly was like...oh...it's just her "boyfriend." Like when you went to the bank to get a loan...or if you'd introduce him to someone you knew or even when I'd be out with my friends... it seemed like if you said "boyfriend" no matter what...they acted like oh...it's just a boyfriend...ya know.. So now that I can say "Husband" proudly I love it. I say it as much as I can actually. When I could just say "Where is JC? or Where is Justin?" I say... "Where is my husband?" hehe I just love that word coming out of my mouth. I am so blessed to have him as my husband. I hope that he is just as blessed to have me as his wife.

His birthday is coming up on November 12 and I was thinking about trying to get people together and have a birthday party or something to celebrate it for him. He says he hates parties so I can't really call it that. I just have to say we are having people over.. haha But hopefully in the next week I can come up with something that we can do to celebrate.

I have so much laundry to do. I have washed and dried all of our laundry since last weekend..haha but nothing is folded. We had that softball tournament and then all that stuff going on so laundry just wasn't my first priority. So I'm going to get all of the laundry folded and put away and then decide what I'm going to make for dinner tonight. I have alot of errands I need to do too but I think I may get up early tomorrow, go vote, and then run my errands.

Halloween is past us and the hard part is ahead of us

Halloween is JC's favorite Holiday. I've learned to love it over the years we've been together. I wouldn't say it's my favorite holiday but it is definitely my favorite time of the year. I love decorating for fall and the weather changing. JC and I always take the last week of October off of work and stay at home and watch all the Friday the 13th movies and the Halloween movies...and whatever other scary movies that we can find to watch. I of course don't have a job this October so I didn't have to worry about taking work off...but JC did. He had asked for it off back in February and he had been talking about since last October how we were gonna do this every year and he was so excited about everything we were going to do. Little did we know that on the first day of his vacation, Saturday October 25, that he would lose one of his best friends.

We play in a fall softball league and we had our league tournaments that started on Saturday. JC and I showed up early because that's just how JC is..hehe.. and when we pulled up i remember seeing Q'Ball standing there in his red hoodie trying to stay warm when the temp was 36 degrees.... The ball diamond is at an old school that they use for a community center now. So Q'Ball, JC, & I went into the gymnasium and hung up for about 30-45 minutes until it was time for our game to start... I'd tell ya all the special memories I have with Q'Ball that day but they wouldn't be special if I shared them to the world...so i'll keep them to myself. But one that is important to me is after one of our games Q'Ball and I were the first ones to walk back to the picnic area where are team would sit until our next game...and I forget how but we got on the subject but I had mentioned that one day if we ever won the lottery or came into a lot of money that he wanted to build a four-diamond softball complex in our area...and he would run it and umpire it..and i could work in the office. O'Ball told me that he had the same dream.. he wanted to do the same thing but that he wanted JC to run it because he knew he'd be the best at it. I know Q'Ball and JC thought a lot of each other. They were good friends but yet they had a relationship that I had never seen JC have with a friend. They understood each other on a different level. Q'ball was a very spiritual person and JC respected that and I think learned alot from him. At the same time they were exactly alike. JC was the most conceited, the most competitive, the mouthiest person i knew (all in a good way) until I met Q'Ball. I first met Q'ball about 2 years ago at Spencer Park in Terre Haute, Indiana. They played on opposite teams but worked together everyday. So of course there was a lot of "shit talking" all day long at work...and then when we'd show up at the diamond..the minute we got out of the car I could hear Q'ball's mouth just a going...haha and the more I was around him and got to know him I thought wow... I always thought JC was the most competitive person...haha they were so much alike.. I liked it though...and so did JC. I don't think he had met anyone that was so much like him. Someone that could throw it right back at him just like he gave it. It was so fun to listen and watch them go at each other.. it was all fun in games but my favorite part was when Q'ball could actually say something and it would either make JC speechless or it would take him a second to give a comeback. haha I obviously love the way my husband acts...but i would hate when he would mouth me and i couldn't come up with a comeback..hehe so I loved it when JC was put in his place. lol because if I couldn't do it....I loved that Q'ball could.

Now...he's gone. I only knew him for almost 2 years....and we had only become good friends the past 6 months or so... JC knew him since his first day at work...JC is the one that gave him his nickname, Q'Ball, and it was JC who talked to him everyday and played ball with him sometimes 3 times a week and then on the weekend. It's hard for me to lose a friend, but its even harder for me to see my husband hurting.

Sunday was hard because Q'ball was supposed to be there with us helping us win and making it to the championship. Everywhere I walked at the ball diamond I saw something that reminded me of him from the day before or somewhere where he and I had sat and talked the day before. It was so hard to be there and he wasn't there. He usually batted behind me in the batting order so every time I would get up to bat...I would look over and he wasn't there. Or when I'd get on base...usually he's up next so I would cheer him on to hit me in.... but i couldn't because he wasn't there. When we'd be out in the field and someone would get up to bat that always hits it to left/left center I would usually yell "Be ready Q'ball!" But I couldn't because there was someone else there.... Wednesday and Thursday was the showing and Funeral and that was hard for both of us. But I think with him being on vacation this week he still doesn't quite "feel it." I mean he was on vacation so he wouldn't have seen Q'Ball any this week anyways. Softball was over and we would have got phone calls him calling and just chatting but he wouldn't have seen him at all. So to him I think it's not really real yet. Next week he'll be back at work and Q'Ball won't be next to him on his line, he won't be on break with him, he won't be at his lunch table... So for me the hard stuff is over. Softball is over until next year and though the rest of the football season will be hard because I'll be waiting for his call after every eagles and cowboy games... the hard part for me is over... Now its just time to heel and be there for my husband because his hard part is just starting. He has to go back to work and see everyday that his best friend isn't there with him.

So this year his vacation wasn't exactly what he wanted it to be. But we were married this vacation and our love is stronger than ever. We still watched some of our favorite scary movies and we still carved pumpkins and we went to a haunted house...we just did it with someone on our mind. Someone that I will never forget as long as I live. Someone who made me think about things that I hadn't thought about for a long time or hadn't ever thought about. Back in August after Q'ball and his wife had been separated for a few months and he was ready to move on I started thinking about trying to set Q'ball up with one of my friends... On October 11, 2008 I introduced him to my friend Kari. He thought she was so beautiful and he really wanted a relationship with her. He wanted to introduce her to his faith and his kids and spend time with her. I won't ever know if she was ever planning on leaving her boyfriend (who doesn't deserve her) and gonna try it with Q'ball or if it would have even worked out. But I do know for that two weeks that talked I was so happy for him and her. I knew that the rest of our lives were gonna be so much fun. I knew that us four (JC, me, Kari, Q'ball) were gonna be great friends..doing stuff together and having kids together and living by each other (just like Kari and i had planned a long time ago). I know Q'ball was so happy and Kari loved having someone treat her like she was special. Their time got cut short and never went any farther then talking on the phone and texting but I know the idea of having a great guy Kari loved....and the idea of being happy again after a bad marriage Q'ball loved.And I loved that I was gonna make two good friends of mine be happy together and JC and I would be there to witness it all.

It's just so crazy how something can happen so fast....and things can change in a blink of an eye.

**the first two pictures are of JC's Halloween (the movie) pumpkin and the last two pictures are of my Scooby Doo pumpkin.**

something to keep in mind during your best friends wedding.

Back in July I was married to my wonderful husband. I had four bridesmaids. Of course even though bridesmaids say "it doesn't matter where i'm at in "the line." you know...what order they stand in... maid of honor....to the last person in line.. but i think to some bridesmaids it does matter. Before Robyn's wedding last weekend I had only been in one other friend's wedding. She had like 8 or 9 bridesmaids and most of them were her family so I really didn't mind what order I was in. (to tell ya the truth I can't even remember there was so many of us..hehe) Anyways...when i decided to have four bridesmaids I wasn't sure at first what order I would put them in. Do I line them up in order of how long I've known each of them? Do I line them up on how close we are? Do I line them up on who I have the most fun with?? I had no idea how to line them up. They all were very important to me and if any of those four girls weren't there that day I would have been sad that they were missing out on my important day. I ended up choosing the order for many different reasons.. the girl i chose to be maid of honor i had known the 2nd longest...and she's the one we do everything together and she's always there for me. No matter what. If I called her at 4 am and needed her go to get me a glass of milk because my belly hurt...she would. It ended up the girl I had known the longest ended up being last in line. I loved her just the same as the other 3 but we just wasn't as close as we had been in the past... I was actually closer to the other 3. The funny thing is out of all 4 of my bridesmaids the one that helped me the most that day was bridesmaid number 4. I learned that she was there for me that day. She helped me do everything.. and she gave me good advice and stayed right by my side until the end of the night...because it was my day and she respected that. Maybe it was because she had already had her day and she knew what it was like to have someone care as much as you do about "your day." Even JC noticed that and mentioned to me that he was glad Ashley was there to help me so much. He noticed that out of all 4 of my girls she seemed the one who wanted to make sure I was happy with everything. Since that day we've became much closer and I hope we continue to get closer in the future. Maybe it's the "married women" bond...I don't know. But I will always remember how all the little things she did that day...meant so much.
At my wedding Robyn caught my bouquet and her and Ian enjoyed my wedding and reception so much fun they decided they wanted to get married sooner than later...so when they decided to get married I decided that I would be "that bridesmaid" that put aside her worries of "how do i look?" "did i do this?" "did i do that?" and only worry about the bride. I made sure I was by Robyn's side the minute i got to the church to get married and helped her do everything. I even took pictures of her getting ready and such since her photographer was in the auditorium behind on pictures...(not the photographers fault..the unorganized bridal party's fault..hehe) I made sure that when she was hiding out in a room so that her and Ian didn't see each other before the ceremony I was there to hold her shoes and flowers and take pictures of the candid moments. I was there when she needed anything from going to make sure Ian is okay...to helping her put some glitter on to make her shiny. hehe I made sure I was there to help her decorate and see that all her dreams of "the perfect wedding" happened... I was also the bridesmaid who didn't get plastered at the wedding...but the one who drank and had fun but was ready to help take gifts to the car and take down decorations so that she didn't have to. So that she could enjoy her special day and not have to worry about all the technical stuff. I hope that Robyn's wedding was everything she imagined and more. I also hope that she felt the love and care i put into making sure she was happy. And hopefully one day she'll pass that on to someones wedding that she's in. Because it doesn't matter which bridesmaid you are or where you stand or when you walk down the isle...it's the brides day....so as long as she's happy...that's all that matters. Thank you Ashley for being by my side on my wedding day. I'll never forget how important my happiness was to you that day. Thank You.

First Picture is Ashley & Me goofing around on my wedding day. Second Picture is Robyn & Me after she caught my bouquet at my wedding. Third Picture is Me & Robyn on her wedding day with the bouquet she caught at mine.