We Did!

Now that my unplanned sabbatical from blogging is over, I just want to give a big HEY Y'ALL from Texas!!! Cash and I have been so busy. Excuses, right?!

We have been meeting with Women's Republican club and Young Republicans here in town. I study 8 hours a day and have been since I've started back to work. Cash bought me a new bike while we were in Santa Fe, so we've been riding (we'll use that term loosely) as many nights as we can. We even went to Ruidoso this past weekend for a race!



Post-Race: Tour de Ruidoso

One weekend we spent down at the hog lease putting up feeders and blinds. We went to South Texas during Labor Day weekend to see his extended family. I've spent the past 3 weekends also in tears watching the Razorbacks. It's going to hit even harder this weekend when the game is actually in Texas.

hog at feeders..maybe the only hog I care about seeing the rest of the year!

I was out of commission with using a computer for almost an entire week because of the big crash I had on my bike...right on the boulevard in front of one of the biggest country clubs in this town! So embarrassing yet so funny.

Oh, and if that wasn't bad enough, I wasn't watching where I was walking last weekend and ran head first into the bike rack on the back of the truck. It literally knocked me on my behind in the middle of the road. Cash felt the truck shake and looked back to realize I wasn't in his line of sight. When he got out, I was getting off the ground laughing so hard I was crying. We've had some wild few weeks!!

I meant to do an entire wedding post of just the wedding ceremony, but I failed. And quite frankly at this point we've done so much that it just seems pointless to dedicate a whole night to feeding you with 40-11 pictures of our wedding. So...a few highlights:

walking with my dad!!!!

ceremony--notice the Methodist preacher marrying a Lutheran to a Baptist!

married!!

 

"Wedding Crashers" our bluegrass band for the night--they were amazeballs

cake topper in honor of my husband who played rugby for 7 years

Braeson asked me to dance to "Wagon Wheel"..and he rocked it!

my mom's side of the family

 I could've put so many family pictures up, but I chose my mom's side of the family. Until the past couple of years, literally, we all lived in our hometown. Every aunt, uncle, and all but 1 cousin graduated from Ozark High School. Every single daughter and granddaughter was in OHS homecoming. At some point in the past 5 years, eight of us have worked for the Ozark School District in some capacity.

I love being married, but it's hard to leave that when it's all you really know. I love my dad's side of the family equally..and in fact I was the 7th generation born and raised in North Franklin County. It's just harder for me to go back through that picture without my grandmother here.

being married is the best

The love I have for my family is why this picture meant so much when I saw what our photographer did. Of course I love Cash, but she also put the handkerchief I carried around my bouquet in the background. It was my granny's grandmother's handkerchief that my granny attached a penny to. That penny is the one my granny wore in her shoe when she married my pa over 50 years ago. I seriously draw tears when I think about it.

I hope one day our grandkids want just a little something from our wedding.

The past 2 months have been the best, hardest 2 months of my life. My sister texted me a picture last week of my niece framing a picture of me because she was missing me. So we skyped until our hearts were happy. I hadn't seen my parents since the night we flew in from our honeymoon, so they drove 12 hours to meet us in Ruidoso this weekend. When they left I wanted to cry so hard knowing I won't see them again until November.

It's hard, but I can honestly say I feel I'm right where I'm supposed to be. I've grown a lot being away from my parents, yet I've grown so dependent on my husband as he's the only deep friend I have here. I've made friends and enjoyed company, but nothing will ever compare to the smile I get on my face when I see his truck pull up and him walk in with that brown leather briefcase he carries back and forth every single day.

I love lunch with him. I love brushing my teeth with him (gross, I know). I love Sunday afternoons when I don't have to go catch a plane. I love when I'm hurt and how he takes care of me. I love seeing his e-mails pop up the moment I log in to my computer at work. I love the little stamp he bought with our names and address on it so I can stamp letters I send to my aunt back home. I love that he lets me read my hometown newspaper's 40 years ago column to him like he really is listening. I love that he puts the dogs out and feeds them so I don't have to get my dress dirty. And I love that he takes me to eat Chick-fil-A or King & I because I didn't even think about if I should cook supper that night.

So that sting of missing my family hurts, but I'm not too far removed from that deep pain I felt leaving Cash for weeks at a time. I do feel sorry for myself at times, but I would never go back to 4 months ago. I love my family, but now I have my own family. It may be me, a man, and 2 self-absorbed dogs, but it's my family--and leaving that would be even more painful.

Okay...gush gush gush. I think you get the point. I just had to catch you up in case you had forgotten in the weeks since my latest post. :) And Toi--I'm so sorry I haven't responded!! I got your message and have been meaning to e-mail you, but I am in a whirlwind. Thanks for it! I will catch up with you soon.

As I say everyday in the elevator at work...Hope y'all have a good one.

More next time.

...Avery...

Pre-Wedding Jitters

Today is a great day!! First, my manager came into my (semi) office today and told me I could leave. It wasn't even 2:00. I'm getting my own office tomorrow, so he said I could go find decor for it. I'll take it! So I went to Cash's office, duh, and took him a coke before I made my way home to look through my office supplies.

Plus, last night I got a package in the mail from my mom with our wedding pictures and video (plus, some great magazines and newspapers)! I decided that I'd break the wedding pictures up for 2 reasons: a) it won't be too much at once b) I can savor the moments a little longer.

Before the wedding my sister and I spent the morning getting ready. Cash went with the guys in his family and mine for a round of golf at Chamberlyne in Danville (claim to fame: John Daly plays there). From what I gather they had a blast. Different strokes for different folks (ha, pun intended).

My favorite restaurant is Taco Bell. I can sniff out a Meal Deal #4 from any corner of the globe. My sister ran to get us a bite to eat while LaDora finished up our hair. Nothing beats a burrito and doritos, even with a veil on your head.

My granny had let me borrow her grandmother's handkerchief, and inside it she attached the coin she wore when she and my Pa got married 54 years ago. I carried it around my bouquet; it was one of my favorite moments of the day.

My nephew can be a wild man, but he is also quite the charmer!! After the wedding he was bawling because I was moving. Inevitably that morning he had put on a show of hugs and kisses. I loved it!

I loved our flower arrangments!!!!! Scott's in Paris designed and created them; I was so pleased with how it all turned out. When I walked into the church, I was overwhelmed. He really outdid himself. He even used vines from my dad's muscadine vines in the arrangments and bouquets. I loved it!

Another favorite piece of decor was the guestbook table. We had our parents' and grandparents' wedding pictures along with their names and anniversaries lined along a vintage inspired table. All 6 couples either stayed married until one passed or are still married. Pretty awesome to have that legacy.

Of course Braeson and Addison had to be among the first to sign the guestbook. They look like the cutest little people I've ever seen. Adults in little bodies.

Then their photography session started. I know you all do not love them like I do, but I had to include this picture of them kissing on stage. I just fall to pieces over it.

Addison was almost as excited I was about the wedding. She couldn't wait to wear her dress and tiara, and boy did she look gorgeous. She beamed the whole day!

I love this candid shot of the two of us. She really soaked in the day, and I can't wait to watch her grow and be everything she dreams about.

Obviously my sister was my matron of honor. Since I wore flats and she wore 10 foot heels, she towered over me. She was stunning though, and I wouldn't have had anyone else in the world standing next to me.

Connor was one of our ring bearers, and he was loving on his Aunt Andrea. He's a goofball, and I couldn't quit laughing at him and Braeson. They are the same kid in a different body.

Another snapshot of me and Addi. This one might be my favorite; her face just says it all.

Of course Lena was a flower girl too, and both of the girls looked precious. I can't believe how big they have gotten since Cash and I first started dating. When I first met Cash's family, Lena was Toby's age now. Unbelievable.

Cash's mom got him ready to go, even though he was running LATE from his golf game. I knew about him being a little late, and I didn't even freak out...too bad.

No words. No words. My husband and my brother-in-law. Words just wouldn't do this justice.

Uncle Cashy and his sweet little nieces--they are lucky and so is he. I love this picture, because Lena looks plum thrilled to be sitting there.

My mom and Addi---ahh, 2 of the people I miss the most. Addi loves her Nana.

We picked younger people to be at the guest book and be ushers. Since I taught school and was close to a couple of kids and Cash had younger cousins, we thought that would suit us best. I loved having them in the wedding. While we have wonderful friends, it was awesome to see how excited the younger ones were to be a part of something they look forward to in their lives one day. They were great!

I wanted a picture with my mom and Granny, and I also wanted it to involve our wedding rings. I just love everything that is behind this picture--a lot of years of love.

That is one gorgeous little flower girl! Right before I walked down the aisle, I was trying to show Lena to walk with Addison. She just kept saying, "Abee, I got new shoes!" I just had to laugh. In her mind the big moment taking place was the fact she was getting to wear her new shoes. Precious!

Our attendants (big and small) were all wonderful, and it was great to be able to spend the day with them. I know my family had a great time golfing with Cash and his family that day; in fact, my cousin Brent still texts Cash inside jokes about their trip. It was just amazing to see our families come together and for me to realize that they are one now. I feel like our wedding day summed up the lives we lead before we found each other and epitomized how wonderfully God crafted those lives to come together.

Everything leading up to the ceremony was pure blessing from God, especially the flood of rain we got during the middle of a drought. Unbelievable. His loves pours out.

So glad y'all spent the day reminiscing with me--can't wait to show you pictures of the moment! Until then...

Avery

It's Okay

It's okay that...

• the "it's okay" blog link-up is something I'm really not interested in doing, so this is my stand alone post.
• I'm about to convince my husband to buy me a Merrill Lynch cycling jersey.
• I get irritated looking at pinterest, because all it makes me want to do is eat a sprinkle covered chocolate donut.
• I just finished our thank-you letters.
• I'm just ready to go to work and kick this test in the behind.
• I fell on my bike a few nights ago. In front of a group of kids and a truck that couldn't turn until I peeled myself off the pavement.
• I e-mail my husband throughout the day, call him every morning at work, eat lunch with him, call him every afternoon, sometimes make a pitstop at his office, and spend the evening with him. Every day. We're newlyweds.
• all I think about are chocolate chip cookies and Lucky Charms.
• I went through a box of Lucky Charms in a week's time.
• last night we went to the hospital to see Beth and Trevor's new baby!!! She said I could use the foam on the wall to wash my hands. I kept pulling and pulling on the dispenser. Come to find out you are to pull OUT not DOWN. Then it was the joke that I was "no longer on the farm milking cows." Ridiculous.
• I'm excited about some opportunities for organizations around here...but more excited that one is having a clay shoot.
• I'm still thinking about Lucky Charms. Off to HEB.

Avery