Wedding slideshow

I know that many of you have been waiting a long time to see wedding pictures so I'm glad to be able to post a link to the slideshow our photographer made for us! Hope you enjoy looking at what was captured of our special day.
www.reginaholder.net/giese

At long last...a wedding post!

Our wedding was perfect! The whole day was wonderful. God provided me with a sense of calm and peace that passed all understanding. All day long people kept commenting on how calm and happy I was. The joke by the end of the day was don't worry about asking Rachel, she'll just tell you "its all good". Over and over I kept being surprised by myself and how calm I was. All I can say is that I know it was Christ being with me and carrying me through that day.
The morning started off with the ladies getting our hair done while watching a couple of chick flicks. I then calmed my mother down before getting into my wedding dress. Things after that happened in a weird state of uncanny calm and crazy rush. I barely remember hearing music as my dad walked me down the aisle. (Funny note: I had to ask Abby afterwards what music was played during the wedding b/c I didn't know nor hear it) My dad and I both tripped a bit over my dress as we climbed up the stairs and then the ceremony part of everything began. I remember hearing my dad choke up a bit as he turned to walk off stage. I remember focusing on Aaron and Alan throughout the ceremony. Before I knew it the ceremony was over and we were out on the porch, alone--as husband and wife.
Our reception was fantastic and fun! We visited with people as best we could, we took pictures (lots and lots of pictures), we even managed to grab a bite or two to eat. It was so much fun for us to watch everyone esle have TONS of fun. The photo booth was such a hit! As soon as I can figure out where I put the cds I will add some of the photos from the photo booth. One of the fun keepsakes we have of our wedding day is a scrapbook made from the photo booth pictures--each page being made by our friends and family for us. They are great fun to look at!

I loved nearly everything about the whole day. We felt so loved and blessed that day. I felt beautiful from head to toe (loved my dress more than I remembered when I bought it). I loved seeing my family and friends and being able to celebrate our special day with them. I loved seeing my dad so dressed up and so proud of his little girl (knowing that there was a part of him that day that was wishing I wasnt so grown up). I love thinking back and remembering how beautiful and perfect everything was. The tables, cupcakes, flowers, etc were beautiful. My mind is overwhelmed when I think about all of the work that my family along with Wanda and Devon did to make everything just right for us.

We are blessed my friends, so very blessed. Our life is not perfect but we are so blessed.

We should be getting wedding pictures back in the next couple of weeks. I will share them when I can. Also, I will post pictures and a quick recap of the honeymoon as soon as I can.

And we're off!!

We had a perfect wedding day (I will blog about specifics later!).
We are off for a Hawaiian adventure!
Pray for safe travels.....talk to you soon!

It's finally here!!!!!

I"m getting married tomorrow!!!
I'd post more but I'm to exhausted to think about it....love to you all!

Half and Half

Not that I havent known it for awhile now (some would argue quite awhile) but I'm getting married in a week! A week, one week, seven days.....wow!
It's funny to realize that we have been together for so long and have even been engaged for so long and the day is finally coming. I sit here this morning knowing that my life is about to change in a BIG way. As I think about it I find myself dealing with two major groups of emotions/feelings---on one hand I am excited, anxiously anticipating and on the other I am OCD thinking about all of the details and feeling a different type of anxiety over the ceremony and formality of the big day itself.
In the end I know it will be beautiful and we will be married. I just want to soak up these last few days of what I now know as my life. I want to slow down a bit and remind myself (once again) to enjoy the process.

As we enter into these final days/moments before our big day I ask that you pray for us. Specifically for me. Up until yesterday I have spent most of my time dreading being in front of people on my wedding day, I dont like to have people watching me. But yesterday as I faced the stresses of this process my heart began to ache. The ache that I felt was not a new one, it was the ache of missing my Grandmother. For the first time I not only knew she wasnt going to be there with me but I felt it. I missed her in a whole new way. Please pray that I do not allow that ache to overcome me, it is not what I want nor what she would have wanted. I miss her and I always will, this day and this time need to be looked upon with joy not sorrow.

Two weeks and two days, 16 days, 384 hours

...................until our wedding day!!!!!!
While the big day is quickly approaching my to do list is ever growing! I am amazed at how many things are still left to be done. When I lay down at night my mind is usually racing with all of the things that are left to be taken care of. I have stayed up WAY too late over the last couple of weeks looking at bridal bouquets, picking out pictures/songs, emailing various people involved, writing thank you notes, etc.
I can understand why I have heard so many brides say they are ready for the whole process to be over and that they just want to be married.
Throughout the last year I have really tried hard to enjoy the process of planning a wedding. I dont want to wish certain seasons of my life away. I dont want to live each season wishing for the next. I want to (as much as possible) enjoy planning a special day to celebrate our wedding with family and friends. I want to be honest when I tell people I'm excited about the wedding, excited to be getting married. I am excited to be getting married! We have waited a LONG time for this special day!
I am very excited to see everyone who is coming to join us for our special day. I cant wait to all of the things we have been planning over the last couple of months come into realization. I cant wait to be married :)

planning and seeking

While my last post was only a few weeks ago it feels like it has been forever. I have been quite busy with all things bridal. We have had two showers, engagement pictures, and multiple appointments around various aspects of wedding. There have been days where I have felt very overwhelmed and other days where things seem to be falling right into place. More than anything I am trying my best to enjoy this process. I want to look back on this time as a busy but good time, not another stressful point (Lord knows this last year has held enough of those).
On another note I am still waiting for the Lord to show me what it is I am to spend my time doing during these next phase of my life. I have had a few leads come up but nothing seems to be fitting just right or has worked out so far. I am praying that over the next few days I will receive some clarity from the Lord on which door it is He wants me to walk through. I know what my desires are but I also know that I do not want to miss what the Lord has for me.
Only 24 more days until the wedding!!!

Movin on up...

Well, I'm not moving up per say, just to the other side of the lake. This weekend I will be moving as much stuff as possible into the house that Aaron and I will be renting for the next year. NO, we will not be living together....at least not until September. The plan is for me to move in now, get settled, have a place to move my school stuff as well as wedding gifts, and then Aaron will move in in September.

Life has and will continue to be super busy crazy for the next couple of weeks. For the record here is a quick recap of what is going to take place over the next couple of weeks:
*Finish up teaching: complete with assessments and c. folders and kiddos
*Move my house this weekend
*Go to Charlotte to order wedding bands and visit IKEA
*Organize my classroom into things I might use while out of the classroom, grade specific stuff, etc
*Bridal shower at school
*Revisit the guest list for the wedding and order invitations
*Move out of my classroom
*Organize and learn how to live in a new place

After June 12th (the last day of school) things should start to calm down a bit. At least thats what I'm hoping for. I'm hoping for a few days of rest before I have to kick my behind into full blown wedding mode. If anyone wants to come and help with any of the above items or wedding stuff please let me know!

Where have I been?

So I realized a few days ago that this blog would be a whole lot more fun if I actually wrote on it..updated it. I am hoping to include pictures. I know I have said that before but I would really like to get back to it. I need to work on taking the card out of the camera, putting them on the computer and then actually doing something with them. Goals for another day...

Life has been busy....if you really want details call. Too much to type :)

I am SOOO ready for Spring Break. I have major spring fever, mostly related to travel. I need to get out of Waynesville. Anyone want to go somewhere?

Just a little bit of evidence of God's love this week:
**Positive comments from my lead teacher about my efforts at work
*I won a door prize at my workshop tonight b/c I was the only one in the room who has a birthday this month. And on top of that it's purple!!
*Getting to meet, hold, and feed baby Braydon

Only 2 more days til my birthday!!
(15 more days til Aaron's birthday and 177 days until we get married)

a look at the numbers..

As of today:
*20 days until my birthday!
*33 days until Aaron's birthday!
*195 days until our wedding!

rambling updates

I apologize for the long wait on whether or not I made it through my last week of utter chaos. I will try not to lose sleep over the severe lack of inquiry into my status :). After many (and often late) hours and an unplanned extra day off, I finished my thesis!!!!!
Life since then has not slowed down as much as I really would have liked. In fact, it took me a few days before I mentally felt like I was finished and could relax and enjoy things. Guess that just goes to show how stressed and consumed I was.
I have enjoyed a night or two of simply sitting and enjoying life. It is nice to know that I can do the things I need to do and still have some time left over for the things that I want to do. I have caught up on some cleaning, though I still have more to do. I have also had a chance to read for pleasure! What a strange concept that has been!
Life at work has been anything but dull lately. I have had some trouble recently with parents and cannot seem to be tough enough for some but yet others are saying I'm too tough. This past week alone had so many ups and downs that I began to even doubt why I am in teaching at all. Fortunately I left school Friday with things being as good as they can be for now and feeling like I could enjoy my weekend. Please be in prayer for things at work to start looking up consistently.
And for those of you who are wondering how the wedding planning is going..........I have my dress!!! Unfortunately I cannot post pictures on here b/c the dear fiance does check the blog occasionally. If you need to see a pic before the big day then email me and I will be sure to send you a pic. So right now I am working on selecting bridesmaids dresses, and trying to nail down catering, photographers, and florists. It is easy for me to see how people can get so consumed by their weddings and others simply choose to elope.
Hopefully since my paper is finished I can start to update on a more regular basis.