Love, Love, and More Love

Happily Ever After!

Hi. We're 8 days post wedding. Post joining our lives together. Bliss...

**Sigh...

Ohhhhh and it is good! My friend Katie K. told me once that she considers her blog a "journal" of their lives. Good thought... Blogs are just that... A journal to remember your lives and how you felt about them even after the feelings and sometimes the memories have past. Thinking about that, it makes me sad that I had no time to tell you, my journal and friends, how I felt pre-wedding. Excited! Anxious! In LOVE! Stressed/nervous - I believe those were combined into one feeling for me...

Ready to marry Mr. Connell. YES! I could not wait! Thinking about it during the day and before I would fall asleep - willing the day to come sooner. Now, post wedding 8 days, I wonder where the blessed days went. I have never doubted that God had brought JC *(Chris' initials... he likes to sign letters to me like that...)* and me together. Never. I knew in the depth of my heart that I would love this man for the rest of my little life. That doesn't mean I wasn't anxious.

It was Wednesday prior to the day. I was tired and stressed. After a busy, busy day at the office, tying up all loose ends before I was out the rest of the week and the week after, I met my mom and sister for my mom's pre-wedding doo. Chris called. I was fine. Mid-conversation the thought of not seeing him until Friday at the rehearsal was just too much. When I am stressed, I tend to not talk much and that's what I started doing. Assuring Chris I was fine, but knowing he knew I wasn't.

So, with him knowing just what I needed, we met for an "emergency" mid-week date at our beloved exit 407. I took the night off, postponed the rest of everything for the next day, and just LOVED being with him. We soaked it up. We knew Friday and Saturday would be a whirlwind of no just Chris&Julie time. I think I physically needed that night off. Thursday and Friday were FAST. Thursday was super busy and now I don't even remember why. I believe I had my nails done... It took the honeymoon for me to realize they were a great shade of pink! Friday came and was wonderful!! My beautiful aunts, Sonya and Libby, gave me a lovely, lovely Bridesmaid Brunch.

Timeless Elegance Tea Room. Perfect name for the pretty place.

Hostesses with the MOSTess! Thank you, Sonya and Libby... It was wonderful and I love you very much.

Angel girl.

Cousin Abby!!! This girl gets an award... She totally skipped class to be there. She had to leave a bit early to go take a test! Way to go!

The Connell side... :) (You see me in this pic???!)

Beautiful girls. They are so special.

5 of the 7 bridesmaids!!! Somehow I talked 7 stunning ladies into being bridesmaids...

Mother, me, sister, and grandmother! I am such a blessed girl to have these women in my life...



I *pale* in comparison to this woman! :) Reg, you're wonderful.

My *SISTERS*!!! (Kate was totally first in line when God passed out the height genes...)

Then to the rehearsal... Thanks to a fantastic wedding director, the rehearsal was smooth and organized. Just the way I like it...

Last, but certainly not least, the REHEARSAL DINNER!! The Connell fam did it up right at the Sunsphere* - totally KNOXvegas like and it was awesome! Incredible views, gorgeous flowers, great food and entertainment... I wish I had pictures!!!

NOTE: to anyone who took pics of the any of the wedding events, I would love copies of the pictures! CD would be great... Thank you!

Now to the wedding... The MAIN event! I must say... it was a dream come true! Thank you family for making it just that way. There were so many people who came together and worked so hard to make the day perfect. Pre-wedding I would look around at the army doing their thing and I couldn't believe it. To my parents - you're the best. The wedding was amazing! Maybe because I was floating on a cloud, but you guys made it possible... :)

To one of the world's greatest photographers... Thank you! You've helped ingrain these memories of that day forever. You were wonderful and we couldn't have asked for more. (I do believe we would be great friends... I'm just waiting for you to move back down here! Just so you know.) And without further delay, please check out our rockstar photographer's blog http://503galleries.com/blog/life-in-all-its-busyfullness/.

Now, my darling is on his way back from an outing playing Frisbee golf... Back to the organizing the new Shady Knoll home!

Love to you all. And may you find love and peace.

Favorite things list we had to fill out at work. What's yours??

FAVORITE:
flower: rose (all are pretty)
scent like in candle or perfume: Cotton, Ocean, flowers, vanilla, Brittany spears Fantasy, VS Noir and Satin
other smell: chris connell
lotions/body sprays: eucerin smoothing essentials, lubriderm, vaseline firming and radiance, lots of VS lotions
shampoo/conditioner: Currently pantene long lengths
lip gloss: Aquaphor healing ointment or Burts
color: Love them all. Pink is my fav.
cartoon: CareBears, My little ponies... not up to date on current ones
music: Christian or country
singer: Chris Connell
movie: Gone with the Wind, The Count of Monte Cristo, Diary of a Mad Black Woman, Pride and Prejudice... lots come to mind. Obviously, I'm a hopeless romantic.
tv show: All My Children, The Office, Jon and Kate + 8, House Hunters
metal: White gold
collectible: Anything beautiful
thing at the office: pens
hobbies: reading, walking, watching movies, shopping, anything crafty/creative
car: G35
animal: Macy (DOG)
snack: Wheat thins, yogurt bars, chewy chocolate chips, cheese nips
candy: Hot Tamale
gum: orbitz or dentene
soft drink: coke
dessert: angel food cake
breakfast food: Instant Breakfast. scrambled eggs, pancakes, waffles
books: non-fiction Christian, just finished Fireproof
pens: Pilot precise V5 Rt or Uniball Vison micro (I like small points)
places to shop: West Town, Target, Walmart, Rowena's, East TN Diamond, Pottery Barn, Bed Bath and Beyond
What message would you want to put on a t-shirt for the world to read? Something about Jesus
Movie you've always wanted to see and just haven't ever rented? Notta a clue. If there was, I have already forgotten about it!
What would I find in your refrigerator right now? My parentals? All the food that should be in there: milk, orange juice, Instant breakfast liquid for when I'm out of the powder, cheese, butter, a biscuit, apples, pickles, condiments... You know. At my future home? milk, all the condiments you need (we recently grilled out), diet lipton green tea, diet cherry coke, gatorade, some leftovers, and some cheese.
If someone wrote a biography about you, what do you think the title should be? All by God's Grace
If you could be a superhero, what would you want your superpowers to be? to FLY! Peter pan was a fav.
Biggest pet peeve? Feet on my pillow
How would you describe yourself in three words? Blessed, loved, and outgoing
Favorite breakfast item from McDonalds? gravy and biscuits, sausage biscuit
When you order a side salad, what are your specific instructions? No TOE-MA-TOES and ranch on the side!