Our Engagement, Wedding and Honeymoon!!

On August 17, 2009 Jared asked me to be his wife!!! Those of you that know us well, know the WHOLE story (ie. I acted like such a crazy before we got engaged) but we will leave ALL the details out!
We spent the entire weekend at the beach with both sets of our parents, and by the end of the weekend I was just incredibly sad to have to leave so soon and start the next semester of school. In grad school we only got about a week off between summer and fall semesters, and I had spent my break nursing poor Jared back to health after shoulder surgery! I am VERY close to my family, and was not ready to leave the beach!! I cried (which I often do) when we left, and ended up crying most of the car ride back to Auburn. Somewhere between being sad I had to leave my family, and not being ready for school to start back... I thought it would be a good idea to bring up the fact that I "kinda thought he might pop the question" that weekend.I continued to ramble about this for probably a solid hour or two of our 4 hour drive back. (In retrospect... What was I thinking?!?)  Jared graciously sat there and told me everything would be fine, and not to be upset. Eventually we made it back to Auburn, got some Arby's (who knows why I remember that) and changed into my pajamas.
I was sitting on the couch eating my dinner, watching TV, and I'm sure playing on facebook and Jared kept asking me if I was ready for bed. It was only about 9:00 so I told him no, but he said he was tired so I decided I would go lay down and just watch TV in my room. Little did I know that this is what I would find waiting on me.....

There was actually just the bottle with this note rolled up into it (like a message in a bottle). I at first didn't pay any attention to it, thinking maybe Mr. Mike (owner of the house) had been there that weekend and left something somewhere. I went and picked it up and pulled the paper out of the bottle..... and as soon as I got it unrolled I lost it!!! I immediately started crying and turned back around to find Jared down on one knee holding the most beautiful ring I have ever seen! I actually forgot to tell him yes, and he was ready to get off of his knee!! Not only was I crying tears of joy... but also felt like such a nut for crying about my expecting him to pop the question that weekend!! He always told me I would never know and/or expect when it was going to happen.... he was RIGHT!! Here is the one picture of us at 5:30 in the morning the day after we got engaged... thank you auto timer!! The others are the standard ring pic, and one of the shots my aunt took for us at the beach!

Our engagement year FLEW by!!! Being in school and trying to plan a wedding from long distance is tricky.. but thanks goodness for my Mom!!! I couldn't have done it without her!!! Here are some pictures from our Engagement Party our fabulous friends threw us and us at some of our showers!

 Here is my favorite picture from my Bachelorette Weekend in Destin!! It was SO MUCH FUN!!!



The part about our wedding and honeymoon will be short and sweet!! We got married on August 8, 2009! It was definitely one of the most memorable days of my life! We are both so VERY blessed to have such wonderful family and friends, and were so very greatful to have all of them there to celebrate with us!! We got married at Pleasant Valley United Methodist Church... this church was very special to me! My parents got married in that church, and I was also brought up in that church before changing churches in middle school. It was such a special day that I will never forget!!! We honeymooned to St. Lucia and had one of the most fun, relaxing weeks ever!! Here are some of the highlights!!

Whew.... that was a long one!!! Now that you know all about our "story".... It's time to get to the good stuff.... our growing family!!!! Can't wait to share!!

Until Next Time...