So much for that whole "I'm not pregnant" thing..

As most of you already know,since my mom spilled the beans on facebook (lol) I am having a baby. We appreciate all the kind and encouraging words since we have found out. Boy or girl, we are so excited! I've been given the date March 18th, but I should know more by Monday afternoon! Again, we are very excited and appreciate everyone! I'll let you all know more as I know more, just please keep us in your thoughts and prayers as there is A LOT to be done!

We have GREAT news!!!

And NO I am NOT pregnant! lol...just thought I'd get that out of the way! Haha! Michael's company was recently bought out, and during the process there has been a lot of uncertainty. We didn't know if he'd keep his job, or if he did whether they would pay less. There was a lot of doubt and prayer. But praise the Lord, he is coming home with his job, and a nice little raise to go with it! ;) We won't be rich, but it sure is a help! I feel like we are so blessed to have such wonderful friends and family! Just wanted to share our good news...:)

Life as a grown up...

Boy has it been awhile. As it got closer to the wedding, I was slammed, and well, blogging wasn't my greatest concern. But reading some emotional things from a couple of friends has motivated me to get going again.

First of all, we did get married! Lol! We are currently coming into our 8th month of marriage. Boy has it been crazy! But I love him even more than I did when all this started! We have been living in an apartment in the middle of the city until last weekend when we moved into OUR FIRST HOUSE!!!!! It's in a small town outside of Knoxville, but not too far! We love it so far! We have two very good friends who live down here, and although I will miss the ones we lived close to in the city, I am already so much happier to be out of the city it's unreal. I knew there was just a little something missing and this was it! I love not being connected to my neighbors!

We have taken on many adventures so far, and look forward to the many to come!

A shower update for all...

There's not really all that much to update as far as the wedding. It was mostly done before I moved here...so there wasn't much left. lol. I do have some updates on the wedding shower...she sent out invitations today...it's going to be October 16th...honestly...I'm not sure what time...maybe 2ish lol...but my family should all be getting invitations...if you don't, please let me know as there was a lot of confusion in getting all the addresses together...I promise I didn't intentionally leave you out. If you don't get one...or just want to ask about it...message me, text me, comment me, call me...whatever you want. =] Also, the ladies at Karns are giving me a shower because Michael means so much to them, and that makes me feel really special because they don't really know me all that well, yet. That will be October 24th. So, because we didn't register for very much at Wal-Mart...we went ahead and registered for more stuff at Bed Bath and Beyond...kind of with the idea in our heads that we may not get most of it lol.

All that aside, I'll preface this by saying, I will not mention names for the sake of not advertising it to the whole world. But just know, that someone very close to me lost their home to a fire. I'll not give details except that they lost everything. They have been able to get a lot of help from a lot of people, but another prayer or two never hurt. So, if you don't know who it is, God does. Please pray that they will remain safe, and in high spirits. They are so loved. They are an amazing couple that work so hard to spread the word of Christ and do His will. Being the amazing examples they are, it hurts when something this discouraging happens. They both have great attitudes, considering, so please keep them in your prayers that they are able to feel at ease soon.

Well...it's bed time for me...busy week ahead.

<3 Lorie

Roller Coaster....

What a week it has been.

Sad, Angry, Abandoned, Happy, Lonely, Excited, Dread, Peace, Hostile, Bitter, Relaxed, Tired, Exhausted, Lucky, Cheated.

All things I have felt in the past few days and many things I have not named.

It's good to be home. The funeral was nice, as nice as one can be I guess. There was some family that it was nice to see, and I got to spend time with my parents and sister. Now I'm tired. But going to the UT vs. UAB game tomorrow. Go vols!!!!

AND....MY DRESS IS FINISHED!!!!!!! It is ready for pick up altered and all! I'm so relieved!

Well...it's bed time...

<3 Lorie

1 week down...a million to go...

So, it gets a little better, and a little easier every day! This weekend was super busy! He had to work Saturday, and Sunday we actually got the chance to participate in a young adults activity. It was nice, and I'm feeling better and better about being at a big church. The people there are great, and so giving. The singing is beautiful. Not to mention he got me flowers and took me to the Chop House for our 1 year. Pink Roses. =]. I love him. As well as things are going, I must admit, I'm a little discouraged these days. I mean...it's hard being away from home...but that's not it. It's hard knowing that someone is working to destroy you. Most days I ignore it, but I'm so frustrated with not being able to do anything with out these people trying to one-up us. I don't care if they do everything better than us forever...I just wish they would stop paying so much attention to our lives, that people who barely even know us recognize that they are trying to do everything that we do...but better. I'm just so tired...I'm tired of being excited, and being brought down because you insist on not letting me have my moment. I am only getting married one time. I only want a simple wedding. I only want to marry the man of my dreams. Please back off. I'm tired, and just can't take it anymore. Like I said, most days I ignore it. But today it just seemed to really hit me...

So now...a wedding update...we got our pictures made. It was a lot of fun, and they turned out well! I love that she captured his laugh. His laugh makes me so happy, I can never express it in words. I might have to change the groomsmen's vest color. I don't think it matches as well as I thought it did, but that's okay. Silver would be pretty anyway since my girls are wearing silver shoes.

Speaking of silver shoes...I'M GOING TO VISIT MY SISTER AND MY NEPHEWS THIS WEEKEND!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am SOOO excited!!!! I've missed them so much! I think we're going to look for her shoes lol...but I'm super excited!

On top of that...I'm hoping that my bestie will come visit me soon...she has a friend who wants to come...so they may come up here together and that'll be so fun!!!

I'm hoping that my mom gets the napkins and cake topper I ordered soon...that'll be nice. I've purchased my bridesmaids gifts. Wedding bands...and food. And checking on my vests. And to print a couple little things to go in my invitations. That's it! Yay!!! =] Hope everyone has a good week!

<3 Lorie

Day 2 was better….

Day 2 at school was better…not great…but it’s getting there…we went to church tonight…the one I thought I wouldn’t like…but it’s getting better too…I guess it’s just a process.  I’m pretty excited about this weekend…we’re going to have a busy time…but fun…we’re going to visit Michael’s dad…and I’m going to a purse party…=] (insert HUGE smile here) lol…while I’m doing that with Val, Michael is going to work on his truck…we have quite a few little things to get done…but we’ll also get to sleep in…which I need after finally having to get up early every day again lol….anyway…that was just a small update on life in K-ville…I love my house.  Or my part of it anyway lol…And the people are greater than I could have imagined! All in all…things are looking up and I get a little better every day…

Just call me settled….

So…here I am…in Knoxville, TN.  Not yet home…but close I suppose.  I’m excited…the place I am staying is amazing….I am so grateful!  My mom and dad sent a lot of stuff with us…and we’re going smart shopping at Sam’s tomorrow…so we should eat just fine lol…the ride here wasn’t so bad…I of course cried leaving my house…but we had walkie talkies… the hard core kind that my dad let us borrow…so we had fun with that!  I’m pretty excited that Michael can actually call me now since I have signal almost everywhere lol!  Our weekend was amazing!  We had so much fun with family and friends!  I’ll tell more later about the weekend and about how things are going…but I’m sleepy…so good night!

 

<3 Lorie

I'm finishing tonight...

I'm doing today and tomorrow tonight...mostly b/c I want to be done with this...and b/c tomorrow is going to be SUPER busy!!! I'm getting up early to go to Kroger and get a rug doctor...I'm shampooing the carpets and seats in my car...I can't wait! I love feeling like my Ellie is brand new again! I'm having lunch with a friend. I haven't seen her in a very long time..and I am SO excited!!! Tomorrow night I am spending the night with my bestie! We're going to the Brighton game...then we're going to play catch up on my shows I missed this week and do wedding invitations...we're getting them ready so that when it's time to send them out, they can go. Then Saturday we're going to open house at her school and to do some random errands...then Saturday night I'm going to the movies or something with a friend who just happens to be Michael's cousin....so...needless to say...it's going to be busy...but FUN!

Day 29 → Something you hope to change about yourself. And why.
I'm always trying to improve, but one day I hope to not be so jaded. I know it's hard to do something like that...to "un-jade" yourself lol...but my life has led me to believe that, generally, people can not be trusted. And that's sad, I would like to move past it.

Day 30 → A letter to yourself, tell yourself EVERYTHING you love about yourself.
I'm not going to do it in letter form...but I will put some things I love about myself...I love my sense of humor...I love my laugh, as loud and obnoxious as it is...I love my feet, they're just the right size and shape...I love my hair, even more so when it's short, but I'm having a wedding and want long hair...I love my eyes...I love my passion...I love my ability to love others....I love myself...and let me just say...with someone in your life that chooses to love you with all his heart...it's very easy to find things you love about yourself.

<3 Lorie

I've been out of town...

So first I'll catch up with my 30 days of blogging...
Day 26 → Have you ever thought about giving up on life? If so, when and why?
In theory, but I've never gone as far as to actually attempt anything like suicide or hurting myself...never really thought about it either...I just in general wanted to give up and crawl under a rock and live forever.


Day 27 → What’s the best thing going for you right now?
Really? I'm getting married.


Day 28 → What if you were pregnant or got someone pregnant, what would you do?
If I were pregnant, I'd be certain Jesus was coming back! lol. I don't really have that problem...I don't have to worry about it b/c I'm not married yet.

Now that all that is done...just a quick update...I've ordered my garter and my cake topper and so...I'm really mostly done. Whew.

That being said, the past couple of days have been rough. I saw my grandmother, and probably won't see her again for a while. I always knew in the back of my mind that she wouldn't be able to come to my wedding. But to hear people say it, to have it become real is hard. I'm the youngest grandchild. I was the last to graduate, and the las to get married. She has never been able to make it to any of my major life events, because by the time I actually had major life events, she was just too old, and unable to ride for 3 or 4 hours to come. So I knew, I knew she'd never be able to make it. But it still hurts. I feel so blessed to have my wonderful parents and the all the amazing people I have in my life. But I feel a little cheated. I won't have any grandparents at my wedding. 3 of them will never get to see my wonderful future husband. I feel as though they'll never get to experience all the wonderful things that I'll make of my life. And that leaves me sad and a little empty. Like I said, I'm so grateful for all the blessings, it's just hard to know that it's real. That she really won't be there.

Anyway...as sad as that makes me, I am also grateful for all the wonderful times I have with her. I am glad that I at least got to know all my grandparents, some people don't even have that.

Anyway...it's bed time...I haven't slept much so I'm overly emotional anyway....lol.

<3 Lorie