Newlyweds - 5 days

I absolutely love my husband!

Why?
He is patient with me.
He is kind to me.
He tells me I'm beautiful and reiterates it again when I joke that he needs to get his eyes checked.
He prays with me at night.
He reads to me from our little "Couple Devotion" book.
He makes me laugh, like last night, when we "couch danced" to the tunes on American Idol.
He loves the Lord more than me.

More specific ways he has blessed me this week:

Monday, he brought me flowers - Irises!
Tuesday, he made up the bed all by himself, tried desperately to buy this double papasan chair thing-which didn't pan out, but the thought was sweet, and watched American Idol with me, though he really could care less.
Wednesday, he watched the finale of American Idol with me, though he really really could care less. He did my laundry for me - even folding/hanging everything up too!
Tonight, we're watching LOST together, it is my secret plan to get him addicted ... mmuuuaahh!!

Newlyweds - 4 days

Our life thus far:

-Wedding
-Wedding Night at the Inn at Woodhaven
-Several Wal-mart runs to get stuff
-Rescue bird from dryer vent at Sarah & Rachel's apartment
-Begin writing scores of thank you cards
-Melissa's becoming domestic
-James being Melissa's hero and killing a nasty ugly spider in the living room

Looking forward to:
-Traveling to Nashville for Angela's Graduation on Sunday
-Honeymoon at First Farm Inn
-Seeing Cincinnati
-Sleeping in, Organizing stuff, Cleaning out James' old apartment, helping clean at my old apartment

The joys of married life :)

Newlyweds - 3 days

Yahoo - we're married ... more details later :)

3 days ... Engagement Pics

BIG thank you to Rachel & Sarah for taking the pictures - We Love You!

4 Days ... Official

James and I stopped by the County Clerk yesterday when I got off work and got our marriage license. One thoroughly confusing application (seriously I have a Master's Degree and I had to ask questions), a quick 10 minute wait and $35.50 later, we're licensed to wed!

It's strange how seeing our names on the document suddenly makes it feel official. I mean, we created and sent out 200 invitations, paid lots of money to different people, I have a dress, he has a tux but it became all the more real to me yesterday holding that form. It's a cool feeling - excitement mixed with anxiousness.

Afterwards, we went to Mark's Feed Store for some good ole' BBQ. Monday's are "Free Dessert Days" so after stuffing my face with BBQ chicken, I squeezed in some hot fudge Sundae ... I do have a dress I must fit into in 4 short days. Possibly not my smartest idea, but it was YUUUMMMMYYYY!

5 days ...

I stopped by Nanz & Kraft this morning to finalize the floral options.

Red Roses and Red Tulips with Green Hypernicum, Italian Fresca and Lemon Leaves as filler-should be simple yet pretty. God has graciously provided James' sister Mary and my sweet friend Maryann who both worked in floral shops to arrange the flowers, create the corsages and boutineers and tie the hand-tied bouquets.

Later today, James and I are going to proof and finalize the program so we can get those puppies printed, folded and ribbon-tied by Thursday.

Also on the agenda is finalizing our food order for the reception ... I'm hungry already!

8 Days ... Apartment 315

Here's a glimpse into what will be James and I's apartment.

The front door ... well, it's an apartment so it's the only door.
Check it out, the mail box is right next to the door

The dining room (yikes, bare wall needs color!)
Mr. Silver likes his new spot in the dining room-he can see all the action.

The living room from Mr. Silver's view in the dining room.
(Yikes again - bare wall needs color!)

The living room again - looks better from this view.

The kitchen - LOVE the Peru wall hanging :)

Mr. Silver's view of the kitchen ... small, yes but a great improvement from Fuller. (Please ignore the trash bag, need to get a trash can soon!)

My bedroom for the next 8 days, then I have to share it with a boy!

The beautiful paper lantern James picked out at World Market for our bedroom - matches the bedspread perfect!

The beautiful bedspread from dear sweet, Jenn-Jenn.

Our cool B&W Bathroom - very tiny btw.

The bathroom again ... life-saving space saver thing.

Cute stackable washer/dryer.
They hold only minuscle loads, but it beats going to the landromat!

Our pet bird, "Feather" lives here. She's a morning dove. I looked for her all evening, but she must have been out running errands.

The view out our door.

So that's our apartment. Please come visit anytime - our door is always open. It's a stepdown from 4208 with Sarah and Rachel, but my house at home is a step down from that amazing apartment! I think we'll like it here. There are several other seminary families that live here, lots of kids, and a small pool.

So this is where we'll hopefully spend the next 2-3 years before we head overseas, Lord willing. Please pray for us as we begin our lives together, that we will be focuses on each other and not our own selfish wants/desires and that God will use our marriage for his glory and to minister to and encourage others.