the slideshow and wedding

the slideshow- from the wedding! and the wedding- start at about 16 mins in and you will see all you need!!!

The wedding- it came and went- here is a recap!

So I flew home on July 9th- and that night I went to the ER and spent the next few days in the hospital on an IV antibiotic. Turns out the rash I had on my face turned into Cellulitus. photo below- my mom snapped in the ER.

I was supposed to be home to finish up the planning for the wedding (mere weeks away) so naturally i was a bit freaked to be looking like THIS. 

they had me on some heavy anti-biotic in the hospital (and for a week after leaving) and in the end my face (plus make-up) looked almost back to normal!!!! 

DAY OF: we started off with a bit of pampering, hair and makeup for me and all the girls (including Joelle, though i later braided her hair.... she's four, she didn't leave her hair alone)

then- off to the photo-taking site (a wee bit later than planned).

here is my groom and his guys looking good!!!

me and my groom

me and my girls 

me and Joelle (my second fav person in the whole wide world) my niece and flower girl

and then off to the church (millions more photos but i'm trying to keep it short and sweet)

Me and Griffin and my parents

                                                     Me and Griffin with his mom and sister

me and Joelle

me in my veil

                                                         Chillin- waiting for it all to start

                                                 My dad walking me down the Isle

                                           Joelle, doing her flower girl thing like a pro!

and He's giving me away!

                                                   Wedding prayer

                                                 First communion as husband and wife

the Kiss

MARRIED

Me and my family (minus Kyle, Megan and baby Ethan)

the get away! 

the next morning we had a brunch for family and out of town guests- 

Joelle was glued to my side- so sad, she didn't want me to go- i miss her a ton too!

opened some presents! 

Me and Jaren- took me all three weeks to get him to warm up to me again.... and then i left again... oy

Janelle and Josh (and baby on board) one of my bridesmaids and best friends

Matt and Jennifer (matt took a ton of great photos for us) and Jennifer was my right hand girl- my matron of honor, returning the favor from last summer when i was her maid of honor! my bestest friend. I tried to convince them to move to AR but no luck....

Richard and Sara- he was a groomsman and she was a bridesmaid- i am STILL trying to convince them to move, sucks that i have all these great friends who live so very very far away now :(

me and my sisters, my mom, and my two grandmas! felt so loved that so many family came

Cody & Mal (and Evan) - my cousin and her fam

I have a video of the wedding- i'll try to post i here when i figure out how

for now that's it- the wedding story!

Day at the ZOO

This last summer Me and Griffin when to the Memphis Zoo with our friends and their family.

 Here is me And Griff at the zoo, on a random zoo bench that I thought was pretty-

 Here is the Lovely Kuzin Clan (plus Taylor, far left who is Jarrod's girlfriend)

 Me and my honey by the waterfall-

 and us in a weird cubby whole- in a tribal wood wall (not sure why it was there but it was cool)

 Me and Hannah and Theresa on a bench sitting (cause walking that much can make you very very tierd) and Below is ME in the giftshop with a flamingo that we DID not buy.

Update from Jonesboro

I'm having a slow time making friends, but I AM starting to feel a bit connected with my church here, thanx to the Thrive youth group!

I have a job, I have some co-workers that I've come to think of as friends but the  Job is not my fav place to go, and I'll tell you why. Because of the neighborhood I live in/work in. I see the kind of things that make me cringe everyday.

I do have some great customers, that I see regularly that make me smile. But then there are those other ones
 Moms who choose to buy the cigarettes and put back the load of bread because they can't afford both (at the end of the month when they're out of food stamps),
the kids who come in by themselves (6, 7, 8) and try to hassle our customers out of some change so they can buy some candy.
the babies who are eating candy as they exit the store (WAY TO YOUNG for that much sugar)
and the obese couple who buys 12, two liters of soda a week.

I know that poverty exists everywhere, even Oregon, but I never saw it up close and personal like I do here. To see people who have absolutely no desire to get up and do better for themselves, or their kids.

I am ready to come home for a few weeks (July 10th) and get married :) (Aug 2nd) - and then come back here and find another job, one where I will see the best in people again, and not the worst.

I have strong feelings about this country (and it's leaders) creating a society of people who are dependent or entitled on the government for their basic needs, people who take advantage of the system and do all they can to milk it!

Month one in this strange land

So it has been almost a month since I got here and so much has happened! I still miss bend and think of it as home but I'm working to build a life here so I will be a bit less home-sick all the time.

My first week here was filled with so much it's hard to remember it all. First I arrived and saw my house for the first time, the next day we went shopping for all the little things that fill a house (curtains, rugs, dishwasher soap...., and the next day we bought a zippy little red car (a 2009 mazda 3) - Our first car together.

We've had a few get togethers with friends (which kinda makes me miss home more) but helps with the loneliness. I've applied for every job under the sun! I have another interview today at 2, for the dollar general that just so happens is located just across the street (I've walked to it almost every day). I also found an online "job" which I stumbled upon while searching for healthcare - It's a company called Ameriplan (click to check it out)

Last week I turned 30!!! Woo hoo! Yes i do feel a slight bit old, I think it would be impossible not to, knowing I've been alive 3 decades!!!! And Griffin turned 33 on Easter! Oh and his mom is coming to visit next week!!! So I get to meet her for the first time (the first of his family that I will be meeting in person).

Ok- now for the most exciting thing since moving here....

We got KITTENS!!!! something to keep me company while I'm alone at night! I love them so much!!!! And I'm happy to report, since bringing them home one week ago they have become friends! they play, fight, cuddle together, and all hissing has stopped! This is especially great at night when they are playful, they play with each other instead of me! (unless i decided to move my foot, then i will be tackeled for sure).
It's been 12 years since I had a cat and while I miss my baby dog sunny (back home in bend) It feels great to have little creatures to pour love into (the white one is Griffins and he named her x-box. the black one is mine and i named her trinket but i call her baby)

More to come- My craft room is almost done being painted!!!! then i get to start organizing all my crafting stuff and start using it again!!!!! this makes me VERY happy as well!!!!
Anyhow, I've got an interview to go get ready for! I miss you all very much and i look forward to seeing you during July and/or at the wedding (which is 133 days away)
Much love
--aileen