Our Marriage {Thus Far} In A Nutshell!

I have been trying to sit down and get this started since the HONEYMOON. Just sitting down to do it was the hard thing. So here we go. Now where to start? With planning the wedding? Proposal? Wedding day? Ughh! We decided to make a list of the top things that has happened since we've been married! So here we go..hope you enjoy!!!!

1. Got married December 5, 2009 ( Obviously!)

2. We stayed the wedding night at Chateu Elan. Beautiful winery in Braselton, GA that I have always wanted to visit. It was amazing. They treated us like royalty ( especially when I walked in with my dress on and Clay in his tux). Sunday morning we loaded up and headed to Jacksonville, Fl to stay the night. Then Monday morning we loaded up AGAIN and boarded Carnival Facination cruise ship!!! The first for us both. Clay had been an awesome hubby and booked us a SUITE!!! Therefore we were considered VIP! We journeyed out to Key West, FL and Nassaua Bahamas for 6 days.

3.We returned and enjoyed out first Christmas together MARRIED!That morning we got up and had invited my parents over for breakfast. I was getting breakfast started and Clay got a phone call and had to leave and go to work..:(...Needless to say I was mad and just cried and cried. Our first Christmas and you have to work??? If that wouldnt have happened then we wouldnt have that memory to share. We we blessed by the whole family with gifts. We appreciated EVERY LAST ONE!

4. Then on December 30th we packed up and headed to Awanita with the youth group. We had a blast and God did wonders with our youth group. It was very strange being in this same youth group since 7th grade...becoming a leader.. and then GOING AS A MARRIED COUPLE!Just shows what God has done in our lives! It was beautiful when it snowed while we were there!!!

5.Then rolls around Clays 25th Birthday! Crazy! We met when he was 18!!! Wow..I surprised him with a ride along Richard Petty thingy! He loved it. My parents, Mike,Gail,Jo Jo, Tiffany,Justin, and Todd all came along for the show. Clay decided that he wanted to go to Talledega so we did. Then Todd( Clays brother) decided to purchase one and do it with Clay. After 5 or more loooong hours of waiting his time finally came!

6. Since we are the willing youth leaders we are. We voluntered our home for 15ish teen girls to come spend the night for 3 nights while they were on Spring Break. We had sooo much fun. We had girls everywhere. I would do it again tomorrow!!!We went roller skating on Thursday and Six Flags Friday! The best part of the whole "trip" was I was kissed by a cow!!!!

7. In May we continued our Annual Girls Weekend to Myrtle Beach. I did miss my new husband so bad, but it was good to be away for the weekend. Mama always said absence made the heart grow fonder!!We had so much fun!!! I was so happy to see my husband on Sunday though!!!!

8. June 21st we got the greatest news!!! We were going to be Aunt Anna and Uncle Clay AGAIN! Zach and Sara are preggers. We are so excited. Its a miracle from God and cant wait till Feburary for little butterbean to make his/her apperance!

9.July 4th my grandparents came down for the weekend. We had so much fun. My grandfather willingly brought the boat and all the accessories. We went to lake Oconee for the weekend..tubed..skiied..and cooked out! This is also when Clay jumped off the boat in the middle of the lake and came up and said " I lost my ring"...no one believed him..but he really did. I cried but got over it and we went and got him another!! Just one more memory in our book!

10. I started my new job July 19th. I am currently watching two precious babies. A girl from church that I have known a long time had two sweet twins girls. They were born at 29 1/2 weeks. Gods hand was on them while they were in the NICU for serveral weeks. Now at home and growing each and every day!!!

11. We celebrated my 21st birthday with my parents..and all the in laws! We have a really good time. We ate at my favorite resturant FATZ! I got all I asked for. It was a really good bday!!!

12. Last but not least..I feel like I have talked about me the whole time and left out my amazing husband!!!! Clay went through a first responder class with the fire department for about 2 months. Lots of studying and hard work. Lots of night away from me and lots of days he would work 8-10 hours with the City of Monroe and then go sit in a 3-5 hour class. Long days but it payed off. He ACED his test and is now a CERTIFIED FIRST RESPONDER! We are all so very proud of Clay and his accomplishments!!!! Way to gooo Clay!!! Here is a picture of him headed off to class one night..

We hope you all enjoy! It has been a CRAZY 8 months but amazing too. We learn to love each other more and more each day! We are excited to see what GOD has in store for the next 60 + years!!!! Keep in touch!!!