Thoughts on life

• My parents & brother are coming to town today!! I'm very excited to see them! They'll leave on Monday when I go to work, so it's a short visit for them.
• I have been feeling a bit "blue" for the last couple weeks now. I can't figure out if it's a seasonal depression that's going on or if it's more than that. This week has been better, thank goodness. I've been super busy this week, though, so maybe I didn't have enough to do over the last couple weeks? Who knows...
• I am so over school right now. I have two classes on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays and one class on Tuesdays & Thursdays. All of them are over the lunch hour. I've decided that it's rough not to have ONE day off from having classes (when working full time).
• In 15 weeks, I will be turning 30. Thirty!!! Yikes!! What am I going to do?!?!
• Why do people have to be so rude? If there is one thing that will leave me speechless, it's when complete strangers make comments TO ME in a public setting about my weight. It just baffles me. And we're talking rude and mean comments, too. It's not just a general observation or an "engage in conversation" comment. It's a flat-out rude comment about my appearance. Why do people have to do that? Do they not think that I already struggle as it is that they have to add their two cents worth? I just can't imagine doing that to someone, especially about something so sensitive.
• Back to school...my new mantra is, "I can do this, I can do this!!!" :o)
• Have a great day!!

Break time

I'm tired of blogging and I'm super busy right now. I'll blog when I can, but maybe not for a few more days.

Tiredness

Yesterday evening I was reading through past blog posts that I have on here and I thought, "Man...there seems to be a consistent pattern of sounding all down and depressed." I'm going to try and be more uplifting. But I'll start after today. Maybe. :)

So, it's 7:25 PM and I'm just heading out the door from work. I'm taking home a stack of stuff, too, and I plan to work from home all day tomorrow. At least I'll be able to stay home, though, and sit in my jammies while I work. :) If need be, I'll come in to the office on Sunday afternoon/evening, depending on how I feel.

You see, the University starts classes on August 23. Our graduate students are reporting back this coming Monday already (Aug. 16). And I have LOTS to do before they all show up!!!! Ack!! So, I'm trying to work, work, work so that when things actually DO get rolling, it won't be as traumatizing to let a few things "go" for a couple of days. :)

Tonight, though, I'm just going to CHILL OUT and read a book. *sigh* :o) Okay, maybe I'll do some laundry, too, but we'll see. :)

My good friend, Meegan, reminded me today that I hadn't put anything up about finishing school. Oops! I finished and I have been GLAD to be done! Although, I honestly don't feel like I've felt like I'm relaxing and having a break because I know that in the blink of an eye, I'll be starting three more classes again. I haven't felt annoyed by that or anything, but I just don't feel like I've really been able to just fully relax. It probably doesn't help that I've made plans for about every night of the week since my last class ended. ha! I told my mom that I'll have to start classes again just so I can slow down a little!! *laugh* Anyway, I finished the semester on a good note...I took four classes (for a total of 12 credits) and I got three A's and one B. I can't complain about that!!! :o)

And that's all for now! I need to get home and eat some supper. I hope that you all have a great weekend!! I have to say...our seasons are changing!! This morning I left home and I almost went back in the house to get a jacket!! It was a bit chilly!!! It's been in the 40's at night and you CAN feel it. THIS is the time of year that I really love. *sigh* :o)

More images from the wedding

Here are some more pictures from Monique & Daren's wedding day, courtesy of Esther (friend of mine & Mo's) and Karen (Mo's step-mom).

Again...for EVERY picture, if you click on it once, it will open up to a bigger screen and you will be able to get a better look at it. ENJOY!!!

Monique's family...minus her brother & sister-in-law, Monte & Poppy, and brother-in-law, Morgan, who both couldn't make it to the wedding. :( Monique's sisters, brother-in-law, and nieces/nephews to the right and step-siblings (and Lana's spouse :) to the left.

A beautiful picture... :)

Monqiue's nieces & nephews...if you can't already tell, I just love these kids! They're great! :)

Monique being handed over in marriage by her dad. You can see the Kendrick Mansion in the background. It's a museum now. It was just all a very pretty setting for a wedding!

Brent, Mo and Me...we have been the three partners in crime for a long time now. I'm glad we have this picture. :)

Monique & Daren with the parents...his folks on the left, Loren & Lil, and Mo's dad and stepmom on the right, Karen & Dave.

These girls just had a lovely time together. They're cousins who don't get to see each other all that often, but they're thick as thieves when they're together! It's great to see! :)

Monique with her dad, Dave, and her twin sisters, Melody (left) and Michelle (right).

Part of the get-away plan for Mo & Daren involved bubbles...some folks couldn't wait until the get-away to blow bubbles so there were bubbles everywhere for awhile. I love this picture because of the joy on Monique & Daren's faces. It's priceless! :)

More of those who were having too much fun with the bubbles. I hope they don't get after me for posting this picture. ha! :)

The guestbook table...the sign in the center said, "All because two people fell in love" and then they had pictures of parents, grandparents and great-grandparents surrounding it. Daren's family pics were on the right and Mo's were on the left (second picture below). It was neat to see! They also had the bottles of bubbles for later on as well as packets of wildflowers that you could take and plant in order to remember the day. On a side note...That's my arm you see in the picture. I was responsible for taking pictures of the guests so they could place the picture in the guestbook later on (next to the person's signature). I was also responsible for making sure that the children didn't take six tubes of bubbles at one time. That job was more tough than the picture taking. ha!

(Below) The picture of Monique & Daren is in the center...her dad & step-mom's wedding picture is to the right of that (just behind theirs) and her dad & mom's wedding picture is to the left of that (just behind theirs). Mo's mom passed away almost four years ago now and I thought that this was a nice way to remember her this day. In their wedding picture, she & Dave are around 18, I believe. Pretty close to that age, anyway, and quite YOUNG on that wedding day long ago. :)

A Friend, Amy, had asked about a picture of the cake in the previous post. There was no cake that day! Instead, Monique & Daren had milk and cookies!! The milk wasn't out yet, but you can see the bottles they used on the right (these were engraved with their name & wedding date and given out as thank-you gifts later on...I got one! Wahoo!) :)

The happy couple...

The food table...there were grapes, cheese & crackers, cold roast beef for sandwiches (with mustard or horseradish to add to your sandwich), asparagus, strawberry salad, and then these sticks of rosemary with mozzarella, artichoke and salami on them (like a kabob...I don't know how to explain them, really, but they were good). It was delicious!!

Miss Ivey, Monique's niece. She belongs to Michelle & Morgan...

The twin sisters, Melody (left) and Michelle (right).

Daren & his brother, Ryan.

Monique & Daren's Wedding

Well, the wedding was absolutely beautiful!! The weather was wonderful (low 90's) and the ceremony & reception were just as wonderful. I started crying as soon as the wedding party came around the corner (I'd been feeling it build up since I got up that morning) and I pretty much did not STOP crying until we were on our way to the reception. :( But, as I told others, it was a happy-sad cry. I'm VERY happy for Monique & Daren and I'm thrilled that I could be there with them, but I will sure miss Mo. Don't worry, though...I've already added it to my "places to travel" list! Wahoo!! ;o)

Now...the pictures. Before I start, please take note...for EVERY picture, if you click on it once, it will open up to a bigger screen and you will be able to get a better look at it. ENJOY!!!

I arrived an hour and a half after they started taking pictures, so I got one of D & M with all of the nieces and nephews and another one of everyone visiting BEFORE the wedding ceremony.

Now, this next picture is hard for me to talk about. It was a "bridezilla" moment of Mo's. She decided that she did NOT like where the ceremony was set up (because of the sun), so she kind of forced everyone to help her move things.
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Oh, yeah right...like MO would do that!!!! :o) After some discussion by MANY people involved, it was decided that it would be better to move the ceremony setting BACK about 15 feet so that everyone (bridal party included) could be in the shade for most of the ceremony. So, everyone that had a free hand started moving chairs back...including the bride and groom!!! :o)

But what did Grandpa Ray do to help? Why, he held Mo's flowers!! What a gentleman!!! ;)

Monique & Daren with Dean and Scott. Dean & Scott had a part in the wedding ceremony...Dean spoke, Scott prayed.

Monique & Daren with John & Esther. I *love* this picture!! :o)

Then, it was TIME FOR THE WEDDING TO START!!! I included the following picture because it's the only one I captured of Daren's mom & dad, Loren & Lil.

Monique & her Dad after he just walked her up the aisle.

Dean is sharing his message.

The group of singers. I believe that the title of the song they were singing was "Homes of Zion". Monique might have to correct me on that one later. It was a beautiful song and the singers really did a nice job with it!!

The vows.

After the vows were said, rings exchanged and the kiss to "seal the deal," Mo's nieces and nephews sang a hymn from our hymn book, number 226, "O, Teach me how to love." They did a FANTASTIC job!!! I was SO impressed with them and VERY proud of them!! :) (P.S. -- Mo's step-mom, Karen, made the dresses for the girls. Aren't they cute?! This is a good picture, too, to kind of see what dress Monique's sisters, Melody & Michelle, chose for the wedding. I'm not sure where they bought them from, but I thought they were very lovely!)

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Daren & Monique as Mr. & Mrs.!!!!!

I caught this picture as they were walking away and I think it's one of my FAVORITE pictures from the day. I just love the simplicity of it.

Saying congratulations and some visiting before the reception.

At the reception. My job for the wedding involved taking pictures for the guest book, so my personal pictures of the reception aren't very organized. I was happy with what I captured, though!

The next couple pictures show the "damage" done to the car! Yes...these pictures were cropped to protect the reputation of those who had a hand in this car makeover. ;o) They were actually very nice to Daren & Mo's car, thank goodness. :) If you click on the first picture, it will open up to a larger view and you can see the GREAT pictures that someone drew on the front windshield of Daren & Monique. It was quite hilarious!! ;)

Signing the marriage license to make it official.

Getting ready for the bride & groom to make their get-away! We had BUBBLES to blow on them as they ran through!! :)

I didn't do so well on this shot, but Daren & Monique are right in the center of this picture. Click on it to make it larger, if you'd like.

THE END!! It was an absolutely LOVELY day and I think that Monique did a wonderful job with putting this wedding together. It was simple and elegant and heart-warming and special. I was glad to be there and I hope I "captured" the day in a way that's acceptable to all of you!! :) If there is a special something you'd like to see from the day, please let me know! I may be able to get my hands on a picture taken by someone else and I could possibly post it here. That being said, if you were at the wedding and want to e-mail me some pictures to post, please feel free to do so! I sure wouldn't mind posting pictures here that others took as I know that I did not capture everything! :)

It's here!!!!

Well, the time has arrived for me to go to Monique & Daren's wedding!!! :) I'll be leaving later this morning for the five hour trip, so please keep your fingers crossed for a safe, uneventful drive. My friend, Brent, is riding with me, so that will make the drive tolerable. :)

The weather forecast for tomorrow looks good, too! The temps are supposed to be in the low 90's (ugh!) but no thunderstorms are predicted, so that's good. Even if it does rain, though, we'll manage. Isn't there some old saying about rain being good luck on a wedding day? Anyway, for Mo's nerves, we'll hope for a DRY day!! :o)

Monique will be at the rehearsal dinner tonight, so instead of sitting by myself at the hotel, I will be going to supper with my good friends, John & Esther. I am really looking forward to that! :) It will be good to catch up with them!

The wedding will be at 10:30 AM tomorrow (Saturday) with a luncheon reception to follow. Be thinking of them and sending happy wishes their way!! :o) I hope to be home tomorrow night but not knowing how long the day will be, I'm not going to promise pictures until at least Sunday. Come to think of it, I really don't know if I'll be able to get pictures up until later this week! Sorry!



hahaha... Just kidding!!!! :D Pictures by Sunday night!! :) Enjoy your weekend!!!

Three down, ONE to go!!!

Wahoo!! I just finished another class!! :o) I just submitted my final paper for my history class on American women's experiences and now I am DONE with that class! Yay!! My paper ended up being an eight page paper, so that wasn't too bad but I am still glad to be done with it. Really, it was the easiest of all of my classes so I can't complain. I'm just glad that I can have some FUN now!! :o) I have one more class to finish up and with that class, I have two discussion posts to participate in next week and then we get a week to study for the final exam on August 6. Other than that, I'm done with that class, too. Yay! :)

Classes for the fall semester will begin on August 23 and I'll be taking three classes this fall. Hopefully it won't be as intense, though, because I'll be completing the courses in 16-week time periods rather than eight (like this summer has been). So...a little bit of a break before I start again! I'm just HAPPY to be almost done for the summer!! WAHOO!!! :)