Christmas 2008

I hope everyone had a great Christmas. Mine was definitely busy. Me and Ben left for home early on Christmas Eve. We all meet at my parents to do Christmas with my sister and her family around lunch time. Then my dad's side of the family all meets up at my Grandmother's house in Fries to do Christmas together. This year me and Ben changed things around a little. We actually got to wake up together on Christmas morning. He stayed with me at my parents. Christmas morning we woke up and done Christmas with them. Afterwards we then got ready and head to Rural Retreat to do the same with his family at lunch time. After spending time with them we headed back to my mom's for dinner. It sounds all bad but we had a good Christmas with our families. This was actually mine and Ben's last Christmas single. We will be married in about 4 1/2 months now. Shew! I'm ready for it. The day after Christmas was my dad's birthday and the 27 was my sisters so Happy Birthday again to them.



This is my and my oldest nephew Zack opening presents at my parents.



This is my youngest nephew who just opened the Zune that my parents got him.



This is me and Zack again on the way to my grandmas. Mom thought she'd get creative in the car.




My sister, mom, and me at my grandma's.



Me and Ben infront of my grandmother's tree.




Me and Ben on Christmas morning.



Mom being sneaky.



Me and my grandmother.



Uncle Greg, Uncle Chris, Dad, and Grandma.




Ben's grandparents.




Ben's mom.




Us again Christmas day.



Uncle Mike



Aunt Kim and Uncle Dale

Thanksgiving '08

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving. Me and Ben slept in 'til after 10am. We haven't done this in a long time, especially have 2 dogs, 1 being a puppy. It felt so good to do this! We went and ate with the family at my grandma's in Fries first.


(A view from my grandma's deck)


(Another view from my grandma's deck. The old Motel)


(My beautiful grandmother)


(Me and my babe)

Then after we ate and socialized there for a while we went back to Ben's aunt and uncle who live in Rural Retreat. And once again, ate way too much!

Afterwards we then went to my parents so that my parents could give Ben his b-day present.

Overall we had a pretty busy day.

Then today we faught the crowds in Christiansburg and actually went and done some shopping. And let me tell you, I don't feel sorry for older women anymore, they were the worst ones in the crowd today. URGH!

Then I had to go to work 12-9. Having all the employees there made the day horrible!

I hope everyone had a good holiday!

Meet Tango

So me and Ben added on a new addition! We have another little boston terrier puppy named Tango! He will be 7 weeks this coming Sunday. Him and Bently are getting along really well and I'm glad! He is definitely a handful right now but he's worth it!

Sandals Honeymoon Suite

So we have finally gotten our honeymoon booked! We are going to Ocho Rios Jamaica, and staying in a honeymoon suite at a Sandals resort! We're both so ready to go. It's all inclusive so our food and drinks are paid for. All we have to worry about when we get there is if we want to go out and do anything or souvies, which we'll def. bring the families back some stuff. We also got a $250 spa credit to get massages while we are down there! May can't get here soon enough! I'm ready to be married!

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Reflections on Marriage For the Bride & Groom

*This is from the card that Ben's grandparents gave us at our shower.

How To Make
A Beautiful Life Together
Reflections on Marriage for the Bride & Groom

Let love be your shelter.
The world is noisy
and confusing at times,
so make a home
that is a haven,
a peaceful place where you can
listen to your hearts and savor
the comfortable closeness
you share.

No matter how busy
your days may be,
make times for yourselves.
Hold hands. Unwind
Surprise each other.
Find little chances every day
to show you're grateful to be partners,
to be friends, to be married.

Life is not perfect.
You will make mistakes,
but each time
you meet life's challenges together,
you will grow wiser, stronger,
and surer of your love.

Cherish your yesterdays.
They are irreplaceable souvenirs
of your journey through life.
Make memories
that will bring smiles and sighs
whenever you look back.
(Look back often!)

Look foward, too.
Dream together. Plan together.
Make promises to keep.
Believe in your tomorrows,
because tomorrows
are what forever is made of.

To make love last,
put each other first.
that is the way to make a
beautiful life together,
the kind of life
you both deserve so much.

Wedding Wishes

This is a letter that I received from one of my best friends mother's in the mail about getting married. I thought that I would share some of it with you. I am proud of it and love the woman dearly. Thought maybe everyone could be reminded.

First off remember to put God first in life and everything else will fall into place. God didn't promise us we still wouldn't have times of trouble. It happens to us all.What he does promise he will never leave us and he will never give us more than we can handle.

Second if anyone tells you they've never had a disagreement tell them that's wonderful and ask how they did it. They might just have a point or two that will help you, if you find yourself in that situation.

Thrid there's an old saying always Kiss Me Goodnight the bible says don't let the sun set if you are angry with your brother. Young love is so precious its so intense the feelings we have for one another. I hope everyday you feel that same feeling as you do on your wedding day.

Fourth learn to say I'm sorry. It's two of the easiest words to say but sometimes it comes hard. I hope that God feels you and your spouse with such devotion and love it never becomes an issue, but just in cause it does go ahead and say it.

Fifth Be truthful and trusting. The two of you will grow in this part. Growing in it together is what makes you stronger. You are still finding out things you didn't know about one another so if something bugs you bring it out in the open. Keep in midn to keep an open mind on the subject it'll work out just like everything else does.

*This woman was just another mother to me growing up! I love her dearly! Her son is also just like a brother to me. He actually just inlisted into the millitary so please keep him in your prayers!

Pampered Chef

Just wanted to let everyone know that I am doing another pampered chef party. Although this time I'm just doing a catalog show, nothing to come to, just order out of the catalog. AND this month you can get 20% off a lot of stoneware. If you are interested in ordering just let me know!

Go Seminoles!!!

I just want to brag about how Florida State defeated Virginia Tech. I don't think it should matter what team you pull for, we are all the same people and shouldn't be treated any different. This is the second football season in a row that I have been put down in bad ways for wearing something with FSU on it.

Here is what happened this year... Me and Heather were in Belk shopping and I had on a FSU sweatshirt. An older man looked at me who had on VT stuff and asked me who I was pulling for. I looked down and read my sweatshirt and looked up back at him and said Florida State. He then began to tell me all these mean things such as I need to leave the County. URGH! If he hadn't of been old... :) Just shows you how rude VT fans can be.

Anyways here are a couple of pictures that Ben made to aggervate some people he works with. Thought that I would post them for you all!!!

GO FLORIDA STATE!!!!

Been A While

So it had definitely been a while since I have posted anything. Thought maybe I'd update just a little bit. My sister has had me a pampered chef party a while back to get all of my wedding festivites started. We had a ball. Not to mention I racked up with a ton of stuff. When she first said something about pampered chef I didn't really know what to expect but I am addicted now!!!


Then not long ago me and Ben finally had our engagement pictures made. We went with a woman that is actually from Grayson but is now located in Fancy Gap. We loved her. She is going to be doing my bridal pictures as well as our wedding pictures too. With our engagement pictures I agreed to do a FSU one for Ben. Little did we know that they would turn out to be the best ones.



Then lately my mom had me a bridal shower. She did it early because they are probably going to be working a lot after Christmas and I wont get to see them much. Plus after Christmas is going to get hectic trying to get everything done. I had a lot of fun at my party. Me also got a lot of nice things that we needed and are still receiving stuff here and there from the ones that didn't get to come to the party.



Other than that it's all that's really going on right now. We have started going back to the gym again to get back in shape and to make sure that I'm going to be able to fit in my dress that I bought a year too early! :) If you want to see more pictures from my shower or our engagement pictures just go to our wedding website. We are keeping everyone updated with everything that's going on there.
htt://www.mywedding.com/benandjulie

This & That

So there has been a ton of stuff going on. Not only with wedding planning but working and school all the time. The weather has been so nice this weekend! Friday night we went to the drive in with my sister and her family. We saw Iron Man. It was ok. Def. not a movie I would watch again. My oldest nephew spent the night with us that night. The following day we ran errands and then had my parents and sister and the gang over for a cookout. Today me and Ben have just spent the day together running more errands, cleaned our cars, and cleaned the house. Unfortunately I have to work tomorrow and Ben gets to sleep in but I atleast get off at 4.

Wedding Planning

So wedding planning is going along great. I'm so excited and am having a blast planning our wedding! I have already gotten my wedding dress and accessories for all that. And have picked out all the bridesmaid dresses. My sisters is diff. than the rest and she's already gotten hers back and I LOVE it! Me and Ben actually done our registries this weekend and can't wait to start having the parties and other fun wedding activities! You can keep up with us through our wedding website at http://www.mywedding.com/benandjulie We can't wait to share our special day with all of you!

Mr & Mrs Josh Akers

So last weekend was Heather and Josh's wedding. After a lot of planning it turned out to be a beautiful wedding. I'm so happy for the both of them and love them both dearly.

To the left is Ashley, Heather, and myself. It was so nice for Ashley to come up for the wedding because she has just recently just moved to North Carolina. In this picture we're getting ready for the wedding and trying to keep Heather calm and outta the bathroom from having to pee fifty thousand times.

This is the lovely bride and groom afterwards! They look so happy together but in all reality they are so ready to get outta those clothes because it was soooooo hot in that church!!

This is me and Ben after the wedding. I think Heather and Josh had already left or were atleast getting ready too. Less than a year and it's our turn!!!