First Christmas..... a smashing success!

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My newest home accessory thanks to my parents!

Engagement Anniversary.

Yesterday, December 1, 2010, was our engagement anniversary. The anniversary of the day Ben got down on his knee under the "bridge" and asked me to marry him. It has truly been an amazing year. 

Lets recap this past year: Ben and I are both working completely different jobs than we were on that day , we've planned a wedding and got married, we've visited a foreign country, we are both involved in an amazing church plant, we live in an apartment ten minutes from Ben's parents and seven minutes from mine, and we currently have 4 forms of transporation that include a cop car and a motorcycle. Oh, and it was my Moms birthday!      

Deputy Gordon

Today, Wednesday, October 27, 2010, Ben got sworn in as a Deputy Sheriff at Volusia County Sheriffs Office at 9:30 this morning. What a wonderful ceremony from Sheriff Ben Johnson. I am so proud of my husband! It's still not the end, he still has months of training ahead of him. At 1300 hours today, when he went back to work after lunch, they got handed out their assignments for the next three months. Unfortunately, Ben got assigned to the courts until another FTO opens up. There are only 17 Field Training Officers for 29 deputies. The courts will be nice; he will get holidays off, a slight pay raise, as well as a take home car. Here is an interesting article about the Deputies in training:

http://www.news-journalonline.com/news/local/west-volusia/2010/10/27/volusia-deputy-training-anything-but-basic.html

It's beginning to look a lot like .... FALL

I have posted a couple "before and afters" of our aparment. Realizing there is a good chance that I will be spending the holidays alone due to Ben's type of job, I am in a rush to get my apartment all cozy for the upcoming fall season! 

The hideous octo-gon table we had for a few months. It really brings out the lime green recliner chair.

Our new dining room table from World Market!

What a gorgeous summer look! I liked this.

However, I added a creamy-colored flannel sheet to our bed instead of the light ice-blue blanket I had for summertime. Chose a glass lamp thanks to my cousin in law Grace. I normally would go for a dark-wood type lamp. I love it!

Still working on our living room area. I purchased an entertainment unit from American Signature Furniture. However, they are ordering it from another state so it should take about two weeks to get here. I will post pictures as soon as I get it and "dress" it up!

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Walked in the door today after work to these beautiful Fall flowers from my husband!

Half Way Through.

Ben graduates training October 27, 2010. From there he will have three months of "FTO", where he will be riding with a different "field training officer" each month. In two weeks, he has a week called "officer survival week". This week is known to be the hardest in training. It is called survival week because a lot of it is using your survival mode to fight the S.W.A.T. team members.

Ben is nervous about this week, but I know he will do great. He is going to make an amazing police officer as much as it scares me.

Sample Wedding Pictures.

We got some wedding pictures. Not all of them. The following are some of my favorites!

 

 

  

 

 

  

  

  

 

Hog-Hunting

Went hog hunting last night with Pastor Larry and my dad. It was awesome. We were in the middle of the woods; there was a lot of cloud coverage, therefore, not a lot of visability. I could hardly see the ground, let alone any hogs. It was cool to be in the middle of this little forest and not being scared of what I could not see. Walking back towards the car Pastor Larry finally shining the light to see our footsteps, shines the light up towards a tree. Where, there was a spider web with a spider that was the size of my fist. It was then that I realized that there are things in this forest that were "creepy and crawly". Before that moment I walked fearlessly into the dark not watching where I was walking, other than to step-lightly so the hogs wouldn't hear us coming. I love the "natural-silence" of the forest.

Next time we go out, however, I hope to hear the loud blast from the gun as Larry takes down a hog!

"The one that got away"

Our First Apartment

Our apartment is great for a first apartment, but let me tell you, we are ready to move! It is a tiny place to live for two people. Here's a few pictures. We have done really minimal decorating with the intentions on moving in 8 or so months.

Our bedroom

The other angle. 

A bathroom fit for a mouse, but i love the shower curtain!

I like our room.

Our "nook"

Front door and the alarm.

Living room and the kitchen ish.

Our kitchen and the laundry room door.

Another angle.

Ben's New Job

On Thursday, July 1, 2010, Ben got the call that he got the job at Volusia County Sherfiffs Office. In his honor, we had a party with our friends at our house that night. Everybody is so supportive!

As of July 19, 2010 Ben has started his training as a reserve deputy sheriff at Volusia County Sheriffs Office. If you know Ben you would know that he has been wanting this job for over a year and a half. Ever since he graduated from police academy in the beginning of 2009, we have been hoping and praying for this job with the county. He interviewed back in January of 2009 for Volusia County the first time. We got the call that he didn't make that, however. After that he interviewed with a few more agencies, and was always in the top of the interviewing class, but never quite made it. This was obvious that it was God's timing!

He wouldn't stay still to take a picture but mmmm he looks good.
He is in a uniform to go shooting you just can't tell.

Now that it is here and he has the job, it hasn't been easy on me. I worry about Ben being a police officer. He has been working so hard in his training for the past two weeks. He already got himself a badge for "expert marksman". I'm glad that I have some great friends and family who I know will be a huge help through all of this. 

Honeymoon

We were excited to go to Jamaica to lay out in the sun and in the pools. As many of you know though, I was upset the entire first day of the trip, which, happened to be my 22nd birthday!  It was a hard day of 10 hours of traveling and then Jamaica just didn't end up being what we were expecting. However, towards the end we had a blast. We loved being together even through the tough times. We had so much fun.

Our new friends took this of us snorkling!

This was our favorite pool.

The coolest plants. They had these everywhere.

I've been on a lot of tropical trips with my family, but it was amazing to experience it with Ben.

We had a complimentary photoshoot our last day.
This picture would be better if my hair wasn't doing something silly. 

I cannot wait to travel more with Ben. He is such a great husband and takes such good care of me. He is the most perfect man for me.

Newly weds

We had the most incredible wedding ever.

Me and Ben are truly blessed to have amazing family and friends who helped us out with putting our wedding together. As many of you know, I was starting a new job during my "wedding planning months" so my mom took on the task as wedding planner. She did an excellent job - far beyond anything I could have imagined. It blew my mind! It was truly the best day of my life.

Walking down the aisle, or rather, grass, I knew I made the right choice in picking my husband. Thank goodness he picked me back! I've never been more sure that someone is going to take such good care of me. We had such a fun night with friends and family celebrating our marriage.

My wonderful brother capturing our vision in the pergola decoration. I have the best brothers ever.

The finished ceremony site

The finished room

 I married my best friend this night. My mom is such a supporter and has such incredible friends who all helped out in spectacular ways. What a beautiful example of community! This day felt like a dream I wish I could revisit. It was a fantasy.

Some details of the day:

We had the most pain free rehearsal thanks to our wonderful bridal party, parents and in laws, and Pastor larry. We practiced most of our "B" Plan. I am so glad we didn't have to use it.

Ben built and stained this. Now it sits in my parents front yard.

Looking into the same mirror my Nana had her wedding pictures in and so did my mom.

My pretty girls: Ben's sister, my gorgeous cousin, and my bestest friend, Maid of Honor.

This garden means a lot to me. My mom and I, back in '08/'09 sat out here during the fall and spring just to talk or read. This was the time Kyle had cancer and we would sit out here and talk. The worst and scariest times of my life. I'm just so thankful for my family.

Getting in the car heading to the church with my mints and deodorant in hand.

My brothers did a beautiful job. I'm so proud of them.

I wore my slippers of course!

Dad didn't want to let go. It made it easier though that Ben was the recipient.

A very fun ceremony. Pastor Larry is the best, so is Ben.

Decided to wear the veil the second I was starting to walk down the aisle. Glad I did.

A sweet hug because she means a lot to me.

This was very sweet and emotional for me and my dad. Best day of my life.

Our ushers and ring Bear. I bought a pin for Kenny that said "offical ring bearer." He wore it on his vest all night. Awesome.

Good looking group.

Our crazy M.C., Jared, Evan, Kyle, Me and Ben all had the mic in our circle singing "...headed down south to the land of the pines, I'm thumbing my way to the North Caroline. Staring up the road, pray to God I see headlights."

My little brother has an amazing voice. My mom actually picked out mine and Ben's first song.

Dad picked out our dance song and at first I was hesitant but it was perfect. "Cause you'll be in my heart, yes, you'll be in my heart. From this day on, now and forever morrreeee...."

They danced to Louis Armstrong's "What a Wonderful World".

Me and Ben, Mom and Dad, and the in laws danced to a song my dad sang to my mom for their tenth anniversary, "Through the Years".

Blairs fruit display

A dream come true.

These hanging candle holders were my first wedding purchase. I was glad I got trees on loan and I could use these.

Flowers submersed under water for our centerpieces.

The bridal table.

We ordered this the week before the wedding. We weren't planning on having a cake. I'm so thankful we did though. It turned out great. Thanks publix!

I actually didn't know we were having sparklers until the day of.

Mine and Ben's first dance. Kyle and Evan did a great job! Ben had no clue what we were going to be dancing to, until we were on the dance floor. Kyle introduced the song and it was song we had, in the beginning of our relationship, designated "our song". Only this time, was redone by Kyle and made it better.

Me and Ben, my parents, and his parents dancing to "Through the Years".

First professional photograph. More to come....