Our Family!

So you want to know a bit more about Our family huh? Well, it's so basic it's complicated.

Before meeting Charles I was as they call, BOY CRAZY! I was a typical teenage girl. I had the flames of the day, week, month, and year. I had fun. My hobby included flirting. I worked so many hours it wasn't even funny at a local Country Club and often until the wee hours of the morning as a Senior in high school. I absolutely loved my life. Even thru the hardest time in my life when my parents divorced, I tried to find joy in my life.



















Charles had moved from Albq., New Mexico to Newnan, Georgia only shortly before we met. In New Mexico, he was attending college and apart of the Phi Delta Theta Fraternity.


















Charles and I met, online originally if you must know but face-to-face January 2002. I was a Senior in High School and he was in College. By February 2002 we were 'exclusively dating'. Sometime between January and May 2002, we went with my dad and two younger brothers to Orlando, Florida. It was here that Charles gave me a "Promise ring". It was a pearl in white gold that was 'hatched' from the Oyster we choose. Just as our love has 'hatched' from all the rough and tough times we've had and been thru together.














He Attended Prom with me my Senior Year, May 2002.





















June 2002 Charles Sister got married. Both sides of the family (Hers and His) headed down to Panama City Beach, Florida to spend a few days after the wedding.
















We were engaged December 21, 2002. Charles took me to Downtown Newnan, Georgia to walk around the square and see all the beautiful Christmas decorations. When we got to the BIG Christmas Tree, he got down on one knee and popped the question. I, of course, said YES! It was so magical... So beautiful... So, just, perfect. I immediately called my mom of course and later found out that Charles had actually asked my dad for my hand in marriage. How wonderful is that!!!! :-)

Our original Wedding Date was set for 06/05/04. Can you see why? :-) I just thought it would be a cool date. Then we moved it up and after spending only a couple short weeks trying to plan a wedding, attend college full time, and work full time I was so stressed out. Charles, who was not working at that time, asked me if I trusted him. I said yes. He then asked for me to let him do all the wedding planning and off it went.

Our new wedding date became August 30, 2003 as it was Labor Day Weekend and Charles was starting a new job that Tuesday. So needless to say not only was a short weekend but we were unable to get a realy honeymoon as we had to come back two days later and start real life together.

We ended up getting married in Destin, Florida ON the beach. We invited only our immediate family and a couple friends as we had to limit guests to 20 people! Do you know how hard that is with my family being HUGE???? haha! That is the only thing I would change about our wedding day... I would have wanted more of our family and friends there to celebrate with us.



The weather starting out the day was horrible. Storms GALORE! As you can see, the red warning flag is out... On top of that, Charles is actually calling to see where I am! haha! Yes, I was late even for my own wedding!!!!!! And it's a necessity that I be late for my own funeral as, well, that's just me! :-)




Our family was Charles and Myself. We were learning the ropes of not only marriage but what it is like to live with a stranger! The only people we had ever lived with was family... Our first house was a one bedroom apartment that was about 800 square feet. IT WAS TINY!!!!! It was ours though.

In September 2002 I insisted that we get a dog. We had both grown up with dogs so it only seemed right that we got one for ourselves. Our first dog. We had never 'picked' a dog before so I just started looking at the Human Society and visiting the local Animal Control. It was here that I found and fell in love with our sweet dog, Jack. I knew nothing about the breed Jack Russell Terriers. Initially, he was calm. He was sweet. He didn't jump. He was the perfect dog. Then we got him home! haha!

We found out that he was house broken! YEAH! When we went to have him spayed we found out he had an impacted testicle so he was already proving to be more expensive! Within a few days of having him, he was throwing up blood and diarrhea like crazy and so we locked him in our ONE bathroom. You couldn't even walk in there it was covered! After an expensive vet visit we were told he had a "dietary indiscretion". Yep. He had eaten something, probably a fog, that his tummy couldn't handel. Unfortunately, Jack has yet to prove to be a cheap vet bill dog... It's ALWAYS something expensive on his behalf!

Here he chewed a hole in our bifold doors that closed off the hallway in our apartment. He chewed numerous holes in my sweaters, the comforter set we were given as a wedding gift. He chewed more trim. He ate more clothing and of course, all mine. We were at our last straw with this darn dog when Charles' parents suggested crate training him.

*Hear angels singing??*

Yes. We not only purchased the crate and water bowl and a DVD to show us how to crate train him, but also a nifty and mighty comfy pillow thingy for him to lay on while we were gone. When we got the crate home and prepared to do the whole training thing, from the moment we opened the door of the crate Jack was in it and at home. We never again had any problems with his chewing anything up. He LOVES his crate. It is his 'safe place'.

After having Jack for a couple years, I decided I wanted another dog. Not only was it becuase Jack was obviously a man's dog and would follow Charles around the house but this time I wanted a BIG dog. I missed having that guard dog feeling as I always had while growing up with large protection dogs.

September 2005, I was introduced to Jill via a friend who found FREE Puppies in the newspaper who were born in May 2005! When we got there, we learned that she was the product of a Full Blooded Black Lab as her father and Full Blooded American Bulldog as her mother. She was a skiddish thing and loved hiding under the deck. Boy she was also a big one... My friend Daryl and I went to go look at her as Charles was working. After talking with him he said to go ahead and get her if I wanted too... I did. She was then named Jill as you cannot have a Jack without a Jill. :-)
We drove by Charles' place of employment then to show her off. One of his co-workers wanted a dog for his children so he went to get a sibling from the same people. Jill has turned out to be a wonderful dog but not after a couple years of serious regrets! She took FOREVER to potty train. As in, about 9 months. She just was not having any part of it! She is still skiddish around people she does not know but is exactly what I wanted, MY DOG! She follows me around the house. Lays right next to my feet. Finds comfort in my presence. She is, my dog.

After moving every year for three years, we purchased our first house! In November 2005, just before Thanksgiving, we moved into our first house. A three bedroom, two bathroom ranch house with a circular driveway on almost a full acre lot in Sharpsburg, Georgia. We loved it. It was a bank owned house and we got a really good deal on it! It needed some serious cleaning and painting but all cosmetic work.






In May 2008 we sold our house after it had been on the market for six months. We moved in with my dad and Jodi and the end of May 2008, Charles was off to Oklahoma City, OK for the Federal Aviation Administration Training Facility for his new position as an Air Traffic Controller. Next stop? St. Louis, Missouri!
July 1, 2008 my youngest Brother Daniel and I packed up the SUV with the dogs and a U-Haul trailer and drove to Missouri for the first time. We were going to my new house. This was a first of many. And certainly not the last of many. It is here, in Missouri where we are learning to truly live as a Family Unit of Two. We are alone. Him and I. No family to call for help. Holidays have been spent, alone. Him and I. As we are gearing up to our Sixth Year of Marriage together, it keeps getting sweeter and sweeter. Him and I. The two who are a Family, finding each other while trying to grow our family...

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