I cannot begin to explain how ready we are for these next 369 days to fly by. We are getting so close to our wedding day being a year away!! We went to Rachel and Bobby's wedding last night and it made us more than ever ready for ours. We're ready to be Mr. and Mrs. Jason Michael Chinnis. We're ready for to enter that day as best friends and leave as husband and wife. We're ready to have our first dance(me more than Jason!) We're ready to celebrate with our friends and family. We're ready to leave and enter the world as a unit not just individuals. We know no matter how far away it is that it'll come sooner than later and that we atleast should be thankful for the fact that we have a day and we are no longer waiting to be engaged! So yay.. yippy.. hooorrayyy..

The only thing that would make us happier is if we were married already.. until then.. we'll continue to wait!

Enjoy!

~Jen

L<3VE

Today, I'm posting about Jason. I figured I've posted about my bridesmaid so why should I leave the love of my life out? So brace yourself here we go with the mushy gushy...

Jason Michael Chinnis- he is the greatest example of patience, kindness, understanding, forgiveness, personality, and passion for life. He has no idea the impact he has in my life and those around him. He always lifts me up and sometimes tears me down off my high horse (which is great because I need that in my life.) His laugh makes me giggle. He picks of me for my lack of common sense (and we ALL get a good laugh out of it!) He genuinely cares so much about me. He wants the best for me despite what it's going to mean for him. He really tries so hard and most of the time I overlook it. (I'm sorry for all the times I've overlooked your efforts.. and I promise to try to realize all that you do for me) Jason loves loves loves working with the youth. He is more passionate about the youth than many other things in life. He will go out of his way for anyone he loves, without a doubt. Jason jokes around ALL the time. He has common sense but lacks the book smarts which is why we're a great match!!(He truly wouldn't be Jason any other way!)

Random Jason Facts[I debated on putting this section but Jas wouldn't be Jas without these qwirks]- when he writes/types he mixes up his B's and P's. If he can't watch a Braves game he's got their webpage up on his Iphone so he can watch every play. He is OCD about what he cooks...like everything has to be perfect or he beats himself up about it! (Normally, everthing is AMAZING! Let me tell you this guy can cook!) He loves watching movies..mostly war or action flicks. He hates school (but who doesn't?) His Iphone has NOTHING, and I mean NOTHING but Christian music on it.. which is great except for when I'm in a country mood! He LOVES driving in his truck with the music really loud. He steals my socks because I have tiny feet and he likes his socks to be small. [sorry for sharing your secret love!! :)] He loves cheeseburgers with just cheese, mayo and ketchup. PEPSI should be his middle name. He wants to name our dog Zeke. He desperately wants twin boys (did I mention he is an identical twin?) Ohhhhh.. I could go on and on and on but i'll stop there.

I told Jason shortly after we first started dating in 2005 that I would feel truly blessed to fall in love with someone like him.. and low and behold I DID!! And I truly feel blessed that I'm getting to marry a man like him and that we've continued to grow in love as we have. He is the most amazing man I've ever met. He completes me. It sounds totally bizarre but he is like my other half. He is everything I'm not and more. He is the love of my life and in 376'ish days he'll be my husband. I can say without a doubt that I've got a great guy and I'm so excited and can't wait to spend the rest of my life with him!

Hope each of you enjoyed getting to know Jason threw my eyes! Although, I know I didn't explain him near as great as he is.
<3>

Hurry up May 28, 2010

Here are some decor options for the wedding. Keep in mind that these were put together by Jas and me so they aren't that great but we kinda like them. This is a mason jar with rocks in the bottom and some daisies in them. These are going to be placed on the high top tables so people can mingle. They will have Gerber daisies or tulips in them. We also might do some mason jars with sand and candles in them on tables but for the most part they will be around the fence surrounding the pond.

This is a centerpiece option for the tables inside that people can sit at or they might go by the food tables or by the fire place. I love this one but it could use some tweaking.

FAVORITE!! I love the blue candle in it and the square vase. Everything about this one we love but we're trying to figure out where we can pull this "beachy" item in.

Along with these we are using wheat, mason jars, lanterns, candles, and flowers to pull everything together.

Other than that this whole wedding thing needs to hurry up. C'mon May 28, 2010! Jas and I found a place in Cancun we'd (well.. mostly I) love to go on our honeymoon. I went looking for wedding dresses this weekend and found a few I like, I guess. We are both so so ready for all the details to be made and yet we've only made TWO (the date and the venue)..

**Beware.. venting about to begin** I have had more people this week tell me this is suppose to be the best time of my life and that if I'm not enjoying it maybe we should wait.. but waiting isn't the issue it's the planning. The planning would be okay if others made it about what we want but that's not how it's going. I feel like every time I am involved in planning the more the relationships of mine and others disappear simply because I have to fight to get what we want. Maybe that's too much information but it's how it is. I don't really think there was ever a day that it was Jason and Jen's wedding. So maybe now others can see why it wouldn't be so much of the best time of my life.. and maybe others can see that I shouldn't wait because waiting isn't going to do anything but make things worse. Jason and I are way happier together and we work so well together that waiting would only prolong that. I feel so strongly that the further we are into planning the less this is about us and its so messed up.** Venting ending** I'm just over it and truthfully we're just over it. Jason has been so strong and encouraging but it's getting to him and it's so not fair.

uggghhh.. for some reason I feel like I should go back and remove that entire paragraph but I got it out there and I feel better about it. I'm sorry if some didn't want to read that but it's life and that's what this is.. it's our journey of love!

I pray we will continue to grow in love each and everyday as we have the last 3-4 years. I think it's safe to say that with every trouble we've overcome it and with everything we just grow more in love.. so forreal... HURRY UP May 28, 2010

time line

Praise the Lord! Tomorrow is the begining of summer! Jason and I will have a week long break until we start Maymester which is four days a week for three weeks. In that case, say goodbye to May for us! That leaves June and July to do wedding planning... ahhh!! That only makes me freak out a little bit.

Despite the fact that we have limited time (which i feel like i say all the time) we are so excited. We've made a little progress. Jason and I have ventured off and tried some arrangements on our own that we really really like.. unfortunately we have to pass them with everyone else. We have talked about colors and we've given our self a time line for when we're going to get things done over the summer (most of it i've come up with but jas will go with the flow!!)

June- Get colors settled, make tables (yes i said that... we're making pub tables which are just high standing tables for people to mingle), find a bridesmaid dress that isn't too expensive, AND MOSTLY DECORATIONS!

July- take engagement pictures, figure out stationary, buy MY DRESS!!, order bridesmaid dresses, MORE DECORATIONS, flowers, and set official guest list.

August- bridal registry

September/October- tie together little details. Celebrate our 4 year anniversary.

November- Find our house! Turn 21 (this is one of my favorite things.. we'll both be really young getting married but it doesn't really matter because we are crazy in love and we know it's meant to be.. sound crazy? We know!)

December- the final month to get everything together.. it's so far away and there is so much to be done i can't even think that far in advance!

So we'll stop there! Hope you enjoyed!

ramble ramble ramble

We are getting closer to breaking 400 days until we get married!

Updates:

1. found the most absolute perfect dress. i love it more than anything and the greatest thing is it is totally different than anything I've tried on. there is a downside but I'm not even thinking about it. I'm just going to keep telling myself that is my dress and I'm getting it!! yeppers.. i am!

2. we went BM dress shopping and I suppose it was productive. Not all of them were there so a few of the girls tried some on to get an idea.

3. we kinda have colors but it just depends on the dresses and all of our decorations and such.

4. decorations.. oh don't even get me started. i have tons of ideas but when we get to the venue and i look around i have no idea if they look good or if i just lack decorating abilities.

5. every time i see our venue i get super excited. i love it.

6. we cannot find a honeymoon spot we like.. i know. i know. out of all the places in the world we can't find ONE we like. picky picky picky.

7. i have an issue: my hair. my hair grows so so slow and everyone has been telling me to get it trimmed, it will help it grow. so i got a one inch trim aaannndddd... IT'S SO SHORT! I'm trying to grow my hair out to the middle of my back and it's at my shoulders. i have 12 and a half months til our wedding which is a year but I'm so worried I'm going to be stuck with short hair forever!! oh and i heard taking prenatal vitamin's works to help hair grow faster but being a nursing student I'm a little nervous to try that because prenatal vitamins are double the dose(for mother and baby) and it's really just hormones that contribute to the hair growth.. But desperate times call for desperate measures.. so we'll see.

8. I'm reconsidering food which i haven't told anyone yet so we'll see how that goes over. yikes. (probably should discuss this with Jas before I post this!!.. lol)

9. Jason is reconsidering his outfit selection..

10. we've been trying to work to get ourselves in shape and it went really well the first week and now I'm feeling over it. lol.. any advice?

11. i have a total of 3 bridal magazines and I'm thinking that just isn't cutting it!! pass them along brides :)


so we have all this stuff going on. it's our last week of school before exams. we have no decoration ideas, flower ideas, food ideas, linen ideas, invitation ideas, cake ideas.... and I'm pretty sure I'm just being overly crazy because i have 12 months or so but i just want all this to be taken care of... I'm so ready to get married and see the final product.

Introducing... the bridemaids!

Today I've decided to introduce my bridesmaids and tell a little bit about why I picked them.

First is my cousin Cheryl. She lives in NY but I still love her times a million. Years can pass between us but somehow we're still close when we see each other. I love my family so much and wish we lived closer! Love and miss you!

Next is Sarah. I've known her my entire life. We were really close growing up and we've grown apart throughout the years but I love her dearly. I'm happy to have her as part of my wedding.

Kristen is my next bridesmaid. I've known her my entire life and I KNOW she'll be really helpful in wedding planning. She's very opinionated and I'm extra grateful for her help thus far and what's to come.

Lauren!!! I've known her for years now. We played basketball together in high school and went to college together. She is the odd ball of the group. She is different and unique and makes me laugh. She's going to be great as part of my wedding. Apart from my wedding we will also be celebrating her 21st birthday on May 28, 2010!! YAY!

Then... JoMarie. I met her my freshman year of college and we've become great friends since then. Jo is going to add a totally different perspective to our wedding. Bless her, she's pretty much the only conservative member of my wedding party.. Oh well! We're going to break her out of her shell! She's super sweet and an awesome friend!


So those are the bridesmaids. Notice. I'm not having a maid/matron of honor.. I want everyone to take part in my wedding just as much as the other and I think it will work out for the best like this.

Jason's best man is his twin brother, Justin.
Groomsmen are his dad, a childhood friend-Anthony, my cousin-Bradley, and another friend-Jason!

I feel like I'm running out of topics for now.. but we are planning! This Saturday we are going to the bridal store to pick out colors for the bridesmaid dresses so we can start ordering linens, flowers, and decorations!

Enjoy!
Jen

Vote for your favorite dresses!!

So I figured this would be a fun way for everyone to vote on the dress they like. Note: these are not necessarily the dresses we will choose but these are some options. Also, these are two different shades of blue so let me know which ones you like too!!

ONE

TWO

How to vote: Go to add a comment. Type in your vote and color with any other suggestions. Add name or anonymous and we'll tally up.. if no one participates then too bad so sad!!

I've been pondering my next blog and I think i'll introduce my bridal party to you and why I picked them. (If y'all, as in my bridal party, read it let me know!!)

Enjoy!

Jen