One Year Ago Today... May 23rd

One year ago today I was at my Bridesmaid's Luncheon at Pleasant Valley Country Club hosted by 2 of my mom's great friends. It was an amazing lunch and a very special time with my closest friends and family. There was something especially special about my bridesmaid's luncheon that I did for them. When I got up to pass out their gifts (which was a bracelet engraved with their initials and flip flops for the reception!) I read a little paragraph about each girl and what they meant to me! It was very emotional! I don't like talking in front of people and I was crying the whole time but I wouldn't have changed a thing about it! I'm so glad that I did it- I felt like I was thanking them for being apart of my special day and telling them how much I value our friendship. All 8 of them are truly a blessing to me!

That night was the rehearsal! This was actually a little bit crazy- but fun!! It was really when the chaos started because all my out of town relatives were now in town! It was so great to see everyone- cousins, aunts, uncles, grandma, etc! I was so proud to have all my family there! The rehearsal went great... considering there were about 50 people there! And my in-laws gave us an amazing dinner! We had our favorite- mexican!! Since all of my cousins were in the wedding, ALL of my extended family was at the rehearsal dinner. I absolutely loved having them there- I couldn't imagine it without them! There was about 60 at the dinner. After dinner, some people gave toasts and said some really sweet things... there were tears! Haha!

After the rehearsal dinner all of the bridal party and some family went out to get drinks and hang out before the wedding! It was so much fun! I loved it because all of my friends and family that didn't know each other before- we're becoming good friends and hanging out! A great last night before our wedding!!

One Year Ago Today... May 22nd

Sunday is our 1 year wedding anniversary! It's crazy- it's gone by so fast!! So much has happened since then and I feel like we've grown a lot in a year! For the next 3 days I'm going to write about what we were doing a year ago.

One year ago today, May 22, 2008, our wedding festivities were starting. I had my bachelorette party! We went to eat at Bonefish with just the bridesmaids and then went to my MOH house for the lingerie party with a lot of friends! It was a lot of fun! My MOH and a bridesmaid were the hostesses and they did an amazing job! I felt very loved! It was a great night to hang out with the girls and catch up with some that I hadn't seen in a while! Here's a few pics:

American Idol

Sorry folks, this one might get long! I'm fired up! Haha!

So, here in AR American Idol has been HUGE because Kris Allen is from Conway, AR! Arkansans have totally and completely risen to the occassion and supported him so much! It has been amazing to see the response from the Arkansans. Loyalty and support are two things that I love about AR- we will always support our locals!

I couldn't be more proud to have Kris Allen (a Christian by the way!) representing our natural state!!!! He is so humble, honest, genuine, REAL, and talented!! We can't deny that he's talented... he won American Idol!!

I watch American Idol every year. I'm dedicated at the beginning but usually fizzle out towards the end of the season because I'm not interested in any of the contestants. This year was nerve racking! I didn't miss a week! I wanted to see if Kris made it... and every week he did!!

Almost all my Facebook friends are Kris fans and support him. Tonight, everyone's status had something to do with Kris Allen and him winning American Idol! As the time got to 8:55pm I was sitting on the edge of the couch, squeezing the blanket as hard as I could waiting to hear the verdict!! When Kris was announced the winner I jumped off the couch and starting screaming... and crying! Besides the fact that he's an Arkansas- the fact that he is young and a newlywed I feel like I can relate to him even more! I am so happy for him and for his wife! Their lives are about to drastically change!

So- I log onto Facebook and see that everyone is excited about Kris winning, etc. Then I scrolled down to see one status and I was shocked. Let's call him "Bob". Here's his status:

BOB: "alright alright people. Cool it. Hey, put your clothes back on, he can't see you. How has this made your life better?? How does this help Arkansas??? It doesn't. It means nothing. It's an individual award. So stop it with "He's such a great ambassador for Arkansas." People aren't gonna come to Arkansas because Kris Allen is the American Idol. So stop idolizing him. Sinners. I'm gonna go sing Karaoke now."

WHAT?!?!?!?!!!! This comment made me SO mad!!! Needless to say it was about 15 minutes after Kris was announced the winner. OK, so I'm the kind of person that is going to say something to defend myself if I feel strongly about it!! So I did!! Here's my response:

RILEY: "It's not about that!! We're supporting him!! Isn't that what community is for... support?? Kris is living his dream and the least we can do is text that 4 letter word "vote" while you're at it... everyone is always on their phone anyways! I don't usually watch it this far along either- but I think it's cool that a local got this far! Arkansas is never featured on nationwide tv and the world needs to know that Arkansas does have talent! You don't have to support Kris... but don't ruin it for those who are :)"

I thought that was a nice response!! Considering I had some choice words that I wanted to say!!! People with that kind of an attitude make me so mad!! What if no one support the Razorbacks??? Our local restaraunts, sports teams, athletes, musicians, artists etc??? Without the support of your community, friends and family... they wouldn't get anywhere!!!

I am constantly shocked at the things people say!

Sorry... I had to vent!! Thanks for reading!!

Destin Bound!!

Matt's family goes to Destin every summer and we have finally booked the condo for this July! We are so excited! This is the only vacation we take the whole year! Here's where we will be staying:

Kenny Chesney!

He was amazing!!

Wedding Weekend

One of my good friends got married last night! I was in the House party! Thursday night we went to the rehearsal and dinner! It was a fun weekend spent with our closest friends! It was so much fun- I couldn't be more happy for Corey and Jacob!! Here's a few pics:

Heart Work

God is in the process of doing some work on my heart...

Over the past few weeks some personal things have been going on that I won't share with all of the internet world! But, needless to say, Matt and I have been hurt.

God brought it to our attention that when we are wronged that we should be more concerned with our response to it rather than saying what we want to say :)

And that's hard!!!!!!!

We can't be responsible for anyone else but ourselves. That's God's job on judgment day- and right now we need to worry about our own actions and responses. We are quick to have a pity party and point fingers when we are wronged- but what is the Godly response when you are wronged?

I still don't know the answer to that question. God is still speaking to me...

Happy Birthday Matt!!

Matt is 22 today!!
Last night we celebrated with his family. His mom cooked dinner and I made him a chocolate cake. As you can see from the pictures the icing didn't turn out too well- but it tasted good! Haha!
Matt and I plan to have dinner together for his birthday on Saturday- just the two of us- before the Kenny Chesney concert! Yay!

Mother's Day and Birthdays

This past weekend was very busy for us! I went to a Mother/Daughter Luncheon at church with my mom, sister, mother-in-law, sister-in-law and grandmother-in-law! It was fun!

Saturday night we celebrated all the May birthdays in Matt's family... there are quite a few- Matt being one of them! He turns 22 on Wednesday!

Today is Mother's Day! We had lunch with my mother-in-law and tonight we are doing dinner with my mom! Both amazing mothers!! We are so blessed!

Here's a few pictures of the weekend!

Next week is going to be even crazier! Matt's birthday is Wednesday and I'm in a friend's wedding on Friday- rehearsal dinner Thursday! Saturday we're going to see Kenny Chesney!! So excited about that!!

Golf Widow

Matt has been out of town for the past 4 days on a golfing excursion! I am so ready for him to come home! He went with 2 of his friends to play in an out of town golf tournament. They played golf everyday... and sometimes twice a day!! This trip was part of his birthday- which is two weeks away!
I have enjoyed my weekend. I spent a lot of time with my friends and I got a lot done around the house. But, now that Matt is coming home tonight I am really looking forward to it!

Choir Concert

Emma has her spring choir concert at school last night and she had a solo- and did so good!! I am so proud of her! She's beautiful!