CATCH UP!

OK... So let's play catch up! The wedding plans are going well. We are getting married at Messiah Lutheran Church in Knoxville which is our new church home! The reception will then be at Knoxville Museum of Art. I have my wedding coordinator, we also have the photographer and have a couple of meetings in the next two weeks with catering companies! Everything is falling into place! I can't wait. I also have my girls dresses picked out and my wedding dress and accessories are in and ready to go! We start our marriage counseling this Sunday!!!

We finally wrapped up at Susie's, just before the holidays. It looked so empty and lonely, but we are helping Matthew and Pam move in this weekend so maybe that will help. We really had a good Christmas even though at times it seemed a little somber. Susie loved Thanksgiving and Christmas! I miss her so bad. Her birthday was on the 30th and that was hard. We need your prayers for Benny as he has been very sick. As far as I know they are relating it all to his thyroid. He is just very weak and has lost about 40 pounds in about 1 1/2 months or so. We are all very concerned.

Heather and Zach came in and we got to spend some time with them! I was so excited that she came home. Thanks for fitting us in! I know it is hard when you live away to fit everyone in to a short time frame...

The Day family got together for Christmas at the nursing home with our little Granny. We got to celebrate with her one more year! She is the best Granny ever. All of Mom's brothers and sisters were there. We have a pretty large family on that side and getting together is always a trip!

Pete and I did Christmas on Christmas Eve! I got a Roomba! I can't wait to use it. We have to wait to take down the tree first. I got several other things, gift cards, etc. I got Pete a Citizen watch and small things to go with it. We limited ourselves this year because last year, we both WAY over did Christmas! We spent the day together and then went down to Roane County for dinner and a slumber party with Mom and Daddy! Thank you for a wonderful Christmas Pete! I love you!
We had Christmas at Mom and Daddy's! As usual they spoiled us! (Except the fact that evidently Tara out ranks me now - ha ha inside joke)... And we really had a good time with Connor. He is so precious! I love that little man! I have a challenge for everyone. The next time you buy for Connor, make sure it is the loudest toy you can find. Brad and Tara absolutely hate silence! Thank you for such a good Christmas everyone! I am so happy that we could all be together.

We were unable to make it to see Pete's family because as you will be able to tell in the pics, he went hunting in Texas the day after Christmas. Thank you all for our gifts! They were all really nice. We missed you all though and can't wait to see you soon!

I got the opportunity to reunite with old friends from school on the 27th. We had a really good time. There were a lot of us there! Everyone seemed very happy and very successful! It was nice to visit with you all and I can't wait to see you again. We have 3 couples getting married and Mrs. Isham of course is expecting! This is going to be a fun filled and busy year!

New years was a lot of fun. Because Pete was just getting home, we decided to stay in! Our family came to celebrate with us and we really had a good time! Even my Aunt's and Uncle's stayed until midnight (mind you they are the younger aunt's and uncles - ha ha) - let's see how many comments I get about that!!! We had a toast at midnight in fancy coke paper cups! I love it. We played games all night and just enjoyed our family. We have so much to be thankful for! Thank you everyone for coming, we love you all!

Here are pics of the holidays! Enjoy and Happy New Year to you ALL!

Make photo slide shows at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Date

So our wedding date is set! It is May 30th 2009. We are both very excited and have been very busy planning already. I will keep you up to date as we plan. More than anything I would like for you to pray for my Daddy. The ulcer on his foot just recently got infected and they are going to start a new type of therapy to try to help it heal. As most of you know, my Daddy has diabetes. We have been dealing with his ulcer problems for almost 3 years now. Please help us pray for him.

WE ARE....

ENGAGED!!! I am up now posting a blog because I have been up since 3:59am and I am not sure what time I fell asleep. I am so excited. So here is the story!
OK, So... Evidently this was all supposed to happen this last weekend in Helen. Pete bought the ring but was able to save on taxes by having it shipped to PA to his parents (smart, very smart). Then their job was to turn around and ship it to Pete at work. Well his parents did it perfectly, but it still did not make it to Pete before we left for GA. I can't even begin to imagine how upset he was! Anyway, I came home from work yesterday a little before he arrived and found a flower arrangement on the front porch. The card on it said "The Reckard's". Often times people will do this just to make it easier than saying both of our names. I get the card and attempt to open it and notice that the seal on the back was Kimball's Jewelers. I have been asking for a tennis bracelet so was sure he had bought me one! I called him before opening the card and told him about the flowers. He sighed (in what I know now as aggravation) and said don't open it. I had a hair appointment at 5:30pm so I left and went on my merry way. Many things were running through my head including a ring! I definitely had myself convinced though that it was not and if it were, I for sure never thought I would get it yesterday!
I got my hair done and came on home where I thought he had just went and got take out for dinner and it was going to be a nice calm evening.
I arrived at my house to find our little guy "Cadillac" greeting me at the door. He was wagging his tail as hard as ever. When I walked in there were candles lit EVERYWHERE, the fire was lit and the lights were off. Pete said the first thing I said was "good grief"! Then I noticed Pete! He was dressed from head to toe and the last time I saw him he was wearing jeans and a polo with pizza stains on his shirt! Still had no clue because he had been acting very strange for the last few weeks. So he stops me in the middle of our living room, in front of the fire place and ASKED! I will leave out all of the mushy stuff... Of course, I cried and said YES!!! He had a bottle of Dom Perignon and the table set up very nice for dinner! He then asked me if I wanted my "gourmet" dinner and I said sure. He opens the oven and pulls out.... Take out from Gondolier. It was great. We are very goofy sometimes and this fit! We both laughed extremely hard about the take out!
Wow! I am so excited. What a shock! I can't wait to spend the rest of my life with you Pete!!! I love you with all of my heart!
I hope everyone enjoys the pics. The are not the best because I was so nervous!
We will add more soon. HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!
Oh by the way he also was playing music in the background from the tv, that is why there is a blanket over it! That really had me confused...

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Happy Birthday to ME!

Well this birthday has been a lot of fun. I was really dreading it because I knew there would be one phone call that I would not get this year (Susie's). I was amazed though at my friends, family and Pete. They all kept me busy! On Friday night before my birthday, we had a girls night. I finally laughed and we really just had a good time. I don't know what I would do without my girls. Then on Saturday night Barry and I celebrated our birthday together. We had dinner and drinks with several friends. Then on my actual birthday I received flowers at work from Pete and went to dinner with Mom, Daddy, Brian, Benita and Rachel. We had a good time as well. I then took myself on a short shopping trip! :) Pete came home on Wednesday. He had been gone since the following Wed. so I was definitely ready for him to come home. This past weekend, I celebrated my birthday with him. He would not tell me where we were going. He told me how to pack and we left on Friday! We ended up in Helen, GA which is one of my favorite little towns. It is a German Town and has neat bars, stores and a lot of German food. Pete had rented a beautiful cabin. When we woke up on Saturday morning, Pete looked out the window just thinking he may see a couple of deer and he did! We saw 8 deer in our back yard. We then spent the day in Helen just doing what we wanted to do. Cadillac and Pete got me Aveda gift cards! I also got wine and champagne as well as a marble slab birthday cake. Man am I spoiled. Pete always goes above and beyond! Today we got up and went to breakfast and went to Anna Ruby Falls which you can see is very pretty.
I am very thankful for everyone. I have so many blessings in my life! Although we just lost someone very dear to us, we need to look at what a wonderful family we have (as well as friends) and enjoys our many blessings. Please continue to keep us in your prayers.

Make video montages at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Pete's Hunting Trips!!!

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

So, as you can tell... Pete has been very busy. He has had a blast though. Hunting is definitely his passion and I am thankful that he is able to go and do as much as he does. The pheasant hunt that you see was in South Dakota. This was Pete's first time going there and he really enjoyed the trip. He also went to Mississippi to Tara Wildlife which he has done a couple of years now. He did not kill anything on that hunting excursion (deer hunting). Then the most recent trip was Zapata, TX where he killed a 12 point that weighed 215lbs and scored a 152 on the Boone/Crockett scale. I have no idea how that works. All I know is he killed a pretty big deer! His friend Walland is the one with the largest rack and it scored 165! Pete also killed a Coyote but left it laying... Doug and Doc obviously killed bobcats. I really want Pete to kill one of these for our wall of masterpieces. Yes, yes... We have a trophy room. I will only allow one room though, ha ha. Actually I am very proud of his animals and think most of them are beautiful! Hope you enjoyed the pics.

OK! So this is my response to Tara's tag... This is the pic I found.

Four things about this photo:
1. Pete and I took Cadillac on his vacation for the year in Tellico Plains.
2. Cadillac loved the river because he did not have to swim!
3. Cadillac's ears always get wet! Pete likes to tell him after he drinks water that he is "all wet behind the ears".
4. I caught a trout in this river that was about the size of a gold fish. In fact I killed it by hooking it because my hook was bigger than the fish!

Now I tag:
Lindsey Isham
Jessica Jackson
Katie Stooksbury
Heather Couch

Go to your pictures, go to 4th folder, 4th picture. Post pic, tell 4 things about this photo and tag 4 people!

Please keep us in your prayers...

Our "Susie" passed away this last Saturday, November 1st. It was sudden and it has been very hard. I can't imagine my Daddy and Benny's hurt. We need your prayers to help us have the strength to get past this troubled time in our life. Thank you.

I know that "My Aunt Susie" will not be able to read this but she is missed a lot and will continue to live through our memories. I love you dearly Susie. You have been and always will be my role model!