Wednesday, January 23, 2013

"I promise to honor and cherish you..."

The Support System.

My darling has been in the process of  being hired at a new job for a month in a half now. He has to hand out forms for people to fill out and give back, he need 40 of those and only has 10 back. He also has to study for an exam due at the end of this month. He also has to go to a class at least once this month!! So much to do to make a living.
 But I will support him. I handed out forms to some of my friends and family. And I'm sitting here in the living room at 11:20pm while he is in the bedroom studying for the exam. I could go to bed now, but he needs the light on and I guess I've been talking in my sleep the past few nights. So I'm here, not bothering him.
 I'm happy to have this chance to support him. Because I know he will return the same for me one day. And also that is what marriage is. Supporting each other no matter what it is. Whether it's emotional support after a tragic event, or physical support in helping with the kids, you have to support each other. With out the support of the other you both will fall. I need emotional support on a daily basis. Not sure why but I just need that kind of connection to get myself through the day and what ever comes my way. My darling husband needs physical support. Like leaving the room when he studies or helping him with a project. But it's hard for him to give me the emotional support I need and it's hard for me to NOT physically help him (I just jump in and say, "Here let me help/do that...") 
 So everyday we are learning how to help eachother the way we need help. He is trying hard to just be there emotionally for me, and I'm learning to back off. 
 I grew up in a home where we just jump in and help. Momma is in the kitchen and has all four burners going and something in the oven, we just start stirring. My darling hates it when I do that. If he is in the kitchen I cannot be in the kitchen unless he asks for help. So I'm learning to stay out of it unless he really needs help, or I see something burning...
 He grew up in a home much different than mine. His family didn't really help each other. They did it themselves. They never asked for help and didn't want to help. So he didn't really learn to be there for someone, and support them. My family, we always were there. We gave support. 
 So my darling doesn't really understand how to be there for someone emotionally. And that is a struggle for us. That is a huge cause for some of our fights. Instead of saying, "Hey yeah! Some day you WILL have that dream house and have a craft store with your mom..." He says something like, "You know that will cost alot and we still have my school debt..." Then he doesn't understand why I get so hurt after hearing that....
 We just need to learn. We need to learn that we are not home anymore with our families but with eachother. We are different. I am not his siblings nor is he mine. But we have to learn how to support the way a husband and wife should support one another.
 It's hard. It really is. We fight, sometimes it will last a few days. But in the end we know what works and what doesn't. :)

 So now I'm in the living room giving him space and he is ok with me spending the mornings and afternoons knitting and crocheting for my future shop.
 

Many Warm Thoughts and Happy Blessings,

 ~*Caitlynn*~

Wednesday, January 09, 2013

Well Hello There!!!!!

Hi There! Bet you thought I had left for good huh?!? Well I didn't.
 I had messed up the layout and format of my blog and got all in a tizzy and refused to try to fix it til I could think about my blog with out feeling like a worthless piece poo! (Then this morning I thought to myself that poo is not exactly worthless, you can compost with it and with that compost you can grow seeds, and those seed might be food seeds that can feed a third world village and then a child from that third world village could eat and grow strong and smart and then go on to go to a wonderful college and then become a great scientist who comes up with the cure for cancer then their story will be all over the news and history books and that will start off with, Once upon a time, someone sent some compost made from what someone thought was a worthless piece of poo, and some seeds to a third world village!...)
 So I got back on my blog and LOW AND BEHOLD! I fixed the darn problem.... I just had to reset everything and start from scratch!!! UGH!

 Well now that you have seen the wedding blog I thought I would come back (seeing as though my HUSBAND! is working on his computer in the bedroom with the lights on and I can't sleep...) and tell you how we are doing!

 How we are doing so far in our 61/2 months of Marriage,
Things are going ok so far. We have our ups and downs. More downs than ups but that's ok. Every couple I talk to who has been married more than 2 years tells me that the first few months to the first year will always be hard. You are still getting used to eachother being around and money will be tight. It's a given thing. But we are holding on. Money is VERY tight right now, so my Darling is looking looking for a better job than the one at the college kitchen. Right now he is working full time for a whopping $9.00 an hour. I'm working part time (5 nights a week 31/2 hours a night) for just a dollar less than that. Not much at all. And to top it all off we were off from work for three weeks for Christmas break. We could have drawn unemployment for those three weeks (some of the people we work with do) and would have broke even instead of almost evenly broke! Christmas was small but it was nice. I didn't really want anything for Christmas, just to be with my family and my Husband! And that's what I got. We went to my older sisters for Christmas Eve and watched movies and watched the kids open their gifts which they LOVED! And us three girls surprised our parents with some nice pictures of their Grown girls and Grandchildren.

Then Christmas morning we opened presents with my parents and younger sister. It was small, but wonderful. We got lots of nice things, things we can use alot. Then we had a nice lunch/dinner with my moms parents that my darling made, then we went to his families house. That was a short, sweet trip as everyone was on their way to visit his step dads niece (our good friend) at the hospital, she just had her little girl. So we had a late dinner opened our gifts and everyone went their way. We went home to our apartment to sleep and then put every thing we got away.

 Before Christmas we got our FIRST CHRISTMAS TREE! It turned out so nice!


Most of the decorations are his, his grandparents give him a new ornament every Christmas so there are 23 (give or take) of his and only 10 (give or take) of mine. But it's still a nice tree. The angle at the top is an ornament that my darling gave me for our first Christmas as boyfriend and girlfriend! She looked quite lovely way up there!!

 As we got the tree looking nice, we kind of goofed off and took a nice picture to remember our first picture...


Yeah, it was my idea! I got it from Pinterest. ^_^

 Well, we also got a few really cute pictures for our First Christmas Christmas cards too...





I played around with them on my Picasa photo editor. I feel like I look a bit chubby in them but that sweater is kind of big on me. :)

Well now that Christmas is over and we are back to work, things are still going ok. It's a new year and we are still together. Our love is growing stronger every day as we are still learning about and from each other. You would think that after dating for three years and living with each other for two months you would know a person pretty well..... Ummmm..... NO! There are still things I don't know about my darling and there are still things he needs to know about me... Like how I am a hopeless romantic who still sleeps with a stuffed toy! And that I take everything to heart and my emotions are very touchy! But all in good time will we ever know each other completely.

 God is still our center, Family is still our support structure, Friends are still our confidants.
We may fight, and argue and yes sometimes yell. But really at the end of the day, I could never think of going to bed with out him by my side. (Except that one time when I was happy he fell asleep on the couch, but that was really because I needed to stretch out and get a good nights sleep ^_^ ) If I stay at my parents for just one night, or at a friends, I miss him. I like it when I wake up cold and can snuggle up next to him to stay warm, or that I can kiss him and tell him good night. I also miss the way he says he loves me in his sleepy voice that tells me that is just about to go into a very deep sleep.
 I also like it when he holds me after I wake myself up from a nightmare and tells me that it's ok, that he is there!!

 I just love him so much, even when we are fighting, I always seem to think back on all the wonderful, cute things he has done for me, and I just can't be mad.


 He is My Beloved and My Beloved is Mine... S.O.S 6:3

~*Warm Thoughts~Happy Prayers~Many Blessings~*

 ~*Caitlynn*~

I Have Found The One To Whom My Soul Belongs...

Hello There Dearest Friends,
 This is the blog you all have been waiting for. This is the story of.........

                    ~*~OUR WEDDING~*~



So the Weeks before the wedding were pretty calm. No stress on anyone's end and we were just having fun with ideas and making the decorations. There were a few bumps in the road leading to the blessed day, but nothing could stop My Darling *Christian* and I *Arielle* from saying I Do!
 Now the day before the wedding, we went to the camp ground and started to set up and decorate. I was so excited to have our oldest homeschool friends there to help, and also my family and the wedding party. My Maid of Honor *little sister Allison* and BFF Brides Maid *Carrie* kept the Grooms Men in line as they hung up the hand made coffee filter and hot glue Pom Pom's from the rafters of the lodge where we would have the reception. While I just ran from here to there, flower petals here, more dinner mints there. And played with Carries little girl who was helping to eat all the dinner mints.
 My dad made us a Pergola to get married under. Much like the one below...



Well My Pastor showed up (we were having two pastors do our ceremony mine and Chris') and we stated the Rehearsal. It was going smoothly. We had everyone where they were supposed to be and where to walk. Everything went smooth. Well there was a mishap, but I really don't want to get into that... it's just drama and our wedding was not about drama! It was about LOVE! :)

 Well now we are to the day of!
The Morning was a mad rush! Getting everything from our fridge to the camps, getting last minute decorations done, getting us some food! It was CRAZY! But we pulled it off and everything was looking Beautiful! Until.......
 A big cloud came over the sun around 3:30ish. And Allison and I were getting kind of worried, but I thought "Well if it rains now, it will be clear and dry for the wedding! No worries." Well.... It rained, we forgot the rice bags on the chairs outside, so Alli and I went out in the rain to get them. Then the clouds just kept coming in, and it got a bit windy. I thought ok it's going to storm no big deal, it's ok.
 Around 4 all the grooms men and brides maids got dressed and ready to take pictures. As I was doing my make up, it just down poured! Everyone Ran to get the chairs inside the lodge, and set up for an indoor wedding. I was fine with it. Here I'll show you just how cool we were getting ready in a storm.
 Here are some Getting Ready Photos my Dear Friend Gabrielle W. and her sister Took......
"Girls in 'Black" Dresses, with 'Lavender' Sashes"

Getting My Dress Ready!

I needed help with my skirt. :)

All ready to Tear up the dance floor

Waiting for One more Brides Maid as we ate mini peanutbutter cups and listen to the storm...

Make Up Time!


All Set to walk down the aisle and become Mrs. 
Texting My Darling telling him to get the Men out to help bring in the chairs  :)

Well it was then time to take pictures with the photographer!!! We were so Excited! The men went first. So us Girls got to peek out the windows and watch. They looked so good! And of course My Darling Looked the Best In His Black Suit, Black Shirt, Lilac Tie and Bright Blue Eyes! :) Here are the pictures of the men and the Grooms Family.....


The Grooms Men. (Form L-R)
Micha, Jon, CHRIS, Best Man Mitchell, Ryan, Thomas.

Chris and His Best Man and Brother Mitchell.


A great Shot of the Men! 


One in Color... Looks like a James Bond Try Out... 


Last one for the guys!


The One to Whom My Soul Belongs...


Christian Lockwood Graff


Chris and his Mom and Step-Dad, Robin and Bill.


The Grooms Family, Youngest sister Victoria, Step-dad Bill, Mother Robin
Sister Elizabeth, Brothers Mitchell, Ben and Andrew.


The Grooms Family

And Now For the Bride and Maids!



The Brides Maids. (From L-R)
Sami, My Niece Isabel, My Older Sister Ana, ME!,  My Younger Sister and MOH Allison,
Carrie, Gabrielle W.

Our Attitude Picture which suites my Niece perfectly. 

Sexy Girls... :)

Sisters 3 are We.
My Rotten Little Flower Girl.

Me and Momma, Jodi
























Me and Daddy, Richard
























My Family!!
Momma, Daddy, Allison, Me, Ana her husband Cory, Isabel, My Grandma Joanne,
Grandma and Grandpa Noel, and Moms Brother (my uncle) John.

I didn't really want to wear my glasses but with the storm,
 My head was hurting so bad and contacts made it worse.
 Oh well. It just shows my style more! :)

This is one of my favorites.  

I love Black and White.


Beautiful Bride.
And Now The Ceremony...

 Well after the pictures were taken, it started to rain again. So we knew then we would for sure have an indoor wedding. So the Grooms Men went into the lodge to await the girls, and the girls were getting so excited. My pastor came and excorted each of the Brides Maids "down the aisle" under a huge umbrella.
 As he came for the last girl he offered to take the flower girl as well. So we asked for Isabel to go with him. When we turned to where she was last seen, she was gone! OH KNOW! "ISABEL! Where did you go?!" I shouted through the house. Then she came Bee-Boppin out of the getting ready room smackin her lips... "I was just putting on more lipstick!" She said in a very divia way with a flip of the wrist and pop of the hip! I just looked after her as she walked with Sami and the Pastor, and said to dad, "Well then, she is just a rotton little booger now isn't she?!" We just laughed and counted to 100 then started our walk under our umbrella and I tried not to cry. 
 "This is the last time I get to walk with my daddy as a little girl..." I thought just as he slowed down and said to me, "Whelp, I guess you're off to be married now huh my little witch?..." That is what daddy called me when I was really little cause I was a witch every single year for Halloween. I just nodded and gave him a kiss.
 As we came up to the door of the lodge and I saw everyone looking at us and then saw Chris standing there all bright eyed and smiling, I just had to grin my cheesy grin and laugh alittle. Then all of a sudden I got a face full of rain water.... Dad had closed the umbrella too soon and I was right under the leaky gutter.... Oh well. It was refreshing...... 












Throw the peatles on the ground then sit with Garnni Joanne or stay up here ok. :)
 ~*~*~*HERE COMES THE BRIDE...*~*~*~

As Gabrielle put it..... Pure JOY!
Face full of rain and hiding the fact that I had been crying.

The Ceremony..................


We are gathered here today.....
This was a good shot....
Who Gives This Woman Away?
"Her Mother and I do..." such a bitter-sweet moment.
Daddy giving me away and 'pushing' us together......  
Here you can see some of the decorations and how everyone was seated.... :)

intently listening and waiting...

I really Love this picture...
We did a unity candle between pastors, we wanted it to be right in the middle of the ceremony because we really wanted
to show that even before we became husband and wife we were already one family. Despite the Family Drama that went on, and despite our little fights, Before God, We Were One, As we lit the candles Pastor Noah Read 1 Corinthians 13: 4-7. To show that no matter what, Love is Above All.


Lighting OUR Candle.





FINALLY! The Vows......

Prayer for the Rings...

"I Chris, Take You Arielle, To Be My Wife,
To Have and To Hold, To Love and To Cherish, To Honor and Obey, For Better For Worse, For Rich or For Poor, In Sickness and In Health Til Death Do Us Part. For Ever and Ever Amen..."
"I Arielle, Take You, Christian, To Be My Husband,
  To Have and To Hold, To Love and To Cherish, To Honor and Obey, For Better For Worse, For Rich or For Poor, In Sickness and In Health Til Death Do Us Part. For Ever and Ever Amen..."
"If these are your solom vows, then.........


                                                           ...You may Kiss Your Wife!!"


AAAAWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW............


Ladies and Gentlemen, I give you....
Mr. & Mrs. Graff 
who will now take a victory lap around the lodge........ and be taken outside for pictures where a Wonderful RAINBOW awaits them......


First Photo Evidence of Mr. & Mrs. Graff. 


                        ~*~*~*~*~The Family*~*~*~*~*~















~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*The Wedding Party*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~



















  ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Husband & Wife*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

















True Loves Kiss!


I love how the photographer got the sun set in to the pictures! Very nice touch.


















There was a lot of kissing that day! :)


Husband and Wife



Love Love LOVE This one!!!






One of my all time favs!













We did a little Pre-Dance before THE Dance!

Being silly...








                    ~* The Reception *~


It was kind of a tight fit but everyone got some Yummy food and had a great time.



Our cake! The topper is a Family Heirloom. My Great Grandma used it, Her Daughters used it, My Momma Used it, My Older sister Used it, Now it was My turn!! :)

I got the Willow Tree Topper Just in case
 (I was thinking of making a Grooms cake or apple pie for the groom...)
 and also I wanted to put it in our kitchen after the wedding.



Time for the good stuff!













He grabbed two forks and gave himself a bite! Everyone laughed and booed at  him.

I finally told him that we were supposed to feed eachother a bite so he went along, Then I heard "SHOVE IT IN HIS FACE!" from one of my girls.... Maybe I should have.....

                   ~*Time To Dance!*~

Our Frist dance was Life House - You and Me.













At this point I told him that my dress was starting to slip.... Oops....

"Because it's You and Me, and no other people, with nothing to do, nothing to loose,
And I don't know why, I can't keep My Eyes Off Of You!!!"


Here he says I love you!

Then the beat picks up.... It's Swinging Time!!! :)

It was hard to remember how to swing dance after slow dancing for a bit.... I was a little off beat at first.






WHOO! My Dress!!!! ^_^














                ~*Daddy Daughter Dance!*~


I forget what were talking about exactly but it was funny!

I love My Daddy

                     Mother Son Dance





~*Now it's your chance to dance with the Bride and Groom*~


My Uncle Travis, my dads youngest brother. I love him so much.

One of my cousins. I'm happy we got this photo because at her mom and dads wedding I danced with the groom and everyone got lots of photos! :)

Dancing with My Momma!

Allison giving Chris What For! (giggle)

Dancing with my Grandpa Jack. I don't get to see him that often, But he is my grandpa and I love him. I prayed that I would get to dance with him at my wedding some day!


~*Time to get the Party Started!*~

On the Dance Floor!


~*Calling all the Single Ladies!*~




~*Ok Chris, This is Your Mission!*~

I was a bit embarrassed!

















~*Ok Men, Now it's Your Mission!*~


























~*Time For some Toast's*~

Now I can honestly say, I don't remember what everyone said... I feel kind of bad for not remembering, but I do remember, Mitchell welcomed me into his family with open arms and Thanked Chris for stepping up and being his father figure when their dad passed away... It was really sweet.

Now Allison and Ana didn't know they were going to do a speech. We all forgot. Oops. But they said a few funny things about me, and said how amazing it was that Chris and I should be together even if we are complete opposites. :)




Oh! Don't forget to sign the guest book on the way out if you didn't see it coming in!!
This was a Love Quotes Book I found in a book store. Each page had a quote and on the opposite side was a blank page so everyone found a quote they liked and left their name and a little note. :)


~*And They Lived Happily Ever After!*~









~*THE*END*~