THIRTY ONE days ago Jared and I were married in our church in Pleasant Grove (PG Church of the Nazarene). We had 10 bridesmaids, 10 groomsmen, 2 flower girls, and 2 ring bearers. To say the least, we had a pretty large wedding party. It was amazing! There were always people around and available for anything that might come up.
So before I go into detail about that most amazing day of my life, let me tell you about SOME of our bridal party.
5 of my bridesmaids were my very best friends. . .
My 2 Maids of Honor were Brandi Creel and Rachel Holt. BEAUTIFUL and AMAZING women of GOD. These two have seen me at my best, and at my worst. It could not have been the day it was without these two standing beside us.
(Brandi: Brandi and I met when I was in the 6th grade (summer before). She and her family moved in right across the circle and shortly after that I was stuck to her like glue. We did EVERYTHING together. When she could drive, that started a whole different kind of fun. I couldn't imagine not having her as my best friend, she has been more like a sister and a part of the family. I've been blessed to have this woman stand beside me as I married the man of my dreams (that she helped me meet!!!!)).
(Rachel: Oh where to begin with Rachel... The question game was the beginning of an amazing friendship. It all started with Jackie (she's next..). Jackie was a mutual friend that I was always with. Then Rachel came in to the picture and it was always the three of us. So many fun times and wonderful memories with those two girls. But somewhere along the way Rachel and I became closer than I ever would have imagined. All we did was talk talk talk talk and laugh laugh laugh and hang out ALL the time. It didn't matter what we were doing, we always had a good time together. She has one of the most tender hearts and sweetest spirits of anyone I know. I couldn't have imagined my wedding day without her right there beside me!)
Next there is Jackie McDonald. She is the first friend I had at Unashamed my Sophomore year in college (ROLL TIDE). She was amazing. Just one of those people you met and immediately loved. She was quickly a best friend. She is the motherly one of Rachel and myself. She is the most caring and amazing woman, loving and tender, ALWAYS there when you need someone, and ALWAYS there when you just want to be around someone amazing.
Morgan (Bertram) Green is another newlywed. (She and her husband Michael were married last year, 11/11/11 <- How cool?) I have known her for the longest time, but she and I became close our Sophomore year in High School. We cheered together and rode to school together EVERYday. She was easily my best friend and always there for me through everything. Never a dull moment!!
Last but CERTAINLY not least, there is my childhood slumber buddy, preschool buddy, dance buddy, . . . EVERYTHING buddy, Christen Sowell. We were together every day as tiny tots, had every birthday party together (or had the same one two weeks apart), and were together just about every day until our Freshman year in High School. We didn't see each other a whole lot until College after she moved, but we ALWAYS picked up where we left off. (P.S. She is getting married in less than FOUR months!! YAY! Soon to be Mrs. BRIAN THACH! cannot wait to stand by her side and do for her what she so graciously did for me!!)
4 of my Bridesmaids are Sisters...
Amy Palmer
I've known her for longer than I can remember. She has been with my brother forever. They were married about 10 years ago (I believe?) and now have 2 BEAUTIFUL boys, Cameron and Cody. I don't know when it happened, but at some point she was more than my brothers wife and my sister in law. She just became my sister, Amy, and I love it!
Jamie Palmer
Jamie is the second to newest sister that I have gotten (She married my brother Casey in April 2011). She has been a wonderful addition and I have LOVED having ANOTHER Sister! YAY! I love her so much and she has given me two more precious nephews! (Our family is CONTINUOUSLY GROWING!)
Shari Godsey
Shari is not technically my sister. We don't share a mother, or a father, or any other legally bonding tie, but we have a little something else. When I was 3 I stayed with her grandmother while my parents were at work. At the time she lived there and was in college, but I became her little buddy and shadow. I wanted a sister and my mom told me that I couldn't have one like Christen did, but I could ask someone to be my sister if I found someone I really liked. Well that person turned out to be Shari. And here we are 21 years later, her two daughters (Meghan and Natalie) are my nieces (Natalie says I'm her "not real aunt") and her husband is my brother in law. And of course I love them all as if they were family. Some people probably thought that would not have lasted as long as it did, but I think that is something that makes our relationships that much more special.
Aubrey Johnson
MY NEWEST SISTER! I just got her on February 25th, 2012. And I couldn't be happier. I actually knew Aubrey and her husband Andrew and their sweet kiddos (now my NIECE AND NEPHEW!) before I met Jared (Andrew is Jared's brother). I immediately loved them and their family. What great people! I am so excited to see where this new family relationship will take us! We have so many memories already with family vacations and church trips, the future is looking bright!
Lastly there is the 10th Bridesmaid....
Meghan Godsey
The first little girl to make me an Aunt. She has been my little munchkin for almost 15 years!! I cannot believe how old and how beautiful she is. I was 9 years old when she was born- and what a tiny little baby she was. Now she is almost as tall as I am! She is so smart and such an amazing Christian girl that I cannot wait to see where the Lord continues to lead her. She has big dreams, and all I can hope is that the Lord blesses her to accomplish each and every one of them!
Our flower girls and ring bearers are 2 more of our wonderful nieces and 2 of our sweet little nephews.
Natalie Godsey
(my favorite to pick on! <- but she picks back! That is why it is so much fun! Sweet as can be (when she wants to be) and a firecracker! She is always dancing, always moving, ALWAYS doing something! I couldn't imagine the Godseys being complete without her!)
Lily Johnson
(The peaceful one. She is always so sweet and so polite. Calm and collect, but then... wild! Ready to run and dance and play and just have fun! She is always up for a good time! I am so glad to have her as my NIECE!
Cameron Palmer
(Was the first little grandchild in the Palmer family, so of course he is a special little one to us. They are all special, but this little guy was the first to make my parents grandparents, me and aunt to an amazing little boy, and that makes him one spectacular little guy. He is as sweet as he can be most of the time, he loves to play (baseball might just be his favorite), and to be at the lake.)
Jacob Graves
(He is a new member to the Palmer family. He is the son of my sister in law (Jamie) but is now a part of the Palmer family as well! He is so sweet and LOVES his new little brother, playing outside, and his new cousin Cameron (his other cousins as well but those two stick together like glue when they are around each other).)
We also had two honorary ring bearers. Our two (well, actually three) youngest nephews.
Cody Palmer (19 months) (Eric and Amy's youngest)
Waylon Johnson (almost 26 months) (Andrew and Aubrey's youngest)
Andrew James (A.J.) Palmer (5 months) (Casey and Jamie's youngest)
I cannot say enough about these sweet boys and sweet girls. These little guys and young ladies are all so sweet and so precious in so many ways. We could not be more BLESSED with such PRECIOUS, AMAZING, BEAUTIFUL nieces and nephews!
We had the MOST AMAZING Bridal Party. I won't get into details on the Groomsmen, but I will let Jared tell you all about them when I can have him sit down for a minute or two. ;)
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