Ryan and Ellen

Time is flying by too fast. I don’t want to go home tomorrow!

Today was an exciting day. We set an alarm so that we would be sure to get up a little earlier than yesterday to get out on the trails. We enjoyed a breakfast of leftover cinnamon rolls, sausage, grits, and fruit before heading to play another round of disc golf and hike the Outcroppings trail. We decided to play the disc golf course at the opposite end of the park from the one we played yesterday. We both agreed that this course is the slightly easier one of the two. Disc golf in the

mountainous regions is great fun! We really enjoyed hiking through the woods, over rocks, and through the trees (except for when our Frisbees went too far off course!). After finishing the game, we hiked the outcroppings trail. This trail seemed to divide into one trail after the next. We never were quite sure whether we were on the main trail or an off shoot, which would normally take us back to another part of the main trail. We enjoyed the journey very much, though, ending back where we began.

When we were finished with the trail, we headed back to the cabin to eat lunch and rest. We were so tired. We enjoyed a late lunch of leftover hot dogs, chips, and fruit before watching another movie on the laptop.

After a few more adventures, we cranked up the charcoal grill to grill chicken breasts for dinner. I had marinated them for several hours and seasoned them before sending them out with Ryan to grill them. We cooked the chicken, skewered vegetables, and potatoes to go with

heated breadsticks. When dinner was ready, the potatoes were NOT! So, we decided to let them keep cooking while we ate. We decided to save them for lunch tomorrow.

We finished dinner with some s’mores. Ryan couldn’t remember if/when he had ever had s’mores before, so I dutifully showed him how to make them. We cooked them over the charcoal grill and they tasted SO GOOD!

This morning at about 7am I woke up and set the homemade cinnamon rolls I had prepared out to let them rise. I then climbed back in bed and went to sleep. I rolled over awhile later to look at my watch and gasped to Ryan, “Guess what time it is” – he said, “about 10?” I replied, “it’s 11 a.m.!” Neither of us could remember the last time we slept in that late!

We got up, placed the cinnamon rolls in the oven, and fixed a breakfast of sausage, grits, peaches, and cinnamon rolls. It was DELICIOUS!

Since “breakfast” was at about 11:30am, we really didn’t have “lunch.” As soon as we finished eating, we left to play disc golf. We stopped by the cabin that we were going to tour yesterday as we walked down the road to the disc golf course (it was about 2-3 miles from our cabin). We had a great time playing a round of disc golf then headed back to the cabin. We figured out that we probably walked about 7-8 miles through the woods and on the road today.

We got back to the cabin about 5pm, took a nice hot shower, and got a snack of cheese, grapes, Pringles, and homemade oatmeal cookies with a cup of coffee to take on the porch. We swung on the porch swing while enjoying our snack and the beautiful weather.

To assert that we are in the 21^st century, we watched a movie on my laptop that Ryan had brought at the cabin after the big hike and game.

After the movie, we enjoyed a supper of hot dogs and chips, finished with leftover wedding cake.

Driving to Tishomingo with the Car Packed FULL!

Today, we left for our honeymoon. After spending most of the morning packing, we left Aiken Village at about 11am, headed north. We stopped by Ryan’s parents’ house on the way to drop off Mr. Jim’s father’s day present. About noon, we were leaving West Point, headed for Tishomingo.

We got to Tupelo and Ryan graciously stopped by Belk with me to make some wedding gift exchanges. The Belk in Columbus has been out of green and yellow Fiesta dishes so we made some exchanges to totally complete my Fiesta dinnerware place settings and pick up a couple of much-needed items.

We're Here!

We arrived at Tishomingo State Park at about 3:30pm after taking only 1 wrong turn which was secondary to the Google map directions

telling us to go right when we should have gone left!  We checked in and received our key for cabin number 4.

When we got to the cabin we unloaded the car, unpacked the ice chest, and just savored the first few moments of our honeymoon. We then decided to take some time to hike up to the old CCC cabin and pond down the road. We started off down the

road and used our map-reading skills to determine that we could take a trail to the cabin instead of the road. So, we took off down the trail, headed toward what we thought was the cabin. After hiking, stopping for many photos, and seeing the sights, we came upon a clearing. It was then that we realized that we took the wrong

direction down the trail which took us to the very opposite end of the park than where we were headed! Oh well – we really didn’t care because we enjoyed the journey as much as the destination! J We walked across the huge swinging bridge and then headed back to our cabin.

After running into innumerable spider webs along the trail, nothing felt better than a good hot shower at the cabin. After showering, we began to fix dinner, which consisted of hamburgers, French fries, and grilled peaches for dessert. Ryan got the grill going while I made the burgers and sliced the potatoes into fries. We ate on the

The Swinging Bridge

screened-in porch outside our cabin and no dinner has tasted better! We had fully-loaded burgers (mayo, mustard, ketchup, pickles, onions, tomatoes, lettuce, cheese, buns, and burgers), delicious fries, and then placed the peaches seasoned with butter, cinnamon, and sugar on the grill until tender.

After cleaning up from dinner, we went out on the screened-in porch to the swing, where Ryan read the Bible aloud and I fell asleep, rocking in his lap.

By the time Ryan and I had gone out about 3 times, we quickly found out that time is NOT on our side. We get nervous because we have realized that time just passes faster when we are together. This week has proven the same as always! Ryan has been taking chemistry 1 through EMCC this month and had his final on Friday. Each day, we squeezed studying, working, time together, and cleaning up into our day. We rejoiced as he took his final exam and had fun studying together.

Romantic Dinner that Ryan Prepared

For dinners, we have enjoyed leftover wedding food for many meals. On Tuesday, Ryan had dinner on the table when I got home from work. He had set the table beautifully, complete with candles and delicious food! I’ve also fixed us fajitas, chicken, and pizza on Friday night to celebrate Ryan finishing his class!

Besides having pizza on Friday night to celebrate, we also went to the midnight showing of Up at the 3-D theater. It was such a cute movie and well made. We had fun!

More Bridal portraits of the world’s prettiest woman!

http://www.ryanandellen.net/photo-gallery

We got up this morning and I said, “Ryan, I want a do-nut!” Ryan totally agreed! So, we left the hotel in pursuit of a do-nut. After driving what felt like forever, we finally landed upon a Shipley’s Do-nut Shop! We were so happy we cheered – I don’t know that I’veever had such a do-nut craving! We enjoyed apple fritters,

do-nut holes, cinnamon rolls, and chocolate covered do-nuts before heading home to our apartment as a couple for the first time!

We spent the afternoon enjoying each others’ company, as I had told myself I was not allowed to think about cleaning up until Monday.

Today was the most wonderful day of my life!

I woke up at 5am this morning, right before my alarm clock went off. Holly Houston and my sister, Amanda Criss, spent the night at our home, so we all got up early to get ready for the big event. Holly and I began to set up the tables outside as our wedding party girls and director, Amy Lear, began to arrive at around 6am to begin hair fixing and getting ready. At 6:30am, Holly and I drove down to Gina’s to get my hair done.

Crickett Oldenburg, our photographer, arrived at the hair salon about 7:15am to take some photos of me getting my hair all fixed. We enjoyed visiting as Gina curled and styled my hair. I left with my veil on and my hair fixed as I called home to warn my family to get Ryan out of the way so that he wouldn’t see me before I had my dress on.

When I got home, I finished putting on my makeup, got my dress on, and began to admire all the bridesmaids that were getting their beautiful red dresses on. About this time, the flower girls arrived and began to get dressed and ready for the big day as well. The ring bearers marched around in their cute little bow ties as the groomsmen helped to carry the baby grand piano outside for the wedding.

When my dress was on and I was ready, the bridesmaids and photographers set me up near a window and called Ryan in to come see me. We decided to do photos beforehand for times sake but made it really special when we did see each other. Ryan was so handsome in his tux and I felt like a princess in my dress!

After we saw each other, we went outside to take photos of us, and then rounded up the beautiful/handsome bridal party so that they could join us in photos. After bridal party photos, we had family photos with our immediate and extended families. By the time we were done with photos, guests had begun to arrive and I went to my room to cool off before the big event.

The bridesmaids and Holly were awesome! They brought me muffins, milk, and lip gloss, and convinced me not to wear hose since it was so hot! J

At about 10:30am, I began to think, “WOW – it’s really happening!” – I looked outside and saw the tent nearly full of people and could hear beautiful music from the musicians, Philip & Joseph Shackelford, on the porch. At about quarter ’til 11am, the bridesmaids, flower girls, ring bearers, and photographers gathered around and I asked Amanda, my matron of honor, to pray for us. It was such a sweet time to join with my precious friends for a time of prayer just before the wedding began.

Pretty soon, it was time for the mothers to be seated, Carole sang, and the bridesmaids and I began to exit the house, headed towards the tent. As dad and I approached the tent, I just took in the sight of all the people, the beautiful bridal party, and the very handsome groom standing at the front. As Canon in D began to play, I enjoyed taking in the scenery for the first third of the aisle and then focused on Ryan most of the rest of the way. I’ll never forget how excited and proud he looked that day. I stole a glimpse of the whole wedding party, then the flower girls and ring bearer, then mine and Ryan’s moms, before focusing my attention on Ryan as I approached his side. My dad handed me off to him and presented a charge to us in front of the congregation.

After dad spoke, Bro. Sammy Burns shared, Ryan and I said our vows to each other, exchanged rings, and prayed as the hymn “Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus” was played and sung by the congregation.

We were then pronounced “Man & Wife”, Ryan kissed me for the very first time, and we proceeded down the aisle, a happy married couple!

We walked around the house and up the porch to the wedding cake where I stood in awe. The beautiful magnolias were spread across the cake table

wonderfully! I thought, “WOW! – What a beautiful cake!” We hugged the bridal party as they followed us up the porch, followed by our parents and grandparents. We then cut the cakes and headed back through the house

to a little bench set out for us to sit on while we visited with wedding guests. Holly & Amy fixed us up waters and a plate of goodies to nibble on while we visited with our guests.

Before we knew it, Amy was coming to tell us it was time to go! We headed towards the porch, rounded up all of the “eligible women” in the crowd, and I threw my bouquet, which literally knocked Kathryn Pearson in the head! I then went to tell the people inside the house hello and thank them for coming before heading off to change clothes.

We ran out the front door to our decorated car while being showered with bubbles blown by our wedding guests. We chunked balloons out of the car until we could fit ourselves inside and headed off on our way, stopping a little ways down the road to remove some wrap that was blowing off the antenna!

When we got to West Point, the people at Mr. Bubbles were so sweet to give us a free car wash for a wedding gift! We took our clean car to Tupelo and spent the night at the Courtyard Marriott in Tupelo, MS.

At long last, the day has arrived, and WE ARE MARRIED!

Thanks to the Lord and to all of the faithful friends and families who have helped us along the way. We are forever grateful.

We cannot wait to get started in our new life together! More pictures and posts to come!

Tomorrow I will marry my friend!

Today was a very exciting day! We worked on wedding stuff from the moment we awakened to the moment we went to bed! Many dear friends have been in and out of our house all week, preparing for Ryan and my big day tomorrow. It is hard to believe that it is almost here.

Sally, Sarah, Rebekah, Chris, and Holly Chopping Broccoli

I began the day greeting friends who had come to help. They began to cut fruit and I drove across the road to our neighbor, Teresa Harpole’s, house to go cut magnolia branches and ivy. We drove down the road to a lady’s house to cut branches off her huge magnolia tree.

After cutting the branches, I headed home to unload them and found more friends at the house working, decorating, washing fruit, cleaning, etc. We unloaded the branches and Mrs. Daphne McKibben & Mrs. Wendy Gullett began to construct the arch of magnolia leaves to go around the front doorway.

Mrs. Wendy Gullett & Mrs. Daphne McKibben Decorating the Front Door

I spent the next little while slicing pineapples, cleaning, and answering questions until my friend, Holly Houston, arrived from Nashville, TN. Holly came to help me before and during the wedding time. We were getting dressed to head into town when Mrs. Wendy came in to tell us that she needed more magnolia branches. We swapped from make-up applications to old clothes and ran down the road to fetch some branches. As we were taking the trek to my neighbor’s friend’s house, I spotted about 9 magnolia trees in a neighboring friend, Mrs. Mary Ruth Hill’s, yard. I quickly called Mrs. Mary Ruth to ask if we could cut some branches from her trees to save us some time. She said she would love for us to and asked us to go ahead and shape up the trees while we trimmed. So, we pruned and got a truck bed full of branches and leaves at the same time. As we trimmed, I noticed her beautiful magnolia blooms and asked if we could have some for the wedding cake at the wedding. A few months back, I had thought it would be beautiful to decorate the wedding cake with magnolias but was afraid that there would be none in bloom when it became wedding time. I was thrilled to find some huge, beautiful blooms and my neighbor, Mrs. Teresa Harpole, offered to cut and bring them to the wedding the next morning.

Dad Working Hard

After gathering branches, Holly and I resumed getting ready to head to town to pick up the wedding flowers. We first picked up Ryan at the apartment then headed to the wedding rehearsal dinner location to drop off gifts for our moms for us to present that night. We then headed to the florist and back home for the rehearsal.

The rehearsal went flawlessly. The entire wedding party was there for us to begin at 5pm and each member did great, from those wedding party members who had never been in a wedding to Adam, our ring bearer who has now been in 4 weddings!

After the rehearsal, we headed to Starkville for the rehearsal dinner, located at the Starkville Church of Christ on Lee Boulevard.

The rehearsal dinner was decorated in bright pinks, yellows, and oranges with gerbera daisies on each table and white balls hanging from the ceiling. It was so beautiful and there were about 70 people there to celebrate with us.

We began the dinner with delicious appetizers as we visited. For dinner, we had a cold tomato soup to start us off, complete in cups with “Ryan & Ellen” written on them. We then had a sorbet in small ice cream cones to cleanse our pallet before the main course of grilled chicken, slaw, green beans, rice, salad, baked potatoes, rolls, etc. For dessert we had a delicious banana pudding to finish off the delicious meal. Ryan told me to be sure to mention that he had two servings of EVERYTHING and really enjoyed every bite!

Ryan’s dad gave us a charge as we finished eating then Ryan and I introduced those who had come to the dinner and read hand-written notes to our parents before giving our moms a gift.

After visiting with family and friends, we headed home to finish up a few last minute items and get in bed.