New blog

So, you voted, and I can't be lazy. I set up a new blog and even have already posted on it!!

http://danaessex.blogspot.com/

John Paul said he didn't need to be involved in the blogging, so I was selfish and just used my new name. Which is still so weird to see!! See you around the new blog!

-Mrs. Essex

one week later

So, we've been married a week now. It's strange. Things are still the same, yet way different. Found out he snores and steals covers, he found out I like to sing in the shower, but don't realize that I do it.

I feel sorry for him because he's got a lot of on campus interviews, tests, and homework and getting married added a lot of things for him to do. He's been trying to figure out all sorts of insurance and financial information, and I've been feeling more pressure because I'm the only one making money, and now that we are married we are spending more money. Not to mention that changing your name on everything is crazy!!

So, a week later we are happy but really stressed. Hopefully things will die down in a month or so... wait then it's the holidays lol. What were we thinking? ( we were thinking why wait any longer 5.5 years was long enough) any thoughts or prayers you can send our way will be greatly treasured.

oh, and do I need to get a new blog because my name changed? vote in the poll!! I was toying around checking and it's exciting that Essex isn't a common last name, and neither is John-Paul lol. There's a lot of options to choose from!

-Mrs. Essex

Pictures!

I'm a Mrs.!!!

We are finally married!! I'll be getting the large file pictures from Jackie (the photographer) tonight, so I'll post some then.

There's always so much to do when you get back from vacation, and I have to do all the name changing stuff on top of that!!

Everyone at work told me I looked really tired today. I thought that was a little mean of them, I mean, I just got married! lol!

Kansas City was great, and I'm looking forward to going back in a few years for our anniversary!

more details/ pictures to come!

-Mrs. Essex

Bachelorette party!!

so my friends came from all over to help me celebrate the fact I'm getting married in just a few days. it was fun and embarassing! My friend Amy brought the veil her mom wore when she got married 30 years ago!

I made a fun cake, and we went out to a piano bar and I had to be sang to. The man was crude, but it was fun!!

Just a few more days!!

we are liscened to wed!!

We went down to the courthouse today, and got the license!!!! Just a few more days!

ahhh!!

So much is going on I haven't really had time to write. Even with not doing anything really big for a wedding, it still takes a lot of time to get married!!

The reception is turning out to be kindof a big deal, but luckily a lot of people are helping with it.

I think if I can survive the next 8 days, I'll be fine!

Employee of the Month

so, I found out yesterday that I am the Employee of the month at our Staples stores! I'm really excited! this is only the beginning of the 4th month that I've been there! God's truly blessing the works of my hands.

Engagement pics!!

Here's the first batch. Our wonderful photographer and friend, Jackie Teauge, has another photo shoot planned for this weekend. Exciting times!!

Wedding Registry

So, Thursday after I got off work John-Paul and I went down to Bed Bath and Beyond to register. Everyone says if you can get through that you will be fine right? well I guess we survived. It was annoying, but hey, when is shopping with men not? lol

Our registry # is 5677642, but if you search you need to put in John-Paul Essex, or search for me but Cox as my first name and Dana as my last name. Weird I know, but that's how it is. lol

The lady talked us into registering for some china stuff. We were talking last night we are thinking about taking it off. Really, how often are we going to use it and how much of a hassle will it be to store and move it. It's not like we will do a family thanksgiving for several years, and then we'd probably use paper plates.

No pressure to get us anything. Ganny was trying to look, so I was helping her find it.

There's not a whole terrible lot on there because I've been living on my own for several years and I've gotten stuff I wanted, well little stuff that is. That made it really hard to register. I would look at little stuff and John-Paul would say we don't need a lot of stuff just sitting around. I thought I liked that he was a minimalist lol! Sometimes it's not fun, especially because I have too much stuff already!!

Much love!
-Dana

And the date is....

October 2nd!!! I felt bad hiding it from everyone, so there it is. The rule is if you live in Tulsa you can come, if not, we're having a reception in Chickasha (date TBD). Not being mean, I just want it super small. Getting married is between John-Paul, God and myself. We don't need 100 people there for that.

I'm glad the date turned out cute. John-Paul and I started dating on 1-2-03, so all he has to do is remember to add a 0 behind the 1 and add a few years lol! 10-2-08. Mom also pointed out that 10-2=8. He's go no reason to not remember the date! lol Also, a friend of ours from high school that I went to church with is getting married on the 4th. They can help remind each other lol!!

I'm super glad I'm no planning anything big. This long weekend, John-Paul went home and I did planning, and I'm already wedding-ed out. Just 30 days to go!!!

There's still a lot to do. We are going to counseling, taking engament pics, registering, planning a reception, and we still have to go home to buy wedding rings. I'm soooooo excited!!

Much love!!

changes....

So, I was curious how my wordle thing would have changed over the last few weeks, and it has. Again, it's totally cool. I'm excited about getting married, and it shows!

http://wordle.net/gallery/wrdl/153102/word-thingy_2

I don't remember how I got the picture to show up in here the first time, but it says going married really big lol

plans!!

Not that all I'm thinking about lately is getting married, but it's close lol. Since you asked a few questions, I'm taking it that you want to hear all about it!

We are getting married in a city park not far from my (soon our) house. It's wooded, with azaleas all underneath. Not that they will be blooming, but it's a nice shrub. One of my friends from OSU works in the park, and it's her job to find a perfect place. She's also making me a bouquet since everyone says I have to have one. Friends are a great blessing!

I got my dress in the mail yesterday, it's pretty long, so I'm going to have it altered a little. I'd tell you about it, but I don't want to risk giving it away to John-Paul. I want him to be surprised that day.

We are getting married in Tulsa because if you go somewhere to get married you have to get there in time to get the license and all that mess. I thought it would take a little pressure off by getting married here, and that way we have witness that we at least know lol! Jackie (a friend of ours from high school, who goes to TU) is going to take pictures for us. Hopefully next week we will be able to take some official engagement pictures.

We are going home this weekend for lots of reasons. I wanna check on Ganny. She's under the weather. John-Paul's dad got a new car yesterday, so he HAS to check it out. Not to mention the fun stuff like picking out wedding bands, and maybe registering at stores at home.

ahhhhh!! I'm so excited!!!!

Set a date!!

So, we set a date! I'm excited, but not telling anyone. So don't feel left out!

The dress came in the mail today. It's pretty, not quite what I expected but great any way. My friend Jackie who's taking the pictures thought it looked fab! I'm really excited! Not that much longer and I can't wait!

So excited

So, John-Paul is back in Tulsa. I've seen him every day for the past 4 days, and it's wonderful. I'm soooooo excited to get married. This evening we are having dinner with the pastor and his wife to get to know each other and set out a plan for counseling. eeekk!! (that's an excited noise)

Other news, our friend Jackie is back in Tulsa. She studied in London last semester, and I really missed her. So, we have a great friend here in town again. She's going to be doing our photos for us. Hopefully this weekend we are going to get some official engagement pictures taken. Gotta have something to put in the ol' express star lol!

Life is really coming together and taking off all at the same time. For once in my life I feel like the future is really exciting instead of fearing the unknown. God's got a plan, and I'm seeking it, knowing that it's going to be awesome! Even if it's not awesome, I won't be alone in it!

John-Paul's Birthday

So, I worked longer yesterday to get things done so I got off early today.

I found out that John-Paul's plane was delayed so, I get to pick him up at the airport. He's been on vacation with his family the last week, so they will ride home without him. I'm sooooo excited!! I'm going to be able to celebrate his birthday with his family. I originally wasn't going to go home since I went home last weekend, but I just don't want to wait until tomorrow to see him!

It was so great to see him for the few hours we were together last weekend, I don't want to miss another minute with him.

So, the pastor said it will take 6 weeks to do pre-marital counseling so we have to wait 6 more weeks to get married. ahhh!! I'm so excited! That means by no later than the end of October I'll be Mrs. Essex!! Might have to change blogs lol!!!

Wordle!

A wonderful person had this on her blog, so I stole it.
I'm sooooo excited that God, Love and John-Paul were
all big and right in the same little area!

Click the image to see it larger. If you want to
make your own, the link is http://wordle.net/

Lately

So, lately there has been a lot going on in my head, heart and soul, but I didn't report on it because it wasn't really accompanied by any big activities.

I've been going to work coming home, and occasionally spending time with a friend. I've been spending a lot of time on the phone with John-Paul, eagerly awaiting his return to Oklahoma (he'll be in Chickasha in 6 days!!!)

In the last few weeks, I've been reminded of how blessed I am to be loved by so many people. As I was awaiting John-Paul's arrival home, I was pondering where he was going to fit into this new life I've gotten. Between my church friends from both the Seventh day adventist church and the Nazarene church, and my friends from college who live in town, not to mention the friends who wander through to visit me. Where will I find time for him? I'm blessed to be loved by so many people who don't have to! I'm thinking that means we just need to get married, so he will be at the house all the time lol!

In the past few days, John-Paul and I have made big headway on some problems that we have been dealing with for awhile. God's grace is abundant, and His love for us is where our love for each other comes from. Sometimes we just forget the latter part. When we begin to live our life without the focus being on God, it's not the best place to be!

I'm finding a lot of joy in my job. At first it was hard to. I didn't get what I would call the best quality training. But, I've made the best of it, and can do it on my own for the most part. It's so exciting to enjoy work. I don't dread going. It's an adventure and a challenge. It's great! What I may be giving up financially, God is more than making up for with His presence in all things. Living in faith, while it's hard, is so rewarding! God isn't just a shadowy personage that I talk about. He's someone that I know.

The past few months have been hard/lonely/stretching among other things, but through that God led me to a RELATIONSHIP with Him. It's such a wonderful place to find myself. I pray that God can be blessing you with the peace, love, assurance and joy that I've found!!!

Breaking Dawn

I went ahead and reposted this picture. The others were almost too small to get the awesomeness that are our shirts lol! Mine is covered in glitter. I used a whole can of spray paint glitter. Ellen's says Team Jacob, but she almost ripped it up, it was awesome. We won the t-shirt contest. There wasn't a lot of people. We both had our books in 15 minutes after midnight. I was in the second group in line and she was in the 3rd group. I can't imagine that it took that long for everyone to get through the line.

I officially finished the book at 4:30 this afternoon, it was so good I couldn't put it down, but now I'm sad it's over.

Happy reading to you if you haven't finished!!! Go Team Edward!!

Breaking Dawn party