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Thursday, May 26, 2011

My Love Story

Yesterday was the anniversary of the day Justin proposed to me. It was most definitely one of the happiest days of my life. I thought he might never propose. :) Earlier in the day he had graduated from the University of Tennessee at Martin and we were supposed to be going out to celebrate. Little did I know he had different plans. He called and asked me if I was ready. I said I was so he said he would be there in just a second. There was a knock on my door. That was strange because he usually just came on in. When I opened the door it wasn't Justin, but one of his fraternity brothers standing there in a suit holding a white rose and a card. He gave me the card which explained what was going on.

After I read the card he said, "On behalf of Justin Paschall, will you accept this rose." The slip that says Martin Church of Christ was attached to the rose to tell me where we were headed next. When I walked outside there was a HUGE limo at the end of my driveway. I about fell over. I had never ridden in one before. When I got in the driver told me there were drinks in the fridge/cooler...I don't remember which it had, and a bag of my favorite snacks from Justin. I was too excited to eat or drink anything though. I thought about calling my friend to tell her this was it. He was going to propose. But I changed my mind just in case it was just a really nice gesture.

We went to the church where another fraternity brother of his was wearing a suit and waiting with two pink roses and another card. He asked the same thing the first guy did and gave me the roses. We repeated this process all over the town of Martin. At the church the card said I was there because it was the first place he remembered seeing me. I came in late, of course. He said lots of sweet things then we headed to the next stop. We went to the KA house, the first place we actually spoke; the University Center, where we trained together to be PEP Leaders and he first let me know he liked me (he also told me he was romantic, to which he said I was skeptical, but he thought I believed now); E. W. James (a grocery store), because I am the first woman he had ever cooked for and he wanted to provide for and protect me; and his best friend Ed's house because we had become best friends. The card at Ed's said that dinner was served back at my house.

When I got there candles and rose petals covered the front porch. I walked in and saw this.

Sorry for the picture of pictures, but we don't have a scanner at the house. :) He had set up dinner in the middle of the living room. He cooked for me. As we sat down to eat he kept talking about how all his friends said he would have to come up with something REALLY good for whenever he actually decided to propose...
My heart sank.
I was still hoping he was going to propose, but was scared to get my hopes up. Neither of us really ate much. I was nervous and still excited from the "scavenger hunt" and he was nervous knowing what was coming. After we picked at desert he cleared the table out of the way and said, in very Bachelor type fashion, "I will now go get...the final rose." :) He handed me a red rose with a card attached. All the previous cards were signed, "Because I am Yours, Justin Paschall." This one had a bride and groom on the front and said "Because I am Yours." When I opened the card it said, "The honor of your presence is requested at the marriage of Micah Danielle Mullins to James Justin Paschall at a date and time yet to be determined." He asked me what it said, but I couldn't speak. He asked again and I said something like, "I don't know. Are you serious?" He got down on one knee said I was beautiful and I'm sure some other sweet things (I can't even remember and neither can he lol), and then asked if I would marry him. I said yes, of course. I ended up on my knees hugging him and kept saying, "This better not be a joke."


The first white rose symbolized our friendship. That's how we started out, just as friends. I was dating someone else when we first met. The pink roses represented the time we spent dating, and the red roses symbolized our future marriage.
He made all of the cards himself. He even put the ribbons on and sprayed them with his cologne. I think it's one of the best proposals ever. He is the sweetest and most thoughtful man ever. I am so lucky to be his wife!

I love you Justin!!!!!


Sunday, May 15, 2011

Perspective From a Toddler


Tonight as we were on our way to the church building for evening worship we told Reagan we were going to church. She said, "Yay, chuch! Yaaaaaaaay!" She was so excited. :)




WHAT IF WE ALL HAD THIS ATTITUDE?




"But seek FIRST the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you." Matthew 6:33 ESV (emphasis added)

"Not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near." Hebrews 10:25 ESV

"For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome." 1 John 5:3

Saturday, May 14, 2011

Just a Little Trim...or a Big One

Today we worked all day long on the outside of our home. Can you tell a difference?

Before

After!

We cut back the MASSIVE bushes. Right now they're nothing more than sticks, but the foliage will grow in over time. They were far overdue for a trim. We also trimmed up the trees in the front. There was actually a house behind all that green!

Justin also attacked the back yard.
Before(and during a big rain, our backyard becomes a pond)

After
The back looks SO much bigger without the big tree/bush and vines.


The brush piles when we were done.

We are soooo tired but it's worth it because we got a lot done. I wonder if we'll be able to move in the morning. We are both already sore.


Starting this project has also shown us that we have AWESOME neighbors! The other day I had cut a couple of the bushes back with a hand saw and was getting ready to start some more when our neighbor across the street came over and offered to bring his chain saw and help me out. We didn't get them done, but we got pretty far before it ran out of gas. This same neighbor had already come over and cut down a dead tree for us.
Justin bought us an electric chain saw last night so we finished cutting the bushes with it today. When we started dragging them to the curb a teenage boy that lives next door came out and asked if we wanted some help. I said, "SURE!" He was actually jogging to get the brush and then carrying it to the curb. We got done A LOT faster with his help.
Later a couple that lives down the road stopped and offered to loan us their pressure washer to get the green mildew off our bricks where the bushes were. They and the first neighbor mentioned both told us you can spray a bleach water mix on it then spray it off. They also mentioned that they noticed all the work we'd been doing. Our neighbors have been so helpful and nice. I love our neighbors!

We worked hard all day and are so tired, but there's just something good about hard work. It's great to see the pay off. It makes me feel proud. Not that I'd want to do that kind of hard manual work every day, but occasionally it's nice. :)



Tuesday, May 3, 2011

Wonderful Ladies, Wonderful Husband


Saturday night the Ripley church of Christ had our monthly Ladies' Night Out. We had a great time eating and fellowshipping and had a great devo by Mrs. Ann. Thanks to her for hosting! I always love spending time with my fellow members of the church, but especially the ladies. It's always so much fun. But, this night was special to me for another reason. I got to experience something I wish all preacher's wives could. I got to sit and listen to a room full of women saying wonderful things about my husband. They talked about what a wonderful preacher he is. How he explains things plainly and connects verses in a logical way. How he has helped them to see that you can understand the Bible. It's all there in the text. They also talked about how sweet and loving he is. He's not afraid to show affection or say publicly that he loves me. How he's just so warm. How he helps with Reagan. Of course, I already know how great he is, but it's nice to hear others say it as well. And to know that your husband is appreciated. I love him. :)