Blissfullness & Blessings!!

Our Love Story

The day I met Kenny Owens, will be a day I will NEVER forget! It was in June of 2004; June 19th to be exact! I was going through a tough time in my life & needed to just get out! So...a couple of my friends/cousins & I decided to ride to, what was then, Gametime to "parking lot pimp" LOL! "Parking lot pimp" is what we did when we decided to just "chill" in the parking lot of the club and not go in! I know...sounds a little crazy...but that's what we did when I was 19 years old LOL!! First of all, I have never been the type of girl to “holla” at a dude, but this particular night, I was in rare form & was having so much fun! So, I spotted this SUPER CUTE, light-skinned dude with braids that had on a green jersey! I was determined to get “the boy in the green jersey” phone number & was not leaving Greenville until I got it!! Long story short, I got his number in the parking lot of Gametime & we became friends. We went on one date & that was it! We were just what I said…friends...no more, no less! We carried on this friendship for about three years off & on...I thought he was one of the best friends I’d ever had! We talked about EVERYTHING! In October of 2007, I ran into Kenny in his uncle’s club, Alley Gator’s. We had not talked or seen each other in a long time! I agreed to go visit him one Saturday night after that just to “chill” & that “chill” turned into something serious! I never expected it to go as far as it did, but you cannot run from true love when it finds you. We started out “talking” & made it “official” on January 18, 2008. A couple of weeks shy of our 4 year anniversary, Kenny asked me to be his wife! Another day I will NEVER forget…December 25, 2011…a very special Christmas Day!!! I wrote the following words in a poem to Kenny ("Kay") for Valentine’s Day in 2008 that sums up the love I have for the Love of My Life, my fiance: “…The key to my heart,I thought I threw away. Some how, some way you got it, And now I’m here to stay. I almost missed out…The thought brings chills over me. But timing and patience,I learned is the key. One last time, I’ve fallen in love. But this time I truly believe You’re my angel sent from above.”
Enjoy our Love Story!!!

Sunday, July 8, 2012

#62 Days!!!

Well…today is July 8^th…which means on this day two months from now…our “BIG DAY” will be over & I’m sure we all will be in “rest” mode! So…what has happened between time? The month of June, I think, has been the busiest month yet. Kay & I have been really busy and focusing on purchasing a house. We put a offer in on one house that was located in Simpsonville & decided to pull out of it. We think that we have found “the house” finally…we will know in a couple of weeks...so excited!!!

A couple of Fridays, June 22^ndto be exact, I took my Bridal Portraits. After months of pondering…I decided to take them all at my parents’ house. I knew that I wanted to take the majority there, but I kept trying to figure out a second location. I finally decided to take all of my portraits in & outside of my parents’ beautiful home! So…I took a vacation day to be sure that I was prepared for this. I really did not expect for that day to be as full and busy as it was. I started at the hairdresser at 8:00 am. After that, I went to get a manicure and a pedicure. When I got home from the nail salon, my sisters (Faye & Litbit) were working so hard cleaning the house…getting ready for my pics! Litbit went to work that morning & got off early to help Faye finish cleaning the house. My mom was gone to one of her favorite stores…Pier 1….to buy a rug to go in her hallway. Don’t even ask why LOL! My mom & dad had worked so hard for three weeks. I had been joking with my mom for weeks that she was using me to remodel her house LOL! My dad & her changed the poles on the stairwell, painted the stairwell, & did weeks & weeks of yard work. My dad even stayed off of work a couple of days to get the stairwell completed…oh how I feel so special!! I started getting ready about 4:00. Whitney came over & did my makeup. First, she covered my tattoo with tattoo makeup & her & Faye made me up!! My wonderful photographers…Matt & Vernice from Hammett Photography arrived to the house a little after 6:00 that evening. I wasn’t fully ready when they arrived…I still can’t believe how long it took me to get ready! That was ok though because by the time I got outside, the lighting was perfect for the camera (per Matt)! With that being said…I have to tell how GOD himself lined up that entire day for me! The weather men had been calling for rain on that Friday & Saturday all week. It started to look cloudy at about 6:00 & I started getting worried of course. Well…by the time I got outside to start taking pictures…the lighting was perfect!!! That even more confirmation that GOD says it is time!!! After getting ate up by mosquitoes (literally…my back was whipped up)…the pictures were finally done (at about 9:00)! What a perfect day the LORD had made! I did get two “sneak peeks” from Matt on that Sunday, but that was all! I was amazed by those two pictures so I can’t imagine what the others look like! I supposed to have them all back this week…I am so anxious to see them!!!

#62 days…I’m getting so anxious to marry my Prince!!!

Pictures from "The Preparation"

Daddy working on the stairwell!

It looks great!

Stairwell of 17 years...now changed to white!

More evidence of my daddy's work...why is the rope tied to the tree???

The ending to the rope??? LOL...don't even ask b/c I have no idea!

Daddy cutting the grass!

Of course...Justin helped Papa & MeMaw!

Covering my Tattoo!!

Wow...I was amazed how well the makeup worked!

I don't know what I'm showing Whitney LOL!

Sunday, June 24, 2012

Oh May, oh May...where did you go?!

As most may know…I celebrated my 27^th birthday on May 10^th! 27? Yea…I am 27…wow LOL! This was my last birthday as “Ashley Thomas”…the next one I’ll be Mrs. Ashley Owens! I had a wonderful birthday thanks to my Hubby to be, my family, & my friends! On Thursday morning, I received the prettiest flower ever at work from “SOS”! Hmmm…wonder who that “SOS” could be?! They were a dozen of purple of roses…the color of our wedding! What a great start to My Day & I knew the best was yet to come!!! He also came to my job, picked me up, & took me to lunch. He had a truck full of surprises for me…he gives the best gifts!! He was on 2^nd shift on my birthday …so he had to go to work that evening. That was ok though because he took off that Friday (& so did I) & the rest of my weekend was going to be with him…can you say super excited?! On Thursday evening, some of my family, friends, & me went to Olive Garden. I enjoyed every second of it & was so thankful for everyone that came out & celebrated my day with me…I felt so special!

Kay had a full day planned for the two of us on Friday. After going to look at a house (we have to do this kind of stuff in between time LOL), he told me we were going to the restaurant of my choice! I chose Rick Erwin’s downtown Greenville! Neither one of us had been there before, surprisingly, but I had heard nothing but good things about it. The food was so good & I’m so glad I chose that restaurant! After Rick Erwin’s, we went to Carolina Ale House to have some drinks…that’s “our spot”!! Fun, fun, fun birthday…he’s the best hubby to be in the universe!!!

Besides my birthday…we had some other interesting things going on in the month of May. On May 11th, I received a phone call from the bestest Bridal Consultant eva’…Mrs. Brooke Pearson (she’s married now yay)! She called to tell me that all of the dresses, except the Mini Maid dresses, were in!!! I could not wait to see them! So…I headed to the Bridal Shop on Monday afternoon to see them. GORGEOUS…I’m so in love with my girls’ dresses! Later that day, I had my mom, Alicia, Tab, & Zyon to meet me at the Bridal Shop to try on the dresses! I also filled my mom’s car up with all of the girls’ dresses & took them to my house (per their request lol)! This day was so exciting! You see…I had saw the dresses in a totally different color than what they were going to be & I had not saw the Matron/Maid dress…so I was anxious. No disappointment at all….PERFECT!!! I’m so proud of myself for picking out such pretty dresses! I also had a meeting with our Wedding Director on May 24^th. We met at Simpsonville First Baptist Church at 6:00pm. Ms. Alma is so sweet & I am looking forward with working with her! My cousin, Lisa, also met with Ms. Alma & I. Although we have a Wedding Director, I asked Lisa to help with whatever else needs to be done on that day! On that Saturday, Ms. Joanne (my caterer/decorator) came to my parents’ house & met with us. She brought us some hor' dourves to sample & some cake! DELICIOUS!!! Mom, Litbit (aka Faith), & me were her “testers”! Kay is a “selective” (notice I said selective & not picky LOL) eater, so he only tried the cake! Kay & I finalized our reception menu with her also.

On Monday, May 28^th, Kristi, Kamaiya, Alicia, & I went to David’s Bridal to find some shoes for the Bridal Announcers. We took Kamaiya's dress to pick out the "right" shoes & we found them!!! I also found my hairpiece. I've been looking & searching for a hairpiece for months and finally found one that was "it"! On Wednesday, May30^th, I met with Ms. Rita Owens about invitations. She was referred to me by Loren. After spending a short period of time with her, I thought I had found “the invitation”! She allowed me to take it home & show Kay & my mom, which was really sweet of her. After a long night of thinking, I decided to go a completely different route with my invites! I’ll share that with you later in the blog!!

Wait...is the month of May over???!!! OMG...I have so much to do!!!

A few pics from my bday...