The wedding was so beautiful, not only because of all the flowers and the gorgeous bridesmaid dresses, but because of all the friends and family who came to witness our marriage.
Thank you for everyone who came and for all the friends and family who prayed for us. Derrick and I are finally married! It feels great! We received so many wonderful presents and feel so blessed.

I am so excited about the wedding! We have less than three weeks and the days are dissapearing rapidly.
This weekend Derrick's Aunt, my mother's friend and a family at church gave Derrick and me three showers.
The first was a brunch on Saturday morning at Derrick's Aunt's house, where we dined on cheese grits and mimosas. It was beautiful. I opened so many fabulous presents.
Then on Saturday night, my mother's friend Judy gave Derrick and I a cocktail party. It was wonderfully catered and the bartender kept our drinks filled the whole night. Derrick's parents gave us an entire cooking set.
Finally, on Sunday afternoon Bethany a girl in the youth group along with her mother gave me another shower. It was the typical southern shower with sweet cake with pink icing and punch. I had about thirty gifts to open which practically took the entire time, dodging some game that included toilet paper.
I am so thankful to have recieved all of these wonderful gifts and feel so blessed.
love,
julie

I must admit I did not do enough for the Tsunami victims. I actually prayed for the people but did not think as much about it because it happened so far away.
However, now with two grandparents wondering if their friends are still alive and if their house is still standing, I am angry I cannot do more. It is so hard to sit here and watch people waving white flags to the coast guard to rescue them and answer phone calls from family friends wondering if we have heard from whoever they are looking for.
In this day of cell phones, computers and I-pods, it is unbelievable that everything can be taken away from us. In one day, a person can go from wanting a new pair of shoes to trying to find water, food and shelter.
I am so thankful my grandparents decided to come to Memphis instead of riding out the storm. Thank you God.
Julie