October!?

I cannot belive how far into October we already are... and NO POSTS!
This month has flown by! Here is a quick overview of where my month has gone:

October 6th: Bridesmaid dress shopping and an awesome engagement party thrown by John's parents. The Phillips' had their home decorated beautifully and with tons of friends, we had an amazing time. That morning, we all met at my house for Moravian Sugar Cake, fresh fruit, and coffee. Here are just a few quick pics of everyone. (John's side met us at the Bridal shop; there are still 4 more girls!) The dress color is not this, but these are the styles they each picked. Everyone looked beautiful!





My fall break from October 8-10 consisted of helping Courtney make a final decision on the place for our class reunion. We only had one stop to make and we were both very impressed. The class reunion is July 5th. It's close to the wedding, but I know we'll all pull it off wonderfully! The rest of my week consisted of running errends and cleaning up around the house. I feel like the house has been neglected for awhile and it needed some major work.

John has been hard at work mowing the lot. We still drive by it at least once a week. We are both so excited to move and we can't wait to start builing. John kind of keeps up with that and I maintain this house... to some degree I guess.

This Saturday we went to the Sertoma $200 dinner and did not win the 15 grand. We had a great time with our friends and after dinner, went out to have some more fun. I can't believe the stuff that we do are our ages. The next morning, John and I woke up still laughing histerically from the night before.

Today I won tickets to the Pa Ren. Fair. John has been asking what we should do for my birthday and since he has never been to the fair, I thought it might be a good idea to just get away.

Wedding wise: I still have NO dress. Drauma at the Bridal Boutique and I am once again dressless. I think that I should start a count of all the dresses I purchase till I finally find the right one. Otherwise, we've interviewed a DJ whom John and I both really seem to enjoy. Our struggles currently are working out a time line of when everything is to happen. It's a lot to think about, all the details you never considered. Check in a week or so for updated pictures.

Stress

Wow, everything has been happening so fast here lately. School seems to be flying by and I am loving every minute of it.

In the past 2 weeks,

1. Matilda has gotten beat up outside our house. She came flying in the house one night and she was bleeding from under the chin. Poor thing :( I told John that we are never letting her out again! We'll see how long that takes till one of us caves.

2. Barons won last week and lost the week prior. Last week, we had an awesome celebration. I won't tell secrets, but they say pictures tell 1,000 words.... (and yes, we are soaked and wet at 3am!)



3. I took my LPN licensure test on September 14th. I was super nervous taking it and was 100% sure that I failed. I had all 205 questions! An awesome girlfriend met me for lunch afterwards and helped me get my mind off the test. We had a blast, and to finish the week, I found out that I passed!
*Just a quick note to go along with this story. Susan and I went to the Dollar Tree to kill time. While in line at the register, I noticed hundreds of pregnancy tests lining the wall! How accurate do you really think those tests are?! Aren't they like $20 in the stores normally!? It just made me think, wow, you have to be really despirate to buy a $1 pregnancy test and trust the results.

4. I have decided to go dress shopping on my own. I've learned that taking people with you can be a bad thing, as well as a positive thing. I went by myself yesterday and Jannese met up with me later. We did lunch and had a fun time discussing wedding stuff. She's been a huge help in the whole thing. The good thing is, I think I have it narrowed down to 3 dresses that I love. (this are after the 2 that I already purchased)

5. I am LOVING night clinicals! I have an awesome instuctor who has everything together perfectly. I have clinicals at York from 2:30-9. It definately makes for a long day, especially when I get up at 6am!

EXPO

Today, my mom and I went to a wedding expo, featuring over 50 vendors, decorating ideas, a fashion show, etc. It was pretty interesting to see different types of cakes, the work of photographers, and to sample foods. Fortunately for John, he was camping by the river with his buddies, otherwise, I would hope that he would have gone with me. (there were other grooms there). I won some type of framed 16X20 picture. 16X20! that's a huge, upfront and personal picture of John and I. That picture will show every freckle, wrinkle, and blemish.
Here's a picture of my mom and I. I was so excited because I got to wear a sticker that said I was the bride.

31-7

GO BARONS!

Yes, it has been a week since Manheim's first game. Manheim defeated Lower Dolphin 31-7. John's kicker set a new school record with the longest field goal kick of 57 yards. John couldn't be more excited. I totally wish that I would have taken a picture of his face. Our friend's son did an awesome job at QB also for his first time on varsity. So proud of them... :)

If you didn't already know, after the games, we all go to the Cats. We no sooner got there and got our food, when a hugh fire started happening right up the street. Seriously, no more than 100 yards away! I was mesmorized! I never saw a fire that close before. It started in one home, but then quickly spread to the two homes surrounding it as well as homes in the rear. (they were row homes). I sat the entire night, until 2AM, watching this fire. I never saw flames that big rolling out of windows before. There were 11 fire companies there, ambulances, police, etc. The street corner was loaded with people. Again, I wish I had had my camera on me. Luckily no one was injured, and a family of 8 had just moved out of the 'fire' home eariler that day. How sad is that, but how lucky everyone is.... Here is a quick picture pulled out of the newspaper.

OGRE!

On my way to clincal today, I noticed a billboard.

It said, "OGRE ACHIEVER, Believe in Yourself."

I thought it was awesome. It fit my personality for the week. Both Monday and Wednesday after class, I came home telling John that I really felt smart today. I was answering questions without hesitation, etc. It just felt really good. I've learned that I have to trust my instinct.

Egg-Slosions

Yes, I know what you're thinking. What is this picture? Random? I feel that this is how my past two weeks have gone. They have been out of control!

Let's begin with the eggs. Seriously, I feel that John and I waste tons of food. We always seem to blame it one another; I buy too much, John eats only A&M. What can I say? Anyway, I cannot boil eggs! I tried with 5, and 2 ended up like this. I've learned that I just cannot do it.

Last Monday I started school for the fall. I totally enjoy it, but eventhough we've only been in 2 weeks, I feel like I am not keeping up. (Theoretically, I'm ahead of the game, but everything is just overwhelming) We've been practicing injections and all seems to be going pretty well. I am having a blast and I am finding my love for needles to be growing. We haven't done injections in the clinical setting yet, but as of next week, all is fair game.

Football started last week. I didn't attend the scrimmage, and so I am really looking forward to tomorrow night's game. What has seriously become of me!? Before, I wanted to go to football games to socialize. Now, I want to actually go and WATCH?! (Ok, so maybe I am just excited to be hanging out with John and our friends afterwards) Who knows?!

Just other "stuff" has been happening and has been putting a little added stress on things. Somehow, we will manage.

Have a great rest of the week.

Website

Alright, it's a little rough right now, but check it out anyway. Our wedding website to keep those updated that want to be updated.

Classic

I had to laugh the other day and I am finally getting around to share this story.

I had gone to the liquor store for wine and was walking down the sidewalk to Darrenkamps when I encountered 3 people. A woman had parked her van next to the sidewalk and was proceeding to get out to enter the Puff N' Snuff (a discount tobacco store). This woman was a classic smoker. Older, very wrinkled, thin, straggely hair, and tan skin/orange. I hate to judge people, but I couldn't help but notice her cut-off jean shorts and skin tight tank top. Anyway, another older lady came out of no where pushing her husband in a wheelchair. Under her breath, I could hear her mummble, "You shouldn't be parking there if you are not handicap." This "smoker" lady started yelling at her... "I am so handicap. You're not the only one in this world with disabilities. You think you're better than everyone else.... blah, blah, blah." I couldn't believe that these ladies were fighting over a parking spot that wasn't a true parking spot.
I will admit, I probably would have mummbled the same thing under my breath. I know I shouldn't but sometimes I can't help rude people. Why does everyone think they are better than everyone else and they deserve everything? I don't get it.

The other day, John and I watched 'In Pursuit of Happiness.' If you haven't seen it, I highly recommend watching it. In the movie, Will Smith quoted, I forget who, "Maybe we are all in PURSUIT of happiness because no one can ACHIEVE true happiness." The more I think about that quote, tons of thoughts come into my mind. That is probably a very true statement. Are we all truely happy, or do we put on smiles to please others? How do we achieve happiness? Is it in our work-place, our family, our financial situations? And can we truely be happy in every area of our lives? * just something to think about.

Later today, I will try to get the wedding website up and running. John and I took engagment photos Saturday and I will post a few of them on here as well as on the other website.

Update

Things seem to be progressing fairly smoothly and quite quickly on this end. John left for Florida on Sunday morning for school and won't be home till Wednesday night. The house seems so different without him here, that it's kind of scary. Matilda and I are just doing our thing, hanging out and getting the house organized.

Wedding wise, this are moving! Dress is picked, bridemaid color is picked, reception location, etc,... done. I'm so pleased with the progress and everyone's help. I am trying to come up with a wedding website where people can go to get an update on things. As of now, the website is created, but there is nothing on it yet. Once it is somewhat accomplished, I will post a link to it from this webpage.

Have a great week!

Melissa, I hope the move is going well for you and I'm thinking about you guys :(

Outer Banks, NC

Following my trip to AC, John and I left with 4 other families for NC on Friday. It was a VERY long drive, but we survived! Here are a few pictures from our week....


John & Jeff digging a hole for our bonfire.


Bocce Ball on the beach... just about everyday!


Abigail, Gabrielle, & myself


Steph, me, Michelle, & Jayme


Michelle & I :)


Pictures on the beach.... how romantic... ha! not with 10 kids running around!


the "GODFATHER" and Zac


Our pretty pink house for the week


Self portraits


This little one woke John & I up almost every morning. He loved to jump on our bed and play with my hair dryer!


All the kids!


One of the last night, a big storm was to roll in. Michelle, Jayme and I stayed on the beach for what seemed like forever to try to get a picture of the lightening. Needless to say, we are bad photographers!

Atlantic City, NJ

Jess and Myla at an awesome Chinese restaurant


Myla, the birthday girl...


Jess and I


Having fun at the slots, eventhough no one hit it big


A blast dancing at a new club called Providence. Jess, me, Candice, Lindsay, and Myla


Beach Bums


Lindsay and Candice




Vera would be so proud... hahaha


Myself, Lindsay, Canidice, Jess, and Myla

5 of "us girls" went down to Atlantic City to celebrate Myla's birthday. We had an awesome time together. It was like old times, getting ready to go out, partying in the car, and just having a blast together. It was like getting ready to go out to teen beats again with these girls, but I love um!

To Marc & Carol

I just had to post this comment because it was the cutest thing, I couldn't resist....


Marc & Carol Phillips said...
Dear John and Jacquie,
We are delighted with your good news and look forward to lots of wonderful years together. We are delighted,John, that you finally popped the question; I thought your Dad and I would either die of old age or have to use walkers at the wedding. And, Jacquie, we think you are a perfect addition to our family.
Love, Mom

We love you guys. Thank you so much and I look forward to future 'planning' with you both.

Mom & Dad: We love you! I can't wait to finally go dress shopping, accessories, etc... It'll be just like prom dress shopping, but with more stress... HAHA!

Congratulations!

Let us be among the first to wish you and John our loving congratulations! We love you both and are excited for you to begin a new chapter in your relationship.

Of course, John had to see 'the big guy' last Saturday night for our blessing. I don't know which one of them was more nervous! But after some fatherly advice on being married to a princess (based on his experience?), we welcomed John with love and open arms.

We can't wait to share in the adventures and enjoyment as our families grow.

We love you Jacqueline and John!

Mom & Dad

WE'RE ENGAGED!

After almost 4 years of dating, John proposed Saturday night. He was super nervous, but he did a wonderful job. I'm so proud of him! After the big question was popped, our friends were waiting for us at the Bluebird where we enjoyed a great night with tons of laughter and old stories of how John and I met. Everything seemed to go over smoothly, and I wouldn't change it for anything...



Showing the ring off at the Bluebird, eventhough everyone already saw it.



Dawn, Steph, John, and Michelle









Dave and John celebrating!



THE RING: The ring was passed down from John's mother to myself. It is beautiful! Although John had it reset to make it my very own. John and I had previously gone to look at engagement rings (February) and I fell in love with the emerald cut diamond.



It's a little snug on my finger but we managed to get it on last night. I can't wait to get it to the correct size so I can wear it forever!

How Time Does Fly:

Wow, summer is going super fast and I feel as though I cannot keep up! Last week, my dad and I went to pick cherries at a local farm in Lititz. We picked just about 40 lbs.! I actually think that this was the first year that we didn't eat as many as we picked. We climbed on ladders and we literally up in trees pulling for these cherries. We had tons of fun! Here are a few pics:






Dad washing our multiple sinks full of cherries.



Also, we celebrated John's 31st birthday this past Monday. He and I both went to work in the morning, and then I packed a picnic dinner for us to enjoy by Speedwell Lake. We went on a walk and just enjoyed the relaxation time together. Here are a few pictures of him golfing from earlier in the week. It was my time at Groff's on a "real" golf course. I guess I didn't do too horribly.

A Day Off? yeah right....

My day off consisted of a list of chores and errands to be done. I started off at the gym, participating in one of my newest, favorite classes; kick it pilates. Now, I am not a flexible person for pilates and yoga, but I am addicted to this class. I feel so awesome once I am finished, that I want to go and conquer the world. I then ran errands, picking up odds and ends at multiple stops; Walmart being one of them.

Walmart is a place where I can spend hours and hundreds of dollars and still come out with something I needed for less than $1. I love it! They have everything and anything you could possibly think of. My list consisted of a garden hose and lighters for the grill tonight. (I had the brillant idea of a having a romantic dinner on our patio of steaks and wine.... we'll see how this turns out)

Anyway, while I was at Walmart, I passed a young lady and her son who was playing in the shopping cart. As I passed, the lady was yelling at her son for playing near her purse. The quote of the day was, "stop playing, you're smashing my cigarettes!" I was embarrassed to be around them, but yet I felt aweful for the little boy. What have people become!? We are so obsessed with physical property that we forget about the feelings of others and the ones that we love. It sucks!

After I returned home, I spend the afternoon powerwashing the patio. A whip mark to my ankle and multiple cobwebs later, the patio looks great. I am so proud of myself and I can't wait to enjoy it this summer. Wish us luck tonight and hope we don't burn the steaks....

Update

Wow, where has this past month gone?!

Ok, for an update, this past weekend we traveled to the Poconos for a wedding. The resort reminded me of the place right out of Dirty Dancing. From the activities to the rich elderly guests, it was just the mere-image of the movie. The groom was a friend of John's in high school and we have recently started to hang out with his fiance and him again. It has been pretty fun. We had a wonderful weekend relaxing and catching up. Here are some pictures:



John and I heading out for the wedding.




The actual wedding was beautiful. It took place right along the lake with perfect boats as a back-drop.




The newlyweds: Bryan and Amanda




Our newest set of friends we met at the wedding.




John, Amy, and Bob makin' a move on the dance floor. HAHA!



Coming up: Annual Manheim Central Golf Tournament. John plays, I ride the golf cart with the girls. I'm super excited!

A sense of relief!

Everyone after the final feeling great that we all passed... Needless to say, there might have been a few drinks in these guys....



Jannese & I after the final feeling a sense of relief. Only 3 more finals to go!



Morgan & I not as nervous drinking at the Conestoga after taking the exam.



Kelly, Jenelle, Tabitha, Kelsey & Dana enjoying their beverages



Our study group: Jenelle, Kelsey, & Kelly


Today was the first of 4 total finals throughout the 2 years in nursing school. Finals went fairly well, but I was still super nervous to take them. I did pretty well and ended my first semester of nursing with an 82%. Not too bad overall. After the final, almost our entire class headed to the Conestoga for some lunch and alcoholic beverages. The service wasn't the greatest, but we had a great time.

Upon receiving the final exam when we returned, everyone was pleased with their grades. All passed, except 1 person. (whom I do not know who it was) I was extatic!

I had to do something for myself, so I decided to purchase a camera. Yes, I know what you're thinking, Jacq, you have a great camera! But I wanted one that was little enough to just throw in my purse and go. Well, I got a great deal on one and paid only 130$ after all supplies for it were purchased. I so excited to try it out.