Journey to the Aisle

If this blog were an album, this post would be my title track. Though very delayed, I have been waiting to write a post like this for over a year now. Jesse and I have been together now over six years and he proposed July of 2013 in the waterfall canyons of Yellowstone National Park. Long before that I had dreamed and imagined what it would be like to put on a white dress, walk down the aisle towards him, and make promises to love each other forever. What I never imagined, even a year ago, was that I would be walking alone. 

Despite a year of being the fun newly engaged happy couple and wedding planning which was so much fun for me, I also had the year from hell. My family for all intents and purposes, fell apart (*spoiler, we're better now, can't keep us down). The family business that I had grown up around ceased to exist to the Smith clan, lots of shady meetings/business, police reports, court dates and a month later there were no more Smiths working there. My dad, mom, brother and sister were looking for new jobs. I had left the business only a year earlier and had never been more thankful. I remember making the decision to fly the family business coop, it was very tough and not received well in the beginning. Mainly because I handled it poorly, had nowhere lined up to go, and couldn’t explain my reasoning very well. It was an overwhelming, urgent feeling that I needed to do something new, learn something new, and for some reason…get the hell out of there. So, I’m sorry to all of the people that I confused and thankful to all of the people who supported me when I wasn't making much sense.

 It’s been a year and my parents are divorced, dad remarried, brother has a new career, beautiful two year old daughter and a week old son, sister happier at work than I’ve seen in a long time (and I used to work with her) and I am a wife!! When Jesse said proposed and I said yes, we had no idea what was headed our way. We had already been through a lot together, but this by far took the cake. It was lot to deal with in general, but especially with me working a new job, him finishing school (which he graduated in May!!), AND planning a wedding, sometimes it was just too much. But, he was patient with me, I tried to be as aware of my emotions as possible, and we always actively loved each other. We have an AMAZING support system of family and friends that carried us through this year as a heartbroken but so in love girl, and a man with the weight of the world on his shoulders, all the way to the aisle. When the time came, Jesse and I made the decision that I would walk alone down the aisle to a halfway point, he would meet me, and we would continue down it together. For us, it was very symbolic of our relationship. Me being stubborn and taking care of other people all of the time but when it comes to Jesse I’ve always wanted him right there next to me, even in things I could handle myself. Better together, always and forever.

We had a beautiful wedding surrounded with so much joy and celebration. Many people were painfully missed that day, but we know they were all celebrating in spirit. We've been married almost two months now and it feels like home. Here are some pictures of the actual Journey to the Aisle...

My brother officiated our ceremony : )                                         

Had to include all of the amazing people in our wedding
Jesse's grandpas were our ring bearers!

....
 

WE DID IT!!!!

Huge thanks to Ashley of Henry Photography for capturing this day for us! www.henryphotography.com
http://henryphotography.com/jesse-priscilla-corazon-wedding/

Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day is a silly made up holiday that doesn't actually mean anything blah blah blah. I've heard it, I get it and though I don't obsess about it like some girls, it still warms my heart when flowers arrive at work from my fiance. Although, the best kind of flowers are the ones that arrive not on a holiday or after an argument and I'm lucky enough to have received those as well.

As always, the card is the best part:

When my flowers arrived, the buds were not opened, at all. I could not even tell what type of flowers they were. I brought them home, cut them, and put them in water in a vase. When Jesse came over and saw them he was really upset that they looked that way and I told him not to worry about it.

I put the vase of unopened buds by the window in my kitchen. Each day they have opened more and more. I realized that I was so grateful the flowers came the way that they did.  I would much rather nurture something and watch it grow, then receive something beautiful only to watch it die. Maybe that's just me, but now I kind of hope they always come that way:) Thank you Jesse James Johnson, you never cease to make me feel loved and give me just what I need, even if it's unintentional!