When I became a Church

Let's go back to just before I  became a member of the Church family. Joe and I were engaged on April 1, 2009. This was the first ring I got, so I obviously thought Joe was kidding...seeing as how it was April Fool's Day and he proposed with a candy ring...but he was serious.

Then came the real ring...we went shopping for it that weekend....

Joe and I were only engaged for a month before my Dad was in a car racing accident on May 2. He was racing at Blackhawk Farms Raceway in Illinois and a wild turkey hit him in the head causing him to lose consciousness immediately and the car crashed into the wall. He was in a coma and to this day, he has not come out of it. It's been extremely hard on my family (the Valines) and not enough prayers can be said for a miracle to happen and bring him back to us, I miss him every day. For more information on this, I started a Caringbridge site right after the accident to keep everyone updated... www.caringbridge.org/ronvaline

On August 21, Joe and I got married. I was going to be without a job, which meant I would be without insurance, so although wedding plans were already being made, Joe and I decided to head to the Justice of the Peace and get married so he could add me to his insurance. I'm grateful that we were at least able to share that day with my mom, my Aunt Carol and cousin Gerry. We kept our marriage under wraps from most everybody that we knew, which was very hard for me because I don't like lying or keeping secrets. So, I told the ones that I wanted to and that I knew could keep it a secret and the original wedding plans commenced. So for those of you that didn't know, now you do... sorry for the secrets!!! So that's when I officially became a Church, although not many people knew, including Joe's family. I finally convinced him to at least tell his parents, which we did probably a week or so later.

On May 8, 2010, the big wedding took place, but not until after I walked the stage at my graduation ceremony...I finally received a bachelor's degree!! 

I graduated from the University of the Incarnate Word with a BA in Human Resources. Walking the stage in the morning and then walking down the aisle in the evening made for a loooooong, but very happy day. But also a very sad day since I wasn't able to share it all with my dad.

However, we were very blessed to have so much family around us, and I was so thankful that so many of my extended family members made the trip to be at our wedding. And I was finally able to meet a lot of Joe's extended family as well.... I am blessed to be a part of 2 wonderful families!
And I couldn't have gotten through the last week before the wedding without my Matron of Honor and her mother! Jennifer and her mom, Marcia, came out a week before the wedding to help with all the final details and they were my lifesavers!!! I seriously don't think I would have gotten through it all without them!

These are two of my helpful ladies, Janelle (on the left) and Jennifer



And this is Jen's mom, Marcia...she helped, she read and she blessed our dinner! I love her to pieces!


Here are just a few pictures of the festivities.

 



So, now I'm a Church and everyone knows! I've really enjoyed spending time with Joe's family and getting to know them better. Family has always been a huge factor in my life, seeing as how I saw most of my extended family at least 5 times a year when I was growing up. Moving away was a big change for me, not being able to see everyone all the time. And now that I have Joe's family, it helps to fill that void a little bit...but no family will every replace the love I have for the Valine family! They are top notch folks!