Mr. and Mrs. Simmons

Well we are back..... but now happily MARRIED ;) What a way to come back to blogging after 5 months of preparing for an AWESOME wedding and having my soldier home!!!! Today is December 30, 2009 and real soon we will be approaching 2010. We are both excited about what God has in store for us and can't wait to see God move us in a way that will change our lives.

Yes, I did deactivate my facebook account and so did Ryan. For many reasons we did this but I do think God was showing me what an idol facebook was and what should be more important!!! I was addicted to seeing all the talk and honestly my life shouldn't have to revolve around what people do all day or say. I absolutely loveeeedd talking to everyone and reconnecting BUT not every second I breathe (lol) So I just have decided to blog more and lay off the facebook. ***(The "Love Dare" actually told us to get rid of our habits .........so this was one I had to say buh-bye too----trust me, it made a HUGE difference in my life ;) )

As 2010 approaches in just 2 days-----Ryan and I have so much to look forward to! He has decided to sign for active duty and we meet with them on the 12th. A lot of people ask where we stay at........well we are enjoying the "free" stay with my parents but we would like to adventure out and start "Our" own family ......if ya know what I mean? For those who may not know, Ryan and I got married on December 5th, 2009. We went on a very nice honeymoon to Key West and Bahamas which definitely helped with all the stress that we have been dealing with. The wedding of course was a dream come true for the both of us. My parents.....I can't THANK enough and all of the party looked amazing.

****Also thanks to my dear friend Kori Brashier (who was the photographer) and did a fabulous job by the way. She was actually pregnant and delivered on December 29th.....Jaxon Reid. CONGRATS to "The Brashiers." There were sooo many people we didn't get to say hello to all because the day goes by so fast and there were people everywhere (LOL) We both want to say THANK YOU soooo much for coming and spending your time with us. Ryan and I feel so blessed with ALL the gifts we got and cards. Our wedding day we will remember forever and appreciate everything from everyone. We love ya'll!

HAPPY NEW YEAR and God Bless.

** Praying for Cruz, Jordan and Tyler......all soldiers who have been called over seas. Please keep them and their families in your prayers. Thanks!**

Missouri Bound ;)

Finally it's here ;) Leaving tomorrow morning bright and early to see my baby!!!!! Wow it's been so hard thru this whole process but I just want to thank all the families involved and friends for the love and support. Ryan is very excited and can't wait to get home ;) He made squad leader he told me yesterday and was very very PROUD of himself. I will see him Thursday morning for a briefing and all day family day, Friday he graduates at 10am and Saturday we will fly back together ;) I'm so PROUD of everything he has accomplished and feel so blessed God sent him into my life. I LOVE YOU RYAN!!!!


Stay continued............ ;)

YOU DID IT ;) GO RYAN!!!!

Can you believe it's only 26 more days!!!!!!!!!!! OMGOSH ;) I can't explain to anyone how it feels to be away from someone you love so much. True love is a test----3 1/2 months may not seem long but it's been waaaayyy to long for us (l0l) YAY thanks to everyone for ALL the advice, encouragement, and prayers. HE DID IT and I couldn't be any PROUDER of him ;) I LOVE YOU BABY and can't wait to wrap my arms around you!

**** We are celebrating our 1 year anniversary tomorrow (July 11th 2009) ---it seems like yesterday I met my best friend and I'm completely head over heels ;) **** I love you very much and can't wait to marry you!!!

It's been a crazy Summer and I apologize for not keeping this updated often but I have been extremely busy!!!! I'm going to take another break from the blogging and just wanted to give everyone an update on what's been going on! When Ryan gets back we have already got so much planned (lol)....my cousin is getting married in October and we are flying with ALL of my family to Colorado......plus we have our wedding to plan and 100 other things to do ;) With all that being said....it would take me forever to write and keep up with everything in post. So if you could please keep continuing to pray for us as we ask God for direction. Thank you so much and may God always bless you and your family!!!

Soldiers Of Christ.....AMEN!!!!

***Just a note for everyone to keep praying for Ryan and his mission to reach soldiers that may not have a relationship with Christ. God has really used him while he has been away and one of the guys he has been praying with got saved the other Sunday. Ryan led him to the Lord......what a blessing!!! PRAISE GOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Passing time........

So much has happened since last time I wrote and each day I'm getting closer in seeing my soldier ;) Passing time is exactly what I'm doing and I'm having a good time doing it!

Today I got 3 letters in the mail from Ryan. This past Saturday I got a call and we talked for awhile. He told me that he did get an award for shooting his rifle and that he was so proud of himself. He said things were much better and they have made it a little easier for them. I asked if this was something he could see himself doing as a career and he said he wasn't sure yet. In the letters today he told me he has two close friends named Layne and Dusty. One is engaged and the other is married. Ryan said in one of the letters that their fiance/wife wanted to start a Army Wive's Club with me so he gave me the email of Dusty's wife ;) I emailed her today and she seemed really nice!!!! We talked about having just a support group for each other.....it was so neat!

There was so much Ryan told me....the main was that he was okay and that he was SO PROUD of the decision he had made of doing this. He has lost 20lbs but has gained a lot of muscle. Something funny he put was that his Drill Sgt. told him it would be wise for him to wear his uniform in the wedding LOL....how cute! Also, tonight he called his parents and talked with Bethany as well. They were so excited he called and I was so happy!!!!! He told his mom and dad some of the same things that was in my letters ;) BTW:: he has to earn ALL of his calls so when he called me Saturday he had to earn it and his team won today so they got to earn a call tonight (way kewl huh?) That makes me so PROUD and I can't wait to see him. The letters he has sent have been so sweet and I honestly feel so blessed. Thanks again to everyone for calling, texting, emailing.....etc.

We have made all of our flying arrangements and now booking hotel for MO!!! We leave on August 5th and come back on August 8th ;) Ryan will be so excited to see all who have came out to support him!!!! I can't wait to see him and bring him home with me ;) yayyyyyyy!!!!!

Bethany's Graduation Walk at Bountyland Baptist

Bethany did her graduatin walk at church on Sunday. She graduates this Friday from Seneca High School and I'm so excited for her!!! I got to walk with the Simmons family behind her as we entered the church service. It brought back memories of when I graduated of course and I was so emotional (lol) I took a lot of pics to send to Ryan and I know he will LOVE to see them. Bethany also sung a beautiful song that everyone enjoyed. She will be attending North Greenville College this coming year! Good Luck Bethany and WE LOVE YOUUUUUU!!!!!!!

Rhinoplasty, Diet, and NO REGRETS!!!!!

WHAT!!!!!----yep.... I have finally decided to let a specialist tell me if nasal surgery would be right for my ugly nose (haha) I'm going to make an appointment on Tuesday and I'm very anxious!!! They say that Rhinoplasty (nasal surgery) last for about 2-3 hours and you have swelling for a week or so and 2-3 week is bruising. I know that sounds horrible, but I think I love the outcome and be satisfied. We will see what they say.....I've heard good things ;) http://www.upstateplasticsurgery.com/nose.html

I went to Red Lobster tonight and totally ordered water, lite dressing and grilled chicken. Can you say "DIET".....even though I may not weigh much, I need and have to TONE UP before he returns home +++plus for the wedding. I'm thinking of ordering some of the P90X to start to tone up ....LOL seriously - I would die but I know it works!!! I just want to be looking good for my soldier ;)

Today (Saturday) I received another letter from Ryan!!!! To make it short - he said::: He had NO REGRETS in making the decision to join the National Guard. They are learning how to shoot rifles and said it was fun but they do sweat a lot. They have 6 more weeks of basic training left and then he goes to AIT.
Ryan said that I will not believe what his body looks like LOL......okay, while I sit here sippin on Starbucks all the time and he is working his butt off and telling me he is so proud of how strong he is getting. Makes me feel like a big FAT loser!!!! I have to say doing online classes and sitting around testing/studying can make you gain weight. Ryan said in the letter to keep my chin up because we were a team. I'm starting Monday so pray for me.........no pain - - - no gain ;) GO US!!!

Busy weeks....is it the weekend yet?!?!?!?!

Let's see since last Saturday I have been on the go....constantly!!! I was invited to Bethany(Ryans sisters) play at Seneca High School and I was so shocked on how awesome it was. They did skits from "Hairspray," "The 60's," and the " The Wizard of Oz." I really enjoyed myself and Bethany did a wonderful job. Some pictures from the show is below so --- check them out ;)

BYAN'S 14th BIRTHDAY PARTY......eh--- so on a diet and another CAKE!!!!!! yummmm

On Monday I went over to Luanne and Brandon's (Ryan's friends) and celebrated their son's 14th birthday. Had a blast with all of them and the food was really goooooooooddddd!!!!! Here is some of the goodies we had and I know Ryan would appreciate me going to his party. I gave him a card from us and some money. HAPPY 14th BIRTHDAY TO BRYAN!!!!!!


A day I will never forget:::

Wednesday came around quick and mom and I went shopping for both Bethany and Ryan's graduations. I'm so excited to fly out to MO and can't wait to start next week getting in MAJOR SHAPE!!!!!! I was trying on all kinds of things and walked out of the mall with my mother......drove all the way home and realized I HAD NO PURSE!!!!!!!!! O my gosh I flipped out and totally got sick. I'm am such a BLONDE!!!!!! You know for a nice day of shopping and enjoying the time with my mother......this just had to happen! Anywho, the day was saved by a woman that I of course don't know....... BUT God does! Thanks to the woman who was nice enuff to turn my purse in and not keep ;) Thank you so much.......I'm blessed!

AMERICAN IDOL FINALE!!!!!!!

IDOL Night:::::: I was so excited that Kris won!!!! One thing Ryan told me to do was keep him up to dae each week on idol. I'm sure he will be glad to hear that Kris took home the win ;)

Today I got a letter from Ryan and I was so excited. To let everyone know he said he is so sorry for not writing sooner BUT they have been extremely busy and been in a 3 day training exercise. He said they hiked 8 miles with an 80lb pack on his back. Ryan mentioned he missed everyone and everytime he writes me he just seems so more encouraged!!! He told me he is ready to marry me and loved me.....I melted ;) He has not had a soda in 26 days and said for me to keep the letters coming because they encourage him! They will be soon in what he called "white" training and hopes they will start being a little easier on them. I told him he had 58 days left and HE CAN DO IT!!!! I'm so PROUD of him! Now that I have a smile on my face I think I can sleep good ;)

75 More Days......and I can't wait!!!!

I have been a little slack on the blog lately and I do apologize but I have been sooooo BUSY!!!!! Update::: my parents received a letter from Ryan last Thursday and he said he was physically and mentally stronger! He has already gone thru the gas chamber for 3 minutes and said it was horrible!!!!....(I can only imagine) He said it gets pretty lonely there but he is staying in his Bible ;) There are 75 days left till we fly out to see him and I can't wait!!! I get the youth at Bountyland on Wed. nights to pose so I can send him a picture and I try to get everyone to sign him something that is motivational or spiritual to help him. On Sunday I got the little ones ( + Bethany) to draw him anything they wanted to show love and appreciation. They did an awesome job and he will definitely enjoy it!!!!! Thanks ya'll ;)

God's Timing is PERFECT!!!!!

God's timing is always perfect and I'm so thankful for that!!! Sunday was Mother's Day and around 4 o’clock I went over to Ryan's parents to take his mother out for Starbuck's and just to let her know how much I appreciated her on this special day ;) I walked in and of course the first thing I asked is "Have you heard from Ryan?"....she said no but hopes that he would get to call for Mother's Day. Well as she was welcoming me in and asking how the day was...etc I saw my phone light up and it was a 573 number. A huge smile came across my face and I said out loud "OMY GOSH its Ryan!!!!!!" You know I have never felt the feeling of missing someone so much that when you heard their voice you just melted and it's like your heart stopped. I was so overwhelmed even at 10pm last night ......I got to hear his voice - it meant the world to me and I know to his mother and family ;) THANK YOU JESUS!!!!!!

Of course I put him on speaker so everyone could hear. We ALL (his mom, dad, sis and I) talked to him for about 16 minutes and he had a lot to say. First, that his battalion was ranked the best out on base and they got rewarded for it. He said he has been to 2 church services, carries his BIBLE everywhere he can, reads his journal A LOT, and can receive ONLY pictures and letters in the mail. There was a tornado last week he said... so the mail room got flooded and he hasn't received any mail yet. He mentioned there were two Catholic soldiers in his barrack that he has become really good friends with and that they came up to him Saturday night and asked if Ryan would pray for them. How exciting is that????? God is using Ryan......what a testimony!

Here are some pics we took yesterday for him:::

Ryan said he gets up at 4am SHARP and goes to bed at 9pm SHARP. He said the food wasn't good but they got 3 meals a day and that the sergeants cussed in their face and was extremely mean. They CAN NOT have any calendars or clocks AT ALL!!!!! We were so shock because he didn't even know what time he was calling yesterday but knew it was Mother's Day. He told me that Monday (today) he gets First Aid certified and had to actually stick someone with a needle.....YIKES!!!! He said that he has gained muscle and they work them about 17 hours. His dad made him laugh by telling him he would send a picture of his guitar ;) lol.... I'm sure he misses it!

I could tell he was about to get emotional because this was the first time his dad and sister had heard his voice since he was gone. We kept on saying STAY STRONG RYAN- you are doing a great job and we are ALL so proud of you! He cried and said I'm STRONG and I can do this!!!!!

**He will graduates on August 7th and we started today planning the air flight for both families to travel together......I'm SO EXCITED ;) We all can't wait to see him.!!!**

My best friend (Lauren Morris) --- husband (Michael) wrote a column that was put online that I printed out and mailed to Ryan today. It is AWESOME and really we should take the time and pray for all soldiers and their families. If you get a chance please read this thoroughly because the words are so true and what a sacrifice these men and women lie down for us. I feel truly blessed everyday!!!

Check out Pray for our Soldiers by Michael Morris at http://www.edwardsroad.org/

or you can read below::::

(1LT Michael Morris, United States Army)

Pray for Our Soldiers

May 3, 2009 in Ministry, Prayer by erbc

When praying for Soldiers that are deployed, you may be surprised by the differences between what the average person believes they should pray for and what the Soldiers would have others pray for them. As a leader of Soldiers in combat and back home in the United States, I have been amazed at some of the issues our Soldiers face. Most often it is the safety of the Soldiers that is prayed for.
In my experience, Soldiers of faith understand that their safety is in the Lord’s hands and that His perfect will ultimately will be carried out. As far as the Soldiers who did not exercise their faith, they, too, believed that there was a Higher Being that controlled their destiny, and as crazy as it sounds, I truly believe Soldiers, when faced with a life or death situation, during that moment believe that they will come out of it fine.
During my year in Afghanistan my eyes were opened wide to the immense amount of problems that U.S. Soldiers deal with on a daily basis. It was very hard for Soldiers to hide their problems, and in fact it is highly encouraged for them to talk to someone about their problems. Some of the young Soldiers that were married dealt with their spouse leaving during the deployment along with spending the money that they had made while deployed. Many of these Soldiers were told while deployed that their spouse had not been faithful to them. Many of the Soldiers that had families dealt with a large amount of guilt for leaving their family. This was a major issue that burdened me while being deployed. You can make the most educated decision you want to when joining the military and go over every hardship in your mind that you will face, and still no one is prepared to face the pain of leaving their family for a combat zone.
It is also a great idea when praying for Soldiers that you pray for the Christian Soldiers to be strong Christian leaders. Never once can I remember not being able to make a decision in combat (right, wrong, or indifferent) as a leader, but many times I questioned my Christian leadership – was it effective at all?
Pray that Soldiers will have a clear mind from all of their problems while out on missions so that no other Soldier’s safety is compromised.
Pray for Soldiers to have the strength to admit when they need help upon returning home. The Department of Defense has come a long way over the years and offers tons of help to the Soldiers if they will seek it.
Understand these are just a few examples of what Soldiers go through during deployment. Some are lucky to come home to great families that have waited for them, and some come home to worse situations than they went through in combat. Please pray that the Soldiers can come home and their life remain as normal as it was when they left. Most of all thanks for your prayers!

In My Daughter's Eyes.....Happy Mother's Day Mom! I love you!

With it being Mother's Day, I think this song is so appropriate. A lot of people know I am adopted but don't know the whole story behind everything my MOTHER went through. Her and my dad got married and of course like any other newly married couple....they wanted to have children. The doctors told my mother she wouldn't bable to carry a child, so they decided to adopt. My mom was telling me how excited they were to get their first child and the week before the mother decided to keep and close adoption wih my parents. I asked why....she said that the child's father told the mother she would regret later down the road. Of course when you think about the situation of a young woman giving up her baby it could be hurtful BUT how do you tell a soon to be mom she can't have what she had been praying for??? Well that didn't stop them from trying again so they went through another adoption and excitement of having a family. My dad got a call at work on a Monday morning and the lady form the adoption agency said " I'm sorry but the baby you and Cathy were promised had died and so did the mother." Another devestation for my parents but they NEVR gave up and went back to adopt one more time. They both prayed that if this adoption didn't pull through then it wasn't meant to happen ..........I was born on Saturday Feb 2, 1980 and then 4 days later they adopted me!!!!

You know I think about everything she went through and how God was there the whole time. It amazes me!!! My mom told me in tears today that she hit the floor and begged God to please help her. He was there the whole time and you know she even thought about taking her own life. Thank You Jesus we still have her and what a survivor she is. She has been through a lot and she is so special to me.

I was born at Greenville General Hospital and adopted by Cathy and Jesse Owens. They had been married for 7 years and I was told by many how emotional and happy my parents were to bring me home that blizzard day. My bilogical mother was 39 when she gave birth to me, (I know kinda scary huh?) I was told she was on drugs and a alcoholic. She didn't know the father of me and she didn't care to have anything to do with the adoption. This was a private adoption meaning that my parents could NOT get any medical records from her or doctors. Still to this day we can't retrieve anything other than my last name (which is a little funny) and my first name was:::BABY

Many people ask me if I get mad or upset about my bilogical mother not caring for me or not wanting to be apart of my life......the answer is NO!!!!!! I'm all the day grateful that she chose to give me life and to a wonderful mom and dad that love me unconditionally.

"My Mother"....so cute!!! ;) lol (she is going to kill me)

This is my mother and father when they adopted me ;) God Bless them!
My Granny (mom's mom)....We miss you and luv you so much!!!

Born 1918- In Heaven May 2006
I feel so blessed on this Mother's Day because the one person who I thought would want me didn't...... but GOD was in control. My mother, who Cathy Owens - wiped my butt, dried my tears, made my supper and so much more!!!!! I have been given a Gift from God that NO ONE can take away from me. So this Mother's Day I want to thank my mother for EVERYTHING!!!! Word's can not express how much she means to me and everyday I pray to God and thank God that I still have her. My mom is a miracle, a survivor, a best friend, a wife, a sister, a WONDERFUL friend to everyone and the BEST MOTHER ;) I wouldn't change it for the world!

"When they place you in my arms and I looked into your face I felt our hearts melt into one ~ a miracle took place. My prayer was finally answered. Though delayed, 'twas not denied ~ the pain of love unanswered, in a moments time subsides. God's plan seemed hard to understand. The circle's now complete. He placed the Heavens in my arms, so precious and sweet. Though you grew within another, my soul and yours were one. We united in God's loving heart before life had begun. I received a priceless treasure ~ this adopted child I love... a gift of joy and happiness to me from God Above."

You're the reason why I'm here today, the reason for why I know what I know, and the reason why I feel loved! I LOVE YOU SO MUCH MOM..... and Happy Mother's Day!!!