My Jess-a-belle!

I've been meaning to write a post about my Jessica, the lady she has grown up to be, how proud I am of her, and how she really is a bright star in my life.    let me warn you, it's picture heavy.


This was her 20 years ago, waiting to perform at a dance recital. That smile she has on her face, she kept it there daily for about the next 10 years.  She'd smile while playing soccer and softball, the entire game.  She'd smile while on stage dancing.  She'd just smile at total strangers.  She loved me so during that time, until one day she looked at a picture and saw how I had styled her hair.  That was they day she told me I could no longer fix her hair!  Only her Aunt Devia.

Then 15 years later she met a boy.  Somehow I knew this boy was going to be different from any other one she'd ever met.  It could have been how on Christmas night, just two months after dating they told me they were getting married... and I went nuts.. told her that was the most insane thing I'd ever heard.  She didn't even know him... but she says, he is being deployed to Afghanistan in a few weeks and we want to get married first. I'm thinking if she is going to marry this boy then I'll have to stop calling him this boy!  Josh was very nice... teased me a lot about them getting married.... cause you see, it was a big mean joke... that I didn't find out about for a few hours because I left the house.

But propose, Josh did, and with great style.  If you haven't read the story of his proposal, you shoul d take and minute to go look at her webpage. It's a great story.  What her story doesn't tell is I'd have Josh texting me telling what was going on and her texting asking if I knew what was going on.  Anyway, take a minute and look at it if you have time.       www.mywedding.com/jgreeneandjmckee

Then things got crazy after that.  Jess first needed to finish school, and she did.  She did really well, sat on a couple of boards, and maintained an excellent GPA.  There are no words to describe how proud you feel at that moment.  It tends to make me get a little weepy, and I just get really quiet and find me a corner.  Strange for me I know.

An education degree, with a certification in Special Eduacation. Then she went out and got a job. A 5 day a week, teaching 3 & 4 year old children. She loves it!  And she loves those kiddos.

She's had quite the year, because then she treated herself.  She and Josh went shopping and she came home with a new car.  She loves this !  It's a sweet little ride... and she hasn't let me drive it yet. I don't understand!

And since she has now graduated college, it's time to work on the wedding.  We gathered up her bridesmaids and went dress shopping.  I must say, I was a little worried about having them all there at once... but it was not bad at all.  They are really funny.  I had my BF there as well, she took care of the dresses and Jess, cause she knows that stuff, and I stood back and did what I do... took a 100 pictures!

The girls all going through the dresses trying to help her find one, and they each picked one they liked and made her try it on. Some of them she'd just give her friend a look, not even say a word.

 Here are the girls, (we are missing  one, K'Lea, she arrived a little late) as they wait for her to come stand in front of the mirror and ooohh and ahhhh, or do her quick 5 second glance and say nope!

Here's a little sneak peek at the dress she feel in love with.  She rang the bell, and I started to cry.  I walked towards a corner and she followed me... guess so she could cry to.  It truly was a moment I'll never forget!

The picture is a little blurry.... but it's ok... it's supposed to be a secret!  Her daddy isn't even getting to see the dress until the moment!

A few weeks ago I went with Jess & Josh and took some pics that they could use as engagment and to get their Save The Dates ordered. I think we will be going back in a month to do more... but for now thought I'd share a couple of my favs.

And the final thing I want to say, is that yesterday was my Jess-a-belle's birthday, she turned 23, so Happy Birthday My Beautiful Daughter!   I'm pretty positive she's happy, and isn't that what we really want for our kids... to be happy.  Well that and for them to take care of us when we are old!!  And now, guess we'll be getting busy with wedding plans.  The next few months are going to be busy.  But great!

I love you bug!