Our Story

Jeremy and I will have been married five years this December. Time really flies! I don't think I've ever shared our story, and I have tid-bits in my 'about me' section about us spending our wedding night in the emergency room, so I thought I would share with you all how 'he' and 'she' became us.

Hang in there, cause this could get a little lengthy...

Jeremy and I met in April of 2008. A friend had introduced us after they had been talking for a short while, saying that 'I am SO wrong for you, but I have a friend who is PERFECT!' Boy was she right. We were inseparable from the day that we met. Literally. I can count on two hands the amount of days we have went without seeing one another in the past five years.

I fell in love with his silly charm and his love for his family. I knew that one day this man would make an awesome husband and an amazing father. They say that some people just know that someone is 'the one' when they meet. And well...Jeremy and I just knew.

We were engaged on August 8, 2008 after dating for just four short months. In that four month time period, one of us would make the hour drive every day to either Miamisburg or Covington to see one another. Sometimes we would even make it twice. We knew we wanted to spend forever with one another, so Jeremy took me out to lunch and a movie, then to a covered bridge where we had frequented a few times before, got down on one knee and proposed.

It was probably the sweetest thing ever, and I of course, said yes.

We began planning our wedding right away and Jeremy was involved in every single decision. We paid for everything but the cake ourselves, so we budgeted the best we could but the expense of it all was overwhelming to us. We set our date for February 14, 2009 and printed out, sealed and addressed invitations. We weren't going to be able to go on a honeymoon because of school, so we started trying to plan our honeymoon during spring break. It was all overwhelming, prices sky-rocketed for hotels and such during that time, and with the cost of everything wedding-related, we just didn't see how we were going to be able to afford it all.

With all things considered, one Thursday evening we decided to throw everyone for a loop and just do it

We called our pastor and asked if he would marry us that next week. We told him that it would just be a very small ceremony, family only, and he agreed with the exception of marriage counseling beforehand.

Did I mention that this was just a few days before Christmas?

In a couple of short days, we found Jeremy a tux, ordered flowers, went to counseling, made hair-appointments, and told our family of our plans. We didn't have a photographer, so my brother clicked a few photos of us on the day of. This may be my one regret. I so wish I had professional pictures from our big day.

Either way, on Tuesday, December 23, 2008, we were married in front of God and our immediate family.

We were so happy.

There were inches ice and snow on the ground outside, and we decided to celebrate that we would go out for pizza with the family afterwards. While getting out of the car, my grandmother slipped on the ice and fell, hitting her head on the concrete. She sat through dinner like a trooper, although we all kept urging her to let us take her to have it looked at. Finally when we had all ate, she agreed.

So that's where Jeremy and I went. Instead of going to the hotel that we had booked in Cincinnati for the night, we headed to the emergency room, grandma in tow. We spent the entire night there, both dressed in our wedding attire, while my grandmother had the place on her head glued back together. One nurse even gave us a sprig of real mistletoe as a wedding gift. It is one of our most cherished ornaments on our tree each year.

We celebrated Christmas with our families, basking in the thought of our very first Christmas together being just two days after our wedding. Our pastor announced our marriage at church the next Sunday. It was so fun to see all the surprised looks on so many faces, especially since Jeremy and I spent our 'bachelor & bachelorette party' going Christmas caroling with the church the Monday before.

Because of there being less expenses, and because we were on winter break from school, we were able to take a week long honeymoon to Florida. I wouldn't have traded that alone time with Jeremy for even the biggest wedding. I was so happy we decided to do things the way that we did.

When we got home, we still celebrated with the friends and family that hadn't made it to our actual wedding. We had a reception on our original wedding date, and it was so nice because it gave us all a chance to just relax and have a huge party - not only to celebrate our love, but to celebrate the love of everyone there.

I could go on and on about details about when we were dating, planning the wedding, married and so on... but this is the big picture. I love my husband and I love our story, it's my absolute favorite because it is ours.

Uncle Don

My husband's Uncle Don went on to be with God a couple of nights ago. If you would, please say a prayer for his family. His aunt is not in the greatest of health herself and although it was not a shock (he's been in the hospital after several strokes for probably four months) I cannot imagine what losing a spouse feels like.

Disappointment

There's something to be said about disappointment. Not only can it knock you down a peg or two, but it can really put a damper on an entire day...or days, in this case.

I didn't get the job.

I've been in a huge bummed out mood every since I found out last night. My boss even said, "I really wanted to give it to you, I really, really did...BUT..." apparently some other guy is just a better fit.

That's fine. I get it.

I still am bummed out and I am really, really disappointed. I think mostly because 1) I was positive the job was mine and 2) I was so looking forward to that family time. I guess I just need to grieve a little because it really feels like a loss.

BUT...

I'm really okay with it. This was not God's will and so therefore, He has something completely else planned. Something bigger and better and something that I just can't see yet because...well, I am not Him. It's a peaceful feeling to know that I am not in control, although at times it can also cause me to grow impatient and dreadful in the waiting. These are just things I need to work on.

In the meantime. I am thankful still that Jeremy and I have the time together that we do, that Henry is still in the care of one of the two of us 99% of the time, and I still have a job that I'm both comfortable and good at, that is reliable and I really don't dislike.

If you ask me, it sounds like I'm living a pretty blessed life.

Miss Kayla is One!

 

Isn't she so cute? I have the pleasure of watching her and her older sister twice a week. Henry loves the company, I love having some girls around for a change and it's a few extra dollars. Kayla is turning one this weekend, so her Mama asked me if I could snap just a couple of pictures for her while they were here playing.

 

I think I want a little girl now!

Vacation Recap: Funny Stories

There should be a sitcom of my life, I swear. Things happen on a daily basis that even the wildest of imaginations could not think up. Put five of us Ovenshire's in a vacation home together for a week and you'll be sure to have some funny stuff happen.

It started with me.

The night that we got to our condo, I had been driving for the majority of two days, hungry, and just ready to be in bed. We were on the 2nd floor and had taken the elevator because we had so many bags with us on this last trip down to the van. My in-laws and Henry were already in the condo relaxing, so when I walked through the front door, it didn't really surprise me to see his mom sitting in a chair reading a book. She reads ALL the time. No biggie.

Only... it wasn't Jeremy's mom. It was 11:00 p.m. and I had just opened someone's door, turned on the light and walked right in. I promptly turned right back around, pushed Jeremy away from the door and just walked away. He followed me, confused and wondering what in the world was going on, so once we were a bit of a distance away, I explained to him that that was not our room and that that woman was not his mother. He of course, just laughed.

In my tired state, I had pushed the '3' on the elevator instead of the '2'. Jeremy couldn't WAIT to tell his parents and we all had a good laugh about it. The craziest part is that I'm fairly certain that this lady had no idea that we had came in and out of her home.

Then it was Jeremy's turn. We had just ate and when I turned a corner and saw this wonderful mess::

 

I had to stop. It was probably 2 acres of junk piled on top of each other. I loved it! We browsed around a while, laughing and talking about how people would talk about us if we were to park one of those crazy chickens outside of our house... 'Oh! Those are the crazy folk in P-Hill with the huge chicken outside of their house!" and we laughed some more. We didn't buy anything because we thought things were priced a little on the high side, so after awhile we decided we had seen enough and packed back into the van.

 

Only... suddenly Jeremy had to go. And he had to go NOW.

 

So we all waited...and waited...and waited. When he finally got back to the van, he had this horrible sad look on his face and we all thought the worst...

 

He climbed back into the passenger seat and gave me a look that would break even the toughest of hearts. "That bad?" I asked him. He just shook his head and then explained to us that there was one port-a-potty, no toilet paper, and that lizards and bugs had made their homes comfortably inside of it with absolutely no fear of any humans.

 

We all lost it. Poor guy! We were just all glad it wasn't us.

 

I saved the best for last. My father-in-law is known to do some stupid and crazy things. Matter of fact, if you look through all of our vacation pictures, we're pretty sure that he changed shirts once...and even then, he went from one bright orange shirt to another. He's not a real personal guy and if you want to be a part of THIS family, you have to learn quickly to loose all ability to be embarrassed. (When Jeremy proposed and we announced it to his parents, his father's only words were 'Good, now you can wait until you get married to have sex.' Oh... thanks dad.)

 

So when he bought this kite at a yard sale on our way down in North Carolina, we all just sort of knowingly hung our heads as he tried to find a place for it in our already jam-packed van. But then when he pulled it out on the beach, it made such a pretty sight... and when Henry when over to his Grandpa and Grandpa so sweetly helped him to fly it, my heart melted...

 

It was really a pretty rare moment and I was so glad to capture it with my camera. But as we're all sitting there, Jeremy keeps yelling to him... keep your hand on it, he won't hold on for forever...

 

Do you think he listened?

Grandpa? Why are you chasing that kite?

 

Nope!

 

The kite went flying across the beach, dragging the heavy plastic reel with it. It went up a flight of stairs, into the pool of one of the hotels along the beach, hit some guy in the head, went up over the roof of the hotel, into traffic and ended up at a gas station across the street where some guy was painting...and not too happy.

 

As we drove off the beach and up the street to find the gas station that he had ended up at, we all laughed so hard that we cried.

 

April

Another month gone, and it came and went in the blink of an eye. I sure do wish time would slow down a bit from time to time.



1) Sharing so nicely with Kayla. 2) Sleeping and looking too cute at it. 3) Eating veggies for lunch. 4)  Playing in the sunshine. 5) Eating a messy lunch on the back porch. 6) Wearing Daddy's glasses. 7) My lunch! 8) Just lookin' cute. 9) Henry & Mammal 10) Sleepy baby. 11) Pirate Henry. 12) Relaxing at our hotel in NC. 13) Florida!!!!! 14) Sunrise on the beach. 15) The Casements. 16) Mommy & Daddy 17) A night at the pier. 18) Climbing trees. 19) Not so happy about getting out of the pool. 20) A goodbye picture. 21) Someone got into the candy. 22) Flowers from daddy. 23) Selfie. 24) Helping mommy in the garden. 25) Levi & Natalie 26) Playing with his tractor. 27) Not a baby anymore. 28) Addicted. 29) Watching for Daddy. 30) Car rides = nap time.

Photography Basics

My cousin Stephanie, over at Wife Mommy Me, just received a new DSLR camera as a gift from her amazing hubby and she asked if anyone had any tips for her. I started to comment and realized that I know just enough about taking photos with a 'big' camera that I could make this into an ENTIRE post. I am no expert, mind you, but I have spent countless hours studying, practicing, and attempting to capture the perfect shot. I thought I would pass on this information to those of you who want to learn a little more about your 'big' cameras, and to encourage you to explore and enjoy all that a DSLR can offer.

Now, I use a Sony so some of my settings and such may be different than your Nikon or Canon, but the jist of it all should be the same!

There are some really basic and easy things to remember when taking photos.

1) To aid in capturing the sharpest images possible, pull your elbows in, take a deep breath, and steady yourself as much as possible as you press the shutter button down firmly. If you are shaky and unsteady on your feet, your photos will reflect this.

2) When shooting portraits, focus between the eyes - this will ensure that the most important features (aka: the face) will be in focus.

Mentioning focus, you can auto-focus by pushing your shutter button half-way down, or you can focus pressing a back button on your camera. You'll find that if you can use your back button, focusing will be a lot faster and easier. I promise. When I learned this, it absolutely changed my life. Seriously! For a lot of cameras, I believe this has to be turned on. Look it up, I promise you won't regret it!

3) Avoid shooting in direct sunlight if at all possible. Shooting in direct sunlight will give you squinty eyes, harsh shadows and photos that are difficult to edit. Find some shade, have your subject face in a direction to where the sun will still reflect in their eyes and shoot away. This rings true for using your flash as well. Unless it's absolutely necessary, turn it off!

There are two times of day that are commonly know and considered 'perfect' for taking photos. Most people call them the golden hour and some call them the magic hour. This is most typically the first hour and last hour of sunlight, with a little wiggle room in there. Try getting out during one of these times and snapping a few photos. I think that just experiencing it will be the best way to explain why it's preferred by most photographers.

4) Be natural. I hate posing. I feel like I get the best photos when I just let things go and snap away as life is happening. Posing usually results in stiff, forced photos that are obviously just that. This is my biggest downfall as a 'photographer' and I'm trying to work on it, but at least I know it's a problem.

5) Try a different angle. Have someone sit in a chair and spend 10 minutes taking photos of them in that same position. Move around them, get up high and down low. Focus on different features. Take a whole body shot, then one of  just their face, their hands... keep finding new ways to capture them. Eventually you'll find that there are certain angles that you like better than others and it will be more comfortable for you to decide HOW to photograph someone.

6) Practice, practice, practice!! Ya know the saying, ' practice makes perfect'? It's true!! The more you use your camera, the more comfortable you will be with it and the better your photos will become.

7) Don't judge. The NUMBER ONE thing I can tell you about photography is that EVERYONE does it. Seriously. Everyone. Don't judge your photography based on someone else's work. You don't know how or what or when or any sort of details about their work and the majority of the time, you're looking at something and thinking 'why can't that be me'. It's horrible for your esteem and it's horrible for your photography. The only person you should compare yourself to is YOU. Go back a month, a year, two years and see how much you've grown.

These are just a few basic, basic tips. I'm going to write up another post on using your camera in manual mode eventually, but in the meantime, just keep practicing!

Doe anyone else have some basic tips for beginner photographers?