All I want for Christmas is You!

So, Mark is tired of hearing that song. Well, we had a great Christmas break, but a quick one. Mark is back to work and so am I! Although, my days are much shorter as I've deemed it my holiday break. We had a wonderful time in Fort Smith with my family. Jack came along--he was actually pretty good. I told someone before we left that all I was worried about was him marking things and getting into my mom's really fancy Nativity set. Within the first 30 seconds we let him in the door he made a run for baby Jesus and after that, lifted his leg to mark this fancy little tuffet thing my mom has. We laughed and laughed, but only because he didn't do any damage. Christmas Eve morning we got up and opened presents with my parents, and that afternoon we drove to Carthage. It was WILD! We have lots of little boys in my family who are all at the wrestling with anything stage. Besides that, the "big boys" (aka adults) started a wrapping-paper-wad war that no one could avoid. Needless to say, it was a fun day. We went that night to the Dyer's side which is always fun, but much much more calm. The only little one we have there is Madisyn who is the best behaved 5 year old you'll ever meet. We got my little cousin Caleb a Buzz Lightyear costume, and he LOVED it more than I've ever seen anyone love a gift. I mean, what 3 year old doesn't want to be Buzz? There are pics below. In our gag gift exchange, my grandpa ended up with the funniest gift and dressed as a purple fairy. My grandma took the mumu we brought and kept it because she loved it, not because it was a gag gift.

We still haven't had our Christmas with the Bailey's yet. Mark's grandma Ruby is in the hospital so the family focus has been on her this week. Please say your prayers for Mamaw's health and her recovery from surgery. She had her gall bladder taken out, and is now in ICU trying to manage some fluid around her heart. Hopefully we'll make it down to Clarksville to see her sometime this week. We're looking forward to our friends Drake and Kelly's wedding this weekend and of course New Year's!

Long time...

Hi everyone!

Wow--it's been over a month since we posted last, but it's been a relatively uneventful, but busy month at the Bailey house! We had a wonderful Thanksgiving with Mark's family, and we are looking forward to Mark's first Christmas in Carthage with the Bowers/Dyer crew! When it is your first Christmas at the Bowers' (my mom's family) you have to get under the tree with a bow on your head. While this tradition began as a way of welcoming new babies, it has evolved into welcoming new cousins through marriage! So, I will be sure to post pics of Mark with his lovely bow on his head....if he'll do it! We've been busy going from here to there, visiting the Grifs in KC, seeing a Chiefs game, singing karaoke at Katie's Hannah Montana birthday, surprising my aunt for her 60th birthday, having our community group Christmas dinner at our house, babysitting our favorite Miller kids, and going to fun tacky Christmas sweater parties! What a fun month!

Things with J.Bailey Occasions are going well. Look for my website launch by the end of the month! YAY! www.jbaileyoccasions.com I will be doing a bridal fair in Springdale (the largest in NWA usually) in January, so I am excited to get out there and be a part of the vendor industry for the first time. Pray that I meet lots of brides who are interested in using me! My current clients pick up in the spring, so I will be gearing up for those weddings after New Year's.

I've also been having a blast getting involved in our community through volunteering! I joined a new group called the Young Women's Alliance through the United Way. I've gotten to help out here and there at a really fun fall event for families, sorting clothes at the Peace at Home thrift store that benefits a women's shelter, and yesterday made Christmas ornaments with developmentally disabled adults at the Elizabeth Richardson Center. I am loving every second of it! I am also volunteering once a week as a counselor at Loving Choices, which is essentially a crisis pregnancy center. I am still in training, but I really enjoy the other girls there and the new center is beautiful! It is in the perfect location just between the U of A campus and the Fayetteville High School campus. God is doing really amazing things there, and in the lives of the women that work there. I just love being surrounded by women I can look up to!

Mark's work is still going great! He is going to be recruiting for Unilever at the career fair on the U of A campus in January, which should be really fun for him. He's been having a great time (NOT) lately dealing with all of Jack's mischevious little troubles, like digging up our cable and internet, the sprinkler system, and destroying our fire pit. Yes, it is made of granite and he still tore it apart! He is wonder dog! We're also really excited for the Razorbacks and our new head football coach, Bobby Petrino. It should be fun to see how he does recruiting and getting the fans pumped back up again!

Thanks for checking in, and here are some photos from our Christmas card photo shoot. Chelsea Sloneker, a good friend of ours who is venturing into the world of photography, endured our afternoon with a crazy dog! Take a look...

You give and take away

This weekend has been a tough one. Friday afternoon one of our dearest friends, Chelsey Koffler (or C.Koff as we call her!) passed away in a car accident just outside of Kansas City. We received the news Friday evening and have been just sick all weekend. Chelsey was the friend that everyone loved and she had so many amazing relationships with so many people. What a joy to all of us! Chelsey and I are pledge sisters in Pi Phi, and we were the lone seniors who lived in the Pi Phi house our senior year. Chelsey was the ULTIMATE Pi Phi and our sisters all across the country that she's met at conventions and alum events and other schools have been so saddened by our loss. I know that she will be Pi Phi's personal ambassador in heaven to greet every one of us at the pearly gates (probably with the handshake and password, so you better brush up!). We hope that the younger girls will see what a fun-filled, influential life she led and follow in her footsteps. Amidst all of the tears and sadness, there has been a lot of laughter because she was a hoot and the memories that we will have are awesome ones. She made special trips to be a part of our wedding events, and the fact that she cared just as much about Mark as me was really amazing. Mark loved her and she loved him! We are so glad that we got to see her 2 times in the last month and just had a blast together!

Sunday at church we sang the song that says "you give and take away, blessed be your name." We are just so incredibly thankful for the 5 and a half years we had with Chelsey, and we are able to make it through and still praise the Lord because we trust his perfect plan for her life. While I am sad and want my friend back, I also realize how incredibly blessed we are for Christ's death on the cross that allows us eternal life with Him. Without the peace that Chelsey is in heaven we wouldn't be able to move on through this. Please pray for all of our friends, and especially for Chelsey's mom, Cathy, and her sister Molly. They are from Searcy. Please pray for safety as we travel to the memorials and that the Lord would be honored throughout the days ahead.

If you scroll down to the pictures from my pledge class reunion (look at the one in the green room), she is the one with long red hair with a red shirt on just above my head. Chelsey was a friend that made life different and better, and I hope that we can all be that kind of friend to those we are so blessed to have in our circles.

An exciting week...

Just wanted to say thanks to everyone who has been praying for the direction of my business! Last week was so exciting and encouraging! I had several calls from brides who are interested in using me and also from businesses who want to learn more! I am so thankful that my name is getting out there. Please continue to pray for more phone calls and more people hearing about the business! I am so grateful!

It's Been a While

Hello to everyone (I think like 3 of you) who reads our blog. It has been a bit since I wrote last, so I thought I'd fill you in.

Probably the most exciting part of the past few weeks was celebrating our first anniversary! We escaped for 6 days up just outside of Branson to Big Cedar Lodge. We had our own log cabin, and Mark was in man heaven. There were dead animals on the walls, perched on ledges, and peeking around every corner. It wasn't bad...I got used to it! We hiked around the property, took a carriage ride, and enjoyed the real fireplace in our room each night while it stormed! We also spent some time at Silver Dollar City (ask Mark about the Giant Swing) and I got pampered in the spa back at the resort. Much to Mark's dismay he had to participate in the spa action as well. We also went on a tram ride through Dogwood Canyon, which is on our way to Branson. (It is a part of Big Cedar/Bass Pro.) It was lots of fun and the land was beautiful! Lots of trout fishing, and we got to see the huge elk, deer, buffalo, and lots of other interesting creatures. They even have a charming wedding chapel on the property. Mark wants to go back and take their fly fishing classes! Everyone there was so fantastic, and we enjoyed it so much!

Here are some photos:

This is Mark standing outside of our Log Cabin home for the week.

Gigantic elk we saw at Dogwood Canyon. Mark wanted to shoot them.

We fed some fishies on the property. I liked watching them all swimming furiously toward one little pebble of food.

After our week at Big Cedar, we came home and celebrated the actual anniversary at home with a fun meal we cooked together. So romantic--we listened to the Razorback game on the radio! Our cake top was still really yummy! (Thanks Benny!) This is Mark cutting the cake, one year later!

Later that week, we made a trip to Fort Smith to watch our favorite 6 year old play an awesome game of soccer. Her team demolished the opponent, although "everyone wins" in her league! If you don't think this is cute, something is wrong with you: (She's #3. The one with pigtails!)

And, probably our last update is that Tuesday (the 16th) I reached the quarter century mark. Yes, I turned 25. After a yummy dinner with some friends, we had even more friends over for cake & ice cream. Special thanks to my genius cake-making best bud, Alexis, for the yummy, so cute cake! Thanks to everyone for the birthday wishes and love! You all are such wonderful, special people in my life! Oh, and Jack keeps on getting bigger. Take a look...

Pledge Class Reunion

Well, we have had a wonderful weekend! My Pi Phi pledge class (of 2001) had our first reunion here in Fayetteville and it was a blast! We got to have Scott & Lauren Kimbrough and Lindsey Bell stay with us, which was really fun! Friday night we had drinks and dessert at the Legacy Building on Dickson. It is gorgeous, and we can't wait to go back! Saturday we had a fun little tailgate before the Hogs got romped by Kentucky. Too bad the game was crappy, but we had a great time seeing friends and our parents! We hit Ihop at about 12:30 AM (much to Mark's happiness) and then crashed at home. Today all the girls got together at the Pi Phi house and had a fun lunch and just hung out at the house, which is much nicer already than when we lived there just a few years ago. It was sooo wonderful to see everyone---everybody is doing great. So proud to be friends with so many amazing girls. And, it is fun to see how some things will never change. Just like the good ol' days. :) Here are a few pics...

J.Bailey Occasions

I forgot to post my new ad that will be going out soon in NWA Wedding Ideas, and hopefully in the Morning News Bridal Affair insert. Look for it in October! Spread the word!

And, special thanks to Mary Jo & Chris Thicksten for letting me use them as my models! The pictures in the ad are from their gorgeous, precious June wedding.

September is almost gone!

Well, the past few weeks have been really busy for us. Between my work with the Pi Phi sorority getting their year kicked off, planning my pledge class reunion, and a huge reception for the girls winning the Balfour I have had little time to breathe! J.Bailey Occasions is coming along smoothly. I coordinated 2 very beautiful weddings in August, and got off to a great start! This month I have been working on advertising and getting my website up. Just little things that somehow add up when you're trying to get your name out there!





Mark is still loving his work at Unilever. Today they are working on a Habitat for Humanity build in Rogers/Bentonville. They even got a new Wii for the office!



We started a new year with our community group, which we LOVE, last night. And we're taking a group trip up to the lake this weekend. We're also gearing up for Razorback football over the next few weeks!

Jack is a giant now! He probably weighs around 60 lbs. and he is about 6 and a half months old. He is a big puppy! He is a very hyper guy right now, so we are working on his manners. He loves to run full speed right at your legs without stopping, so watch out! :) When we let him inside in the evening, he has been much better at laying down and entertaining himself instead of commanding our attention at all times. Plus, he is a little more trustworthy when it comes to walking around the house without us following him. Here's a pic that's probably a month or so old. He looks much smaller in the picture than in real life!

First Blog

Hi everyone!

I am starting this blog to keep everyone up to date on our lives, as so many of our friends and family are always asking how things are going with all of the newness in our world. We hope you'll check in and keep up with us!