Yep! We got married!

I think two weeks is an adequate amount of time after a wedding that says "I care about my husband and getting this home settled, but I'm going a little nuts and need to watch cat videos on Youtube for the afternoon."

Either way, Chavo is going to go tear down stuff with big sledgehammers today. One of his coworkers needs a shed demolished, and of course all the guys were climbing over each other for the opportunity to tear something down with giant hammers. Who wouldn't want to do that??? In this hundred-degree weather, I think I'll pass. So here I am.

Anyways, Chavo and I got married two weeks ago, and it was totally fabulous. I don't have pictures from the photographer yet, but my aunt took a few hundred, so I guess it would be nice to see them.

The wedding was so awesome, I couldn't have asked for anything better. My bridesmaids were wonderful. The groomsmen were great. Both families came, and everyone blended so nicely. Chavo's sister and her husband came about a week before the wedding, so we got to spend some good time with them before the wedding, which was wonderful. The four of us had an awesome time. Then the rest of his family came, and it was great. Everyone was laughing and having a good time, and none of us got enough sleep, but oh well.

The wedding itself was just incredible, in that I had no idea what was going on. I do know for a fact that I was super nervous before and during the ceremony, I know that Chavo had a hard time reciting vows in old english (With this ring, I see red, and all my twirly goods...), the videographer made the limo driver take the long way to the reception so they could get the cameras set up (which made for a lot of funny speculation going around with people wondering what was taking us so long... Hmmm), and the DJ played Pitbull's song "International Love" which made me both laugh hysterically and turn a lovely shade of scarlet.

When it was time to go, (and the keys to my car were retrieved from my parents' house), Chavo and I ran through the sea of birdseed to our lovely decorated car. I'm pretty sure I hocked a birdseed-filled loogie right in front of Chavo's cousin Zumby.. Oops. How much I loved that everyone decorated our car in hearts and sweet things, instead of (let's just say it) penises and sex jokes (hey, you know you thought about it). We drove away from the reception and made our way to the Baer House Inn in Vicksburg, which was amazing beyond words. The owner, Doug, greeted us when we got there, and everything was so nice. It was a good stop on our way to Navarre Beach, where we spent our week-long honeymoon.

Navarre was also really awesome. We highly recommend it to anyone. Not as crowded as Destin, but still a lot to do. Chavo and I went jetskiing, we actually bungee-jumped (never again), and loved every minute of our honeymoon. We're already wanting to go back.

We went back to West Monroe and saw my brother off to boot camp. He left for Georgia on Monday, and he seems to be doing as great as one can expect of his first days of Basic Training.

And now, Chavo and I are firmly planted in our new home in Texas. I've been having fun setting up this new apartment, and I think it looks mighty fine. We love having people over, and I've been having a good time meeting new people. I'm playing in the church orchestra with the Chavo, and everyone has been really nice. It's been a good transition so far, but I know that we have a lot ahead of us.

I guess right now, I just really need good thoughts and prayers sent our way in helping us get set up. We're still waiting to hear back from a job that we are really hoping I get, but it is not set in stone yet. We have a lot of ideas, but we're still looking at our options. Chavo is working full time in the auto-shop at the Seminary, and while he's there, I'm at home, doing the things that I guess I need to be doing. His birthday is Monday, so we have some things planned for that. Right now, we could hardly ask for anything better. Being alone in this apartment while Chavo is away at work is giving me lots of ideas for blog posts, so stay tuned!

I'll be back around more often, considering that I have a lot more free time than I did when I was planning the wedding, so I guess I'll be seeing you!

-Ginger Spice

The Quest for the Elusive Marriage License!

I think the title of this post could also serve as a good title for the last 5 days (as well as the next 5). I have been trying to acquire Chavo's and my marriage license, and let's just say, it's not going according to plan. Consider this blog a fair warning to NOT wait until the last minute to get your marriage license...

So, on Thursday of last week, I go bright-eyed and bushy-tailed to the courthouse for what I like to call "Blissful Ignorance and Problem Numero Uno". I was told that we needed both mine and Chavo's birth certificates. Queue initial panic. I have my birth certificate, but Chavo's is still in Guatemala with his uncle, who cannot bring it until 2 days before the wedding. Also a problem because the waiting period for the license is 3 days. Oops.

Problem Numero Uno got solved after we begged Chavo's uncle to FedEx the certificate for us, which he did. He also scanned the certificate and sent us a copy to our emails. Queue Problem Numero Dos: Chavo's birth certificate is in Spanish. Why I didn't consider this from the get-go, I haven't the foggiest. But either we need to get a waiver for the birth certificate (which we should have done first), or we need to get it translated by a "certified translator". My question is: who gets certified?!?! No one! No one gets certified!!! Soooo, we got the waiver. Super duper!

On the second trip to the courthouse, I was told that Chavo and I both had to be present to pick up the marriage license (which is false), so I went up there to get the birth certificate waiver. Turns out, the waiver stays at the courthouse and we're supposed to do everything all at once. Oh, and I don't have to have Chavo there with me to get the license. But I don't have my paperwork. So I drive about Mach 2 to my parents' house to get the rest of the paperwork (because the Deputy Clerk INSISTS that I get here to give her enough time to leave by 4:30 because she's ready to go home). I gather all the paperwork quickly and go back to the courthouse for Trip #3.

Now, for a little backstory, Chavo and I are getting a Covenant Marriage. My church does not do any other kind. It requires pre-marital counseling and just makes it difficult to get a divorce. Long story short, this stuff is serious.

For Trip #3, the Deputy Clerk states that she thinks the paperwork for Covenant Marriage may only be valid for 30 days (it was signed March 20), but she wasn't sure. She called 3 district judges (one wouldn't even make a call on it because it was covenant marriage, ugh), the Clerk of Court, and they ATTORNEY GENERAL!!! No one knew anything, not even the Attorney fricken' General. I left on Friday at 5 pm, still Licenseless.

At that point, I called the Chavo and asked him how he would feel if we just lived in sin for a while. He wouldn't go for it. ;)

On Monday, I was told that we do have to re-do the paperwork, but Chavo and I have to both be present for that. And as everyone knows, Chavo and I are in a long-distance engagement. He's going to be here in about 10 minutes. Mom and I went back to the courthouse before we got the call (Trip #4) and the Deputy Clerk was sick of seeing my face, so she sent us home. Whatevsies.

It is now Tuesday. We should be filling out the new paperwork tomorrow, and then HOPEFULLY we can get our license, so Chavo and I can be legally married.

I have a sneaking suspicion this is God checking my patience levels because honestly, it has gotten too absurd to not have a higher power behind it. What ridiculousness.
Anyway, I'll try to let everyone here know if Chavo and I are going to be legally married at the wedding. Wish us luck, pray for us, we hope to not have a Problem Numero Cuatro, or a Trip #6 to the courthouse.