TWO FAMILIES BECOMING ONE

This weekend (notice this has been in my drafts for quite some time), Joey and I had our engagement luncheon.  It was really just a meet and greet for our family.  Given the distance, some have never met. So, on Saturday we celebrated our love with our families at Harvey's.  I did NOT expect this to be a crying occasion, but boy was I wrong!  We are truly blessed to have such loving family and friends.  They are genuinely happy for our union and most importantly, the continue to pray for our journey to forever.

It honestly felt like one big happy family.  Everyone was laughing, crying, talking, and eating! Now, that's a good time!  I am so thankful to marry into such a Christian family, and I think I can speak for Joey in saying that he feels the same.  To make a long post short, we are truly blessed.  I could not imagine my life with anyone other than Mr. Joey K. Sanders. He IS my forever.

Delicious "Sanders" cookies made by Leslie Neal!

My siblings, mom, and future husband

My FAMILY and Joey with his groomsmen minus one

Us with Shane and Tina (my uncle and aunt)

Silbings, grandmother, cousin LOVE!

TWINS! My future sister-in-law (Deana) and her daughter (DeAnna)

Soon to be Mother & Father-in-Law...I should add that they are THE best EVER

My other soon to be sister-in-law (Gayle) who matches my crazy

Dad and my brother-in-law

My soon to be niece (Gabby)...Gayle's daughter

xoxo, 

Future Mrs. Sanders 

What do YOU want?

I've listened to many brides...soon-to-be-brides...mothers..grandmothers...friends...etc. All have said "This is YOUR wedding. Do things the way YOU want." Hmmmm...is there truth to that statement? For me, yes.  So many women sacrifice the wedding of their dreams to satisfy parents, in-laws, friends, and [some] people that probably won't matter 10 years from now.  So after my initial "planning session" (which involved scribbling my likes and dislikes on a sheet of wide ruled paper) I asked myself a few questions:

1. Who is paying for the wedding? Although our parents may or may not be helping with the wedding it's ultimately OUR wedding.  I take all ideas and suggestions into consideration, but it's my choice.  I'm thankful that our parents want us to have our day as WE see fit. If you're not contributing, your suggestions should be minimal. Harsh? Ehh maybe, but just my opinion.

2. What is a "traditional" wedding? I think people just like saying that word...traditional. Ahhhh let's all meet up on highway 12 and burn the word traditional!!!! I want to look back and say there was nothing traditional about my day.  So what if I don't want elaborate centerpieces? Is that going to affect my marriage? I highly doubt it!

3. Who should we invite? I think the guest list ranks as the #1 cause of heart attacks. Please hear me out and don't get offended.  We are very appreciate of those that are genuinely happy for our union.  Joey and I have a ton of friends.  Therefore, if we invited every.single.person. we would have a guest list of 10000000 people.  Honestly, I don't see 100000000 people fitting in our budget.  SO, we ask that you respect our intimate ceremony. We do plan to have family and close friends.  But I highly doubt that I'll invite all of my facebook, twitter, and instagram friends ...sorry y'all.

With that being said.  When "obstacles" come my way, as I'm sure there will be plenty.  I will ask myself one question. "Will it ultimately affect my marriage?" If my answer is no, well............don't let the door hit ya where the good Lord split ya :)

xoxo
Future MRS. Sanders

Oh! I have to plan a wedding!

This post is my attempt at answering the "How's wedding planning going?" question.  Ummmm...it's going....as much as it can go 1.5 months into our engagement.  Taking into account that our wedding is less than 1 year away, planning now is a must.  We have a date, a venue, color scheme, photographer, and our wedding party.  That's enough for right now, right? I mean, I'm following my little timeline on THE KNOT, and in my Ultimate Wedding Planning book sooooo.....yea....  We will [hopefully] soon nail a videographer and a caterer; those are though ones.  Next weekend our families will gather together for a Meet & Greet and my first bridal appointment is next month! Yup, I'm pretty excited about that...I wish you could see the look on my face. It looks a little something like this....

Everything is going well at the moment.  I would love to have "most" things in concrete by Christmas break, giving that my work schedule picks up heavily in the spring. Oh, one more thing...a honeymoon! We haven't picked a honeymoon location so I welcome all suggestions.  I consider myself very organized, but I may be in for a treat once the planning gets hectic.  Check with me in about 4-5 months...I'll probably look like this...

So until then I'll be makin my list and checkin it twice because the countdown to June.TwentyONE.TwoThousandFourteen. is on!

xoxo,
Future Mrs. Sanders :)

There is POWER in the name of JESUS

There is power in the name of Jesus

To break every chain

Break every chain

Break every chain

People have often ask, "How do you know when God is speaking to you?" Some may disagree but I think God can speak to you through others, pictures, songs, etc.  I'll give you an example.  This past week I have been singing "There is power in the name of Jesus...to break every chain" I mean I can not get this song out of my head.  So, I was on Instagram and one of my sorority sisters posted the lyrics.  I told her that was so ironic because I've been going to bed and waking up with that song in my head.  Example 2...I was on Facebook (ok I know I spend a lot of time on social media) and one of my friends posted the lyrics. Weird, right? Again, I commented and told her thanks for sharing because I've had the song stuck in my head.  On a third occasion someone mentioned the song in passing.  My goodness I almost fell out of my chair! I see what you did there God!

I said all of that to say...God was truly speaking to me through a song.  There IS power in the name of JESUS. Whatever you're going through, please know that it will not last.  I know it's easier said than done, but keep the faith.  

I have seen something else under the sun

The race is not to the swift or the battle to the strong

nor does food come to the wise

or wealth to the brilliant

or favor to the learned; 

but time and chance happen to them all  

Ecclesiastes 9:11

I now know the true meaning of John 14:13.  It states, "And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son." 


In Jesus' name,
Amen

Joey + NaToya

If you haven't already heard or seen the good news on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Myspace (iKid iKid)....we are ENGAGED! Joey K. Sanders asked me, NaToya R. Hill to be his wife on August 6, 2013 after 2.5 exciting years of dating.  Of course, my answer was "yes".  Well, I think it was. I'm not sure what all I managed to say with tears streaming down my face.  To say we are blessed would be an understatement.  

I have found the one whom my soul loves 

Song of Solomon 3:4

I could go on and on about what a good man I have, but I would be doing him an injustice.  Words truly can not describe the love I have for my Joey, my fiance, my soon-to-be husband.  Joey has all the characteristics that I look (well looked) for in a spouse. Not a boyfriend, but a spouse.  Who knew telling this man happy 26th birthday would turn into a lifetime of happiness? Thank you, God for giving me the courage to text him! Haha! I will say, he was mighty hesitant to embrace this "young buck" as he called me; I was 22.

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.  Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues,they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.  For we know in part and we prophesy in part,  but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears.  When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me.  For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. 1 Corinthians 13: 4-13

My mom has always told my sister and I to find a man that would treat us like the Queens we are.  But it doesn't just stop there.  Once we find "the one"...we are to treat him as a King.  In my opinion, Joey and I are made for each other. God knew exactly what he was doing what he paired us. I'm anxious, always on the go, talkative, and sometimes quick to judge...Joey is calm, quiet (at times), and he always always sees the best in others.  On June 21, 2014 we will proclaim our love for each other during a small, intimate ceremony in Starkville, MS.  We ask that each of you continue to keep us in your prayers as we begin our journey to forever.

The day I said "Yes, I will be your wife!"

Our very first photo

Another first...but who's counting?!

Coach Sanders and I

We are TRUE MAROON....are YOU?

The photo speaks for itself!