Our First Thirty Days of Wedded Bliss

Wednesday July 20, 2011


Greetings All!

Since it has been quite some time since my last Blog, let me re-introduce myself, I am Athena M. Baxley. Yes, that’s right – I have a new last name! I am now a married woman! =)


I apologize for my Blog being so behind. A very good friend recently pointed out to me, that I very much needed to get back into Blogging gear and get some serious writing done. She also expressed surprise that I did not do a Pre-Wedding Blog, similar to that which I did for my birthday. Frankly, I didn’t think about it, but I also wouldn’t have had the time. Planning a wedding keeps one quite busy – but in a VERY GOOD WAY! =) So, her suggestion (which I very much liked) was to write a Blog about my first thirty days of marriage. It follows…


I will have to back up some to pull this off, so please bear with me. I am going to combine the first several days into this first Blog and will then Blog daily regarding what I am going to call “Our First Thirty Days of Wedded Bliss…”


On Sunday, July 3, 2011, I had the ultimate pleasure and distinct honor of marrying my best friend, the love of my life, my sweet cowboy, Mr. William ‘Eric’ Baxley. Eric and I met on July 3, 2010 thanks to some wonderful mutual friends who set us up on a blind date. We are both eternally grateful to these friends! I truly believe, as does Eric, that God has led us to be together. We are meant to be, guided by the Good Lord above to each other in His good timing.


Eric and I have both been through a lot in our lives and as we have talked about our histories we have found that there have been several opportunities in our lives that our paths could have crossed because we were in the same places at the same times, but it wasn’t time yet. We just weren’t ready yet.


Now that God has deemed us ready to begin our lives together, I feel honored that He chose such an amazing man for me.


Ok, ok, I know – enough drifting – back to the point… Right?!


On July 3, 2011, my sweet cowboy and I Tied the Knot! Our day was special and wonderful and just what we wanted thanks to some very special in our lives! Thank you to those family and friends who stood beside us and with us and helped make our wedding day about us and what we wanted! We are forever grateful and love you all so much!


After a ceremony that included a Memorial Tribute to our family members who watched from above, me being walked down the aisle by my Uncle, my mom giving me away, the braiding of a Cord of Three Strands, Vows, Rings, the lighting of a Unity Candle and prayers, we were married!


We took some photos, then proceeded to our reception where the fun continued with the introduction of the Groom and his Bride, Mr. and Mrs. Eric Baxley, and the introduction of the wedding party. Introductions were followed by a very special “father”/daughter dance. My father passed away six years ago, so all the men who have had an impact on my life were invited to share in a special dance with me that was representative of a “father”/daughter dance. Then my sweet husband and I shared our first dance as a married couple, to Colin Raye’s “One Boy One Girl.” Then there was the mother/son dance.


There was food, dancing, visiting, photos, toasts, the cutting of the cakes (absolutely beautiful and delicious cakes), the tossing of the bouquet and garter and more dancing (our DJ played some awesome music!). Such a wonderful time!


After we left the reception in the truck which had been very artfully decorated in cake icing, we headed to destinations unknown! =) Well, we knew where we were going, but no one else did!


July 4th, 2011 was our first full day of Wedded Bliss. We checked out of the motel we were in, and headed out again. Leaving one state, to travel through two others, just to end up in a different section of the state we left. It was such a beautiful trip. We loved seeing different parts of the country than we had seen before. We both love to travel, so this was a great way to start our honeymoon!


We got checked into another motel – this one we planned to stay at for a few days. There was some sight-seeing to do here!


On July 5th we had a great day out and about and seeing Ruby Falls – a magnificent and beautiful place. Then we had a lovely dinner on a riverboat cruise. The evening ended with a call from my mom telling me that my grandmother (who had not been well for the last year or so) had gone on to be with our Lord in Heaven. We told her we would be home right away – but she wouldn’t hear of it – she told us to continue our honeymoon and have a good time; because that is what my grandmother would have wanted for us.


On July 6th we were again out and about with more sight-seeing, this time we were at the amazing Lookout Mountain and Rocky City. Followed by a ride on the Incline Railroad… Has anyone figured out where we were yet? We were in Chattanooga, TN and oh my, it is absolutely beautiful there! The day was rounded out by a quiet dinner at the Cracker Barrell… =)


On July 7th we checked out of our motel and headed out again to make our way to Missouri. We went through TN this time, instead of dropping down into Mississippi and Alabama like we did on the way to Chattanooga and skirted the outside of Nashville – such a lovely city! Waved to it as we passed and said a silent hello to my sis and her hubby! We got into Kentucky and stopped at a Visitor’s Center and picked up brochures to see what there was to do… Found some things close to the area we were going to be near, but then as we pulled into the area we had been talking about staying in, we saw it – the sign we had been looking for – CASINO! We drove a few more miles into Metropolis, Illinois (and went to the Visitor Center there for brochures and directions) and then found our way to Harrah’s Casino! =) We were so happy, because we had originally wanted to stay in a Casino on our wedding night, but they were all booked… Anyway, being new to the Casino, Eric got comp tickets for dinner and there was a promo going on for a drawing… When he drew he won five bucks in free play – it was his lucky night! We played for a couple hours and didn’t lose all our money! Then, we had a lovely dinner at no charge to us, except for the tip, of course. Then, we drove into the downtown part of Metropolis, Illinois (home of Superman) and found the giant statue of Superman! Oh yeah! Color me happy! It was AWESOME! I totally took pictures! =)


After that, we went back into Kentucky, Padukah, that is, where we found a room for the night.


On July 8th, we checked out and headed out again, finally getting into Missouri. Growing up I was a huge fan of Designing Women, so I was particularly excited to see Poplar Bluff, Missouri where “Charlene” always talked about being from on the show. We stopped in Branson for the night and took in the Hollywood Wax Museum – more great photos from there!



Saturday July 9th – Happy Birthday to me! Eric and I had a wonderful breakfast and followed it with a round of miniature golf on the strip in Branson. Mom met us in Branson, where she gave me my birthday gift. Then we did some shopping at the Factory Outlet Mall there. Eric got mom to help him distract me, so that he could get me a birthday present and card (there wasn’t much time before the wedding to shop for my b-day) and surprised me with them before we left the mall! I have the sweetest hubby ever! And I have a great mommy! From Branson, it was on to Springfield, where we checked into a room, changed clothes and headed to visitation for my grandmother’s funeral.




Sunday July 10th – After the complimentary hotel breakfast, making a trip to the local Walgreens to print some pictures, and a quick swim, we got ready for my grandmother’s funeral. It was a beautiful service both in the funeral home and at graveside. A local church that one of my aunt’s attends held a dinner for the family after the funeral which was very nice and we enjoyed the opportunity to fellowship with each other.



Monday July 11th – We checked out of the hotel and headed home. After about a five and a half hour trip we were safely back in Little Rock! Then the task at hand was to unload the vehicles and get back into routine.



Tuesday July 12th – Wednesday July 20th – We have been back to work and “back in the swing of things” for just over a week now. Sunday the 17th of July made two weeks since we said “I Do” and we are so happy!



Wednesday July 20, 2011 – 17 days ago today I married the man of my prayers and dreams! *Sigh* I Love My Sweet Cowboy Hubby!



Now, in reviewing what I have written – it appears as though I have written a small novel, not just a Blog entry, so I am going to end this one now and will try to write a much shorter version tomorrow! =)


Have a blessed day all! =)