What's in a Name?

Here's the thing, I had to get my name changed recently and I got to thinkin......this aint fair!!! Why is it that the guy has it smooth sailing, while the girl is having to change everything!  There's more to it than the simple name change though, there is something deeper that happens when you get your name changed...at least for me.  As I stood in line for an hour and a half only to get a ticket that would get me into another line for 3 hours, I couldn't help but get flustered.  At first I thought it was the fact that I was standing in line surrounded by smelly people from every country but our own, but after I finally got out of there with a horrible picture on my new license, I realized that was not what was bothering me at all.  I don't know if any new bride has felt the same, but as I walked out of that building, all I could think of was that Ashley Gordon just disappeared.  Now, I am not one of those women's rights kinda girl, I have always said "of course I would take my husbands name, that was just the wifely thing to do," but I must say, it was harder than I thought!  Please don't misunderstand, I love my husband and I am proud to be Mrs. Jimeno, but I have been Ashley Gordon for 25years! That evening, I had a major breakdown.  Poor Andres must have thought he had married a nut and was going to have to commit me to the loony bin, but something came over me that I could not control.  After hours of sobbing and hiding my hideous, puffy, red face I was finally able to blurt out what was bothering me.  As happy as one can be to get married and spend the rest of your life with the person you love, there is still sadness over the things that are left behind.  After many tears and talking to Andres and my mom, I came to realize that Ashley Gordon didn't disappear, she grew up.  A name can never take away who you are, where you have been, and the memories that will be with you for a lifetime; it only opens a new chapter and new and exciting adventures.  I miss my parents, my old bed, my mom's cooking, my single friends and my own bathroom, but the great thing is that I am beginning a new type of relationship with my parents, one of friendship, I am developing new friendships with some great couples, and I am living in a new home with the man I love.....Life could not be better.  For all you new brides, change happens, and it's ok to feel sad, but don't let it consume you.  Embrace the change and let the Lord handle the rest for His plan is best!

Wedding Bells

Well, the wedding bells are over, and although it has only been 3 months, it is so hard to remember.  I always thought that I would never be that bride that says, it was all so crazy I can hardly remember it.....but here I am stating just that! 

you thought I was lying about sleeping 2 days

The honeymoon, on the other hand, was such an adventure that there is no possible way that can be forgotten!  I think I might be the only girl who can say she threw up, pooped and passed out in front of her new groom all in the first day of marriage! Let's just say I am really good at breaking the ice:)  I can say that it definitely tested the character of my new hubby, and he passed with flying colors!  My favorite thing he said was, "you okay baby, oh baby, what did you eat, that looks disgusting!"  But, he might be the only man who has gotten to watch 15hrs worth of UFC fighting while his new bride was passed out for the first entire day of marriage, so he wasn't to torn up about it:)
After the first 2 days of putrid illness, we set sail to Cozumel, Cayman Islands, Rotan and Belize.  We had such an amazing time and we both got to do the excursions we wanted.  He got his choice of snorkeling and playing with the monkeys at Jumblina Park in the Caymans, and I got my choice of swimming with the dolphins in Cozumel.  We got some great photos with the dolphins, unfortunately they cost as much as it would if we wanted to buy our own dolphin, so we have mental photos that will last a lifetime!  We also kept the brochure so we can show people that we did what the people on the brochure did......it's better than nothin!!

Caymans snorkeling

We are so buying a monkey!

Newho, we are now in the groove of living life as a couple, and though it has had it's challenges, I am so happy and could not possibly be more in love!  He is the best thing I could ever ask for.....and he even helps vacuum and mop!!