We're Married!!!

Oh My God! We got married today!! In our livingroom! By a JP!

Thursday, we found out that if I were to apply for a Visa on my own, I would not be considered a military spouse once I arrived in the UK to meet Keith, therefore I would not have any of the rights or privileges of one. This was not an option at all for either of us. So marriage it is! Oh My God!

Friday, I applied for our marriage license. It would be ready in 5 days - Tuesday February 27th. I called a JP, Mrs. Kimberlie Bell and she was happy to marry us that Tuesday evening at our place, 6pm.

I picked up our marriage license this afternoon! It says we're getting married???? Keith & I!?? I don't understand? We seem to have missed a few steps!

It was perfect! Aimee, one of my closest girlfriends who's known me longer than anyone else (since we were babies) was my witness, and Jamie was Keith's. My oldest brother Matthew was also there. We stood in the middle of our livingroom, held hands, and said our vows. It is still surreal as I think back on it. No rings were exchanged and my name has not changed. We are saving this for the day we have a wedding. Although I am very proud to be Mrs. Keith Esliger.

After we completed the paperwork, George & Julia arrived and the 7 of us went out for dinner at The Vines to celebrate. When we returned home, I called my grandparents to tell them we got married!

Marriage!? Who Said Anything about getting married!?

Keith arrived home from work today with an issue...

Keith - "We have a bit of a problem"
Mandy - "Am I going to cry?"
Keith - "I hope not"
Mandy - "Oh God"
Keith - "Well, there's an issue with your Visa application, it isn't going to be approved"
Mandy - "Okay" (with look of confusion and uneasiness on face)
Keith - "So, we have three options. One we don't take the posting, which is really not an option. Second, you apply for a Visa on your own and meet me in a few months. Third, we get married."
Mandy - (Gulp) "Ummmmm" (I really was at a loss for words at this point)

I had so many thoughts and emotions running through my head at this point that my mind was blank. No words were spoken, I just stared at Keith waiting for him to say something. We had quite a lenghty conversation (obviously) and by the time we went to bed we were laughing that we may have to get married. Laughing, because really there's no way we're gonna have to get married in a few days! This was not how we pictured it. This is not how we wanted it to be. We wanted the say, we wanted to plan it, we wanted a party, but that was all about to unravel...