weddings + ode to marriage

In LaFuze fashion I am behind in posting this, but we also jetted from one trip to another.  After we debarked our cruise on Friday morning, we gassed up, and hit the road for Big Bear to attend Daniel's cousin's wedding.  We don't like wasting any time!  This was actually my first time going to Big Bear (and I feel so crazy saying that since we are only 2 1/2 hours away).  What a gorgeous, quaint, lovely town filled with character, charm, and beautiful views.  The weddings was held at an estate and we stayed with family two doors down in a barn house.  Our weekend was filled with large family breakfasts, people sprawled everywhere, setting up for the rehearsal dinner, preparing to move the wedding due to a lovely little thunder storm, strolling in The Village, and of course so much laughter and love that your heart felt like it grew two sizes in everyone's presence. 

Weddings have a way with me.  It never fails that as soon as the wedding march begins, those tear ducks just burst open, and the sentiments keep rolling.  This ceremony was a bit nontraditional, as the bride walked down to Led Zeplin, but the sentiments remained.  Tear-strewn vows were lovingly stated, and it just reminded me how much love two people really have for one another.  I remember saying my vows with uncontrollable shaking hands, the tears that burst the minute it was time to walk down the isle, and the head tilted smile I gave my husband at our first glance through the "walk".  

Daniel's grandparents stole the show during the reception during the dance to see which couple has been married the longest.  As the DJ kept calling out years, this kept raising a thumb telling him to go higher, until he finally reached it...56!  They have been married 56 years.  And to this day, it just blows me away.  Such love.  Coming from a family sewn together through the divorces, it is always an encouragement to see marriage live.  The see love live.  To see two people love each other so much that they will love for better or worse.  Marriage is a beautiful thing, and what makes it that way are couples who are a testament to the faith and dedication it takes to make it work.  Because there will be hard times.  There will be many "sorrys".  But for every sorry there is I forgive you.  Weddings have a way of reminding me that it isn't about the small things, the things we wish our husbands would remember (putting their socks in the clothes hamper :) )...marriage is about LOVE.  And I love my husband with a deep passion that continues to grow more and more each day.  It always seems to catch me off guard to think that we have been together for almost 10 years now, that we are having a baby, that our marriage is about to take on different obstacles, and that we have gotten through the sorry and I forgive you, and will go through 100's more.  Marriage is sacred, and I hope that one day my children will be looking at us in awe as we dance away while the DJ keeps calling higher numbers for the years we have been married.  I want my marriage to be a testament to the love and respect that marriage is, and that my husband knows how grateful I am for such a God-loving husband.  

hello monday {santa cruz style}

Hello Monday!

Hello beautiful Santa Cruz and lush, green trees. 

Hello perfectly planned weekend away, rest for my soul, and pure bliss with my man. 

Hello handsome husband.  I love the way you bring me joy and laughter. 

Hello absolutely stunning bride.  I am forever grateful at the bonds we created in college. 

Hello reception and the deep blue ocean out in the distance. 

Hello dear friend, road trip companions, and running partner. 

Hello love of my life (and a good hair day!). 

Hello amazing mama, I love to see how God has touched your life and what an amazing mother you have become. 

Hello celebrating the last college friend tying the knot, I think it's time that we start planning reunions!

Hello perfectly frothed latte, you were sweet goodness to my soul. 

Hello Red House Cafe.  You are ridiculously cute, and your food was delish, and I felt cute just sitting inside of you.  

Hello Monterey!  Thank you for being a fun little stop on our way home.  How about you move a bit south so I can spend some more time in your neck of the woods?

love and respect

On Saturday we had the joy and privilege of attendant the most beautiful wedding.  I love weddings, like, a lot.  Like how a kid loves playing with bouncy balls.  You see their eyes light up with joy and excitement, even if it is going to hit them smack dab in the middle of the face.  I love them.  

The couple that got married were close to us, the bride's older brother is mine and the Mr's best friend.  I've grown up with the family since I was in second grade.  To me it felt like my little sister got married.  Not only was the location, trinkets, and actual wedding itself absolutely stunning, what this ceremony symbolized left me feeling renewed.  Samuel and Hillary and I have many things in common, we started dating in high school, we broke up for a short time to figure out life, we waited until we got married, we were even married by the dame pastor and commonly refer to our premarital counseling binder as "The Beast" because it is so massive.

I'm a crier.  At any wedding I will shed some good ol' happy tears.  But as I was listening to our home pastor lead the wedding ceremony, the importance of marriage, the covenant it is, was something you don't hear often.  Even at this wedding one of our old college friends was asking "what's the point in getting married".  And as I was listening to the ceremony I began to think about my own marriage and how much we have grown in just three years.  I felt tears well up in my eyes not because of how beautiful the ceremony was but how beautiful marriage is, that God has blessed you with someone to spend your whole life with, to grow closer to Him with, to have a family with, be best friends with, and ultimately love one another in deeper ways than you thought imaginable.  

The pastor shared that the number one thing that ruins marriages is selfishness.  I let that sit with me for a bit, and realized that it all boils down to that.  It is so simple, yet so very true: selfishness.  We read the book Love and Respect before we got married and at the time it was something difficult for me to grasp and really envision.  I was a pretty independent person so understanding how my actions should look to show the Mr. I respect him was new for me.  However, I can write today that all I want now is to grow closer to my husband, run home to him rather than have a girls night out, and put more energy into him than myself.  I'm learning how to be selfless in my marriage, think of his needs and wants more than mine, and how to love him in his love language.  

I feel like I'm rambling now but my heart is just gushing at the seems with love and joy about marriage. It's something special!

the country wedding, part II

Here are a few more pictures from my sister's wedding this past weekend.  I had the job of carrying my nephew down the aisle so he was a part of the ceremony.  It felt so wonderful to see my nephews, my sister, her new husband, and be reconnected with family.  

I love these people!  My mom, brother, and sister are so unbelievably amazing.  

The family portrait.  Jaden was completely over taking pictures, poor guy. 

By the time the sun went down, we all headed back up to the house to change into warmer clothes and settle in for a bonfire.  

Sunday was spent over at my sister's house for more nephew and Auntie J time.  I seriously cannot get enough of this cute pie!

As I look through these pictures and write this post, there is so much more to be said.  Right now I'm at a point where I'm not sure how much to delve into with my blog.  I started this about a year and a half ago as a way to journal all of life's experiences and keep all of our family in the loop.  My mom and mother-in-law LOVE reading "The News" and knowing what we are up to...and we only live 40 minutes away from them (so sad, I know).  But, I have been thinking a lot about this blog-my purpose behind it-and where it should go.  

I truly love blogging, it brings me so much joy and happiness, and I love being able to look back at everything my wonderful husband and I have accomplished, celebrated, and enjoyed.  This is my personal little space where I like to showcase my passions and enjoyment.  At the same time, there is still quite a bit of privacy.  

As I look through these photos there is so much going on that is unsaid.  The family dynamics would make your head spin.  Should I delve into it all?  This question has been on my mind for quite some time this week.  This blog is about me, and a big part of me and why I am the way I am is because of my family and my upbringing.  

So, I will share a little bit...but not now.  I'm praying for God's wisdom and words, and soon enough you will get a peak inside this little lady.  

a country wedding, part I

This weekend was my little sister's wedding out in Arkansas.  Her little family lives in a very small town out on a dirt road, and even though they are truly out in the middle of nowhere-it is beautiful to see God's creation in the stillness.  Her wedding was in the middle of a hay field and everything was a little bit country.  Of course there were a few glitches here and there, but overall it was a success!

After this wedding I added some more titles to my wedding planner credentials.  These include: hair dresser, makeup artist, DJ, and day-of organizer.  I mean, I really think I'm ready to go into business.  

The day started with primping the bride: 

Do you see that hair?  I surprised myself!

Her little boy, Jaden, is such a cutie!  He was the cutest ring bearer yet.

The moms:

Sister and sister-in-law.

I had the special job of holding my nephew Kash during the ceremony so he was a part of it all.  Of course I was in heaven!

Isn't the background so beautiful?!?

More to come...

Love my brother!