Happy Friday

In keeping with all the lovey-dovey wedding photos around here this week:

I'm excited to spend time this dear friend tonight. May was full of working crazy hours, then moving, then vacation. Then, of course, I returned the day after she left to visit family Scotland. Needless to say, its been too long (its almost JULY!). I'm counting down the minutes to drinking wine together tonight. In the meantime, here are some highlights from around the web:

This new blog find (I love finding a lovely new blog).

This pretty, simple gold ring.

This easy avacado spread recipe. I love avocado in the summer time- "delicious and nutritious," as my Ugandan home stay mother would say.

This encouraging post from Kelly Ann at The Flowerchild Dwelling ("Being who you want to be... it's worth it. Every single second of it").

These tiny gold tornado earrings. I picture them being a pair that'd I have to restrain myself from wearing everyday. 

I love this My Better Half series. I've been wondering what me and Jake's would be...what would yours be?

I've been having trouble getting into this book, but it just took a turn for the interesting last night. I'm hoping for some quality time with it at the 4th of July picnic on Saturday. I might take a break from it to break into this book, which I've been pining to crack open. Reading books that aren't for grad school? Bliss.

Happy Friday friends. Hope you have some wine and dear friends on your horizon too.

Remember that time we got married?

Jake and I are both rather in awe of the reality that an entire year has passed since we became husband and wife. It was such a beautiful day, and I don't exaggerate when I say we wish we could experience the whole thing all over again, exactly how it was a year ago. The people who surrounded us, the setting, the food and drink- it was all so much more than we could have dreamed of and so representative of us (individually and as a unit). 

My dress was the vintage find of all times. My mom and I went dress shopping a few weeks after the official engagement and after a day of big wedding dress stores, we said what the heck and went to the consignment shop nearest where I grew up. It's a little place with a total local vibe, where my mom has been consigning clothes for years. They have one small room of wedding dresses and when we got there they had two in my size. I tried on both, and we immediately knew the second try was the one. After some significant alterations, it still came out to less than $250. Like I said, the vintage find of all vintage finds. 

My family loves Jake and were all beautifully excited and supportive of this big step. There was nothing but huge amounts of joy emanating our household that Sunday. My parent's foundational relationship continued to be an example even on my wedding day- how great is that shot of them looking in each other's eyes, with me in the middle? And my sister and I looking at our brother playing suave? Too good.

The ceremony itself flew by. At first it felt like it was going to take forever- standing there, in front of everyone, all eyes on us and this big crazy thing we're doing. But then, somehow, it was done and we were MARRIED. It's still sinking in. Jake and I still giggle about it. I do wish we could go back and take it in again- everyone sitting on hay bails, the incredible gift of a beautiful day, that walk with my mom and dad down a grass hill turned isle. It was all so thoughtful and meaningful and downright full.

And then we ate and drank and danced the night away. People took hayrides and played bocci ball outside in their formalwear. We kissed and laughed and danced some more. Before I knew it I was taking off my wedding dress and changing into the champagne colored dress I'd picked to leave in. I remember that moment distinctly- feeling so sad to have it over and start letting go of all this hubbub. It was just such a beautiful, blessed day.

Even better than that day, honestly though, was the last year. Being married to Jake, being his wife, has been the most surprising and wonderful adventure. I am so proud and thankful to call him my husband. He makes hard times calm and makes me laugh more than I thought possible. Waking up next to each other every day is my favorite. He is my favorite. 

this is the best ever

9 Month-i-versary!

Nine months ago today, I walked down a long, grassy hill with my Mom and Dad. I asked them how this had happened- how did we get here already? Tears filled our eyes as we walked in step and treasured these last moments before they gave me away.

I didn't expect walking down a hill-turned-isle to be one of the most important moments of our wedding day. I hadn't really thought about how I would feel in that series of moments. But I am so grateful that the isle was long, and that I have the parents I do. I'm so thankful that they walked me to the place in my life of marrying Jake nine months ago, and that even though they gave me away, they still walk so significantly with me.

And as to the man I was walking towards- I love him more and more. I love talking in bed with morning breath, and laughing over a pile of laundry taller than my bureau. I love dreaming our big dreams and talking our big talks, and I love our little looks and giggles too. He knows my ugliness and loves me in spite of it. He is my favorite.

Here's to another 9 [million] months of family and marriage and love. Happy Monday.

a year ago today

One year ago today I found the sparkle of a diamond ring nestled inside a chocolate cupcake. 

I looked up to find the love of my life kneeling in the snow, asking if I would marry him. 

I said yes. 

the sun shines

I was going through wedding photos- there are so many and they're so full of people we love and a day we love thinking about. My gosh, looking at them fills me up. Also, today happens to be our 5 Month-iversary. All of this reminded me of this scene from Juno:

JUNO

I need to know that its possible that 2 people can stay happy together forever.

DAD

Well its not easy, thats for sure….Look, in my opinion, the best thing you can do is find a person who loves you for exactly what you are. Good mood, bad mood, ugly, pretty, handsome, what have you. The right persons still gonna think the sun shines out your ass. That's the kinda person thats worth sticking with.

JUNO

Yeah. I think I've found that person.

me too Juno

goin' to the chapel

We're going to a wedding this evening. 

The first one we'll attend since our own.

I hope they play our song:

the escalator

I love these women. Natalie, there in the red and white polka dots, just gave me a cd of pictures from the wedding that happened 2 months ago. It was back when that girl in the middle was still a bride-to-be, and not yet a wife. These lovely ladies were part of our whole wedding weekend, coming to the rehearsal and rehearsal dinner, spending time at my parents' home, and then showering me with love and support (rather tearful support) on the BIG DAY. I don't think it was any coincidence that these women and my husband were all brought into my life at nearly the same time. They're not kidding in the Psalms with all that talk of joy and the Lord's strength. I laugh more with these women than I knew I could laugh with friends. And Jake and I have more fun together than either of us thought possible before our first date. I am so-so-so thankful.

Hannah graced our wedding ceremony with her guitar and vocals. No one has a voice like Hannah. Hearing her sing "Cabaret" gives me chills, without fail. Well, hearing her sing anything gives me chills really. She's got soul. For the wedding she played 2 beautiful love songs, including "Days Like These" by Over the Rhine. I love Hannah's version even more than the original.

Natalie also caught some great shots of the soon-to-be-husband and me having a grand ol' time during the rehearsal. A married friend had said that once we made it to the rehearsal, we'd breathe a big beautiful sigh of relief- nothing left to plan, too late to change any minds, and a goodness-gracious-we-made-it feeling. It was true. At that point, we were on the escalator, and there was no getting off. It just kept humming along until we were dropped off at our hotel, after dancing our hearts out with friends and family at the wedding reception. And how odd to suddenly be alone after all that hurrah. Just suddenly, husband and wife.

wedding photos and a prayer request

I'm obsessed. I've been uploading and sorting and collage-ing all week. My eyes are tired from the computer screen and my husband thinks I'm awfully silly. But, the photo book is almost done! And aside from all the tweaking and tweaking galore that I'm still bound to do, here it is: OUR BIG DAY

We had a beautiful wedding- a perfect location for us (a 1000 acre farm, that is also an incredible restaurant, that is also a theatre? yes, please!), a perfect day, our bursting-with-love-and-support families. Jake was so darn handsome, and I felt pretty pretty too. But, you know what? I love being married more. More than the day, more than the photos, I LOVE that I have this man in my life- that our lives are one and we will be together "till death do us part." I'm am one blessed chica.

I'll tell our story soon. Its a good one. Not an always-easy one, but one full of laughing none-the-less. Here's the deal in a quick nutshell- less than a year into our relationship, Jake was diagnosed with MS. Our lives changed when he called me from the ambulance on the way to Boston- "they just looked at my MRI. they're taking me to Boston. they think I have MS." I was sitting at my desk in the office. Ugh, what a memory. I spent the next 5 days sleeping next to him in a hospital room. ALL THAT TO SAY- we have a big doctor's appointment/tests/infusion day on Monday. I'm feeling anxious about it all. Are you the praying type? I am. I need to pray about this...you are most welcome to join me.

And look at our wedding book too...thoughts?