Wedding Week Recap - Travel Day to Sea World

Where to start about our travel day? It really started the day before, as we finished packing and last minute crafts for the wedding. On about one hour of sleep, we were up and waiting for the our shuttle to the airport.

And that's where the hiccups began. But what is a big trip like this without a couple of hiccups?

When the shuttle arrived, we were informed that we'd booked the wrong day. We were actually on the list for the day before, and were a "no show". This shuttle was full, so we had to wait for the next one.

An hour of napping in the car at 2am later, and we made it aboard the next shuttle. They were kind enough to let us ride without having to pay again. We arrived at the airport just in time to check our bags and make our flight. We had decided to buy a few of the bigger things while in California - like Sean's suit for the wedding, the frame for our signature frame/guestbook, and a few other odds and ends. My mom was keeping my dress safe and sound in CA.

I have to say Virgin is my new favorite airline. At first, I was reluctant. After all, what does a producing company know about flying? While I'm sure their artists are very familiar with some high flying that doesn't involve airplanes, I doubted their ability to run an awesome airline. But in this case, the price was right, so I booked. I used Expedia to book, but went through Ebates, so I got Expedia reward points, and a few bucks back from Ebates on top of the already discounted price. Not bad. I figured I could suffer through a few hours on even a bad plane for the right price.

In this case, there was nothing "bad" about the plane!  Their seats were comfortable and came complete w/ a great free mix of music and movies to help pass the time. And they treat military REALLY well - like 10 bags free checked well!
However, they did manage to misplace one of our bags. It just happened to be our 1 bag that had our wedding goodies safely tucked away too (including fans for the bridesmaids, my bridal fan, my rehearsal outfit, the girls' wraps, our love letter box, and the flower girl's Mickey). After filing a report, Virgin went looking for it. While we were picked up by my dad and whisked off to lunch at Point Loma Seafood.  It was a great quick stop before we headed into my hometown for the night.

I jumped into a Zumba class before joining my parents for dinner at the house, just the 4 of us. It was really nice to relax and get to know each other. There was some mix up in getting our bag back to us. We knew they found it. At first, they called saying they'd drop it off between 6pm and 8pm. Perfect for us to head to bed early. Then it was by 10pm... after that, people stopped answering the phone as I left messages every hour asking for a status update. Around 2am, we gave up waiting and went to bed. The next day, they called back, apologized and said they'd drop off the bag between 9am and 11am. It arrived (safe and sound) at 10:45am. Whew! At least we got it - and everything was in one peice, but I'll be writing them a letter to let them know that this part of our experience was FAR less than pleasurable.

After that, we used our military free day and headed into Sea World!

A Week Worth Celebrating

 In case you were wondering what My Sailor does, he's an MT on one of these.

Geeks have the coolest jobs.

Of course, I'm sure it's decidedly less cool when it's finally beautiful here in Washington, and he's stuck 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. Today is one of those days. My Sailor is standing a 24 hour+ shift (called a Duty Day, which he does several times/week, regardless of weekends). This morning he left around 5:30 am and I probably won't see or hear from him until around 5-6pm tomorrow night. (See what I mean by 24+ hr shift?)

 While he's out there keeping us safe, I get some of my own down time. Sure, I miss him, but it's also nice to enjoy some down time flying solo as well. See- I learned a long time ago that being alone doesn't have to be this scary thing. In a world with instant connections (facebook, texting, etc) we're rarely really ever "alone" with our thoughts. It's almost as if we've lost something in that need to express ourselves or connect instantly. Maybe it's just the philospher in me, but I've found that I do some of my greatest growth when I'm alone. After all, the difference between "being alone" and 'flying solo' is just perspective.

I choose to fly.

Laughing w/ My Sailor and My Dad

That said, I'm happy to report that the amazing weekend has surely bled over into a week that deserves celebrating.

So here's the news!
My Brother bought a house! That's right, we're BOTH homeowners now! Who would have thought we'd become adults?! Certainly not me. Then again, that's a testament to our parents. Like I've said before, my brother and I (both adopted from different bio families) certainly won the parent lottery. We wouldn't be who or what we are today w/o them.

More good news - My Dad is doing amazing. His recent tests look unheard-of amazing, which fills my hear to overflowing every time I think about it. I mean, we all know our parents won't live forever. Both of my parents are now orphans themselves as their parents have all passed away. But I'm glad we're not staring down the barrel of hospice just yet. In fact, we're doing the opposite! His tumor appears to be dying a little, so there is a chance that, a few more rounds of this aggressive Chemo,  some radiation, and he might actually be a canidate to have it removed! We're far from out of the woods yet, but it's such a huge reliefe on my heart to know that he's doing well. Especially when I can't be there to see it all first hand. Looks like Dad will not only get to walk me down the aisle in about TWO WEEKS - but he'll be able to enjoy our visit with them in California. I'm a firm believer in the power of Prayers and Postive thoughts - so please keep them coming. At the moment, I couldn't feel more blessed or be more grateful.

Click here to find out about the race!

Another victory - I did 1/2 an hour of Insanity this week! I know that doesn't sound like much, but I really prefer Zumba. I'm the first person in our house to even attempt it. I won't lie - I'm pretty sore, and I'm not one for work out videos very much anymore. I get bored really easily, but it's a good way for me to fight that "I Can't" Stinkin' Thinkin' that infests my brain when I get bored working out. It's a mental excersize I'll NEED as I face the Run For Your Lives 5K on August 4th! I can smell it's stinky Zombie breath breathing down my neck from here! We're registered to run as "Survivors" through the course, and AFTER we do that, we'll be decked out as Zombies and we'll be chasing down other "Survivors" as Zombies! 

While I'm not seeing much motion on the scale (I seem to be playing w/ the same 3 lbs of late), I am seeing changes in more valuable areas - like how I feel emotionally and physically, how I look, and my attitude is far more confident than when I made excuses for not working out.

Now - to plan an active honeymoon!

Well, we've got a good start! Our first day in CA is going to include Snorkeling in La Jolla w/ the Leopard Sharks! I really want to go Kayaking in the Sea Caves as well that day, but our honeymoon registry has proven to be a woeful failure, so I can't count on gift money to add in excursions. I'm sure we'll do lots of walking around Disneyland pre-wedding as well, but I plan to check out the hotel's work out room as well - just to be on the safe side. No one said celebrating had to lead to blimpiness!

Tonight I'm celebrating a hard day of work, followed by Zumba, by attending a girl's night! Board games, good company, and a little alcohol. Very little in my case. I have a gown 2 weeks away! I'm sure booze will taste a LOT better in that gown than now anyway! Oh wait... we're not having booze at our wedding celebration.... oh well!

And another Date Bites the Dust!

Hi there readers!
  Many of you may already know this through other media, but I'm trying to get the word out. Last night we learned that the October 18th, 2012 wedding date is going to have to be postponed. Yes, again. Just like last year, My Sailor will be off Finding Nemo during October of this year, making it impossible to hold the ceremony.
  "So, when's the new date?"
We don't know. And we won't until probably Jan of 2013.  We can't afford to move it up (and he can't get any more leave approved this year anyway), so it'll most likely be next spring.
  How do I feel about all this?
 To say I'm disappointed is as true as it can be. And frustrated, as this is the 3rd date change, each of them pushing it into another calendar year.
  I'm painting it with a good brush because now we can focus more on our next move. Literally. We're aiming to move into a 3 bedroom (or a 2 bedroom with a den) in June. Now, we'll be able to focus on house hunting, deciding if we should rent or buy (mortgages are cheaper than renting anything over 2 bedrooms) and such.
  So there's the latest and greatest. I'll be posting to the Wellness Blog tonight all about Financial Wellness! Stay tuned! You might find some tips and tricks (like ebates and swag bucks) that you didn't know about! :)

Of Guest Lists, Plays, and Other Good Things....

The guest list. Sigh...

The invention of Facebook has certainly changed the way we address wedding invitations. Since EVERYONE knows about it, EVERYONE expects an invitation. Truth be told, we're keeping things fairly small (around 50 people). Which means he gets to invite 25 and I get to invite 25. In that 25 are immediate family, wedding party members (of course), and the officiant. So we plan on doing this in 2 waves. Family and wedding party gets the first wave of invitations, and friends will get the 2nd wave. And invitations will be going out this spring and summer to give people plenty of time to RSVP for the fall wedding. While I wish we could throw a HUGE party and invite EVERYONE we love, we are keeping our budget in mind first. I want to make sure we're not in debt for years for ONE DAY. A great day, mind you, but it is ONE DAY. I can't make peace with taking out a loan for 1 day, though that seems to be the norm to finance weddings these days. We're keeping it UNDER $5k. The average wedding costs $25k today. So while our story is anything BUT average, our wedding will be financially well below the "average". And I'm sure it'll turn out just right. The people who are ment to be there will be there. Those that are ment to support us from afar will be there in spirit as well.

On to less stressful topics!

Last night, I got the chance to see a local production of a hysterical British farce, "Black Comedy". No, the word "black" is NOT a reference to race. It's a reference to the dark. Most of the hour and 20 minute show takes place in the dark.  By now, you're probably asking how that works. Well, the first 5 minutes or so of the play take place on a black stage. You hear the characters talking and walking around. See, for our characters, when the stage is black, that is actually when it's "light" in the room. When the fuse (which only an electrician can change) blows, the entire stage lights up. However the characters are in the "dark". Literally. The actors play it as if the room is completely dark, adding to the hilarity. I highly recommend this wonderful show if it's ever playing near you. British farces have a special place in my heart, since that's how I started in theater. I've done several, but I'm sorry I missed out on the chance to audition for this one. However, at Bremerton Community Theater, the cast is right on, the direction is great, and everything (aside from a few slipping accents here and there) was professional grade. You'll bloody enjoy the break from your dreary day-to-day.  Click here to help them fill seats with your laughter!


As for the other things -
 I cleaned the house, worked over 1/2 a day shift, and am about to enjoy Dream House on Vudu. The sun was out today (yeah!), I got cars reserved for our trip in 3 1/2 weeks, AND My Sailor has tomorrow off.

All good things.

Good night!

Need thoughts? I think not.

So I was working on this "deep thought" blog about the evolution of relationships. After all, a recent relocation is part of my journey (moved from Southern California to Western Washington ), and relationships have changed dramatically during that time. I wasn't worried about keeping in touch with folks, or meeting new people. I'm good at going out and meeting people now (a skill I continue to hone, which says a lot for this natural hermit), and already know I'm pretty great about keeping in touch with long distance folks. But I never expected to go home and find that people who were like family to me now no longer have a moment to spare for a hug and a hi. It's healthy for relationships to ebb and flow and evolve (or fade away) over time. And it's natural that family should come first. It's just disappointing that I probably won't be home again until 2013 after this trip, or later, and I'll miss those hugs and hi's. Facebook just isn't the same as face time. I guess I didn't anticipate how tough it would be seeing people I've come to care for over the holidays. I 'assumed' (and we all know what THAT word means) that when I was in town, it would be simple to hook up with folks.

And I'm not singling out my California family of friends. Even up here it's been challenging. People from My Sailor's regular boat are working crazy schedules, so naturally, their families need time together (alone) during the holidays to bond. They don't think to call up the girl (who they have barely met) and say, "Hey, want to grab some lunch?" Honestly, if I were in there position, I wouldn't really think about it either. Time with family is number one. Just like I'm sure I'll "disappear" for a while when My Sailor gets home.

But that's actually NOT the blog I wanted to write. So before this starts to sound like an invitation to a pity party, I wanted to blog about my GOOD day, that's about to end shortly. Not the good part, but that's when I go to bed.

I got a bunch of overdue cleaning done, the kitchen is spotless (wahoo!) except for the floors, which will happen tomorrow. I feel like I'm FINALLY ready to start actually drawing up the tree soon. I want to make time to do it before I leave on Thursday.

I also decided to take my lazy, lonely arse up to PrettyBre's apartment-warming party! She's house-sat for me once now, and will be doing it again while I'm in California for Christmas. I got to meet her boyfriend, Bre's E, and a few new folks that were very cool. (Remember what I said about being better about making new friends? Fudge and wine always helps.)

I also found out that holiday bonuses are on the way from work! Whew! I never expect or plan for a bonus, but every little bit helps, especially since...

WE SET A WEDDING DATE!  FINALLY! I have a deposit down on the photographer, the DJ, and (as soon as they reply to my email) the venue! So time and date are in place now! At least... until the Navy tells us otherwise.

I can't wait for my Disneyland time and a BREAK from work. Yes, I know I do it to myself. I work so much to keep myself busy, so that the time flies - but I could sure use a vacation from the stress of working, waiting, and goal reaching.

So Christmas in California? Bring it on.


  But that's not the blog I wanted to

Tomorrow's Excursion and Being a Tourist

Today I found out that a co-worker who LOVES to travel is coming up to visit in 2 weeks for a weekend. I'm pretty excited about that! It'll give me someone to be a local tourist with for a couple days. I don't have an itinerary planned yet, but I'm working on it. If the weather holds, the Space Needle, Pike's Market... and maybe another tour? But there might need to be a stop in Poulsbo for some delicious Norwegian pastries! Gotta do the walking to walk them off though! I'm sure we will.

Tomorrow I have an appointment with Alfred Angelo's local store. I use the word "local" loosely as it's about 45 minutes away - one way. But I'm looking forward to it. The plan of attack - try on my dress. Well, not "my dress", but the same style in the size I ordered it. It's really just to check my progress since I've been losing weight. I'm also going to look at accessories and to check out some new bridesmaids dresses. No one has ordered their dress yet since it's so far out, so if I can find a cheaper option that I like, I'd like to offer the girls some options.
Photos to come later!
But for now, it's time for bed!

When the Stress isn't worth it.

I'm starting this blog off with a photo of a fantastic memory because tonight, I found a smile that I struggled to find a bit today.

I'll admit it. Few things scare the crap out of me like BIG PURCHASES. Lately, we've been discussing a LOT of them, so I've been feeling kinda overwhelmed. From buying/building/renovating a house, to the wedding, I've been trying to keep my cool, while secretly there is a whirlwind of "OMG, How are we going to pay for this??!" buzzing through my brain. Today, though, it feels like a weight has been lifted as we got some news from Disney.

Basically it boils down to this: If we want our ceremony in the Animal kingdom, we'll have to kick in about $4k more and cut the guest list down to 35 people.

While disappointing, this is a very clear reality check for me. It boiled down to a simple question: Which would I rather have? A chance to celebrate with my family and friends and have it paid off before we do it? Or a chance to celebrate with a handful of people in a unique venue and pay it off for a few years afterwards?

Even for a Disney Freak like me, this wasn't a choice. I'd rather be able to invite more people. When I proposed it to My Sailor, he agreed. No Animal Kingdom for us. So while we're a bit disappointed (again), it's actually freeing in a lot of ways!  The decision on the dresses for the ladies has been made, and we still have the quote (which includes 65 people in a wedding AND Reception AND Illuminations Dessert Party for a little more than Disney would have charged us for the Wedding alone) from Shades of Green, so it's looking like we'll be heading back to our original plans for a morning Shades of Green wedding w/ a Brunch reception.

Also, by going with Shades of Green, I can take my bridesmaids up on their offers to help out with flowers, center pieces, and things before hand! It'll save money, time, but most of all help us all get closer to each other as we all pitch in for this event.

And ya know what? That sounds awesome. I do believe I'm starting to get a healthier perspective on this whole thing.

I used to feel bad about taking family and friends up on their offers to help. After all, they are all having to travel for our big day. But I don't anymore. I realize that helping gives us a chance to bond and gives everyone a chance to be a tangible part of a remarkable occasion. We're still getting our invitations done by a local artist, and we're probably going to have the cake topper made for us as well. Talk about a customized event!

I also realized something I lose sight of. Wedding planning should be FUN! If it stops being fun, take a step back and double check that your priorities are in the right place - rather than focused completely on one day. Yes, it's an important day, but it really is just one day.

Sure, we want to show everyone a good time, but the truth is, WE ARE IN DISNEY WORLD WITH OUR CLOSEST LOVED ONES! OF COURSE WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A GOOD TIME! I'm going to Disney World with my family, My Sailor's family, and our closest friends. And taking a smart start to our future seems so much better than a debt filled one.


Moral of the Story: Sometimes stress is an indicator that a change of plan is called for.

  I actually can't wait for our Shades of Green day. After all - we're already getting the best part of this deal.

A little Great news while I work on more fun posts...

This past week or so, I've been waiting on the results of a submission I did to The Disney Wedding Blog. I've been following Carly's wedding blog since I stumbled upon it a couple years ago. Never thinking a Disney Wedding was within my grasp, I daydreamed and left comments, and just enjoyed the romantic snippets of special in-park parties.

Now, here I am, planning a wedding in Disney's most exotic location - Disney's Animal Kingdom! I still have to pinch myself when I think of our families gathered at one of my FAVORITE Disney parks, watching us tie the knot with the Tree of Life lit up in the background... (sigh) Does anyone else have goosebumps? I sure do!

ANYWAY....
 Carly needed help, so when she put out the call, I was all about diving in! Out of over 150 applicants, Carly chose me to be a Disney Wedding Mentor! I'll be able to answer questions about some of the more removed Disney World Wedding locations for other brides - and I can't wait!

Why is it that my most rewarding jobs don't pay? (Don't worry Carly, or Celebrations Press - I'm not complaining!)

Oh yeah - and this weekend, I'm ALL ABOUT writing a new article for Celebrations Press! Hm...Maybe I need a Little Mermaid fix.... ;)

Bride going Natural

Only after midnight on a night when I should totally already be in bed asleep would I be posting a blog about make up.

If you know me at all, you know that perfection in fashion is not my thing. Sure, I like to look "put together" when I go out, but I'm not the type that has to  wear make up all the time, or the type that has a closet full of clothes and "nothing to wear". As a testament to that, My Sailor and I share closet space, and I take up about the same amount of room he does, and the closet doesn't even take up an entire wall. My wardrobe consists mostly of jeans and t shirts or sweaters, and a few nice tops scattered in.

That said, I'm not a complete dunce. I'm good at doing every day make up, and I can do theatrical and special occasion make up from time to time, but wedding make up? That makes me a doubt my skills just about completely. It's not THAT different, except it's going to be photographed A LOT so if the light isn't reflecting right or things aren't bending appropriately, you will notice.

I know, you're probably thinking "So hire someone". But this is a corner I think I can cut without any ill effects. I mean, why pay someone $200 to come and do hair and make up when I can do that myself? $200 is like 2 days of fine dining for us on our much deserved honeymoon! $200 is a Wild Africa Trek and then some!  Besides, I figure since I'm going for a natural look, I can figure out how to do this on my own - and it'll give me something to do other than sit there and direct a complete stranger on what I want done with my appearance on my wedding day.

So I found this great video on The Disney Wedding Blog (if you love Disney and romance, check this blog out - LOVE some of the earlier entries, but we're featured in a guest post too!).

How cool is that? That said, I don't really care for the eyes she's done... BUT I was given another great suggestion by a friend on Facebook:
"This is what I did for our wedding. Just go into one of those make up stores (I did bare minerals) and get a "make over" tell them it's for your wedding and have them show you what they are doing. Then just buy something or everything if you want and just do your makeup yourself! I had someone put my eyelashes on, but the rest I just did myself. Once you have your makeup and they show you how to do it, just practice until you get it the way you want it."
Why didn't I think of that?! Oh yeah, because I've never actually HAD a make over! Yes, I've survived 31+ years w/o a make over. I've had my make up done by a pro before, but most of my experiences have been for stage or with plenty of practice runs.


And with that craziness, I bid you goodnight! er... Morning!

Things I'm excited about tonight!

Sharing with you the Pacific Northwest Highland games! We went on Saturday, so click here. to check it out!  


Working out! I'm finally not sick anymore (or at least practically recovered) and I can't wait to work out and actually kick my butt a bit. We just picked up Dance Dance Revolution and I'm NOT good enough at it to get a good work out out of it, but it's a great way to work on my coordination. Just by increasing my work outs I'm seeing some changes in my legs that I'm very happy with, as well as some changes in my overall shape.

GAME NIGHT tonight! We're breaking in Pirate's Life! It's a version of the Life board game, but it's based on Pirates of the Caribbean (the attraction, not the film series). It's a Disney Theme Park Exclusive game that I found on Ebay for a STEAL! (Get it? Pirates? Steal? I know... I'm not very funny, but I do try!) We're going to fold laundry and get things cleaned up a bit here and then relax to some awesome games and delicious wine. I can't wait!

Checking it out from the side w/ side ponytail (2)

 

Added to a French Braid (1)

Wedding decisions made! Okay, so I've had my hand-made hair clip I found on Etsy.com kicking around here for a while, my mom has my gown safely stored at her house, and we have a venue and date range picked out, I feel like I can make some decisions now! YEAH!!!!! I decided on a bridesmaids gown for my ladies and shared it with them today, and I'm also thinking about all those other style things that are more personal decisions than anything else. For example, yesterday I was figuring out how to make the fan I'll be carrying instead of flowers. I've been keeping my eyes peeled for lanterns for my girls to carry (instead of flowers, since it'll be an evening ceremony - after all, flowers die! These they can keep!). AND I've been toying with my hair. Though I'm in dire need of a haircut, here were some ideas I played with. I think the French braid one is my favorite so far. LOVE the way it looks from behind - but then again, I like the way the way #2 looks too. What do ya'll think? My dress is ivory with a band of Clover (per Alfred Angelo) on the neckline (and other places). Weigh in! 

Side ponytail (3)

Just holding one side back (4)

The Yosemite road trip

About a week ago, I left Port Orchard to embark on a drive to Yosemite. It was a long drive. Roughly 40 hours round trip, done over about 3 days.

But I'm so glad I braved the road for it, for so many reasons:

1) First of all Green Guy got married! Now, I've been blessed to have some amazing men in my life - ranging from my family members to friends who have become my family.  Until that day, I wasn't fully aware how much I consider Green Guy like a brother. I am speechlessly honored to be a part of several major events in his life. His wife is stunningly beautiful inside and out. There was a nearly-tangible connection between them and I've never seen Green Guy so happy. In his happiness, he remains one of the most inspirational people in my life. Congrats Green Team! I'll be writing more about this one later, once I have more photos to post.

2)YOSEMITE! I can see why they love this place so much. To say it's "amazing" or "beautiful" would be doing it a disservice. It's the kind of place that reminds me why I love living a more rural. Driving to Glacier Point on Friday brought tears to my eyes. It felt like nature at it's best. I can't wait to go back with My Sailor when we have time so we can really go hike and explore. Even the 10 feet drifts of snow on the way didn't dampen my spirits.






3) I stayed healthy! Usually, a road trip would mean a tour of drive-thrus and french fries. Aside from having to deal with diet soda to help with the caffine necessary, I filled my cooler with veggies, fruits, protein bars, and

But the best part of the entire trip was the feeling of community I felt. Green Guy's family and Green Girl's friends truly adopted me into the group. It made me realize that I do enjoy living in the mountains, but I miss that sense of community that I took for granted while living around my family.  I wish I had brought my camera so I'd have more pictures, but I'm sure I can find photos through Facebook and the other guests.

Anyway, I was VERY happy to get home on Sunday afternoon too. My Sailor made sure I came home to a happy dog, a clean apartment, a potted orchid (my favorite), and a salmon dinner! Sometimes you don't realize how much you miss someone until you're parted for a while. If this is any sign of things to come, homecoming from his deployments will be wonderful.

HELP ME WIN MY DRESS!

I've entered a contest to win $1000 at Light In The Box.
We could really use the help as the ENTIRE wedding party has to travel, and My Sailor and I can only pay for so much!

How to help:
(You must have a facebook account)
"Like" Light in the Box's page
Find the photo of My Sailor and I in their photo album. Add a comment!  I've even included a handy link to our photo below!

YOU CAN HELP! First round of competition ends next week!

 Please go to this link (facebook membership needed) and comment on my comment about My Sailor and I!
 THANK YOU!

Congradulations to a Glass

This weekend, another pal from high school got married.

I have to admit, she has one of the most creatively themed weddings I've ever seen.
It was a travel theme - which fits the voice-over artist very well.
The two ladies below I knew in high school, and, as of this year, neither of them have the same last name anymore. In a few months, they'll be celebrating their first very married Christmas.

It's always bittersweet to see people move away. Not that the former Miss Glass (the bride) and I were exceptionally close, but it's a reminder of the constant changes we go through in life. While some would argue marriage is "just a peice of paper", I believe otherwise. It's a big change. It won't "fix" a troubled relationship. It's security comes from the amount of trust and commitment between the couple - to the point where they wish to honor one another by saying, in front of witnesses (family and close friends), "I choose this person to share my one and only life with."

Marriage, in my eyes, is one of the last remnants of honor two people can give each other in our society. In a marriage, it's a constant act of forgiveness, commitment, devotion, and the decision to grow together when the world would rather tear you apart.

In brief - Marriage rocks.

How can a divorcee like me feel this way about marriage?

Yes, I'm divorced, and it's given me a different insight now that I didn't have before. But I refuse to believe because the vows of my youth were broken, that marriage is a "bad", "negative", or difficult thing.

I know what it's like to have plenty, and I know what it's like to be struggling.

And I know that everything is easier when you aren't in it alone.

Would I get married again?

I hope to! Granted, I may never be a tradition domestic goddess. I know my version of "settling down" more mimics the wedding theme above than any dreams of 2.5 kids and a white picket fence. I believe life is an adventure - and your family are those you choose to accompany you on yours, and them on theirs.

So to these newlyweds, I won't say "good luck", because "luck" has nothing to do with it.

I will say - "May your mountains be tall - and the view be worth the climb.""

Weddings - a singular perspective

Most little girls dream about their wedding. I rarely had any ideas about mine. Oh I loved formal dresses and fairy tales, but I didn't have many designs for my "perfect wedding" or my "perfect husband" as a child. I was much too busy singing, writing poetry, playing sports - ya know, living life. I wasn't too caught up in being an adult.

But like any other girl, I will admit that I am a stone cold romantic in just about every sense of the term. Hopelessly, incurably romantic. That's me (and trust me - I TRIED to cure myself of it many times). I'm a sucker for thoughtful and creative gestures. I always dreamed about finding that "one" - the love of my life. Someone who would feel I was the love of his life with equal passion, fervor, and desire to show it. As some have said, "Love is friendship that caught fire."

From my adult perspective, I find I look for that in the every day more and more. And I find it at weddings...

Not all weddings, but those weddings...

If you've never been to a wedding solo, then you can't know what I mean. That's not to be offended to anyone who is married, but when married people attend weddings, they usually think of their own. Since I've been unmarried for some time now, I've attended several weddings. I no longer think of my own. In fact, I don't think of myself at all... I think of the groom.

I can't say I'm one of those "ideal" wedding guests. I don't eat much. I don't over drink. I generally avoid dancing as a rule, and I have yet to DIVE for a bouqet despite the fact that they've been throw pretty much been hurled right at me twice. I won't go so far as to say that these women are trying to tell me something...

But I digress... those weddings...

You can always tell which "those" weddings are... because you look at the groom. Even if I've never met him before, I like to watch him. Not during the ceremony, especially. (And most certainly not because I'm scoping him out.) I like to watch him when his new wife is away from him at the reception. While she's out, giggling with friends and being social, or posing away from him for some photos, and he's watching his bride - that look says it all.

It's usually not subtle. It can't be. If it were subtle, I would wonder if the groom's pride or fear would, at some point, overcome his love. But that kind of love and devotion like that knows no pride and sees no reason to hide - on that day of all days. The observant viewer need not know the groom well see it. It's a look in his eyes that he is now the happiest man on the planet. Most brides are I've seen are usually bubbly and overjoyed (or over compensating for nerves rather well). Grooms tend to be more reserved. But that new-found security, ripened joy, intoxicating love, and passionate devotion can not be hidden.

It can be a simple backyard ceremony, or a more elaborate, formal affair. The setting doesn't matter. What matters, everything that matters, is right there, in his eyes.

What brought this blog on?
Well, this Saturday I was honored to be the guest at one of those weddings. Yes, I always consider myself honored to be invited into the presence of that kind of love.

So here is a photographic tribute to Electric Smile and Wonder Tanner.
May your life be filled with moments such as like these.




The new Tanner Family


Father daughter dance


Reception setting (the ceremony was held in a local Mormon Temple)



Cake...made by the bride's grandmother (and it tasted AMAZING - as a side note)


Cake topper close up (it was made of clay, so the bride and groom can keep it - what a great mantle peice)


A couple of guests having fun -


Thank you to anyone who's ever invited me to their wedding. In the end, at least to this guest, it's not about the venue, the food, the chair covers, the decorations, or the dj. The things I will alway remember can't be reserved with a credit card. They can only be birthed with time, love, tenderness, patience, understanding, acceptance, respect, and hope.