part II.

I think when it came right down to the wedding, we were pretty laid back about the whole process (except for one semi-meltdown, on my part), but we had one specific request when it came to the reception: no dancing. Jeffrey and I aren't big lovers of dancing in public, so we knew it wasn't what we wanted on our wedding day. When my mom suggested that we get married at the shuffleboard club, we knew we'd found our solution. We had Chicago-style pizza from our favorite local pizza joint and Mexican Cokes (which is our beverage of choice).

My favorite part of our reception was that it was very us. It made things very relaxing and simple, which was ultimately what we wanted. We danced together once, to a song by John Prine that we absolutely love. That was just enough for us. During the last couple hours of the ceremony, our sweet dog Woody got dropped off and he got to take part in the festivities. The night ended fairly early (it was a Sunday), and we watched as all our friends and family pitched in to get the facility spic and span and they told us to leave. Talk about selfless! They had spent the entire morning preparing the space and were go-go-going until the very end of the evening. We have good, good people in our lives. I loved all the people who grabbed vases of flowers so that they wouldn't go to waste. It was such a perfect way for our wedding to live on over the next few days.

Our first dance song, if you'd like to listen while you look.
^ The receiving line made us feel so special.
^ Cutest kids I've ever seen.
^ Jeffrey handmade the sign.

^ Chicago-style pizza and salad.

^ Satchel's inspired salad + chatting.

^ Ceramics friends.

^ Serious discussions about turning into a green monster.

^ My sister gave a beautiful speech.

^ The best.

^ My dad gave the most perfect (unplanned!) speech.

^ My sister planned out + decorated our dessert table. It looked wonderful.
^ Jeffrey made the cake toppers. One of my favorite details.
^ My mom, my sister, and I made all the desserts at home. A true labor of love.
^ Cutting the cake.
^ He got me good!
^ Aftermath.
^ Time to shuffle.


^ He definitely ruled the courts. :)

^ Shufflin'.

^ Our first dance as husband and wife.
^ No dance is complete without Woody Guthrie himself!
^ Our happy little family.
^ When the evening started to get a bit more quiet.

- J&R

P.S. Today is our one month wedding anniversary!

* Ceremony pictures here.
* All photos by the incredible Kelly Kee of seed&sparrow.

part I.

Words about this string of moments escape me. I have no idea how to put it all down and express exactly what it is that captures the feelings, the breaths, the people. I mentioned yesterday that I had so many nerves bouncing around inside of me before I walked down the aisle. As the ceremony began there were so many things going on, but all I could focus on was the absolute peace and quiet that had overcome the space. A good thing to focus on, if I do say so myself.

Here's my processional song, if you'd like to listen while you look.

 ^ My sweet brother-in-law waiting to perform our ceremony.

 ^ Some special details from our ceremony.
 ^ Some of my favorite men just before the ceremony.
 ^ I think I might have fallen over if it weren't for my dad.
 ^ The first man to hold my heart.
^ Thank God Taylor told a few jokes.
^ Another special detail.
^ Praying together.
^Still in awe that I got to marry that guy!
^ Ring exchange.
^ Holding hands.
^ Nearly finished.
^ Finally!
^ The best hug.
^ Just married. :)
^My favorite brothers.

And our recessional, if you're interested.


The prayer from our ceremony (by Robert Louis Stevenson):

Lord, behold our family here assembled.
We thank you for this place in which we dwell,
for the love that unites us,
for the peace accorded us this day,
for the hope with which we expect tomorrow,
for the health, the work, the food, and the bright skies that make our lives delightful;
for our friends in all parts of the earth.
Amen

- J&R

* All photos by the incredible Kelly Kee of seed&sparrow.

wedding week.

We got our wedding photos in the mail on Thursday and my heart was full as I opened the package. In the midst of such terrible tragedies for our country, I take comfort in knowing that real love is out there. It is evidenced by the look on every guest's face at our wedding. True, pure love that I could never have asked for, but was given anyway. 

Meeting Jeffrey in the 5th grade is the biggest blessing of my life. I still can't believe that I am married to him forever. That also makes my heart full.

I don't have words for our wedding day. I was resistant to the whole thing. An event centered around us made me very uncomfortable leading up to the day, but as my dad took my arm to walk down our makeshift aisle, my heart felt a sense of peace so calm and clear. A sense of peace that I am sure I had not experienced until that very moment. The world was so still and people were there for us.

I remember my brother-in-law (who performed the ceremony) told us all to take a deep breath as I joined them on the courts (where the ceremony took place). As I exhaled, the world got so small I felt as if I could hold it. Everyone was there —the people who grew me into who I am — creating a network that made me feel so warm and safe. It was amazing. If love has a home, it was residing in the heartbeats of all the people who watched us commit ourselves to one another. I can't even begin to describe the feelings, the moments, the emotions I felt that day. Pure, true, dizzying love. Incredible.

Enjoy our photos just as much as I did. My favorite part is looking at the all the people that aren't Jeffrey and me. Their faces say everything. We are beyond blessed to have people in our lives that love us so much it is written all over their faces.

on the transition.

I have never been so simultaneously happy and scared in my entire life. Even writing that sentence feels strange. I am a planner through and through. It is a blessing and a curse. Spontaneity has never come very easily to me and the in-between stages of life have always left me a bit uneasy. This entire year has been a transition for me. Transitioning from fiancée to wife, student teacher to (almost) regular teacher, and moving from one city to a new one. If I'm being honest, that's the one that scares me the most. Doubts fill my mind faster than a sink filling with water. I can create a doubt for almost anything, and sometimes that hinders what could be.

Jeffrey and I have talked through the possibilities over and over and over. So many times that if they were tangible, they would be worn down to the last layer. And still, I'm unsettled. It's difficult for me to put my faith in the unknown because that really scares me. Prayer is the only thing that calms my mind and every time I feel a worry creeping in, I try my hardest to turn it into a prayer — a message of thanks for all the things I have that keep me anchored. In my heart, I know Jeffrey and I will be fine in whatever happens. We will thrive and grow and flourish in whatever setting we find ourselves in. Even though I know these things, I still falter. I guess that's part of the ebb and flow of it all.

I believe in the importance of working through whatever it is that needs to be worked through. I don't believe you can come out the other side until you walk right through it and confront it all, even if that means making hard choices and thinking through difficult thoughts. I am thankful that I don't walk that path alone.

- R

* photo taken in Portland, OR. :)