Wedding Day

Last summer much of our family's energy, emotions, and imagination were involved in The Wedding--the wedding of our precious Oldest Daughter and (hmm, I guess he needs a blog-name, at least for now) Music Man.

It was our family's first wedding: the first of our children to marry and the first grandchild on both sides of the family to walk down the aisle. And, the first wedding in Music Man's family. I think all our hearts were expectant and full of anticipation of the joy a marriage would bring to our families.

The wedding was to be held Idaho, though the bride-to-be lived in Chicago, the groom-to-be, in Denver and then Chicago, and the rest of us (sans the college sons) lived in Jordan.  We arrived in Idaho five weeks before the wedding, and Oldest Daughter joined us two plus weeks before. Thanks to the internet, family, and friends, all was ready for the much anticipated wedding day.

The bride with her youngest sister-in-law and her youngest cousin

Tayta was an awesome maid-of-honor, anticipating every need and doing what she could to meet it.

I love this photo and all of God's goodness to me that it represents. It is framed and on my desk so that I can look at it as I pray for these dear ones daily.

We are family

We were beginning to wilt in the 95 degree heat, but we tried to keep smiling.

A posed picture, yes, but I think this was a case of the photographer helping us to get in touch with our true feelings.

My wonderful family. I love them. I can't remember the last time we were photographed together. When I was in high school?? My sister designed Oldest Daughter's bridal bouquet.

My dear father-in-law officiated the wedding

Dear Husband's family--we were so happy to have them all with us! They came from Arizona, Montana, Colorado, and Illinois.

Active son as the marvelous Master of Ceremonies

First Dance

(iPhone picture by Maida)

Oh, and how we danced! The happy dance and many more. Turns out Music Man was the president of a break-dancing club in high school and all his friends were fantastic dancers. We also did some Arab-style dances--mostly just the arm moves. 

This was an impromptu picture taken by our photographer/friend's daughter just after the bride and groom departed. I love the people in this photo--no family, all friends, though friends-like-family-friends. Represented here are high-school locker partners, college roommates, weddings (officiating and participating in), raising children together (though often across the continents), living together, three families who have lived most of their adult lives overseas, bible-study, lots of prayer, lots of joy, and a few tears.

Just this week a thoughtful friend whom I hadn't seen in months asked me to share my favorite memory of Oldest's Daughter's wedding day. I could answer without hesitation: Being surrounded by the love and rejoicing of our dear family and friends as we celebrated together the marriage of our daughter and new son-in-law. Included in that family now is Music Man's family. Our tribes have united in love and a hope for our daughter and her husband's future together. I thought of the Grinch that day--yes the Grinch!--as I felt my heart grow three sizes.

Photographs by Valerie MacMahon of Pictoria