BTW Wedding

I am so sad the wedding is over...I wish it could be everyday. I would go through all the headache and hassle all over again to have a perfect day. And it was a perfect day. Don't get me wrong plenty of bad things happened but it couldn't have been worse than anything we had already dealt with.
The week after we got the new our venue closed, my parents and I spent time at new venues on top of working full time. We found one that would work perfectly and good thing it did. So the next two weeks were spent finishing up touches and enjoying family and friends.
The Wednesday before the wedding Brandon came home....two and a half months is far too long especially during a 4 month engagement. It was nice to spend some time with him before all the family got in town. Thursday and Friday everyone started arriving and I was one happy girl. I absolutely love having my family around and it was so great to see them again. It is so wonderful to see so many people so dear to me have marriages that have lasted far longer than most. It is a sweet reminder of the beauty of marriage and two people making it work because they love each other.
Thursday was the bachelor party and I spent the evening with family and friends. There was an incident with a groomsman and a car accident, but everyone was safe, which was such a relief. (just a few bumps and bruises). My great aunt was also in a car accident the Tuesday before and was so dead set on making it to the wedding regardless of her being over three quarters of a century old.
Friday was the rehearsal and just time to spend with everyone. I went to the movies with friends and my brother while Brandon recovered. Then we met and unloaded the cars and got everyone herded to get this show on the road. We lost some of the little ones before dinner, but had a great time hanging out with our families and some of our closest friends. That night the boys hit the town again and the girls hung out eating donuts and drinking champagne (I know it is a great combinations)
Saturday finally came!! The BIG day, the one I had been waiting for, spent the last few months agonizing over. Oh man was I excited. It was perfect and everything I could have ever hoped for. We woke up and went to brunch at my parents house. My mom and her friends did a fantastic job. It was beautiful and the food was great. The girls and I set off to get our makeup done, while my mom and her wonderful friends went to set up. We arrived at the hotel and I went to sneak a peek at the venue...boy was it looking great and what a wonderful feeling to see all my hard work come into play.
Getting ready took FOREVER, I was so ready to see Brandon. I was so excited to see him in his blues, even though I have seen him in them before. This time was different and I couldn't wait. Everyone said I was quite calm, which was reassuring, but I knew in that moment unless the building was on fire then we were good. I got a phone call that one of the groomsman bought the wrong color suit and I just laughed. Just my luck, but I didn't care. We had a few other minor bumps, but we were off. It was the perfect day and in some ways I wish it could be everyday.

A sneak peek of some of my favorites....

I am pretty sure I asked how I was supposed to eat four pieces of cake if I couldn't breathe. (yes I have great priorities)

Boys getting ready

B looking at his groom's cake. (so much for the surprise)

I don't know why I love this pictures so much, but it absolutely melts my heart. 

Confetti!!!!! 

My lovely parents

B's mom...I love their expressions

Now the party begins...I have to say it looks just as fun as it was!!

AHHHH!!!!!!

Between the wedding and getting ready to move life has been fairly stressful. So far I think I have been handling it fairly well.  The only person who really gets to hear my being upset is the one who chooses to be with me and love me unconditionally. There have been quite a few people that have told me how calm I have been. I have to say it can be incredibly stressful at times because a lot of the work has been on me. Most of the time I am ok with that because I can make the decisions I want and be creative in my own way. Now it is just hoping the wedding turns out.
I am trying not to be bothered by the dumb stress of some people, but at times it gets difficult it tune it out. I want people to support and love us. I don't need to be lectured, pestered, threatened or have hissy fits thrown. Let's all grow up and move on. I tell people things on a need to know basis. If I don't tell you it is because you don't need to know. I don't need more stress in my life.

Bittersweet Emotions

After spending the last two days packing and getting ready for the move, I am just exhausted. There are so many unanswered questions and in true military fashion it is a hurry up and wait game. Through all of this (and at the wedding) there is one person I wish more than anything I could talk to. My grandma was an army wife who moved overseas multiple times and with infants. I know she would understand better than most what I am going through. It has been harder lately to not have her here, even though it has been three and a half years since she left us. I know she's looking down on me thinking I am silly...I am not the first to do this and certainly not the last.
She was the best grandma I could have ever asked for. She had beauty, grace, integrity. She was patient, kind, quick to listen (and genuinely listen) and silly as all get out. She was also strict, firm in her beliefs, compassionate. I could go on forever, she is the person you hear about and can't fathom how it is all true. I love being around her family and hearing the many wonderful things about her and knowing she was always that person. I am so incredibly blessed to have such wonderful aunts, who are just as strong as she was.  I miss her dearly, but I know she is where is was meant to be.

My beautiful grandma (the only picture I have of her)

Her wonderful sisters and my aunt and mom (so blessed to call these women family)