Five days, roughly fifteen hundred miles, and two weddings
later…here I am.
From touring abandoned Catholic schools to drinking coffee
floats, there was no lack of adventure this weekend. And although playing with
a baby hedgehog in an old nunnery wasn’t originally on my to-do list, I
wouldn’t have had it any other way.
Colorado was beautiful, and even though I still don’t want
to live there (sorry, guys), I never realized how much I missed falling asleep
to the gentle music of crickets. I was even able to capture some great urban
wildlife photos in the little foothills town.We gathered with friends from far away for a wedding that took place in a gorgeous old abbey. The chapel combined ’70s style wooden pews and wall paint with the ageless and intricate décor of traditional Catholicism. The couple had been dating since high school, and everything about their wedding matched their collective personality. The bride’s beautiful lacy gown matched well with her bouquet, full of trinkets that held sentimental value. They read their custom-written vows from a little leather-bound book and bantered joyfully back and forth while cutting the cake. It was incredible to see the culmination of the joy—all of their time waiting and preparing—in that moment. After the groomsmen decorated their car, we saw them off with many photos and laughs. Josh, we’re incredibly thrilled for you, and we pray with you as you kick-start your life together!
The remainder of the time in Colorado we spent exploring the
countryside, with our own Top Gear–esque drive through a mountainous state park.
In the morning, we set out for home, stopping briefly at another gorgeous park
before speeding off to the flatlands of Kansas and Oklahoma. We got home late,
and the next day was work, and afterward was wedding number two.
Again we gathered, with many of the same friends, this time
in Arkansas. Steve and Gabby had a very traditional, beautiful ceremony,
centered on the couple’s greatest passion: music. We sang hymns and took
communion together to remember Jesus’s sacrifice after they took their wedding
vows. They danced with impeccable rhythm at the outdoor reception, and all three
groomsmen gave speeches. We even were joined in our party by several cats who
lived on the property. There was dancing and sparkling grape juice, and weather
was gorgeous until a cool rain moved in at the end. After their honeymoon, we
will be allowed the privilege of doing life with bride and groom for a little
longer as our husbands finish school. Congratulations to you both!
This weekend illustrated the simple truth that this stage of
life is much more than the sum of its parts. It is a time for meaningful
memories to be made, the strengthening of friendships and the beginning of
families. It’s a time to grow in faith and the knowledge of God’s love, and a
time to determine the path and lifestyle that we will walk in for the rest of
our time here on Earth.
Let’s do it together.