something new

It's a new year, 2013 is gone and I sing  great big "Hallelujah!"  In fact, we had a group of friends over on January 3, and all of us brought something from 2013 to burn, never to be thought of again.  For so many of us, 2013 had brought with it really hefty trials - deaths of loved ones, family struggles...AAAAAAHHHH!  They are burned and I'm not going to resurrect them by naming them again.  For great reading on this subject check out Calista's blog.

So instead, I want to talk about something new.  This week I've been pretty purposeful about finding something new to focus my attentions on.  I have picked up quilting again, after a hiatus of 2+ years (I feel that definitely qualifies as something new).  When my friend Amy turned 13 I promised her a quilt...she graduates this year, I should probably finish it :)!

So, at this time that I'm looking for new ways and new things to focus on, I came across this post from my friend CarrieAnn:

January 6

I, CarrieAnn Baker, hereby promise to make a small work of art for the first ten people who comment on this post and say "YES, I want in". A 'like' alone is not enough of a commitment, nor is a comment about thinking Pay It Forward is a great idea.
You must in turn post this as your status update and make something for the first ten who comment on your status.* The rules are simple: it has to be your work, made by you, and the recipient must receive it before 2014 ends...

Now, I have a few "CAB originals" and let me tell you, I was IN!  So, I posted my own promise.  I have a list of people to make a work of art for, and I'm going to set about doing it.  And I'm pretty nervous about it.  It's one thing to make a work of art for someone that you know, or that you know is going through something specific.  That's hard enough.  But to make something for someone that you know through someone else, or someone that you haven't had a chance to interact with in decades...that's a whole new kind of nervous.  So, it definitely falls under the category of "something new".  I'm putting it out there!

So, not a lot of pictures this week, just a little accountability.  Feel free to ask me how it's going, and I'll post pictures as they are ready.

And what is YOUR something new?

KTV

The Wedding ~ Day 2

As I write this post, I am celebrating my 12th Anniversary.  To be honest, it still surprises me to realize we are in double digits. We're both so young! ;) Aren't we?! 

Our wedding anniversary falls in the time of year when people are naturally given to contemplating the year that has gone before.  That has always been an important part of our anniversary celebration - talking over the year. Giving time to really look at the good, the bad and the ugly and how we've come through it.

I was very reluctant to do that this year.  There have been so many things that fall under the "The Ugly" or "The Bad" categories.  Who wants to spend time looking at that?  So, this year we listed only the "The Good", and heading that list is my brother's wedding.  So, here we go with DAY 2 ~ the actual celebration.

After seeing the set up for the party the night before, I wasn't sure how they were going to make it special all over again for the actual wedding day.  Silly Karlie.

Remember Kadi, the girl who gave us all jobs and helped us to bring Ardilla's vision to life?  I think I forgot to mention that she handed us all a blueprint ~ I mean the lady had it together.  This is her:



Kadi, taking a quiet moment to write a "Love Note" to the newlyweds.

 And also behind the scenes, Benjamin's "Men of Honor" and long time friends, Meghan and Gabe.
Meghan is brilliant ~ her wedding present was to have Kadi there, helping to make the wedding happen, for a whole week.  Pretty amazing present, if you ask me. And Gabe filled his role beautifully - you always need the person who will stay solid in the face of whatever happens.



Meghan and Gabe waiting for the groom to arrive.

You'll remember on Day #1 that Jack, Bob, Sue, Andy and I were all decorating and setting up the party space.  Look at what Meghan and Kadi were doing:

Throughout the trail to the ceremony...

...we were guided by little still lives of feathers...

...and flowers attached to the trees.  Who needs breadcrumbs!

The site of the ceremony had so much natural beauty that little was needed to make it perfect.

 

However, there were some practical issues that these ladies settled as well.  The ceremony was short and beautiful, most of us stood throughout it.

my cousin Kacie, her baby Charlize, Aunt Robbie and Uncle Roger

 There were some considerations to be made, and 6 chairs were set up for my Aunt Brenda (foreground) and Mary, Ardilla's grandmother,

Also, for my Daddy (the father of the groom),

Daddy's the one with the camera.

 And for Mama (the mother of the groom) and Pete.

Aren't they sweet?

 They really thought of everything, and that helped the ceremony run smoothly and allowed the beauty of the moment to shine.

the bridesmaids

the groomsmen

Our dear friend, and Benjamin's mentor, Bob Runyon, led the ceremony.

my brother wrote the entire ceremony...

...including his vows.  This is where he started to cry, and therefore, where I did.

The exchanging of the rings.

"Ardilla, you may kiss your groom!"

Bob said, "By the authority given to me by you two and no one else..."  Aren't they a striking couple?!

and so sweet.

 After digesting all of that beauty, we all walked back to the party area from the night before.

Best EVER guest gifts.  Benjamin and Ardilla made individual cups BY HAND for each guest.  On the bottom of each it says, "a+b"

Instead of a guest book.

The bar

 Remember the tables from DAY 1?  They added lace tablecloths, house wine, and place settings.  It really was perfect.

 So we had a lovely meal, sitting and chatting and enjoying each other

Best friends for a long time.

And then came the dancing!!!!

Benjamin and Ardilla started it off.

 We broke for a few speeches

 

 

For some cake

 

 

 And then some more dancing

 

This lovely couple welcomed Ardilla as part of their family and home from the time she was 11 years old.

 

 oh yeah, we had fun!

If you want to know more about Benjamin and his work, you can start here.

ktv