Be Ye Separate

I Did...and I Do!

Blessings!

   Yesterday was our anniversary! 11 years!:) I spent the last few days walking down Memory Lane and loving every moment of it:) I can't help but wonder what I've done to deserve such a wonderful, loving, strong and godly husband. I have certainly not led an exemplary life and I have made poor choices and done such sinful things, yet the Lord has seen fit to bless me beyond measure! Thank You Lord!

   I want to share some pictures from our wedding.

Our wedding was done at night. We were married on the front steps of my parents home on their estate in California. The picture is a bit dark but there are a few that our photographer (a very dear friend of our family's) put some extra light to and it makes it look like daytime:)

   That swath above our heads still hangs over our marriage bed:) We purchased 3 of them to put over the two archways. I bought them from a sweet young lady who let me handpick exactly what I wanted, drew out what I wanted it to look like and she made it for me in just under an hour.

   I designed the cake and another dear friend of the family made it for us. She lives just a few miles down from my parents place. I grew up with her daughter.

   We had a local glass blower make our caketop from my drawings. It was heavier than I thought it would be and was still warm when we picked it up that morning. Sadly it hadn't cooled properly so it sports some cracks in it but it was still vey lovely:) It's a heart with rose vines that wind around where two rosebuds cross over each other.

   Our beautiful eldest child. She is now 28 and has 2 children of her own:) I made all the bouquets, boutonnieres and headpieces. My own bouquet was made from dried roses that Brother Craig had given to me over the two years we courted.

   Jonathan, our eldest boy.

Matthew A (the youngest son), Matthew B (second youngest son) and Nathanial (second oldest son). They were responsible for delivering the boutonnier's to the men in the room behind them. They were also responsible for staying clean for another hour after this was taken:P (They did, by the way:))

Sarah has her back to the camera and Mary-Ann waiting for things to begin. I made their headpieces and their dresses. My beautiful little daughters.

Brother Craig was getting a moment of fresh air before the ceremony. Our preparation rooms were across this balconey from each other. The photography caught him out there:)

A tender moment shared with Mary-Ann. I was wiping away a little tear. It was such an overwhelming day for such a little girl and she just needed a cuddle to help get past this little moment.

A traditional "joining blankets".

This was the original picture of our family with my parents and the children after the ceremony. They used just the soft lighting from all the tiny white lights we strung around everything that stood still:)

This was the same setting, only with a flash.

Our wedding party. We were so blessed that all of our children were part of it with us. In fact, we incorporated the children into our vows by gifting each of the children, individually, with a small cross with their name engraved on it and told them how blessed we were to have them become a part of the family. Brother Craig presented the gifts to each of my children and I to each of his. We took the time to call them forward, one at a time, and welcome them into our life.

Our Best Man there on the right, said the first toast. Our goblets had warm cinnamon cider in them. Champaigne gives me a monster headache:P And besides, we much prefer Pepsi:P

The traditional cutting of the cake. By they way, it was spice cake with cream cheese frosting. You can also get a better view of the cake top here. We froze the top tier to eat on our 1st anniversary. We had a power outage just a few months later after suffering a huge storm. Everything in the freezer defrosted and we lost quite a bit but decided to go ahead and eat the cake...it was simply awful:P I'm glad we didn't wait a whole year:P

Our first dance as husband and wife.

Brother Craig dances with my mother.

Here I am dancing with my Daddy:)

Both of Brother Craigs parents went onto Glory before he met me. He often says the only thing he regrets is that his parents never got to meet me and their wonderful new grandchildren.

September 28, 1996 was the most blessed and joyful day of my life. Thank you Lord for joining me to this man. Thank you Lord for bringing our family together in Your time. Thank you Lord for blessing me with a godly man who desires to serve you and please you in his daily life. Thank you Lord for our children. Thank you for getting us through those tough times and for blessing us with the good:)

Thank you for sharing my stroll down Memory Lane. It's been a real pleasure sharing it with you:)

God be with thee!Sister Lori

Oh my goodness

{ 01:11, Sunday, September 30, 2007 } { Posted by jackiebridgen }

You look like Scarlett O'Hara and Rhett Butler! How glamourous your day was!
What lovely memories!
If I had a scanner, I'd upload ours, which couldn't be more different! All in a tiny village church and an English Rose Garden - we look more like something out of Thomas Hardy LOL.
Congratulations on eleven wonderful years!
Jackie

~~~You are too kind:) I would love to see yours. I think weddings are simply wonderful. My aunt owned a bridal shop when I was younger and I loved helping out there.
God be with thee!
Sister Lori

Edited by SisterLori on Monday, October 1, 2007 at 02:49

WOW

{ 04:38, Sunday, September 30, 2007 } { Posted by Kitty }

Your wedding was beautiful, everything was beautiful. The cake, the flowes, the children, the dress and dresses, and you. Thanks for sharing your memories with us, and Happy Anniversary too.
Kitty

~~~Thank you:) I must say that the best part was making nearly everything for it. (Aside from actually marrying the man God gave me):) Even the children helped us to make things. It was a true blessing:)
God be with thee!
Sister Lori

Edited by SisterLori on Monday, October 1, 2007 at 02:51

Your wedding day

{ 06:01, Sunday, September 30, 2007 } { Posted by mvose1051 }

The first words out of my mouth after seeing just the first picture? OH WOW!!!! HOW WONDERFUL!!
What a wonderful & beautiful day you both shared then & still do today!
Thank you for sharing those pictures. It really was a surprise for me to see pictures from those days after having "known" you for so long. WOW! Is all I can say.
May the Lord bless you with many more wonderful years together.
Blessings,
Miki

~~~Thank you...and isn't that a hoot how different we are today?:P I still cherish that day and dont' regret the finery but wow...how far we've come from that place:)
I was looking back on some things and my gracious we've known each other for several years now! Seems like just yesterday:) I am so blessed by your friendship and look forward to many more years of it:)
God be with thee!
Sister Lori

Edited by SisterLori on Monday, October 1, 2007 at 02:53

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{ 08:17, Sunday, September 30, 2007 } { Posted by CandyFoote }

Congratulations and happy anniversary!
Awesome pictures!

Candy

~~~Thank you!
God be with thee!
Sister Lori

Edited by SisterLori on Monday, October 1, 2007 at 02:53

How beautiful

{ 08:53, Sunday, September 30, 2007 } { Posted by rashel }

Thank you for sharing your memories with us, the pictures are lovely. I also wanted to say thank you for stopping by my blog and leaving your sweet comment, I appreciate it.
Blessings,
Rashel

~~~Thank you Sister. I meant every word:)
God be with thee!
Sister Lori

Edited by SisterLori on Monday, October 1, 2007 at 02:54

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{ 15:04, Sunday, September 30, 2007 } { Posted by chimicole }

Oh Lori! I sat here and had tears rolling down my face!
You are so beautiful and Brother Craig is wonderfully handsome!
What a blesing to join together such loving families...
I pray you have many more joyous years together....
Love, Julie :)

~~~Thank you:) They are memories I shall cherish for my lifetime. Even my children remember it all and they too cherish that moment in their lives.
(I cried while I was loading those pictures...shhhhh:P)
I am certain that our time on this earth will always be a blessing filled with joy:)
God be with thee!
Sister Lori

Edited by SisterLori on Monday, October 1, 2007 at 02:56

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{ 15:04, Sunday, September 30, 2007 } { Posted by stitchnchick }

Happy Anniversary! (A little late!) Thank you for sharing with us. Everything was so very lovely! We'll be celebrating our 15th in a few days. :o)
I've been thinking about you lately and meant to stop in to comment. I was wondering (and please forgive me if I just haven't seen it) what has happened with your possible move. I've been in prayer for you and your family and am anxious to see how the Lord will provide!

Amy

~~~Thank you...and Happy Anniversary a little early:P
We are still looking to move. So far the Lord hasn't shown us where just yet but we are patiently waiting His direction:) Of course, I'm praying He won't want us to move in the rain :P His will be done:)
God be with thee!
Sister Lori

Edited by SisterLori on Monday, October 1, 2007 at 02:58

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{ 04:47, Tuesday, October 2, 2007 } { Posted by TheWedhornFamily }

Just wanted to say hello.I hope you are sleeping since you were up late.Those are beautiful wedding pictures.You are a beautiful bride.I wish you and your family all the happiness in the world.We have been married 11 years as well.It has been the best years of my life:)
Well, Have a blessed day
Charlotte

WOW!

{ 05:45, Friday, October 5, 2007 } { Posted by christianmommaali }

I just had to share with you the fact that your blog down memory lane had me in tears! How sentimental am I?? :) God bless you and your family and God bless your for sharing your story!
Blessings,
Ali

Oh My Sweet Lord in Heaven!

{ 20:54, Wednesday, October 17, 2007 } { Posted by savdn4gvn }

I agree with whom ever said you two looked like Scarlet Ohara and Rhet Butler! LOL! I am ABSOLUTELY SPEECHLESS!!!!!!!! And trust me.......that doesn't hapen often! LOL!

Very precious pictures in deed!
Luv,
Carrie