James & Sarah 03.12.16

We've lived in the same city and attended the same church long enough that we have had the opportunity to watch boys and girls just entering their teens grow into men and women. James, the groom in the wedding we recently attended, has matured before our very eyes over the past decade so witnessing his marriage to Sarah brought special joy.

I was trying to be unobtrusive as I took pictures from the second row right over the shoulders of James' parents and grandparents. All I could think about was how large and loud my DSL camera seemed. However, after I took the first couple of shots, James' mother leaned back and whispered, "Oh, do take a bunch!" I was happy to comply. I love weddings!

The large words behind Sarah weren't part of the decorations for the wedding. Instead, they were part of the church's decor. However, having been a wife for 32 years, I sat through the ceremony thinking how perfect the words "follow" and "love" were to describe Sarah's best hope for being a wife who truly blesses James. If Sarah will follow James' lead and love him through both joy and sorrow, the Bible promises an life-long union. This friendship is so intimate that God's word says the two become one.

Sarah and James sealed their vows with shared prayer. The backdrop which the two chose for their ceremony was a cross. The pastor's message and their covenant promises made it clear that this union is anchored in a keen awareness that Christ's willingness to die on the cross to take on the sins of humanity is the kind of selflessness they will need to emulate in their marriage. Pastor Dave reminded them that they will need God's enabling grace to live for the other rather than self if they are to go the distance.

After such solemn words...came the kiss!

Followed by Pastor's announcement that the pair was from this point forward a

"Mr. and Mrs."

If I were to title this photo, I'd call it, "Stepping into Life as One."

I followed the couple up the aisle and got this photo just as James and Sarah exited the sanctuary. 

Before we left the church, Tina (left) and Kirsten asked to me to take a photo of them together. I thank God for the friendships that exist between our children!

I was also asked by our daughter Zhenya (right) to capture a photo of her with friend Kaylee. Zhenya played her cello and Kaylee her violin for the ceremony. Again, these two have grown up like cousins as part of the same church family for as long as either of them can remember.

Before we loaded up in the cars to make our way to the reception, Zhenya asked John to watch her cello. Zhenya, home for her first time since she married last September, seemed to forget that her brother was stranded until she returned to fetch her large instrument. John eventually did locate his very social sister but had to get creative with his cellphone to do so. As mom to both of them I enjoyed the way this mini comedy play itself out. And the photo opp was a great one due to the heavy skies that day.

Sarah's bouquet was lovely with its multiple shades of purple roses...

...but even more beautiful was the bride and groom's joy in one another!

During the toasts made by the maid-of-honor and best man, the two often exchanged knowing looks over shared history.

James' mom and dad also enjoyed the humor shared during the toasts.

As dinner finished, James and Sarah made their way from table to table to thank their guests. Those greeted often asked that a picture be taken of them with the newlyweds. Cellphones have revolutionized every aspect of our culture!

Meanwhile, as is so common at receptions that include a dance, the little girls in attendance made good use of the background music as they awaited the bride and groom's first dance.

I love how the whole crowd seems to just disappear as the bride and groom take to the floor for their first dance as husband and wife.

The story was no different for Sarah and James.

The 300 of us watching simply became invisible to them

as they stared lovingly into one another's eyes.

I do so love attending weddings! Each one is token of the rare, multifaceted jewel that married love is. Each wedding seems to remind me of the importance of investing in my marriage to keep our friendship strong enough to prevent being pulled apart by the crazy busy that each week inevitably brings. I'm glad Sarah and James plan to continue living in our community, at least for now. It will be a delight to watch their bond grow even more beautiful. To God be the glory!

What's Worked for Us: Nurturing Sibling Friendships

Sometimes those of us who are bloggers tend to be self-indulgent. This post is one of those cases. I just love this photo of our oldest daughter, Anna, and her sister, Faith. Anna is 23 and Faith is 14. Though the girls are nearly 10 years apart in age, they share a close friendship. That makes this mother's heart sing. I invite you to share my joy!

As our children are growing up, we do everything we can think of to encourage them to be close-knit. This has meant limiting outside activities so that we can spend more time together as a family. It's required teaching, training and nurturing in our kids an understanding of the crucial step of taking responsibility when they sin against a sibling and seeking reconciliation immediately upon the recognition that they've done wrong. Our kids are not allowed to speak critically of one another or tease in an unkind way. This means the two of us have had to model these standards in our marriage and in our relationships with our children. Crazy as it sounds, we've even gone so far as to ask that our children not call someone outside their siblings their best friend (until marriage). We encourage them to always think of each other as their best friends, and to say of others, "She is one of  my best friends." 

Now that seven of our kiddos are grown, three more are youth and two in their last years as elementary-age children, we're seeing the fruit of our many prayers that their friendship would remain strong. The twelve of them (and now our two sons-in-law) cherish the rare chance to see one another now that we've spread out across the country. We thank God for His powerful grace in this area! He abounds in lovingkindness!

The photo above was taken at a wedding of dear friends which all of us we attended in May in Pennsylvania. Anna was one of the bridesmaids, and Faith assisted me with my photography assignment. Being together in the bride's dressing room, the sisters didn't miss the chance to savor a sweet hug.

Forever: Natalie and Jack

Our recent weeks have been filled with opportunities to celebrate. Last weekend our family was invited to attend the wedding of a young woman who grew up with our oldest kiddos. Natalie was about nine when our families met through church.

In keeping with tradition, Natalie's daddy, Tom, walked his precious treasure down the aisle toward that special man to whom he would entrust his daughter. For Tom this was undoubtedly an emotion-filled moment. Natalie is both his youngest child and his only daughter.

(Before I go on, did you note the color of the groom's shoes? Both the bride and her man wore matching bright lemon sneakers. I love their courage to stand out from the crowd!)

After passing Natalie's mom, who sat in the front row dabbing her eyes, Tom placed Natalie's hand in Jack's gentle grasp.

The entire wedding party was now assembled.

The first order of business?

Laying the foundation for the union in prayer...

...as maid-of-honor Lindsey looked on. Lindsey and Natalie have been friends since they were toddlers.

After the introductory remarks, Natalie's oldest brother, Tyler, left his spot as a groomsman to sing. Another of Natalie's brother's, Jacob, added percussion on a beat box. He, too, was one of the groomsmen. Both men's wives, Natalie's sisters-in-law, were among the bridesmaids.

The pastor reminded the couple of the staggering importance of building their marriage on the only rock that will stand ~ Jesus.

The bride and groom then moved to the far side of the platform to physically wash one another's feet, just as Jesus did for His disciples shortly before His death. Through this act, Jack and Natalie publicly confirmed their commitment to serve each other throughout their marriage.

I found myself weeping quietly as Natalie washed Jack's feet. Jack serves our country in the Air Force. As Natalie caressed his feet with soap and water, what came to my mind was a picture of heavy boots caked with the dust of dangerous parts of our globe.

Jack will need a humble, gentle, yet strong help-meet at his side. As a military wife, Natalie will play a crucial role in keeping her man strong and sane as he is pushed to his limits carrying out tasks on which lives will depend.

Oh, may Natalie be blessed by the Lord with a selfless heart, always happy to serve her man, even in the most menial, thankless ways. What will be the outcome for Natalie of serving Jack for the duration of their decades together? Joy. Soul-deep satisfaction. The Lord's smile.

Natalie's grin just before the announcement that they were now husband and wife was irrepressible.

And was followed immediately by a happy kiss.

Natalie stepped from sanctuary into a heartfelt embrace from her new mother-in-law. Two families had become one.

Outside the church, a large group assembled to watch the wedding party depart in a massive limousine. Kirsten (left) and Christina were among those gathered.

As happens at all wedding receptions, the friends and family gathered eagerly awaited the whispered words, "They're here!"

Since I so enjoy taking photographs at weddings, I was probably even more in-tune to the clues that the wedding party had arrived than others might have been. When I sensed the rustle, I jumped up from my seat and made my way to the building's foyer. The newlyweds had indeed arrived, there was just one problem ~ getting Natalie's dress to bustle. The beautiful gown was resisting all efforts.

Even her dad stepped in to lend a hand!

Meanwhile, the rest of the wedding party was already lined up, eager to make their grand entrance. Here Natalie and her mom, Shelly, are watching the wedding party's antics.

As the mother and bride relied on others to figure out the dress, a sweet moment between Shelly and Natalie ensued. 

As the all-out effort continued, I decided to take advantage of the wait to satisfy my curiosity. I stepped over and asked Natalie about a couple of items I could see peaking out of her all-white bouquet.

Natalie shared with me that her bouquet, made by her mom, was loaded with love. Shelly had woven in an earring belonging to Natalie's grandmother and a piece of blue fabric from one of her grandfather's suits. After explaining this, Natalie proudly told me they had been happy soul-mates for 67 years before her grandfather passed away a couple of years ago. 

The bouquet also included a hankie which Shelly had made when Natalie was little by the woman who had sewed Natalie's grandmother's wedding dress. Finally, tucked in amongst the blooms was a charm from a necklace that belonged to Tom's grandma (Natalie's great grandmother).

Every wedding somehow makes a statement about the couple getting married. Jack and Natalie's bright lemon shoes represented the courage to go against common opinion. They'll need that courage as they face a culture that doesn't understand the value of marriage or family. As they stand on the Rock of their shared faith in Jesus, the two of them are blessed to be surrounded by family members eager to do all they can to help the young couple create their own multi-generational legacy as soul-mates.