Weddings are Wonderful Part II

Heather and Eric were married in a beautiful ceremony at Chapel in the Pines in Hudsonville, Michigan on September 5th.
Heather has been one of my dearest friends since we met when I was in Junior High. In the words of Anne Shirley she is my "kindred spirit". A few years ago, Heather and her sister came to visit Ryan and I and after a couple of hours Heather's sister looked at us and commented that she couldn't believe how much alike we still are. What a friend Heather has been to me and I am so very grateful for the way the Lord has used her in my life!
I am looking forward to getting to know Eric better as the years go by and am glad for the continued friendship that Heather and I share. It's not everyday that you meet someone you can get lost with on a regular basis and never get angry with each other. And yes, we got lost the day before Heather's wedding while driving to the ceremony site. Thankfully, Heather was leading and it only took us 5 minutes to get turned around and back on the right road. I have a history of getting lost and staying lost for hours...usually Heather is with me when it happens...

Weddings are wonderful Part I

One of the highlights of our summer was seeing two incredible people (actually, four, if you count their husbands...), my sister Colleeen and my best friend Heather, tie the knot. This post is titled Part I as it is dedicated to Colleen and Josh's day. The next post will be Part II and all about Heather and Eric. My sister Colleen married Josh in a beautiful outdoor ceremony at my parents house on July 11th. The only word I can really use to describe her that day is breathtaking. She has grown into such a beautiful woman - inside and out!

Colleen and Josh moved to South Carolina the week after Labor Day and I guess maybe I'm getting a taste of my own medicine, so to speak - I am understanding for the first time the flip side of all of us not living near one another. Ryan and I have lived away from our families since we got married, but have always taken for granted that all of them would be in one town when we were able to visit. It's a strange feeling to think of Grand Rapids and realize that one of my sisses isn't there. We'll treasure our chaotic family get togethers even more now, as the chance to all be together under one roof won't come as frequently. Of course, I'm excited to see where God will lead Colleen and Josh over the coming years, I'm just feeling a little sentimental about it not being close to the rest of us.

One last picture from their day:

No matter how wonderful and exciting weddings are, I think any one who has been intimately involved in the planning and executing of one would agree that we all feel the way Addie did at the end of the day!