In The Heavens...

...He has pitched a tent for the sun. Psalm 19:4

This was the sunrise at our house this morning. A true thing of beauty.

Fall Fun

There are always lots of fun fall activities going on around our house. Here are a few from the last two weeks. Malakai went to an alpaca farm with Grandma Martin. My dad helped Eric to plant 11 trees this past weekend. And Eric took me on "A Night Out On the Town". That was literally the name of the event that required me to wear a bridesmaid dress. I still fit into it, even though I wore it almost 6 years ago!

Matt & Jess: Engaged

We were teammates on the field hockey team at Messiah College. Although she graduated a year ahead of me, we were good friends and have maintained that friendship over the past 11 years. She's got a heart of gold and a radiant smile to go with it. When she called to tell me she wanted me to do her wedding and engagement photography, my heart soared with exceeding joy. Jess, God has answered your prayers for a husband and what an incredible one he is going to be!

Matt said from that first moment he first saw her, he knew she was special. Jess coaches junior high field hockey and Matt decided to propose to Jess while she was doing the one thing she loves most...coaching. With the help of 42 JH field hockey players holding poster-board size letters that said "JESS WILL YOU MARRY ME?" less than 9 months after their first date, he made it official. He wanted her to be his wife and she said yes! I couldn't be happier for you two. I am so excited to be a part of your wedding day next June. Great things come to those who wait!!

Meet Matt & Jess...

John & Casie: Married

They've been together for over 9 years. I haven't even been married that long. I thought that they would know what to expect when they saw each other for the first time on their wedding day. But I was wrong. When Casie walked into the empty church and saw John standing at the front, she burst into tears and John...well, he just lost it. No one but Eric and I got to share in those first moments the two lovers had together. So powerful, so emotional, so what love should look like. He couldn't stop staring and she just laughed and soaked in his adoration for her.

The day was filled with so much fun! After a ceremony in Octorara, the bridal party boarded a trolly and headed for the Eden Resort Inn. A major highlight for me was when the cake literally fell over and Eric ended up catching it. When they cut their piece out of the bottom it just all gave way and made a slow tumble in front of all of the guests. I've never seen caterers works so fast and furious to make things right!

But the thing that took even the cake that day was the mother/son dance. Usually pretty typical slow dance...think again. John met his mom in the middle of the dance floor and they started bustin' a move to "Soldier Boy", a hip hop song. All of sudden his mom walked over to her purse, pulled out a ball cap and sunglasses and started breakin' it down. Everyone was in stitches! Eric and I were laughing so hard we were almost crying. So I sat down and talked with mom afterwards and said that was the best mother/son dance I had ever seen (and I've seen a lot). "How did he convince you to do that?" I asked. "Oh, it was my idea!" she explained. She didn't want to cry doing a slow dance so this was the best option. I think I may have to try this when Malakai gets married some day! John & Casie, you definitely had a very memorable wedding day and I was so glad to have a small part in it. Enjoy a few favorites...