oh my two.

Two years ago, I woke up around 4 a.m. I couldn't sleep, so I tip-toed quietly out of my room, past these sleeping beauties, up the stairs and into the kitchen. I sat down, looking out at the yard, and thinking about the big things that were just hours away. I made a list of all the things that still needed to be done before 3pm. I was nervous about forgetting things, worried about not getting enough sleep, and wondering if I'd left enough time for the pre-ceremony photos.

As the sun was just beginning to rise, I walked out into the yard. And just like a true Portland summer, it was chilly (but the perfect kind of chilly for which the only remedy is a light, snuggly blanket wrapped around you). I looked over everything. I walked through the grass. And I took it all in. The chill, the stillness, the anticipation, and the idea that when the day was over, life would be different for me, each day a new kind of blessing. 

A few minutes after 6pm, I walked out an open door and took my Dad's arm. And as we started walking together, he said, "Just take it all in." I was back in the same spot I'd stood alone hours before, but this time, The Grand Waltz from Sound of Music was playing, lots of family and friends were looking my way, and I was wearing the finest piece of art my mom has ever created. Everything was different, but I was taking it all in. 

Being married to Landon is amazing, challenging, and redeeming. It's hard work, and the easiest thing I've ever done. Landon has helped me to grow deeper roots in many areas, and uproot in other areas. He's taught me that life isn't about stuff, that each place is what you make of it, and that deep down, I'm really just a desperate cat lady. 

We won't see a single person today who was with us two years ago except each other. We're so grateful for all those who helped, guided, loved, and sewed (ahem, mom) to make our big day happen, but when the bunting flags come down and the extra lace is in the craft basket, it's really just me and LB. Taking it all in. 

xoxo.

doing it.

 Would you believe that Landon and I have been married for almost two years and I haven't had any of our professional wedding photos printed? What!??! My office walls could really use some love so I'm finally ordering prints to hang.

Now to decide which ones to print.

xoxo.

i adore: noon designs.

Loving all the new beauties at my favorite jewelry shop, Noon Designs in San Diego.

And my very favorite, Desert Sunrise (which I wore at our wedding)

xoxo.

thinking of wilmington.

As people across the East Coast recover from Hurricane Irene's crazy weekend, I'm thinking especially of a sweet town in Vermont. Landon and I spent our honeymoon in Wilmington, Vermont, a town of just a few thousand people. Normally the main street looks like the photos above, but over the weekend, it looked like this:

Screenshot taken from this video

Here's to hoping this sleepy town recovers quickly, so others can enjoy it as much as we did. 

 We stayed at the beautiful White House Inn, a historic summer home turned country inn, complete with gorgeous balconies, individually decorated rooms and rickety hallways. It was the sweetest place, I'd love to go back for another week!

xoxo.

one.

Today marks our one year anniversary. It's been full of learning, and there have been some challenges, but mostly it's been wonderful. It's strange to think back to our first few dates because it seems like we just barely knew each other then compared to now. I'm sure that in 20 years we'll look back on this year and think the same thing. 

I woke up around 4:30am the morning of our wedding, too anxious to sleep. I sat in our kitchen for a while, just looking out in the yard and picturing what would take place in a few hours. When the sun came up, I walked outside to tie the ribbon between the chairs in the image above. It was chilly and calm, and a wonderful time for me to reflect. I wrote a letter to Landon, and then was able to get a couple more hours of sleep before the real work began that day.

We started setting up around 8am and finished a little after noon. I remember looking at myself in the mirror and thinking, Gee, I look like a real mess for this being my wedding day.

Luckily that changed within a couple of hours.

And it started to hit me when I saw Curtis walk out and untie the ribbon that I had tied just 12 hours earlier. For me, that signaled the beginning of it all. 

It was one of my favorite days, certainly, but like I said in this post, I won't limit myself by saying it was the best day. I think of it as the start of a new adventure, because if you had told me a year ago that I'd be celebrating my 1-year anniversary in Austin, Texas, I wouldn't have been able to imagine this journey that we've had.

I'd have to say the biggest lesson I've learned is allowing things to be endless. To see life beyond this week, this month or this year. To see no end to forgiveness, politeness, respect, understanding and love. To see no confines on God's plan for us, no restrictions on finding joy in unexpected circumstances and no limits on what we can learn from each other. To be endlessly open, especially in allowing each other to grow and change. To put nothing in a box, including each other. And, most importantly, to never give up on the work that we're in. There is no end, and that's both comforting and daunting. But the most comfort comes from knowing that there is no end to God's love and understanding for us, and only as we trust His love and guidance can we ever hope to be endless to each other.

xoxo.

PS. Check out this song some of our friends and family wrote for us.

the people.

My family [extended]

 It's the people that make a wedding significant, memorable and all-around awesome. 
This is just a little tribute to our people.

Landon's family [extended]

My family + grandparents

Landon's family + grandparents

Fam bam again.

Landon's fam. Isn't this a sweet photo?

The little ones.

Our best friends.

Our fellow PLNU trackies

My sweet cousins, Ashley + Alyson

More sweet cousins, Haley + Amy

Erin + I. This is from our rehearsal dinner, but I had to sneak a photo of her in here.
She did an AWESOME job coordinating our rehearsal, ceremony and reception! 

Remember this post? Here's Paul and his wife Lindsay. 

The Bright boys three.

Ry + Grams. The sweetness of this photo kills me.

Coach. The one and only.

Grams and Gramps. Miss you.

Ry + Ash

Me + my dad

Bests. They really are.

Love these guys too.

To everyone who has guided, taught and shaped us. Thanks for being with us on our day.

And finally, to my mom, without whom this wedding wouldn't have happened.
As you were aptly dubbed in the comments on Wednesday, you really are a rockstar.

I don't remember what that little handshake we're doing was for, but I'd like to think we were saying "we did it!"

In the end, it's about being able to spend great moments with people you love. This was just that.

xoxo.

PS. Happy Friday!