Courageous Joy: Aug 28, 2021

Saturday, August 28, 2021

Post Wedding - Part 4

I didn't take a lot of photos. I did take some "mental photos."

Livie knew she'd be staying the night with us but when the moment came she was sad. We watched together and walked of hand in hand. It was sweet to share the moment with her, to assure her that she was going to LOVE the changes.

These guys packed "things" away, moved vehicles from our neighbors back to our house, and generally took apart the wedding set up. Debbie, the girls and I packed away decorations and food.

Jared & Alex in the back; Steven and Michael in front

Michael got a fire going. Sitting around a campfire, roasting marshmallows and eating s'mores makes everything a bit better.

Stacia, Livie, Allie, Me

We sat around the fire late into the night re-connecting with Steve & Debbie. Steven and Jared joined us too. The girls headed inside, and we kept talking.

It's been fun to revisit a summer night and see how long the sun really does shine in the summer. LOL

This day brought home some thoughts which have been swirling in my mind. I have often heard that military folks make "shallow friendships" due to the move. That's simply not true. I have so many friends who were FAMILY, we lived in a tight knit community and supported one another through some tough times. Those friendships remained...even if we only spent 2 or 3 years in the same location. It has been great to see the Hardings again, we picked up where we left off.

The Reception - Part 3

As the wedding concluded Josiah, Carrie and Olivia left with the photographer.

📷 Carrie's Facebook

These guys were left with the charge of getting the BBQ going. Krista got food on the table. Stacia brought out the cake and cupcakes she had made.

Michel, Jared, Steven, Jamin

Steven and Michel are friends from our time in San Angelo, TX. Their Dad was the boy's Sunday School teacher for years. Steven shared an apartment with Jamin and Jared in college. It really was great to have the whole Harding family in for the wedding.

📷 Larissa

So elegant! Stacia's second wedding cake

Our two lovely daughter in loves - and Jared and Josiah

Stacia and Cake

Guest Book

We visited, ate and played Frisbee golf.

📷Larissa - check out Carrie's shoe attire - Xtra Tuff!

Before we knew it the guests were gone and Josiah and Carrie were pulling out of our driveway. Livie spent the night with us. There was a sweet photo of her and I walking away hand in hand...but I don't know where it is. LOL

The Wedding Ceremony - Part 2

The door opened, Jerry (Carrie's father) and Livie headed down the stairs. All eyes turned to the house. Carrie stood at the top of the stairs.

Jerry, Carrie, Olivia

It was such a beautiful day for an outdoor wedding. It was AUGUST 28th - that's LATE for Alaska. It's nearly a miracle we had TWO outdoor weddings in Alaska and it didn't rain for either one!

Josiah read his vows to Carrie.

Carrie read her vows to Josiah.

I KNEW this was coming and it was still tear inducing. Josiah knelt down and you could hear every woman begin sniffling. Josiah vowed to be a godly father for Livie. It was such a picture of redemption and restoration of dreams. I believe this is the first wedding of our kids which had me crying.

📷 Carrie's Facebook

Mr. and Mrs. and Olivia too!

The Morning of the Wedding - Part 1

We had a wedding, nearly 4 months ago now. Big events stymie me. I get writer's block as I know I want to capture the day, but I'm often not sure how to communicate the emotions, how vulnerable I want to be as it IS a family journal, but it is public. I need TIME to sort through hundreds of photos and select the best ones. Looking back on the blog since we moved to Alaska, I note that Aug - Oct often haven't shown up on the blog, or they are back dated...I should have known a wedding in August was going to take me some time to blog....I still have harvest festivals, garden and birthdays from 2020 to blog. ::snowrt:: Fall is busy here. BUT I'm determined to end 2021 "current" on the blog, and working on past years....

On this cold day in December, the fire is burning, relaxing music in a coffee shop is playing on the big screen, Grandpa is napping, the girls are doing school and it's the perfect time for me to BLOG this wedding.

Josiah and Carrie's (CyRi) wedding. Come to think of it, Olivia refers to it as "Our Wedding." My heart is full. I still can't think of the words to express all the feels and emotions this day brought to our family. I could not be happier to welcome a daughter into the family as I am to welcome Carrie and Olivia. God took many apparent dark and raveled threads to weave together this beautiful story. Yes, it's a story of romance. However, I can't help seeing redemption in this story. God has been so faithful to all three and today God creates a new family. We stood in awe.

📷 Carrie's Facebook

BUT before the wedding....there was wedding prep the morning of the wedding. We were surprised when CyRi asked if they could have the wedding here. We don't have a manicured yard. The day dawned and it was time for Larissa (our other daughter in love), Debbie, the girls and I to create Carrie's vision outside. We knew what she wanted. Did I tell you this gal thrifted her wedding? AMAZING...she and Krista may have to vie for the title of Gherkin Thrift Queen. 😅

Larissa prepared balloons to mark our home

Looking good

Tables all set up...

So cute...

Each table was a bit different

Everything was set when Carrie and Livie arrived. It was fun to have them getting ready here. It was an honor to be able to be quite involved in a son's wedding (doesn't always happen that way).

Make up

Liv gets her dress on

Carrie's a beautiful bride

The guys mill around outside...I love this photo...Cy walking away deep in thought, Jared on the other side of the yard in conversation but keeping an eye on Josiah. I love these Gherkins.