10 years ago...

Friday, June 15, 2012
Today I watched LeaAnn crumple some of my ‘wedding memorabilia’ in her hands and I thought, if someone would have told me, in 10-yrs to the day you’ll be watching your 4^th daughter (?!?) waddle around at 15-months… I would have called them a liar! ;) 

I adored looking through these pictures…. Obviously ;) not sure why else I would have spent so much time scanning so many in! But to me it was worth it… I adored every minute of our wedding and wish I could go back… just for the day. Actually, I’d go back to 2-weeks prior… a houseboat trip, my bachelorette party, planting buckets of flowers... it was so much fun to prepare for too. An all around wonderful celebration, and all I ever dreamed my wedding would be.

To top this off, a very special friend of Chris’ (and mine), Jim Smith, was getting married to Andrea Cook on this very weekend (6/16)! So not only did we have reason to get dressed up and have a good time, we got to witness & be a part-of a celebration of love & commitment all over again… it was amazing. I could not have picked a more perfect 10-yr anniversary date.

Friday, June 14th,  was filled with picking flowers for the center-pieces, decorating the barn, setting up chairs and getting ready for the rehearsal. I adored these ferns... I remember picking them up from Krogers on the west-side of Hamilton! And I loved that I have this picture of Grandma Rita helping too!

We picked most of the flowers used for the center-pieces... and you can see we had quite the assembly line of helpers!

The barn looked amazing when we were done. All of these hanging baskets were borrowed from neighbors! Completely sealed the look for me :)

That afternoon, the "Iowa Crew" arrived ... :D poor Julie... she was such a trooper! The only girl in the whole bunch, and they all rode in the SAME van!

Here we are, the big day... we agreed to take pictures before hand, so this was our first picture after 'seeing' each other before pictures :)

And then the picture taking began! Loved sister Jill trying to get Chris to smile :)

With my 3 sweet flower girls, Katie & Karen Hiltbrand & Jennifer Prushing

Our adorable ring-bearer, Clayton Stahlheber... Maddy was on the way!

"Welcome to my wedding!"

The full wedding party... all the girls picked out their own sundresses and they all turned out perfectly! :D

With friends & now sisters, Jody & Jill

My favorite...

And now 10-yrs later at Jimmy & Andrea's wedding!

Brother Donnie walking Grandma down the aisle...

And Mom :)

everyone watching the flower girls & ring bearer :)

Loved these pictures... was so special to walk out of the Cox Farm mansion.

We walked through a shower of daisies

And headed to our carriage ...

And took a spin around the big town of Jacksonburg!

Being introduced as Mr. & Mrs. :D

My 'little girl' bouquet of suckers :)

And then the real thing...

Wish I knew what we were talking about!

And here again too :)

What Andrea's grandpa said during the blessing of the food at their wedding brought me to tears... "May you be able to one day say, "I love you more than I did the day we were married." Because that is exactly the way I feel. Here's to us on 10-more! ;)