just for now.

A little taste of my sister, Melody’s, wedding day.

It was super emotional for me, and then I realized, this is my first sibling to get married! All my other siblings experienced all of this with me, but this is my first time… So it was incredibly good, and lovely, and just full of depth for me. To have known Melody her whole entire life, see her ups and downs, her questions, her victories– to know her heart. To watch her love towards Michael grow, to watch her grow into his love for her… And then stand up with them both as they make their forever vows. It’s a lot, you know?

You bet I cried. Shamelessly.

-me-

-Melody Grace-

-the “I will” before the “I do”-

-down the aisle-

-parents blessing-

-kissed!-

-mr. and mrs.-

After this we took some family pictures in another building while the sanctuary was converted into the reception hall. The lovely and talented Kelsey made all this happen! And then on to the dancing…

-Melody has the most peaceful ‘in love’ face, ever-

-isn’t this awesome?-

-cake face-

-we did a bridesmaids+bride dance-

-I think the only reason everyone wasn’t on the floor was because it was always full!-

-the toss-

-leaving-

-off to bliss!-

Mike and Melody–

You guys are amazing.
It has been so beautiful to watch you two fall in love.

And, as I’ve watched you both, and especially Melody, go crazy about each other, it’s got me thinking…
People often say that when you first fall in love with someone…you’re “infatuated”…that your vision is cloudy like “rose-colored glasses”…
But I think that there are somethings that you see right now more clearly than ever.

I think that God has let you two see eachother the way that He does.

Because He doesn’t focus of your mistakes, He doesn’t focus on your imperfections– He sees you with all of the dreams and destiny’s that He spoke over your life from the moment of conception.

And He has opened both of your eyes to see, and fall in love with, the amazing person that He created each of you to be. To see Melody’s tender heart, and the sweet grace that she has embraced and been made strong by. To see the honor that Mike makes himself known by, and his heart of love thathe has opened to you, Melody.

And so, today, my challenge would be to always remember the truth of who Michael is– and the truth of who God says Melody is–
And when times get hard, and people mess up and babies cry all night and you say something you shouldn’t have you can choose to love this person for all of who they are, and are meant to be, and even intercede for their destiny in these moments.

So, to Mike, and to Melody–
may you continue to discover even more of the beauty in each other,
and may your love for each other only grow stronger!