I so vividly remember the afternoon my dad told me that he was moving out…that my Mom was going to stay with me, and that he loved me very much. I was sitting on top of the toilet in the peach tiled bathroom with the door closed, crying. He managed to open the door and crouch in front of me, telling me, with tears in his eyes, that he’d see me soon. But he had to go. Had to. No amount of heartstrings could be pulled to change it. Mama wanted him gone. And something inside me broke. For that, I secretly hated her. I was always a Daddy’s girl at heart, and I had no idea of the trials she had endured. I just knew I wanted my Papa home.

Fortunately, I also remember a few (or several?) months later, the late afternoon sun slinking behind the fence, Luther Vandross’s, “Here and Now,” playing on repeat, and my parents cuddled on the recliner, talking and crying and holding each other. I wanted so bad to have them be normal again and play with me, but they said they needed some time. I went to my room, oblivious to the miracle happening in the den. Hearts were being mended. She was choosing to forgive. And I was getting my Papa back home.

When I was applying for colleges and chose to write an essay on this, my earliest heartbreak, my parents read the rough draft silently. They cried at how I had interpreted the events, and how much I was wounded by them. And they also cried in relief at how far they’d come.

No, their marriage isn’t perfect, but they did promise to stick through it. Even when trials come. Even when one forgets to tell the other something really important or the other loses a temper.

When my new marriage encountered its first rocky trial, my parents were the first to run to our sides and hold us up, urging us to forsake everything else, especially our own pride, and hold fast to the promises we made. I’ll be honest, internet world. I didn’t want to hear it. I wanted to be free to do whatever I wanted. But real freedom is not found in our own wants. It’s found in forgiveness. And because I had seen my parents endure so much more and still remain together, I prayed that we could, too.

Mama & Papa, thank you. Thank you for loving Jesus more than yourselves, and dying to your own wants to honor each other and the vows you made. Thank you for teaching me that God can do miracles. Thank you for enduring hard trials. It’s strengthened  my faith. It’s strengthened each of you. And your marriage. And there are now 8 other kids after me because of it. Congratulations on 31 years… I look forward to seeing the rest of the story!

David Crowder Band sings this awesome song about how Jesus is our remedy, and I feel the lyrics so greatly apply to this story.

At the start
He was there
He was there
In the end
He’ll be there
He’ll be there
And after all
Our hands have wrought
He forgives
 

Oh, the glory of it all
Is He came here
For the rescue of us all
That we may live
For the glory of it all
Oh, the glory of it all

All is lost
Find Him there
Find Him there
After night
Dawn is there
Dawn is there
And after all
Falls apart
He repairs
He repairs

Oh, He is here
With redemption from the fall
That we may live
For the glory of it all
Oh, the glory of it all

After night
Comes a light
Dawn is here
Dawn is here
It’s a new day, a new day
Oh, everything will change
Things will never be the same
We will never be the same

Oh, everything will change
Things will never be the same
We will never be same







 

Kelli looked stunning even while she was getting ready.

I mean, seriously, GORGEOUS!

This is one of my favorites of the day– so happy!

Rawr.

I LOVE the look and feel of this one. So romantic.

Clay is Kelli’s brother, and definitely comes to life on the dance floor. The whole room was captivated!

Yes, Atlee was kind and gently fed his new bride her cake. And then Kelli went to town smooshing his face with his. It was hilarious.

If for some reason you cannot view the slideshow just above, please click here.

We started off in the dressing room below the Chapel for a little old fashioned glamour.

Then we did a few in the chapel…

And finally, we headed outside!

We hung up a few seconds later, and I mulled over the exchange of words. Yes, when I was newly married, I thought I would always want to hang out with my husband 24/7. And I still enjoy hanging out with him every chance I get. Randy is wonderful and I love him. He is my best friend, my confidant, my advocate, my love. I am so thankful he has an eye for photography and for his business sense. And he’s cute. I mean, really, internet world. It’s true. Especially when he wears his dark jeans and has a camera in hand.

Truth be told, that new excitement does fade for the majority of couples. Why? Well, because the newness wears off as marriage becomes more challenging. Nobody says it’s easy. Heck, that’s why a lot of people divorce. (I send my love to all divorcees and their kids out there!)
Those you know you the best, know better than anyone how unlovable you can be. It’s when they choose to love you anyway that real love begins. Even after you’ve hurt them and they’ve hurt you. When you think you can’t go on. Or you’re bored with how things are. Or you’re hopeless. It’s not always easy to sacrifice your own wants and needs for your spouse. But it’s worth it. It’s what I’ve witnessed my parents do. Even. When. It. Was. Hell. And that can single-handedly make you more like Christ. If you work at it, you’ll see amazing fruit.

Esther, I hope your excitement never fades, even when it gets hard. And for everyone else, here’s to dancing in the minefields. Because that’s what the promise was for. And we’ll be excited to be more like Jesus when we meet him because of it. Loving others. Even when it was hard.
This song’s for you, babe. I’m so thankful to have you. I love spending time with you every chance I get, and I look forward to the rest of our lives together. And to my parents, who’ve danced in the minefields for 31 years. (An anniversary shoot post is coming soon!)

If you’re thinking about getting married. Do it. It’s not always *new* and exciting, but it’s exciting in the wild ride kind of way…

Anyway… because of this interest in most things, I love to be learning as much as possible about the things I want to be good at… the things I am passionate about. Which means, that me & the internet have a love/hate relationship. I love that I can access so many informative things with the click of my mouse–I mean, who doesn’t check WebMD’s symptom checker for every random health question? (which may or may not freak a mom out)–but because I have this Mestas-ADD thing, checking “one thing” always turns into, “Oh, I need to email _____ and I need to upload those pictures, and I was supposed to check on this recipe for dinner tonight…” Yeah. So me and the internet have a love/hate relationship. Maybe it’s my husband and kids who do most of the hating…

So there I go rambling off again, but I AM TRYING TO SAY that I am taking part in this fabulous online, free, seminar with my favorite Southern California photographer, Jasmine Star. This awesome thing is called Creative Live and I am so pumped to be able to watch! I am even more excited that I *may* be able to meet Jasmine at another conference next month! Thanks to my upbringing, I can never learn enough and I have been privileged enough to be involved in several photography conferences/ seminars every year to keep up the inspiration… to keep on learning. I am working on a new website and this information is so helpful for that process! I am now secretly glad it’s been a busy month– with two weddings and three other shoots, and you know, life with two kids two and under– because now I can implement my new knowledge and reevaluate my methods. So here’s me, telling you, you can never learn enough. You’re never enough of a smarty parts to not need any more of a challenge…so go for it!

Jana & Digit experienced a few setbacks in the months prior to their wedding, but finally the day was here and there was nothing that would get them down. Their joy at having found this kind of love, the kind that makes you feel ten feet tall, the kind of love you dream about, was indelible. And infectious. Thanks, E-Harmony, for helping to bring this pair together. Digit’s stable, relaxed and caring nature really nurtures Jana’s creative, orderly, sweet nature in all the best ways. And vice-versa. Harrises, thank you for having us be a part of your wedding day. It was truly an honor.

Be sure to check out their slideshow HERE.

Here you can see a little of their fun edginess in their shoe selection. We LOVED this.

I loved that we found this mural on the back of the new library–and that they had never even seen it before! Jana and her crew joined Digit and his in Nashville, where they’ll be building their new home and life together. FYI, this is the “Original Nashville” as the far right of the mural indicates.

Here you can see all the beautiful family! (And might I add, the beauty of doing all the photos before the wedding??)

Seriously, Jana? GORGEOUS.

I loved the vintage bird and potted plant decor!

So cool that they had a blugrass band at their reception!

And even more cool? A giant dessert buffet!

P.S. I know you’re reading this–so leave me a comment and let me know what you think! I get hundreds of hits per new post and want to know what you’re thinking!

“Mama, yook! Boobies. I want boobies over der.”

“Yes, Vaden, those are blueberries. You’re right.”

(Randy took Vaden alone to the grocery store a couple of months ago to purchase a few things, including a watermelon. Randy came home adamant that we work with him on his pronunciation of said fruit. Saying “boobies” is one thing. But while with Randy he shouted, “Yook, women! More women! I want women, Papa!” Randy was careful to correct him loudly, “Watermelon, Vaden. WA-TER-ME-LON.”)

Anyway, here are a few from one of the blueberry picking days…

Granny and Aunt Bev do not enjoy being photographed, but they are such treasures, we have to have photos of them for Vaden & Cana to have!

The garden!

And what have we been doing with all these blueberries besides gobbling them up as they are? Well, baking with them, of course! Homemade, whole grain, blueberry muffins. Mmm. Or as our little wordsmith says, “Nummy nummy, Mama.”