Saturday, September 25, 2010

11 years ago today...

Melanie and Paul got married!

I always take a few moments on our anniversary to go through our wedding album, here are a just a few favorite pics...


I thought a little about posing for this photo when I created "Hand in Hand"...(and think about that fabulous bouquet whenever creating a flower card!) ;)

Here's a fun pic of us doing a cheesy conga, tambourine and all! Of course I am mugging for the camera, but that sweet, humble man is looking at me. I just cherish his adoring look! What a guy! This photo is very bittersweet because if you look closely, there is a tiny scar on my right wrist. It is the only evidence on my body of a horrific car accident (a burn from the airbag, I was broadsided on the highway, forced off the road into a pole, my car flipped several times before landing on the southbound side of the freeway upside down, I was alone and kicked out the passenger window to get out ) that occurred just a few weeks before.
People who saw the wreck said it was a miracle I survived, much less that I escaped the car without a broken bone, that I had an angel with me. In those milliseconds after the initial impact I had time to think it "DANG it!! I was supposed to get my wedding portrait taken next week!!!!" and then "I am REALLY not going to be getting married, am I?? THIS IS IT, " and then calling on the Lord again and again to save me as the car rolled over and over for what seemed like an eternity. Well. Here I am to tell the tale. It took awhile to get back in a car without shaking and several weeks for the soreness to go away, but, here I am four weeks later, married to the love of my life, a glowing bride, dancing, on our wedding day! Going through that made me truly appreciate God had so many plans for my future, so many special things He was saving me for... (two of those special things are sitting in the other room right now watching cartoons!) :)
And this last was probably one of the few very candid shots in our wedding album (sorry for the poor quality of both of these last pics, I had to take a pic of the pic!) One of my bridesmaids who got married just one month before we did (and I missed her wedding because I got in the accident I described above on the way there!) told me before my big day, "That ceremony and party go so fast. There will be SO many people there wanting to talk to you. Make sure the two of you take a moment to go talk reflect on how everything you've been planning for so long turned out, enjoy how beautiful everything looks, and how much you love each other." Well, that sounded like great advice to me! So we stole away to a corner of the ball room (but the photographer managed to sneak up on us even so!) Although I remember this moment I don't really remember what he was whispering to me exactly, but I am so glad she captured the look on my face and how I was feeling: overwhelmed with happiness and gratitude for all the blessings I 'd received and things to come.

Paul, I know what you won't read this, but for the record, you are such a gift to me. Thank you for your faithfulness and devotion to me and our family. (He's outside right now grilling our steaks!) You make me better in so many ways and it is an honor and privilege to be married to you. I've learned marriage is not finding the right person, its being the right person, but I think I was fortunate enough to get both: that right person who also does the right thing and keeps no record of wrongs. I am trying so hard to be that for you, too. (And I gotta brag on him just a little more, he is doing a wellness program through work and has lost about 12 pounds in the last 4 weeks! He looks GREAT and I am so proud of him!)

God bless, thanks for reading about my wonderful husband, have a great rest of your weekend!

37 comments:

  1. Happy Anniversary! I enjoyed reading your story.

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  2. Congratulations Melanie! I also enjoyed reading your story and your pictures are beautiful!

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  3. Happy Anniversary, Mel! You were such a beautiful bride. And it sounds like you have a keeper, there. The best to you both.

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  4. Happy Anniversary, Melanie and Paul. Your story moved me to {happy} tears.

    You're blessed!

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  5. Beautifully said Melanie!
    We just returned from a memorial service for a friend of ours, Doris Bailey. Doris & Ray are both 92 and have been married for 74 years...always together, dear friends to everyone they meet,and wonderful role models in their service to the Lord. I wish you many years of the same - Happy Anniversary.
    Jan Castle

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  6. Happy Anniversary and many, many more. Love reading your story. Thanks for sharing.

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  7. What a story!! TFS Happy Anniversary to the both of you. Hugs n' Stuff, Lynne

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  8. Happy Anniversary! Thanks for sharing such a beautiful stoyr.

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  9. Amazing story, Melanie! May God continue to bless you and your Hubby, and your children too! Happy Anniversary!

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  10. Oh what an encouraging story of God's grace and favor on you! Blessings indeed to your family.

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  11. Anniversary blessings to you both. Never forget that every moment is special but after reading your wedding story, I know you truly do!

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  12. Thanks for sharing your anniversary and wedding story with us. You are a BEAUTIFUL couple in every way. Happy Anniversary!

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  13. What an amazing story! I love the photos and what they represent! I think Paul should read this. Jerry reads my blogs on Sunday mornings. It only took 36 years - oh wait there were no blogs 36 years ago! God has an incredible plan for you! Thanks for sharing!

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  14. What a special day - I'm so glad everything worked out the way it was supposed to. You definitely had angels with you that day. Beautiful pictures too - Happy Anniversary!

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  15. Happy anniversary to you, Mel!! You deserve to have a special day with your hubby!! Your story is amazing!!

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  16. Happy Anniversary to you! You were beautiful and just love the wedding dress too. My Anniversary is today too! I married my Jr High Sweetheart 34 years ago!

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  17. Happy Anniversay Melanie!!! Great photos, thanks for sharing them and your story. Too bad your hubbie won't read your blog, what a great tribute to him, lucky you:) Wishing you many more happy years together!!

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  18. Beautiful post Melanie and such a joyous occasion. It is good to reflect and to see what the Lord has done, so many things to be thankful for and He certainly protected you in that car accident and HAD/HAS great plans for your family. Love the look in your dh's eyes....hope he reads this ;o) (my dd turned three that day you were married, my how the years fly by!)

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  19. Happy Happy Anniversary Melanie! Thank you for sharing your story. You were a beautiful bride and you make a lovely couple. Wishing you many, many more years of happiness!

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  20. Happy anniversary and many more. Thanks for sharing your story and pictures.

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  21. Happy Anniversary! Great Story! Even a better "Happily Ever After!

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  22. Thanks for sharing your blessings with us. It helps us to remember to be thankful for ours. Congratulations!

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  23. what wonderful pictures - who knows why the accident but we know God has our steps planned (without our even knowing it)and that He performs miracles! You have been so blessed in so many ways - DH, kids, health and most important - your relationship with Jesus! thank you for always sharing with us,
    Happy Anniversary!!!
    hugs
    Linda

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  24. oh my, you are a young thing!
    Happy Anniversary - may you and your family have MANY more years of happiness!
    Sandra

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  25. Oh Melanie - thanks sop much for sharing yourself and your family with us - along with your fantastic creative talents. It's so easy to disconnect from people via the internet - even when we browse their sites regularly. But you do a great job being personal and inviting your followers to be the same. It just goes to show that technology CAN bring people together and add to relationship - rather than isolating people.

    And what a beautiful and blessed life story you share with us - Happy Anniversary- may God continue to bless you and your family abundantly!

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  26. I am always up for a real love story. You are indeed a lucky lady in many ways. Paul seems to be your everything! That's a wonderful feeling.

    I know because I have the love of my life and feel very blessed that I have him in my life. We were friends for 10 - 12 years before this love thing happened. He is the uncle of my best friend. Those 10 - 12 years were preparing me for this wonderful life I share with my husband Randy. Happy Anniversary Melanie!

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  27. Happy Anniversary Melanie and Paul! Thanks once again for sharing a piece of your story. You write so well, I enjoy it so much. Your photos are beautiful, that bouquet is gorgeous!

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  28. You were than, has you are now....a beautiful person......your inner beauty and outside beauty are the same.....I wish you and your DH.....many years of life together.....thank you for sharing a moment of your time from the past....

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  29. Happy Anniversary Melanie!! What a story my friend!. Many more years of happiness.

    God bless.
    Giovana

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  30. Happy, Happy Anniversary and big, big HUGS to you both!!!!

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  31. Awww, you made such a beautiful bride, Mel. Happy anniversary!

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  32. Happy Anniversay, Melanie, and thank you for sharing your inspiring story. Hope you have many more lovely years together.....

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  33. Awww I was out of town this weekend and am catching up. Congrats to you, dear girl! You deserve all the wonderful things in life. And may I say... you look just as beautiful today. *HUGS*

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  34. September 25th is my wedding anniversary also! I love the pictures.....I had a very small wedding with only two friends in attendance. But I have been happy for 18 years now. Congratulations to you.

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  35. WOW! Happy Anniversary, and may He continue to bless you and yours always as He has already.

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