Wordless Wednesday - LOVE

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Show and Tell Friday

Today I'm participating in "Show and Tell Friday" hosted over at Kelli's blog, There's No Place Like Home. Please go visit her blog here to see more great show and tell posts!

Today I am sharing this wonderful vase filled with sand. Wonderful you say? Well, this was a very special part of our wedding and for those of you who don't know, it is called "Unity Sand".

We used this idea in place of the unity candle. They both symbolize the joining of a man and woman in marriage. However, what I really like about this special sand filled vase, is that it is something we can keep and display in our house. It reminds me each time I see it of the vows I said at our wedding and the importance of our marriage. Even more importantly, God being the center of our marriage.

We chose colors that were neutral so that they would go with any style our house may have. I also love the vase that we chose to display it in.

Here we are at our wedding ceremony, filling the vase. We filled the vase in layers. Mackenzie would put some sand in, then I would follow, and so on.

The song you hear right now on the music player, is the song that was playing during the Unity Sand and Communion! It is called "Only You" by David Crowder Band.

I hope you enjoyed sharing in this very special part of our union a Husband and Wife!

I'm sorry for not posting yesterday! I had very busy days both Wednesday and Thursday and only had time to check out your blogs! That's just life for keeping us busy! Have a blessed weekend!

A Very Special Wedding Gift

I wanted to share with you a wonderful gift we received from our wedding. We have a good friend who is very talented both musically and artistically. So, instead of a gift off our registry, we asked her to paint us a picture that would go in our new home.

She asked us our style and what we would like and this is what she came up with:

A beautiful red Orchid to hang above our dining table. I absolutely LOVE it! I love orchids and I love the style she chose to paint it.

Here it is next to a candle sconce. We are going to get an identical sconce to go on the other side of the painting as soon as we can.

Mackenzie and I both love having orginal artwork in our home. From friends, family, ourselves...we want to have it. In fact, we'd love originals to be the only thing we have hanging in our home, but that may take awhile! We have some other work from a friend who makes wood carvings and then stamps them onto paper with ink...here's an example:

Not only do we enjoy it, we feel it supports our friends as well!

Hope you enjoyed viewing our special gifts! Have a wonderful Friday!

Our Wedding Pictures

WARNING: Lots of pictures in this post. :)

I thought I'd share some of our wedding pictures that were taken by our photographer Jamie. She really did an amazing job. I know some of you were able to see the pictures that my mother in law Sharon was able to take from both the pre-wedding events and the wedding. Here's some more that you haven't seen! Hope you enjoy!

Here's my Dad, walking me down the isle.

Groomsmen, all three of Mackenzie's brother were groomsmen.

Bridesmaids and flower girl

Communion

Mr and Mrs!

We got a few minutes of alone time before pictures and the reception!
(Well, sort of alone...obviously our photographer was there too)

My Family: From left to right, my Brother-in-law Sea Jay, sister Sarina, step Dad Larry, Mom Patti, Me, Kenzie, nephew Michael, niece Alyssa (both are Sarina and Sea-Jay's kids), Dad Moe and step Mom Jeanne

Mackenzie's Side (which I'm sure you've met them all)
Grayson, Cameron, Me, Kenzie, Sharon, Eric, and Hayden

The whole wedding party!

Our photographer really has a neat style, taking lots of photos like this.

Entering the reception

First Dance

Father Daughter Dance

Mother Son Dance

Cutting the Cake

Our beautiful flowers

The Rings

Getting ready with my mom

Groomsmen...don't they look like models? ha

Kenzie and his Best Man....they love the movie Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou, that's where the red hats come from!

Father and Son

Mackenzie is also a huge Star Wars fan, it wasn't a surprise that he brought all this for the pictures!

The Girls

My sweet niece Alyssa..she really was happy, just tired of pictures!

My Sis and I

Mackenzie and his parents

Mom and I

Dad and I

My new mother and father in law!

I really hope you enjoyed these! There are so many more pictures but I was afraid I'd bore you with more!

We had another snow day today so I am going to get some Christmas presents done and shipped out! Have an amazing weekend!

Brittany