Special Moments

My wedding day was special for more reasons than one. One obvious, I was getting married. But, I was getting married hundreds of miles away from home; here in Alabama. Far for my bridesmaids and far for my family and friends. I was touched by the simple thought that they would do anything it took to fly here, no matter what the expense. So, when they actually got here and stood by me at my wedding and watched from their seat...I was speechless. 

Here are all of my close friends, flying in from Arizona and Colorado. Here are all of Robbie's close friends, all loyal friends since wee childhood. The fact that they were all there made my heart so tender, they worked SO hard on this wedding and I can never ever thank them enough.

Believe it or not, this is the first family picture of all of us. The first. Everybody here except my sister in law(she was like 8 months pregnant back in AZ ready to pop!) and my sweet grandma, that passed and is with the Lord a few months before. My Grandpa and aunt and uncle came in from a different country to see me marry. I see them once every couple years, so this was such a beautiful treat. I miss them so much.

Seeing my Granpa Felix and Robbies grandma Sandy walk down the isle, two different cultures coming together, two different languages mixing and uniting into one family. Both their spouses have passed, so having them there healthy was SUCH a blessing.

Another reason why my wedding day was so emotional was because the farewell was really a farewell. I couldn't just wave and hug my family for that night, the next morning they were leaving back to PHX and knowing that I wasn't going to see my uncle aunt and grandfather next was so hard. Same with my mom and dad and brothers and my little sister. UGH so emotional! They mean so much to. This hug was  ended with tears. Just so you know.

But the beauty as to why my family was here was to see me marry a wonderful man. Here is robbie, getting ready to receive me!

and here am I, so nervous! I remember this picture being taken. Our wonderful Photographers were getting ready to take me to the site where I was going to see Robbie for the first time!

I also remember this one. Finally being in his arms placed peace right in my heart. This was really our only time alone together the whole day. I wouldn't trade this for anything! Seeing robbie before the wedding ceremony let us just be and enjoy each other.

My sweet dad walking me down...

Now this, this was one of my special moments. My dad was a Marine for over 20 years, being hard on the outside but somewhat tender on the inside. This was one of the few occasions in life my dad was pure vulnerable. 

Here I am realizing the sureal dream I thought I was having was actually true.

Our first dance, another little tiny moment with just us. Finally married. No more plane tickets every month flying from PHX to Birmingham or BHM to Phoenix. No more long weeks/months away from each other. This was the time I realized, "yup...we're good. Really Good"

I was feeling a little homesick, can you tell? I'm so thankful I had the photographers I had. The Sloan photographer photographed every little special moment and I can NEVER thank them enough. Times like tonight, where I can look back and have a little bit of my family and special day back :) Thank you.