just as i had imagined...

Every little girl dreams of one day wearing a white dress, marrying her Prince Charming, and riding off into the sunset...

As far back as I can remember, Tabitha has been a part of my life.  Reaching into my deepest memories, I see us playing house and discussing our wedding plans.  I never knew what I wanted, but Tabitha - she did.  The color would be pink and she would wear a tiara.  We would giggle and imagine who our Prince Charming would be and what if he ended up being one of the little boys we grew up with???  Eww...gross!

This past Friday, however I watched my best friend marry a young man that we grew up along side.  A young man, whom I would have arguments and debates during lunch hours, so imagine my surprise when she informed me as a senior in high school that she liked him.  It soon became obvious come our college years that David was her match...her Prince Charming.

Their courtship had its up and downs but through it all, Tabitha never wavered and knew in her heart that he was the one for her.  I was so very proud to not only share a part in their wedding day, but also be their photographer and Tabitha's personal attendant!

I was able to accompany her to the salon while she was done up like Cinderella...

I helped her with the finishing touches of putting on her jewelry:

I spent the entire day photographing my best friend's fairy tale dream come true;

and I can honestly say it was one of the happiest days of my life.

They were a couple so in love and such a joy to shoot!

I love you both and I enjoyed every minute of your happily ever after.

{More of their wedding will be posted within the next few days on my photography blog}

Come see some of my photography over at Serendipity-Images.

Setting up house!

Over the last few days I was able to spend some time with one of my best friends, Tab

who will be getting married in just 13 days!

I drove up to MI where I was able to help her get her apartment decorated and in order.

We had so much fun, staying up late, moving furniture, hanging pictures, painting, and grocery shopping.

Tab is my oldest friend.

My mom and her mom were best friends prior to either of our births,

so it was only natural that we inherited their closeness with each other.

I remember playing house with our barbies and her brother's GIJoes for hours on end, 

and dreaming of someday having our own house.

Well, her day has come and her little nest is just perfect and I know she will make a wonderful housewife!

Her future sister-in-law, Susan has been a huge help, and we had alot of fun with her.

We painted the master bedroom green, but were not able to get it all set up...

Tab will be conquering that project this week!

I love her kitchen!

We could have sat in there for hours just soaking it all in...:)

Her living room is so very homey...

And although you cannot tell from this picture her bathroom colors are blue and yellow...

Michigan colors, OF COURSE! :)

So glad I was able to make the trip,

I had a memory filled two days!

Come see some of my photography over at Serendipity-Images.

Something to ponder

 Do not pray for easy lives!

Pray to be strong men.

Do not pray for tasks equal to your powers.

Pray for powers equal to your tasks.

Then the doing of your work shall be no miracle,

but you shall be a miracle.

~Phillips Brooks

 Greatness comes not by having a mossy path made for you

through the meadows, but by being sent to hew out a roadway

by your own hands.

 I read that excerpt today and it really caused me to just sit and ponder.

How many times have I been envious of others who seem to live a bed of roses.

To me it seems as if everything in life has been handed to them.

I am truly happy for them, but sometimes I wonder...

Why can't my life be like that?

I am not saying this to complain about my life, because I love life...

God is truly so very good to me.

However after reading this I was convicted of listening to the Devil 

and feeling sorry for myself at times.

Convicted of wishing for things that are not necessarily bad,

but are not what God would have for me at this time in life.

And then it hit me...

The reason God does not give me a life of miracles and perfection is because He is working the miracle through me, rather than around me.

I do not want others to wish for my life, but rather to wish for my faith.

I want to live so that others see the miracle living in me.

 The easy life does not lead to greatness of character.

And so I prayed today - not for a bed of roses but rather

the character to rise to whatever God may bring may way.

 

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood, and I -

I took the one less traveled by,

And that has made all the difference.

~Robert Frost

{Pictures taken in Napa, CA} 

Come see some of my photography over at Serendipity-Images.