song – Living, Loving, Laughing….

Four months ago, I stood under a beautiful stained glass window, in a charming Methodist Church. A place our daughters, and mother loved dearly. A day fraught with meaning, love, and dedication (not to mention the blood, sweat, and tears).

I made God breathed promises to a man and his two daughters. Three people who I adore with all my heart. With my stunning daughter, two families became one. Our blended joy held in a clear glass vase of unity. Our wedding sand ceremony.

The colors were peach, beige, and pink. The girls were pink (of course). Jason was peach, and I was the beige. We each had a vase to hold and pour. One, by one, we filled the vase with our personal color. Not only combining a beautiful tapestry of art, but a reminder of this moment, and this day when we became a blended family.

Our differences unique, but when blended together, make a beautiful piece of work. It was perfect.

I did consider the unity candle, but to me, the sand was so much closer to what I thought we were. And I love that we can keep it on our mantle at home.

The song we played while we poured the sand was Have a Little Faith in Me sung by Westside Music Ministry. I’ve put a video together of the wedding pictures our step-brother Kevin took. I haven’t ordered Kellene’s yet, but I will as soon as I can. I love them all.

The song we picked wasn’t just for the flow and tune (although, I do love that). The song reminds me of our “broken” roads of the past. Both of us devastated by divorce. Neither of us intent on remarriage. Neither of us willing to risk being hurt again. And neither of us wanted our children to EVER suffer another divorce, and believe me, it is the children that suffer.

It took a lot of faith to walk that road. To trust. To love. To believe. To I do again.

“When your back’s against the wall, just turn around, and you will see. I’ll be there to catch you. I will catch your fall. Just have a little faith in me.”

Faith is why we chose to love again. Faith healed our hurts. God brought us together and every broken piece from our lives FIT (perfectly).

On this day, our wedding day, we faced a mom (his) in ICU. And a mom (mine) missing. Yet somehow, God held us close and brought us a day we will never forget and always cherish.

Have a little faith…..have a little faith…..

Happy four months to us and many, many more.

Her eyes, her eyes….
Make the stars look like they’re not shining…
She’s so beautiful and I tell her every day (excerpt from Bruno Mars-Just the Way you Are).

A child’s eyes are more than just pretty peepers. They capture the innocence of the world in their gaze. The wonder, and the delight of learning, discovering, and becoming the grown-up they will one day be. All of the universe is a dash away from their grasp. It’s in their eyes where a child’s spirit radiates their joy and their heart. Laughter pours out unchecked. It fills the air with sparkles, and amazement. They fly from one place to the next because their liveliness can’t be grounded. And their eyes……their eyes………shine. Do you remember those days? What if you were to capture it?

This is my entry for The Paper Mama photo challenge. It was hard to choose between the three beautiful girls I have at home – all of them – with the most gorgeous eyes I have ever seen, but this picture spoke to my childhood soul. That soul wants to soar. Catch me if you can…..