November Gratitude - Day Twenty Three

This is one of my favorite shots of Marc and Marie.

Tonight our darling wedding photographer came over with her mom Julie to show us all her beautiful photos.  Marc and Marie, Terri and Jerry were here and we had the best time looking through hundreds of gorgeous photos.

Katelyn did such an amazing job. Here's the thing. Katelyn is 14. She's got such God-given talent and a great eye and she is wonderful to work with and professional beyond her years. Check out her site at Katelyn McKay Photography.

I am so blessed by this family - love mom and dad here. 

Our two families - such a joyous day.

So thankful for the love God has put in their hearts for each other.

November Gratitude - Day Seven

I am filled with gratitude for my friends.  Old friends, new friends, long distance friends and my just a house away neighbor friends who are the cutest wedding guests ever.

Honestly, there is not a chance that I would have made it to or through the wedding sane without all these dear friends. It takes a village people.

People like Ruth and Penny. Penny altered Marie's gorgeous dress to fit her like a glove as a gift to Marie helping the already stunning Marie take Marc's breath away when he saw her. I just love Penny and her sweet and loving self.

Her daughter Ruth came over and helped me turn Marc's old room into my wonderful new craft/guestroom. She knew I wanted to make it a cozy guestroom for my Aunt Pat who was coming for the wedding. We spent an entire day applying layer after layer of Kilz and paint to cover the blue the room had been. We talked and visited for hours which made the work so much fun but what kind of friend gives you an entire day of painting labor?? A really, really great friend! Unfortunately, Sandy ruined Pat's plans to be here for the wedding but her room is ready as soon as she can visit.

Marie's shower was a labor of love by so many friends both Marie's and mine. It was a gorgeous shower thanks to all the help. One detail I loved so much were the wonderful M's that my friend Maryanne made.

Each M was covered with photos of Marc and Marie for a personalized gift. It was a great shower decoration and they look great in their apartment.

Maryanne didn't start or finish there. She helped me decorate for their engagement party making their "Match Made in Heaven" banner and more. Maryanne volunteers so much of her time to help animals builds fences for chained dogs, fosters and more. I know she was doing all that and working hard on a fundraiser during the time she was helping me but just kept offering more help and support.

So I took her up on it - here she is with Bev filling the honey bear favors for Marc and Marie's wedding.

This picture cracks me up - there's a little Lucy and Ethel going on here that would probably only be funny to us. 130 little bears were filled with sticky, gooey honey somehow.

Some of the honey was from Laura and some was from Trader Joe's since our own hive wasn't doing well. The two honeys made for such a pretty color combination.

Laura's honey is front and center in the pic.

Marie came and helped fill the bears.

I put the labels on their bellies.

Gabby tied twine and a tag around their caps.  The uniform and tidy twine tying should be noted. =D

I wish I'd gotten a picture of them at the reception all lined up on an antique style tray under the poster sized photos that Gabby had taken for Marc and Marie's engagement session.

I wish I'd gotten many other pictures but just didn't have the presence of mind to do it on wedding day.

I am so thankful for these very special friends that came from California for the wedding. Keith Migi and Manik flew most of Friday arriving near midnight to make Saturday morning's wedding. Somehow I didn't scare them away with my scream of delight seeing this gorgeous family walking towards me. We were so blessed to have them here and get to spend time Saturday night and for a bit on Sunday.

Speaking of Sunday, did you know that my crazy hubby ran a marathon? Did you know my crazy neighbors packed up my favorite kiddos WITH SIGNS to cheer him on?

It was chilly waiting but it didn't deter my Feks!

Bev and Shannon came over after saying good bye Trevor, Kelsey and Kate. Then John and Marina came, too.

Chris zipped by us high-fiving Ev and O.

I just love the look on Ev's face.

He has told Chris he wants to run a marathon with him when he's 12.

I could see it happening.

Chris ran past us and to the finish line beating his time last year. Pretty amazing after a blur of a weekend including his son's wedding and hosting two dinners. But that's my Chris.

I love the contrast between John and Marina's NYC look and our not so stylish duds!

After the marathon we went to Marie's parents' house for brunch and present opening. When we returned Keith, Migi and Manik came and visited for just a bit longer. I'm so thankful for friends who are like family, who make the years and the miles disappear with stories and laughter.

My beautiful Sri Lankan Sister!

I am so thankful and so blessed to have these amazing people and more in our lives. The friends who called and wrote and prayed and who are still praying  for Marc and Marie humble me with their kindness and love. I don't know how I'll ever repay all the love and care we've been blessed with but I will do my best.

November Gratitude - Day 6

On Day 6 I am thankful for our family.

For my mom and dad always being here for us even though dad is hiding from the camera above. For my mother in law Suzie and our French family who couldn't be here but were in spirit. For Aunt Pat who planned to be here for the wedding but was derailed by Sandy. For my sister in law Bev and beautiful niece Shannon who, with mom, helped get our house ready for a crowd while we rehearsed on Friday.

For Bev again and again for all her help with so many parts of the wedding preparations and always for her salsa!  For Dev and and his amazing wife Carmen being with us I am so thankful.

For the Marc Muellers in the photo at the top of the page who gathered from all over the east coast to be with us for Marc and Marie's wedding I am thankful.  It had been twelve years since we had all been together. What a gift to have a house full of Muellers if only for a short while.

For Kelsey and Katelyn representing our GA McKernies I am so thankful. Love these beautiful girls and hardly got to see them in the whirlwind of the wedding weekend but having them here with us was wonderful. For Trevor who is photo bombing the photo I am especially thankful as he brought K1 and K2 to us!

For these three smiles I am thankful.

For all the rest of the family who sent love and prayers from other states I am truly grateful.

Photo thanks to Katelyn Soderlund, Josh Stevens and Kelsey McKernie.

November Gratitude - The Wedding Edition

November 1: I am thankful for a loving God who has blessed me in every way possible. Amazing parents, husband, sons family and friends. And a special bit of gratitude for the weather he blessed us with during the ceremony!

November 2: I am thankful for Chris. He makes me laugh and makes me crazy. He has more energy than anyone I know and is one of the most giving people I've ever met.  When he's not making me crazy he keeps me sane - well as sane as I can be. Doesn't he look sharp?

November 3: The third day of November was Marc and Marie's wedding day. So this is their day through and through. Their love of God and each other is so beautiful. And because they are so sweet here they are sharing wedding cake.

November 4: Joe made our family a family of four. He completed our family. He is an amazing brother friend and son. He teaches me how to be a better person daily. Daily. It's humbling being his mother and a privilege.  Here he is presenting his best man toast.

November 5: We are now a family of five! Marie has really been a part of our family for over three years but now it's official and for this I am thankful.

Photos thanks to Gabby Fekete, Maryanne Kalman & Josh Stevens.