Oregonian Wedding~ She Weds!

The moment you've all been waiting for. Here comes the bride...

Shanelle's favorite cello piece played from a tiny aqua blue speaker while Jake walked his number one daughter down the aisle. The guests had formed a line on each side so that Shanelle could be greeted by each of our smiling faces and we could each enjoy hers. The officiant shared eloquent metaphors comparing the ocean to the bond between two different cultures and to love which has no bounds. Then, the groom and bride read their own inspired words of love which caused droplets of tears to trickle down the cheeks of many who were standing in the mossy, stone gazebo. Rings were slid onto fingers and the groom sealed their vow of matrimony with a very showy kiss.

After taking pictures in the woods, my family, along with Keili and Stephanie, dashed over to the events center and decorated for the dinner. Shanelle had gathered books, vases, frames, and such from thrift stores. She made the cake herself. (I didn't get a picture!) It was delicious. As was dinner itself. Harris came up to me and said, "I did this with my napkin because Phil did this with his napkin." You see how important it is to always be a good example!

It was great to have time to sit around and socialize. I spent time at each table. The Best Man and Maid of Honor gave very sentimental speeches. It was neat to hear what Shanelle and Lawrence's peers had to say about growing up with them. My favorite part was when they had their first dance together as a married couple. I watched my younger daughters watching them and remembered how magical it was when I, at sixteen, watched my cousin dance with her new husband.

We were exhausted after, and made the guys pack everything up. We gave hugs to all our new and old friends and went in our separate directions. I just realized that I didn't get any of my own photos with the Calverts! Well, I will share the photos that Justin took when I get them.

May Shanelle and Lawrence be blessed with lots and lots of years to grow together in strength and friendship.

Oregonian Wedding~ THE Day aRRiveS!

Shay put this together herself.

On Saturday, the day of the wedding, Rylee and I headed down to the rental house around noon. Thursday and Friday had been horrible weather. Saturday was beautiful all day. Sunday and Monday miserable again. A definite blessing, yes???

Shanelle and Lawrence rented what they thought was a 3 bedroom which turned out to be a 5 bedroom house just a block from the beach. This was a fantastic deal and gave everyone there tons of room to spread out.

This was the moment I got to meet Lawrence's parents, and two sets of aunts and uncles, his best man, and Shay's photographer friend from high school. Phil was there- fixing himself a meal. Ha! I ribbed him for having just woken up. He said that was his way of beautifying himself for the wedding.

I tried to catch up on blogging while trying not to seem like a social misfit. Keili, Shay's best friend from high school, and Stephanie, Shay's best friend from college, were up to their elbows in flowers. Some from a shop, some from my dad's house in Newport (thank you Ida!), some that the girls had gathered in the wild around the rental house. They made boutonnieres, bouquets, and saved  some for the dinner.

Bathroom number one. The boys were downstairs.

Lawrence's mum surprised and shamed me by handing me a piece of England. In a bag. No, not dirt! She is a good gift giver: 2 adorable tins of mints, an even more adorable tin of the BEST chewy toffees ever, and a tea towel. Each one depicting famous scenes of London. I do love London! Thank you Linda! I'm sorry I had nothing to give back!

It was wonderful to sit there and listen to the sing-song intonations and accents of Lawrence's family and friends. I learned that the women of the family take a trip every year. Lawrence's dad, Tony,  always uses that opportunity to remodel some part of the house. With no one around, he orders food in, and doesn't have to put his tools away at end of day. Linda and Tony were married 15 years before they had Lawrence. Then, Lawrence wanted a brother so they had another. Ha.

They all had great senses of humor and I think we all felt quite at ease with each other.

None of that for me, thanks!

Rylee did Shanelle's hair, makeup, and eyelashes. Yes, yes, I DID say eyelashes! Rylee has been studying hairstyles for quite a while for this day.

Her hair is really long!

Lawrence was not allowed to see the bride before the ceremony.

I told all my children that there is no way I can be the photographer at their weddings. Shooting weddings is hard work. Justin is not a portrait or wedding photographer; said he hates it, actually. He does travel/documentary type stuff. Way more fun than portraits!

I did jump in after the ceremony to arrange everyone for pictures. It's double hard to be the camera man and the stylist.

Larry, Mo, and Curly

 Jake did a great job getting the boys ready. I'm sure he was very hands-on. Ha. They were so excited to wear bow-ties. Harris said he figured out his all on his own.

Come on Jan, face your fears!

  This is my Sister-Missionary. Formerly known as Sister Clark, she taught me the Gospel 20 years ago. She surprised me 15 years ago by showing up to my wedding in Afton, then surprised us all by showing up to my daughter's wedding in Oregon! Turns out, her husband had proposed to her in Florence at the Heceta lighthouse.

She is more afraid of heights than I am and would not go near the wall at the edge of the cliff.










Jake kept fretting because he didn't know what his duties were. I said it's easy. Let her take your arm, walk her down the aisle, and give her to Lawrence! There was a trail through the green forest leading to a stone building. We all gathered there waiting for the one in white.

Very brave outfit for me. Men have it so easy.

Walkin' the mile... walkin' the mile... walkin' the green mile!

Cape Perpetua

Beautiful day.

When's Shanelle coming?

Oregonian Wedding~The Troops Arrive!

After a two day drive with the four younger whippersnappers, Jake was rewarded with driving through Portland. That was his favorite. Okay, you can sense the outright lying right? He was very grumpy and carsick by the time I met up with him in Portland. We stayed one night, and went early to the temple. This is the first temple I've seen with an atrium in the lobby. On one of the tables was a sign: Please limit photography to inside the atrium. I guess in a place where it rains a lot, you provide a protected area for picture taking. What about in a place where it's winter 9 months of the year???

After after, we took the kids to Multnomah Falls which is 30 miles east of Portland. We went up to the bridge, then continued up to the look-out. Over a mile of climbing! Albeit, the trail is paved, but still! Next day, I got out of bed and my calves SCREAMED at me.

The boy with my face.

That's how far we came up!

Horror movie scene. She's scaring me.

They missed it. They ran right by it and missed it.

That tree has toes!

Someone's troll family.