[ Awesome Weekend ]

This weekend was very special to me. It was spent with friends who I consider family now. When we traveled to Haiti this past summer on our mission trip we met and took along Barb to surprise her daughter Bobi for her birthday. Meeting Barb was like finding a friend that I'd lost as a child and reconnected with like we'd never been apart. Her daughter is an amazing and beautiful young woman that has done nothing but missions for her adult life. Listening to Barb tell the story of how she knew this was what Bobi was meant to do will give you goosebumps. But that's a story for another time.
Bobi and Marcus met this summer during their mission work. They fell in love and decided to marry in just three short months. But it's just as God designed it to be. Bobi shared her heart with us this summer and how she was so discouraged about not finding someone to share her life with and wondering how that would ever happen while she was in a third world country. Doing God's work leaves you completely at His mercy. He will provide. He did provide. The beauty part is Marcus has the same heart for missions and the children of Haiti that Bobi does and even though they returned to the states to share their wedding with family and friends they will return 'home' to Haiti after the holidays. It's where they belong right now, and home.... well, that's wherever they are together. ♥
Marcus and his brother are so funny. I could see how easy it was for Bobi to fall in love with such a man with a heart for God and a kindness that pours out of him and his family. They are wonderful people.
I hadn't been to a 'holiday' wedding in YEARS. But I distinctly remember the first time. It was beautiful and Bobi's wedding was even more breathtaking than the last one. Candles and Christmas trees lit the sanctuary. It was very simple, yet elegant. Just like a fairytale. I cried....
Yes, I'm a sap at weddings, how I ever get through photographing them I'll never know. I'm usually wiping tears from my face, but at least I can hide somewhat behind my camera. It's even worse when I know the bride (or groom) personally. Yes, I blubbered like a baby at times yesterday. Lord help me when it's my daughter's turn. :)
I can't begin to tell you what these two women mean to me. I will cherish them and their friendship always and thank God for bringing our lives together. That was the bonus of the weekend on top of everything wedding..... friends from Haiti came home to the states for the wedding. Leslie and Elsie were there. It was so great to see them. So warm...it made me miss Haiti so. Time will take me there again. That part I know is in God's plan. I can't wait for the day to arrive that I can say "this is the day I fly to Haiti again."

I'm hoping to soon switch into Christmas mode, but with all these beautiful distractions I may never get around to Christmas shopping. Yep.... you read that right. Twelve days before Christmas and I haven't begun my shopping. And don't intend to anytime soon. For one thing, I don't like shopping and another.... it drives my kids crazy that there are no presents under our tree. lol :o) yes, I'm evil like that. I hold out on sharing the loot as long as possible, no need to get them crazy and driving me nuts asking is it this is it that.... bigger than a breadbox? Smaller than a basketball? 'Cause again....half the fun is never wrapping something in the size of box it requires. Always go bigger or scrunch things in smaller boxes if possible. Anyway..... tired and delirious from the weekend. My gift to the bride and groom was being the photographer. A job I loved tremendously, but forgot how much it tires me out and makes my feet ache.... I'm off to bed.