Thank You For Being A Friend

We have a style dress for the bridesmaids! I understand we had a tie between two dresses that the bridesmaids liked and Cristina, the maid of honor, broke the tie. Style F14867, long sheer chiffon dress with beaded neckline won the vote! I love how the girls all tried the dresses on and took pictures to show you what they looked like. The girls will be gorgeous in them. Now it is just a matter of sizing and ordering for each of them. They will look lovely standing on the deck off the Manatee River as witnesses to your wedding.

Your Daddy and I were talking about how each girl has had such an impact in your life. I love that each will be wearing a different color, but all will be wearing the same style. To me it compliments your relationship with them. They all have the same special place in your heart, but each one became a friend with you on this journey of life in different locales, has a different personality and has made sweet memories with you. Lindsey as the precious cousin from Iowa you grew up with as two "squirrels in a pot;" Rebecca, your middle school through senior year buddy from Wisconsin; Mary, Emily and Shay, all college friends and roommates that you met in Charlotte; and Cristina your bestie whom you met in Rhode Island. Proverbs 17:17 says "A friend loves at all times," and I know how much you love these girls and how much they love you. You have personal jokes and stories about each one. I love that they will represent all those different phases of your life. It was similar with me at our wedding with my cousins I grew up with, a childhood friend, penpal and precious sister as my bridesmaids.

You are not done making friends, that I guarantee. You have already added Lindy and Erica to your list of good buddies that you've met in Florida. And there will be many, many more to come, each that will play a part in your life. And more for Rob also. And adventure of new friendships awaits. And the best way to make friends is to be a friend. So I know you both will have them in abundance. This moment with your bridesmaids and groomsmen will be the starting point of a grand new adventure together in friend making. But the best part is, the ones you have, aren't going anywhere.

Discussion: Talk about the different people you've befriended throughout your lives and what they mean to you? What characteristics do you look for in your friends?

Prayer: Lord we thank you for the souls you've had us cross paths with on this journey of life. May we, Father, reach out in love to new friends around us and love them with the love you show us. In Jesus, Amen.

Like A Sunset

It started with a bouquet. I think that may have been the first picture you sent me after your engagement. When I asked what your wedding colors would be, you texted me a bouquet picture you have saved for years. Oranges, pinks, yellows and sea blues danced in this bouquet. So we had a starting point. You wanted all the colors as part of the wedding. And knowing how you've always loved bright colors, this did not surprise me. Then came the question: What will the bridesmaids wear? I should have known one color wouldn't do. So the debate went on between seablues and coral pinks for the bridesmaids. The solution: "Mommy, I want them to look like a sunset." So, off Anton and I went to David's Bridal to combine colors and see what six colors blended into a beautiful sunset. After several mixes and matches with colors that had names like ballet, persimmon, begonia and cherry, we settled on watermelon, punch, guava, coral reef, tangerine and sunbeam. A beautiful sunset of
chiffon, flowing dresses. We had our colors. Then the question: which girl would wear which color? And which dress design would be chosen? I know you left the choice up to the girls. You asked the girls to try on the three styles you selected to see what they liked the best and asked them what color they wanted to wear. Now they haven't yet tried on the dress styles, but they all have selected the color they liked best ... and the amazing thing ... they each picked a different color! What are the chances! So Lindsey in watermelon, Shay in punch, Emily in guava, Mary in coral reef, Rebecca in tangerine and Cristina in sunbeam. Unbelievable. Of course, now we have to see what the consensus will be on design.

I looked up wedding colors to see what the significance was. The Perfect Palette said couples who choose aqua blue want a wedding near a body of water and those who select coral have a tropical, beachy feel. Check, check on both of those counts. You have both. Color Psychology says folks who pick orange are fun-loving, uplifting, creative and social; yellow is illuminating, warm and cheerful; seablue shows ambition and friendliness and coral expresses love. Again,check, check, check, check. There is no way one color could possibly express you both, so this combination is perfect.

This could be one of the most beautiful weddings I will ever go to from a color standpoint. Bright, lively, fun, inviting and joyful are the thoughts and feelings they bring to mind. And what better words to describe the union of two people who love the Lord, love each other, love the folks they are asking to be in the wedding and attend and want to celebrate big. We sure are going to have fun.

Soooo, what are the boys wearing?

Discussion: What of the color meanings above, do you think best describe you both? How will you use those colors in the wedding and reception?

Prayer: Creator God, you have painted the sky in breathtaking ways over and over again when the sun rises and sets. How appropriate that this occasion should have the sun setting on this couple's singleness and rising on their new life together. May you be glorified in it all. In Jesus, Amen.