They say that a picture is worth a thousand words. I say that it's worth a whole lot more than that. In a single photo you can see every raw emotion written... forever captured in a persons eyes. You can relive details of a night out with the girls or a moment you shared with your nephew taking his first steps.
Photography is an art and an ability to take one moment in time and make it last forever. It "is a way of feeling, of touching, of loving. What is caught on film is captured forever... it remembers little things, long after you have forgotten everything." I find that sometimes a photo can take me back with a simple glance, it reminds me of the laughs I shared or the tears I cried... they often make me smile and some even take my breath away.
I have thousands of photos... in albums, in frames, in scrapbooks, and tucked away. I find it difficult to replace old photos that I've come to love so much despite that the images are no longer current for today... like the picture of my niece who is clearly no longer the 6 year old girl I still hold in a frame... Recently moving into a new home I've come to realize that much of my life in these photos are my life from another time and while I know that many pictures need to be updated I find them comforting, especially living so far away from home, to see the smiling faces of my friends and family to which I spent so much time with. I miss them.
This week we are starting to see some of the images from the wedding. I am so thankful that I choose Brooke as my photographer, she has a gift... she see's people. I've only seen a few of these photos and am already reliving the day... as cliche as it may be, our wedding day was honestly magical... my many families, extended; even unrelated, and friends were all together in one room and despite all my fears, concerns, worries... they all got along... enjoyed themselves, and I think even caught a glimpse of the genuine happiness you get from being with those that know you the best, no matter how much you don't get along. If you know me... you know that this tiny detail was all I could ever want in a wedding day... and I got it.
So, I shall take every moment in as I continue to get photos from my magical day... I'll relive the seconds till "I do"... the silliness in the bridal suite with my girls... my special shoot with my favorite girl Britney... and the amazing sunset with my husband. It's pretty lucky, magical day's don't happen for everyone... and through these photos I'll get to relive mine every day ;o)
I've had several requests by some guests at the wedding to post our vows as they were unable to hear them all due to the thunder and what not during the ceremony... I'm shamed to even post mine next to my husbands since his are far superior to my own. In any event, these make me smile and I shall remember them as well as live by them for the rest of my life... Cheers."Jennifer, from the moment we met I have known that we would end up standing here exchanging our vows to each other. My love for you was immediate and undeniable. It is a love that grows deeper every day. You often ask, why me? Why do you love me so much? The answer is simple; my life is empty without you. You have showed me what it is to truly love and to be loved and not a day has gone by that I have not learned something about myself from you.
You have come into my life and healed my heart and made it whole. You have taught me forgiveness, kindness, strength, and from time to time even a little humility. You have not just made me want to be a better man, you have helped me become a better man. Our life together will see highs and lows, laughter and joy, sorrow and loss. But, no matter what challenges life my present us with, I know that together we will emerge stronger, wiser, and closer than we were before. It's for these reasons and many, many more that today is the proudest day of my life. And I know that if my parents were alive to know you and love you the way I do, today would have been one of their proudest days as well.
I feel truly blessed and honored to be the man you have chosen to spend the rest of your life with. I stand here today as the man who pledges to love, cherish, respect, and protect you every day for the rest of my life. No matter where life may take us, my home is where ever you are. I love you so very much and I can't wait to live our happily ever after."
"Shaun, today I give to you my hand, my whole heart, and my love. I take you to be my husband and am proud to become your wife. I don’t think you’ll ever truly know how happy you’ve made me or how every day I continue to find myself loving you more than I did the day before. I promise to you and to our future that I will respect you, laugh with you, cry with you, and even give you the benefit of the doubt… from time to time(insert inside joke here) and above all to always love you… through good times and bad, regardless of any obstacles that we may face. You are my love… my life… my everything."
Something about September makes me smile... the whole back to school and starting "a-new" bit seems to set in for me this time of year. This year September marks my one year anniversary of change.
This time last year I had recently acquired a fiance... moved to Florida, and started my new job. Now, a year later... I'm attempting to make an even better life for myself here with a husband, a new dog (Duchess Paisley Christine, the perfect compliment to our little Princess Britney Jean) and a new house. In the wake of new horizon's... it's also my final semester at Eastern Michigan University . Hard to believe that just under two years ago I posted on my blog my infamous random act of applying for a Master's degree... and here I am, just two months shy of achieving that goal that I thought I had lost so long ago.
My quest to better myself and to "be all that I can be" seems to never end. I wonder sometimes when I'll actually ever find myself content with my knowledge... until then I guess it's onward and upwards for me. Up next? A PHD maybe? I suppose we'll have to wait and see! So to all those going back to school and celebrating September with change as am I... enjoy and remember with change comes new opportunities and adventures that you would have never otherwise known.
Quote of the day:
"Memory is the mother of all wisdom."
