Summer Recap

At some point, I think everyone has that "summer of weddings" when they attend a couple weddings. Well for me this was my summer. And by a couple, it was 4. Four couples that is. Four weddings in four consecutive weeks. It was somewhat of a whirlwind. I am still processing everything I was a part of and how it was kind of a summer of my life. I closed many chapters in those 4 weeks... Let's start week one off with a bang. 4th of July weekend, State College, Pennsylvania. My brother, Gabe married Liz. It was a great weekend overall. All 9 kids were in one spot for more than 24 hours for the first time in probably a decade. And it was awesome. They are great. Every single one of them. Special moments and lasting memories.

 

Why? Because we are patriotic. 'Merica!

We clean up pretty great, in my humble, biased opinion. Not too shabby. It was so wonderful seeing everyone there. I was sad Luke wasn't there. It still felt like we weren't all there. I felt myself waiting for him to pop up from behind Dan or he and Isaac to be debating something. I guess it was somewhat of a relief to feel like his absence doesn't go away.
P.S. My parents are incredible people. My mom is just stunning, you guys. Absolutely stunning. She radiates her inside self even more so since she let her hair go grey and embraced this stage of her life. And man, my daddy looks good with a beard. :)

Wedding 2. Hebron, Nebraska (town we were living in when Luke died)
Alyssa&Eric

 

Alyssa and I lived about a mile from each other and her brother, Dan and my brother, Luke were buds. They both had little sisters so decided to tell us we needed to all be friends. So we did. It was a pleasure to be in Alyssa's wedding. I saw many people from my past I haven't seen in about 12 years and it was great to have more closure from that chapter of my life. Plus, Alyssa is full of life and love so it was a great, fun, bright wedding.

Wedding #3, Concordia, Missouri

Ashely and Adam

 

This lovely shot is from the hometown wedding. Ashley and Adam were classmates of mine from high school. This was a beautiful wedding through and through. They have been together for 9 years, so to be a part of their special love was truly a treat. It was in my hometown so I got to catch up with some old chums, so that was nice. It also made me realize, I am okay with my life in Omaha and I couldn't wait to get back to it. 

And to round it all up. One of the most fun weddings I have been to in a LONNNG time! Partially because I was just able to be a guest but also because it was seriously just that much fun. Lawrence, Kansas - Nathan & Sammi

Nathan is my sister in law, Erin's brother. I grew up knowing the Tietz's so it was great to celebrate them with the next best thing to my own family.  That is my niece, Phalen sticking her finger in their wedding cake. She had been telling them all summer that she was going to, so in the end, Success!! 

And so it came to pass that I survived all my weddings and somehow managed to live to see another day.