Ginger's Wedding

The day had finally come for the wedding of my cousin, Ginger.  It was a weekend that was full of excitement, a whirlwind of activities, and such a wonderful memory of a new union of believers.  If only there were more marriages that started off with such a passion for the Lord!

My parents, Aaron & Elise, Derek, Shane and I all boarded up on a plane on Saturday morning to fly into Phoenix.  The boys raced off to the golf course while the ladies went to the house we were staying at to drop off our gear, change clothes, and 25 minutes later be in the car to drive down south for the bridesmaid luncheon at Arcadia Farms.

Ginger with her grandmothers

Ginger with her mom and now mother-in-law

All the lovely bridesmaids: David's sister, Lauren, Val & Gingi, Megan, who is single and has adopted a little boy, Whitney, who I have known forever, and Becca, who is single and also looking to adopt. 

Blown away by these single friends of Ginger's that either have already adopted or thinking about it.  Without a husband, without the means to stay at home leisurely.  Man these ladies challenge me in a serious way.

Some of the lovely ladies included in the weekend, including Joy, the longest friend I have known of the bunch and Annie, the newest friend of the bunch.  So new that Ginger and Annie had just met for the first time...at the wedding...

Morby cousins

The hostesses - my mom, Ginger's aunt Linda, Pam & Joannie

Ginger gave a speech about everyone there - I am impressed she made it through the whole way.  Lots of tears.

And plenty of laughter

Of course saving momma for the end.   Kerry was a beautiful mother of the bride the entire weekend.

We finished up our fun, went home for a couple hours, then headed back down way south for the rehearsal dinner. 

The couple of the hour

Me and my beloved Ginger

I love these "action" shots - all the cousins minus Aaron

A more perfected outcome

Such a great idea - nametags with everyone's choice of how to identify themselves.  This was Shane's choice:

Linda was teaching everyone how to take a better neck photo.  You look at the sky...

...and then on "three" you look at the camera.  You apparently don't have as much of a droop in your appearance then way.  Try it.

Lots of matchiness going on for the evening.  The uncles

...with their tasseled shoes. 

The Millers and Dave's mom with their red shoes.

Three fellas keeping on the outskirts.  Did I mention that it was almost 80 degrees?

Then the time came for the toasts.  The best of the evening was Uncle Steve's ballad that he wrote for the happy couple.  He sang multiple stanzas that he wrote himself.  Never a dull moment with the Morbys continually up to their antics.

The only photo I managed to get of the two of us.  For as many photos as I took of the weekend there were so many I failed to capture.  Next event.

Our crew all stumbled home still on central time and slept hard.  The next morning Derek & Shane played another round of golf, my parents went hiking, and I stayed at the house with Aaron & Elise.

Derek's coworker has a sister with a second home in Scottsdale.  Though it was a lot farther north from all the weekend festivities, it was a vacation all on its own.  Our only regret is that we didn't stay an extra day just to enjoy the house, the pool, the area, the weather.

The natural landscaping is still something I have to get used to.  Where would my dog go to the bathroom?  Still so fascinating all the wonderful climates the Lord has allowed everyone to enjoy.

We went and ate Rubios Fish Tacos  for lunch.  Then the rest of the group went home, and Elise & I met up with Hilary & Joannie at H&M.  I somehow manage to travel to a place once a year where an H&M is located.  Now that it is coming to Dallas (where is the Houston love?), the visits might be more frequent.

We went home for an hour, then got back in the car to travel to the Sanctuary Camelback Mountain.  Here are some of the family photos I managed to capture (without trying to micromanage the issue):

Um, didn't know photos were over.

Finally figured it out

The Millers & Steve Morbys

Me and my only living grandmother

It's so fun to see everyone all dolled up

Waiting for the big event

Gorgeous backdrop for the wedding

Waiting, waiting, waiting

Sweet Grandpa looking all spiffy

The beautiful bride

Joy gave an amazing excerpt from a book that both Ginger and David talked about on their first date - Severe Mercy.   I was on the edge of my seat as Joy had the entire audience captured with her story telling.

Mr. & Mrs.

The entertainment of the night was the photo booth.  Some of us snuck in early during the cocktail hour to take our photos and our videos.

There was some character role playing.

Lots of silliness going on.

Clayboy

The Morby/Smith younger men

Plus Derek.  Guess we need David in here to make it complete.

My first dance - seems so long ago

There was a dance off for all the married couples in the room

My great Aunt Kathryn and Uncle Dan were one of the last three couples standing for the longest duration of marriage represented for the evening.

My lovely Grandparents won the prize for the most years of marriage - almost 62 years (in December)!

In lieu of a cake, they served gelato instead.  Brilliant!

Then it was time for everyone to go home.

Cheers to the bride and groom to their new married life.  May it filled with joy, laughter, and a fierce richness that only a marriage rooted in the Lord could experience.

Peace out, Blogger, I am so over you....