It's Mr. And Mrs.!  Dave proposed; and I said yes. We were married four weeks ago in my childhood church where my grandparents raised their ten children, and where my mom and dad raised my brother, sister, and me.

Of all weekends for the church doors to be taken off so they could be refinished.  But we didn't care.

Because my dad passed away 12 years ago and my mom is in her own world due to Alzheimer's disease, my friend Mark escorted me to the altar and where his wife LuAnn was my maid of honor. Mom's best friend Shirley and her husband Jack stepped in where my folks would have been.  Dave's parents were very excited for us.  Normally Dave's dad is a man of few words, but he told me at the rehearsal dinner how glad he was to see Dave so happy. I will always treasure that moment.

My granddaughters Natalie, Aubrey, and Gigi were the flower girls; and they carried bouquets of baby's breath.  My grandson Max carried Mom and Dad's Bible with our wedding rings tied on it with ribbons.  And because little boys rarely stand still, Max stole the show by hanging on the Communion rail and eventually falling off it.  I also caught him spinning Dave's wedding ring on the rail. I was able to grab the ring before it fell on the floor.

See Max on the Communion rail behind Dave?!!

Before repeating the traditional wedding vows, we spoke our own written vows to each other. I thought it would be difficult to say what was on my heart, but I got through my vows with no problem. Dave, on the other hand, got choked up. I thought it was one of the most touching moments of the ceremony.  My favorite line from his vows was 'I just want to grow old with you.'  My favorite line to him was 'In my life with all the words I have ever read or heard, none of them can describe exactly how I feel about you. Even the word 'love' is not enough but it's the only word I have.'

Instead of the usual rice toss, our guests tossed lavender buds.

I have three daughters and Dave has two. It's nice that all the girls have given us their blessings.

We kept our guest list small and invited our families and a small handful of friends. Our reception was a picnic at a local park. One of my quilt buddies helped me buy two bolts of Moda fabric that I cut to fit the picnic tables for tablecloths.  Think of the quilts I can get from all that fabric!  Each table was decorated with pots of greenery or flowers.  

I bought these forks on etsy, and we used them when we shared the wedding cake. We are not cake smash in the face people. I loved our forks so much that I've since bought a set for a favorite couple we know who is getting married in a few weeks.

We received a beautiful quilt was a gift from my TT quilt group made up in red and white fabrics - my favorite colors!  The funniest gift we received?  A fat gift certificate to a local quilt shop!  The most touching gifts?  A framed paper cutting my mom made and framed years ago, a cranberry cruet she had in the dining room for years, a doily that belonged to a favorite aunt who passed away earlier this year, and a set of antique chairs my parents bought, stripped and refinished years ago. Jack and Shirley bought them when Mom's things were sold at auction, and they offered them back to us as a gift.

Here we are with my daughters, their husbands, and my sweet grandkids. 

And here we are with Dave's parents, brothers, and their wives.

I have such a good life. Dave treats me like a queen.  I must be the luckiest and happiest gal in the world.