Amanda & Andy's Wedding Weekend

{beautiful} sunrise flight

As most of you know, I spent a week in Michigan to be together with my high school best friends back in July. We traveled from all over (TX, SC, and WA) to celebrate our friend Amanda's marriage!! We had a lot of fun catching up, laughing, crying, going to our favorite places/haunts, getting mani/pedis, and enjoying the festivities for the wedding weekend!!

Tina & Sam getting their nails done

Our favorite summer stop for a cold treat. I adore their pineapple milkshakes!

(Swirly Top has been around since 1948!!!)

After getting our nails done and having lunch at Applebees, we got all dolled up for the rehearsal. We drove 40 minutes north to Port Huron and arrived at the church early to put on the pew bows (the way Amanda says "pew bows" makes me giggle every time). Everyone was on time in order to rehearse. They only went through the ceremony once (wow!) and then it was time to head for dinner!

Amanda & her dad

The bridal party

Inside St. Joseph's

The Rehearsal Dinner was at Quay Brewery which is located in downtown Port Huron. We had the entire back patio all to ourselves. We ate dinner, bridal party gifts and thanks were given, and we had the groom's cake for dessert (the raspberry wheat beer was really tasty and the food was delicious!! definitely recommend the restaurant).

the happy couple with the groom's cake

nothing has changed in over 10 years

We had a sleepover that night just like old times. It was nice to catch up on life.

In the morning, the bridesmaids left to get their hair done, so Tina and I ventured over to Samantha's parents house. However, I accidentally left my dress at Amanda's and Samantha's wonderful boyfriend Nick saved the day by driving me over there to retrieve it. We all got ready and then headed up to arrive early for photos and to help in whatever way we could. The weather could not have been more beautiful!!!! It was a perfect day :)

Sam's bridesmaid bouquet 

I only got a few shots during the ceremony

the beautiful bride!

After the ceremony, we drove over to the bridge (connects Canada & Michigan) to drop

off the girls for bridal party pictures. We then left to get to the reception at Tina's Country House back in New Baltimore/Chesterfield. It was dimly lit and beautiful with all of the candles and mood lights. They had a buffet dinner and an open bar. There were toasts and lots of dancing. The bouquet toss may have gotten a little out of control :)

gorgeous flowers on the head table & the wedding cake

the guest book

Amanda designed the centerpieces and made the table number stakes & a tasty drink

Hmmmm and I definitely have more evidence

love them

congrats y'all!!!




I was also able to spend time with my friend Jenny from Saturday night til Monday :)
 We were best friends from high school youth group. We have
had many adventures together through the past 11 years.
We were able to reconnect and have some good conversations,
do a little shopping, and have a movie night like old times.

A Michigan 4th

I can't even begin to explain to you how lovely Michigan summers are. It's pretty equivalent to the South's spring weather: highs of 80's & 90's and low's of 60's & 70's with plenty of sunshine. For my last two years of high school, my family lived on Selfridge ANGB which is right on Lake St. Clair. We loved having neighborhood block parties and watching the fireworks from the lawn. 

This year I had the chance to be up there again for the 4th of July. Along with my friend Amanda, her fiance Andrew, and her sister Kristina, we drove over to St. Clair Shores to watch the fireworks. People watching is always fun to do while waiting for nightfall ;)

beautiful water

Andy & Amanda

Amanda, Me, & Kristina

The moon was crazy orange/red and super low in the sky at 9pm

Never Forget

Today marks the 10th anniversary of September 11, 2001. Today stirs up so many emotions in Americans and others around the world. I've been in awe this week with all of the footage shown in the news, personal videos, tribute programs, sport stories, and specials. The days and weeks following 9/11 were full of national unity from flags, bumper stickers, conversations, religious discussions, prayers, all the way to songs (thank you country music). It is still very inspirational to see this throughout the US today.

I remember when it happened. It was my second class of the day around 9 am. I was sitting in the second row of Mr. Dzuik's English class my junior year of high school, when another teacher rushed in, and turned on our television. You didn't even have to turn it to the news channel- it was on every channel. A few minutes afterwards, we all stared in horror as a second plane hit the other WTC tower. Shock. That feeling of seeing that happen was so surreal. We were glued to the tv as the towers fell. Disbelief. I don't really remember much after that, but we were no longer the same. School was put on the backburner (at least my teachers didn't really continue teaching- people were on their phones- the office intercom told us we could call home).

My dad, who worked at Selfridge (Air National Guard Base) in the Army, came within the hour to pick me up as our school went into a lockdown (being down the road from a joint military base). Usually a drive to school took around 10-15 minutes, but it took my dad and I over an hour to get back home. Everyone was asked to park and get out of their vehicles, while they opened and searched the cars. My backpack was searched. They even used long mirrors to look under the cars for bombs. We were on the highest security level as every other military base in the country was too. Our base's Air Force flew out to help escort other planes safely to Canada. The Coast Guard was constantly patrolling the waters of Lake St. Clair.

We didn't have school the next day. I remember sitting at a picnic table near our home with several of my friends discussing what was going to happen. We couldn't believe what was going on. For the next few weeks, we always had Hummers driving around with a gun on top and soldiers walking around with M16s. There was the fear and talk of being attacked again and where it would be. I will always remember the feeling of helplessness and sadness.

As George Bush said, "We will not tire, We will not falter, and We will not fail".

So as I reflect on that day, I believe that today we stand united still as Americans. We remember those who lost their lives on September 11th and stand by their families and the survivors. We honor the Heroes who saved lives that day and our Armed Forces, Firefighters, Police, Volunteers, Donors, Construction workers and Contractors, and all those who were first to respond. Your service and sacrifice continues to protect the freedoms we enjoy. The service to fight this war on terrorism is never forgotten. I am very thankful for the Red, White, & Blue. God Bless America- land that I love.

"The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and 

saves those who are crushed in spirit"

Psalm 34:18