3 Weddings and a Funeral (Part 2)

I wanted to write this post about a woman I never knew.

Elaine, a close friend of Dustin's family, passed away over the weekend.  I didn't have the pleasure of getting to know her because she has been sick since Dustin and I started dating.  I have, however, had the opportunity to get acquainted with her husband Bill.  When I asked Dustin to choose a person to read one of the selected poems in our wedding, he didn't hesitate with his answer.  It had to be Bill.  He has been and continues to be an extremely important role model/friend to my husband.

Everyone could learn a lesson from their marriage.  It is something we all strive for -  a story of true, unconditional love and devotion, and of truly living wedding vows... "for better or worse, in sickness and in health."  Elaine was sick for around ten years, in hospice care for nearly two.  She was a strong lady who wanted nothing more than time, as much as she could get here with her family.  To hear Bill talk about her, she was his saving grace and the best person you could know.  Bill never left her side.  And she fought for him.  For ten years.  He never put her in a "home."  He took care of her and spent every night with her.  He did what most people wouldn't do in that situation.  He put himself and his needs behind those of wife.  For ten years.

Her funeral will be on Wednesday, just a simple graveside service.  Exactly what I believe funerals should be - those closest to you remembering and celebrating your life.

I hope we are all so lucky as to experience a love like this in our lifetime.  A love where no one quits or gives up no matter how difficult things get.  It's such an inspirational, admirable and heartbreaking story, all rolled into one.

3 Weddings and a Funeral (Part 1)

Apparently love is in the air!  We couldn't be happier for all of our newly married friends.  We have celebrated and danced until our nearly 30 year old feet couldn't take anymore.  It's true what they say.  Weddings are like crack for a marriage.  We left each event reminiscing of when we made our vows.

First up was April and Trey's wedding.  They had a lovely ceremony outside near Norris Dam.  Dustin and I couldn't believe how many guests attended.  I wouldn't have known where to start making a guest list that huge.  They are such wonderful people, it's no surprise that they have so many friends.  I so enjoyed seeing them together at the reception.  They looked at each other, even from across the room, with such affection.     

With the ecstatic bride and groom

I'm telling you - Crack for a marriage!

With the gorgeous bride, my good friend April

My favorite detail of their wedding was the precious signs leading the way to the festivities

I was honored and excited when Jamie asked me to be her Matron of Honor.  One of my favorite duties of being the Head Broad is planning the bachelorette party.  We headed out to Nashville for a weekend of fun with Jamie's friends.  We started off the day with some swimming at the hotel,  

followed by dinner at Hard Rock.

One blushing bride rode the bull at Cadillac Ranch, 

and one (soon to be) sister-in-law danced on the bar at Coyote Ugly.

Jamie & I

The rest will remain between the 5 of us.  Actually, we made sure that 4 out of 5 of us behaved like ladies.  I'll leave it to your imagination to guess which one didn't.  It's safe to say, everyone had a great time and was sufficiently exhausted the next day.