It's fitting that I finish off the last of my Oregon trip posts on June 18th...Diana's birthday! Happy Birthday my sweet sister. I hope your day is truly magical...your first one as a married lady!
Enjoy~
May 20, 2012.
Enjoy~
May 20, 2012.
The day had finally arrived. 10 months prior Stephen Terry Andersen got down on one knee to ask Diana Grace Ryan to marry him. She said yes. Many many months of planning, emails, phone calls, appointments, scheduling all lead up to this moment.
Today was finally here!
I woke up with such joy and excitement in my heart. My baby sister was going to be a bride! A beautiful, gorgeous and pure bride who had waited for her groom. Those that know me know I'm a true romantic at heart. I love godly, Christ~exalting relationships that end in marriage. It thrills me when we receive an invitation in the mail to friends' weddings.
But it takes on a whole new level of wonder and bliss when it's one of my family members. When it's a Ryan wedding. And when it's my sister.
There's nothing quite like being the oldest sister who has been there for so much of her life. Who was the meanie who pushed Diana towards the drain when we took a bath as kids because she was afraid of going down it as the water drained out...so horrible that I wanted to see the fear on her face. {to this day...I hate that that was me!} I was the sister who picked on her endlessly or knew which buttons to push that would make her fly off the handle. Diana was the baby of the family for 9 years and she knew just how to get her sisters in trouble. Like doing crazy antics at the dinner table to get me to laugh which would invoke a stern admonishment from our parents. Diana was a spitfire back then! Or watching with eyes bugged and a gasping mouth as she'd have a meltdown at the table because she didn't want to finish her food, followed by stomping all the way up the stairs and slamming her bedroom door. But I also noticed the Lord changing her heart to tenderness as she got older, her way of being open, honest and vulnerable to me when she would struggle with things or be passionate about something. Being told that you are your sister's role model...for good or bad...is humbling and many times had me examining my heart and motives for why I do what I do. I want to be a reflection of Christ to her!
I guess all of this just shows you the extra amounts of emotion that went into this day. My sweet sister was grown up now; ready to be a wife, ready to commit herself to Stephen for all the days of her life.
So...like all brides and bridesmaids do...we took lots of time to get beautiful for such an occasion!
{pictures by Jen Howell and Amanda Bacon}
And who better to document the event than our husbands! ;)
Next, time to help the bride with her dress and take some pictures...
{picture by my sister Kelly Turnage}
Simply stunning!
My cutest little sister Elise...Diana's flower girl!
Beautiful Cathryn, Diana's matron of honor.
From here we drove to the wedding site for lots of before pictures.
{spying on them from far away
while they took their "alone" pictures}
All of Mama's girls...
My sweet Grandmom and Great Aunt Mary...
the fact that they came from so far away really blessed Diana!
Love Stephen's smile while kissing his bride. :)
All the sisters together!
Dad and his daughters...all 5 of us!
What followed next took me completely by surprise. Up to this point things had been a flurry of events. Lots of going here and there, doing this and that and spending time with family and friends with all the celebration intermingled didn't allow for processing what was happening. So, it all hit me like a ton of bricks as I started walking down the isle. I did my best to compose my quivering chin and to smile {looking down} as I walked towards Diana's groom. Stephen was beaming ear to ear; eagerly waiting for his bride! Probably one of my favorite glances as a sister.
I took my place next to my sisters and watched as my Dad walked a smiling, tearful bride towards the alter. Then, the water works started. And I guess I wasn't the only one. Jen captured this shot.
Diana and Stephen's ceremony exalted Jesus Christ; their personally written vows included. They poured out their hearts to one another, promised to love and cherish each other and to make Christ glorious in their lives as husband and wife. What pure joy!
Pouring of sand, taking communion for their first act as husband and wife, a sweet kiss and then introducing Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Andersen. As much as Diana and Stephen are serious and intentional about their relationship with Christ, in the same way they love to laugh, get crazy and have fun.
Let the good times roll!!!
{dancing back down the isle}
{First Dance}
Sweet story about this next picture...Back when I was 10 and living in our old house in Alaska we moved next door to an amazing Christian family. During that time they had a baby girl and you would have thought she was mine. I loved Bekah...every day without fail I'd go over and ask if I could play with her, take her for walks or carry her all over our two yards. She was my living babydoll. I even had my first babysitting experience earning 25 cents an hour to watch her. Money or not I loved every second. Fast forward 18 years...that baby met and held my baby during the wedding and Allie loved her just as much. Really really blessed me to not only see Bekah again (they moved not long after her 1st birthday) but for her to love on my daughter too. :)
{Saying goodbye to the newly weds}
Diana and Stephen, God's richest blessings on your new life together. It is our prayer that every day you continue to love Christ more deeply and passionately. With your hearts surrendered to Him and His Word, I know that there is nothing you cannot endure or withstand. May the glories of the Cross drive you to humility and forgiveness with one another. May He be your stronghold, the Love which your love for each other comes from and the sustaining power to protect and guard your marriage.
We love you both!!! ~ Matt, Ashley, Reese and Allie
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