OBX Vacation~ Bush Wedding ~ June 2010

**Please note that I'm recording this for me and the kids to remember the day. Please, of you are just stopping by to see what's going on in our lives, don't feel like you need to read this. **

Saturday, June 19th, was an amazing day. It's amazing it's already been almost a month now! We got up and had breakfast together and began some packing. We usually spend a good amount of time cleaning and packing the last full day of our trip. We knew we'd be leaving about 7AM on Sunday so packing had to happen sometime. While cleaning was going on I was attempting to get our stuff organized, and out of the way. This of course put a lot of it IN our room, which is also where we all needed to be getting ready for the day.

Gary, his dad, and Tyler all went to the groomsman's house late in the morning to get ready there. They then were riding the limo bus to the church. Gary was the best man, Tyler the ring bearer, and Mr. Bush a groomsman. I needed to take Grace, the flower girl, to the bridesmaids house because Lia wanted to see her in her dress and have some photos taken of the two of them. It was so fun to be in the house full of girls getting ready for the wedding! I thought we'd be there 20 minutes tops, but it was close to, maybe more than two hours! Lia had gotten a halo of flowers for Grace's hair and I'd planed to have it back off of her head, and then curl the back, or leave it straight. I didn't do anything with her hair because I just wasn't sure what the flowers would look like and how her hair would need to be to secure them. We got there as the girls were all doing their hair and Lia was having hers done, and her makeup.

I'm a wedding freak as some of you know- obsessed. Being there for that was just so amazing. I was able to watch the girls come in and out and see Lia and burst in to tears. I was able to observe as her mom lovingly steamed her dress and hung it on the door. Watch as her dad made sure everything was assembled and ready to be taken to the different sites. And watch her dad just look at her as dad's do when their little girls become brides. I was able to watch the photographer capture moments that most people miss. I was able to watch Lia's sister do her makeup, and her friend do her hair... it was just amazing to see it all come together. To see all these gorgeous women, especially Lia, become even more beautiful. Lia was so relaxed and I really think she was trying to just be in the moment. Lia, if you ever read this, thank you for letting us be a part of that. The most fun part was seeing my little girl Grace, in her flower girl dress, trying to play in the shower as we waited for Lia's hair to be done. :) One of the girls curled Grace's hair which was so fun for her. Finally, when Lia was ready and the photographer captured a few very sweet photos of Lia and Grace.

We then rushed back to the house so we could get everyone ready. Grace finished some lunch to hold her over, we fed Esther and my mom and I somehow got us all ready to go. In fact, mostly my mom got the girls ready. She straightened my hair while I fed Esther her bottle, then she curled Grace's hair and got both girls dressed while I laid everything out, packed food and bottles for Esther for the day, and got dressed and put my makeup on. We were about 500 feet down the road when Grace fell asleep in her seat. Mom and I got to visit the whole way to the church, and then when we got there, everything was a whirlwind.

As always, Gary in his tux took my breath away. The sight of my sweet Tyler in his tux made me cry. He was quite tired and crabby and collapsed into tears several times within minutes of my arrival. Gary was in Best Man mode and barely stopped to say hi to me. I soon realized that I couldn't sit with my mom and just let Gary and "whoever" take care of the kids. I probably could have, but with them being tired and the wedding SO close, I didn't want to take any chances of them melting down. The girls were doing finishing touches, the guys were wandering around trying to keep Josh away from Lia. The fathers prayed for and over both bride and groom seperately, the girls prayed, the guys prayed, the parents hugged and greeted family... I sat with the kids reading them books and getting them drinks, and panicking when Tyler's boutonniere broke. :) My mom stayed in the church with Esther and before I knew it, the mom's were going down the aisle! I asked the kids to stay with the girls and Sue and I went up stairs to sit. At that point though, Sue asked me to have the girls come upstairs. The way the church was laid out they had to walk outside. I ushered the kids inside and then suddenly, Val (Lia's sister, the Maid of Honor) had to go in and someone needed to hold the dress! Lia and I were outside and I wish I could say I said something encouraging or special to her before she went in to be escorted by her father down the aisle. I don't remember what I said, but I know it wasn't anything special. :( Sorry Lia! Suddenly, Sue was opening the door and there was her father and then I was fixing her dress and down she went! I stood back to the side so as not to be in any pictures and then slipped down the side aisle to the front where I was supposed to be. I missed the whole processional and thankfully, even though I wasn't there waiting for them as promised, the kids did a fabulous job. At least that's what I"m told...

Two of the groomsman played/sang the processoinal and a unity candle song. Val and I read scripture, Pastor Dan did a great service and Josh and Lia gave roses to thier mothers and grandparents. Grace wanted to color and chit-chat through the whole ceremony and she dropped her basket of flowers 3 times, Tyler kicked it over at least once. They both wanted what the other had and papers and books were flying all over the floor. Esther made herself known too, but not enough to have to be taken out. Thank goodness my mom was there to hold her! I feel so badly that the kids were being disruptive because I fear they distracted Stephanie. *sigh* However, I wills say- we all knew going into this that anything could happen! They are 5 and 3! :)

Soon it was time for the kids to follow Mr and Mrs Josh Bush back down the aisle!!! It was a beautiful ceremony. So intimate and special and such a tribute to Love that comes only through Christ. I had many "favorite" parts. One was during the song for the unity candle. Josh and Lia went forward and just stood praying together before lighting it and giving of the roses. It was such a sweet moment between them and the Lord, but we each got to witness it. After the recessional we all stood outside and that was magical too. The sun was bright, and you could see the ocean from the church. We were surrounded by friends and family and then out they ran as we threw rose petals and blew bubbles.

They took a short ride in the limo bus while we got the rose petals cleaned up and assembled back inside the church. At every wedding the Kandray family always gets a big family photo of everyone there. I think we had 41 this time? After a few more photos in the church the kids began to melt down so I let them play in the nursery downstairs. When it was time to leave we loaded in the van (Gary went with the bridal party for pictures on the dunes, and apparently, ice cream!) with my mom and headed to the reception site. We decided to stop and get a snack at McDonald's. I know it's not real food but it's amazing how a couple nuggets and fries really help a kid get moving again!

We sat a little in the car and then got out to go get some photos on the beach- the kids with me and the kids with my mom. When the bridal party arrived they did some photos on the beach as well.

Lia had this GREAT idea of having the kids hold a photo frame and Josh and Lia stand behind them so that they were "in" the frame as the photo was being taken. Their FABULOUS PHOTOGRAPHER has already posted this photo to Lia on Facebook and it is AMAZING! He has posted a few on his facebook page as well. You've GOT to check it out. I cannot say enough good things about Hooman. He was amazing. He was so kind and willing to do anything it took- to capture every special moment!! It was fun to get to know him and see him work. He TRULY loves what he does and he's extremely talented! See for yourself- check out the above links, especially the BLOG! (*If you search for "Bush" in the blog you can see the engagement photos as well!)

After pictures it was time to party, and let me tell you- these two, and their bazillion friends, love to PARTY! They did a dance for the grand entrance that was awesome. I wish I knew how to get the video off of my video camera and onto here! So cool. The meal was awesome, the dances were so special and Gary did a perfect job on his speech. Val's was perfect too- I love what she said. It was just the perfect day. I hope it was for Josh and Lia too. It was fun to get to see family and I wish I'd have gotten to visit with them more. There's just so much to say about such a fabulous day... I could go on but I've been composing this for two days, over numerous sittings and even more interruptions! It'll be another hour at least to download all the photos so I'll close here.

Josh and Lia~ we love you so much!