Let's decorate a wedding...

 It's amazing the encouragement and strength that can come from a person who knows you well and sees you through different phases of life. My college friend Melody is one of those treasured individuals. Melody and I spent countless hours studying together, taking classes together, painting signs together, praying together and sharing queso dip at Applebees. When she asked if I would be interested in helping her decorate her wedding, I was honored and thrilled to be a part of her day by doing something that I love.

We discussed her ideas, looked at pictures, painted signs, and assembled a few friends to help.

It was a breezy fall day in November. The trees were beautiful and her desire for "simple and rustic" matched the venue  perfectly.

Moss. Wood slices. Pine cones. Tree branches. Lanterns.

Gold frames. Chalkboards. Wrought iron.

 The decor items were simple on their own but made a beautiful collection together.  What a perfect picture of marriage! I pray Adam and Melody are better together!

The constant breeze from the water forced my decorating friends and I to be a little more creative - finding boxes and baskets to contain the cups, hot chocolate packets, and anything else that was blowing away.

Special friends and family members brought pies of all kinds to share at the reception.

The bread table beside the buffet lines quickly turned into one of my favorite reception details.

Bamboo skewer signs helped to label the different types of bread. And the Acts 2 verse seemed appropriate to prop up in the center of the table.  It was my gift to the couple, praying that their home would continue to be a place where friends gather and the Lord is honored.

The bride had this beautifully aged gold frame that we were able to turn into the perfect sign for her photo booth guest book instructions.

I loved watching the joy on my friend's face that day. Friends were gathered and the Lord was glorified.

Using items to decorate the wedding that reflected the bride's style kept costs low and made items reusable. Signs from the reception currently decorate her home.

Since your home should reflect who you are and what you love, wedding mementos make the best decorations.

I am so thankful for this 12 year (and counting) friendship. Thank you for letting me be a part of your special day!

Happy Birthday, Ashlee

I am confident that my friendship with Ashlee is a gift from God.

I can remember before I knew Ashlee. And I can remember when we met. And somehow, we were instant best friends.

Within one week of really knowing each other, we had taken on the project of making iron-on-letter shirts for all the RA's for Orientation. We'd locked keys in laundry closets and convinced the boys to wear our awesome shirts, as well. We make quite a team.

For two years, she was my boss- the dorm RD.

I watched her love on students. Saw her heart for those girls to love Jesus. And I learned from her as she shared how genuine her relationship with the Lord was.

She's a great leader and an incredible motivator.

And because of her example, I wanted to become an RD once I graduated. Her love for those dorm girls made me look for opportunities to minister as well.

She was my matron of honor, making sure that my wedding day went according to plan. The morning of my wedding she gave me some of the best advice. She said, "You've planned and planned. You've got all the details in line. And the day is finally here. It's time to let all those details go, quit trying to make it perfect and enjoy your day." And because of those words...I did enjoy my day! I let everyone else stress over the details. My day was perfect (Pre-Pinterest!).

We've celebrated each other's pregnancies and held each other's babies.

When we were searching for a house to purchase, the Lord closed several doors. All along, He had in His plans that I would get to live right next door to Ashlee and her family. We borrow eggs or cans of diced tomatoes. Our kids play together. Her kids call us Aunt Cindy and Uncle Jeremiah. We've often said..."It's like a movie that the Lord allowed us to live next door to each other." I love our talks across the fence.

She kept our families updated during Hudson's scary birth. She and Lee rushed over to help Jeremiah when I wasn't responding. She even packed my hospital bag because Hudson arrived 7 weeks early. She drove me to the NICU to sit with my preemie. She sat with me in the hospital. And while I was still crazy, she reminded me of my expiring Kohl's cash.

Since both of our birthdays are in April, we started our "Birthday Outing" tradition about 5 years ago. Instead of buying each other a gift, we plan a day out - because spending time together is the best thing ever. Especially kid-free and while shopping. This year we went to IKEA.

Over and over again, the Lord has revealed to me that our friendship was no accident. Over and over again we talk about specific circumstances that the Lord has allowed each of us to experience so that we could be there for the other one. Tears form in my eyes now as I remember conversations that we have had.

Our friendship is easy. Neither of us get possessive or bent out of shape easily. We don't care if we both show up wearing yellow pants. We can go days without speaking. We can be completely honest with each other. We are just there for each other when we need to be.

We love the color red, trade clothes and shoes, hunt for bargains, and love unique decor. Neither of us are huggers. We paint things when we are stressed. We love our families. We attend the same church and the same small group. We'd rather spend days trying to do a project ourselves instead of spending money for a finished product. We talk over top of each other, yet still catch all of the conversation. (Jeremiah has joked that when the two of us are talking he could totally convince someone listening that there are 4 women in the room).

It's a friendship I would have never admitted that I needed, but I don't know what I would do without it.

Happy Birthday, Ashlee! I am so thankful that the Lord brought you into my life. I love you and I treasure our friendship.

P.S. We need some updated pictures of the two of us!  And I forgot that your kitchen used to be grass green.