In the best North Carolina light imaginable, outdoors in Saxapahaw, North Carolina, in the best company of friends and family, Lynn and Michael married each other for the second time in their lives. 

Forty years ago he was wearing brown leather pants and she was wearing a blue and white gingham dress. They were married in the mountains of North Carolina. Life happened and this time they are a little older and a lot wiser and made a lifelong commitment to each other to be together for the rest of their days. She made her gorgeous dress and he matched her purples very well. It was an extremely sweet and very touching ceremony. Even though the light wind wouldn't cooperate with the unity candles, I was able to share with the guests the significance of the candles they would later see inside - that love is a light within us and when you share it with someone it creates it's own life, not in any way diminishing the light of the individuals, but it's a love and a life that glows twice as bright. This light is hard to miss around Michael and Lynn. 

I am honored to have met Lynn and Michael, their children, Alice, and Daniel, and their closest family and friends. It was a delight and I couldn't have asked for a finer way to conclude my Thanksgiving weekend. 

This blog was almost titled: "A Little Catch Up" because that's what I feel like I'm doing. October and November have been so full of weddings and joy, but also a few important memorials and sadness. I have to remember that if a balanced life is the goal, then rain helps me enjoy the sunlight, and that the absence of light is a necessary part. 

This Thanksgiving I wasn't able to travel to be with my relatives, but I was able to join the family I've chosen, friends, some I've known since childhood. The laughter and good food, conversation, and time was healing. 

Yesterday my neighbor called me and let me know that after 19 years of living together, she and her beloved want to officially marry each other. They handfasted and it's been enough, but they are ready to be married and I couldn't be more excited to be a part of their love story. 

Today I received an email from an extremely accomplished photographer, Ashley Posthuma @ photographyanthology.com, with photos from an amazing September wedding. Thank you Ashley for these wonderful photos.  (Hire her!)

Today I'm off to marry two very beautiful and wonderful people who have been married before. Theirs is a fantastic story about being young and in love, leaving one another, leading a very full life, finding one another again, and being wise and older in love. I am honored to marry them today as they celebrate with family and friends. 

I am thankful for my life, for the wonderful people around me, and for the love I receive and give. I am one grateful gal with a mission to lift up love. Thank you for joining me.