{hello happiness}

Not only is my bestest best back in the same state as me after her nearly two week honeymoon, but these were in her email box upon her return.

I realize I'm skipping way ahead of myself in the wedding story telling, but these are making me happy right now.





These too...





This one is making me laugh... The 'secret song'. Love that everyone is laughing behind them.


And these...how can these not make me smile?



And this one.. Especially this one.
You know how every wedding, there's a moment? One moment where it all hits you. Where everything pays off. This is it for me. Well, actually not this very photo. I actually didn't know the photo existed until today, but the moment that it captures plays a big part in my 'moment' of the day.



See, I decided a few months prior to the wedding to put together a little slideshow for Martha & Jon. I was going to use their favorite songs & photos from all the parties leading up to the wedding & then photos from the actual day.
About 2 months prior to the wedding Martha calls me & asks if I can help her make a slideshow to be shown on the movie screen as people were being seated. Well, I always have had trouble surprising her. She gathered photos of the two of them growing up and photos from their early dating days, ones that I wasn't able to get with my own sneaky
ways.
For months I worked on this slideshow. Going back & forth with Martha over which songs she wanted. Which photos, how long... I love the girl, but she can be picky. Plus, knowing everyone was going to see it on a big movie screen, instead of just Martha & Jon in their home...kinda stressed me.
But I did. And I showed her a couple weeks before the wedding. And she loved it.

Fast forward to the big day. We're all dressed, just waiting for the time to pass. I run out to the theater lobby to find the hair stylist so she can do some quick touch ups on Martha. In my dress & all. Before I have a chance to look around, Jon sees me & grabs me. He gave me the biggest hug I have had in a long time and then said to me, "Thank you Liza." I said, "You're welcome Jon. For what?" He said, "I got to see the slideshow. I love it." I said, "I didn't even put two & two together & realize that you hadn't seen it. I'm glad you got to see it!" He grabs me again and says "No Liza, really, I love it. Thank you so much." I again said welcome and then... here it comes.... With tears in his eyes he says to me, "I went in the theater lobby before anyone went in, sat in there by myself and watched it...and I cried. Thank you so much for doing that for us."

And that was it. I adore this guy. I am thankful for how happy he makes one of the most important people in my life. I see how he totally adores her and how she's completely lost in him. I've known Martha for nearly 20 years...that's 2/3 of our lives. And I've never seen her as happy as she is since Jon came back to town 4 years ago. These two people belong together. And to know that I brightened their special day, that made it all worth while to me.

That was my moment. Of course, before I could tear up, I hit him. Yes. I hit him. Then I said to him, "Martha told us that if we see you crying to tell you to man up. She's marrying a man today! And if you make me cry right now and I go backstage with messed up makeup, Kristina's gonna kill me. And you're welcome."