Cydney & Brandon's Wedding

We've been back awhile, but it's worth updating! Cydney (my best friend) and Brandon got married September 13, and it was A-M-A-Z-I-N-G!!! The whole thing started off with one of the greatest, and super awkward Bachelorette party. We started out with dinner, our poor waitress had to put up with all sorts of ridiculous penis lollipops, an on-going game of Dirty Minds, and roaring laughter. :) From dinner, we moved on to Burberry's downtown for drinks, and Sassy's (yes, the gay bar) for drinks. It was hilarious. At Burberry's, one of the guys Sally had liked in high school and several of the girls with us had dated, was the musician. We told him it was Cyd's last single night out, and he sang her a song in front of the entire bar. It was great! All the while, the guys were having their Bachelor party via camping trip out at Greenbelt. All they would tell us is they smoked some cigars, set off fireworks and at one point Jason Dunham (think a mix between Jesus and Johnny Cash) was in his boxers and cowboy hat, explaining the sinking of the Spanish Armada using beer cans and himself, pretending the fire was the ocean. Yes. Sometimes, going back to Amarillo is so worth it! Friday was their rehearsal and rehearsal dinner---it was a complete C & B event. A costume rehearsal dinner. I went as a gypsy, Adam wore Ryan's turtle costume (from when he was 5), and we added some swords and a bandanna-viola, instant ninja turtle! Brandon was a mummy, Cydney was an Egyptian, Chris & Jenny went as Cydney & Brandon. Even Cydney's great aunt, who is ancient, dressed up and went as a hippie. I gave my toast at the rehearsal dinner and surprised even myself when I cried. I recalled our being assigned to make an Indian diarama for Texas History, and how it cemented our friendship when we agreed Trolly dolls and My Little Ponies were clearly the best medium. From dioramas, to Steppers, to Church Camp, we've always had each other. All in all, it was greatness.

While we were getting ready for the ceremony, all the girls got hungry...so we ordered a pizza!!! I love our friends! Their wedding was beautiful! Cydney walked down the aisle to "As I Walk Down to the River to Pray" and Chris & Laura preformed the service. I can't believe we've gotten to this place. Where we're all getting married, and friends are having kids or and buying houses.

At their reception, we enjoyed some Red Stripe and great Indian food, along with fabulous music (of course). By the end, almost every guy had stripped down to their undershirt and dress pants, and the girls had lost their shoes and pinned up their dresses. We were soooo sweaty, and the dancers left after Cyndey & Brandon!!! All in all, it was a GREAT wedding, and a GREAT way to spend a weekend off. :) I love you McCulloughs!!!!

Adadadadadadam

Happy Birthday Adam! Happy 23! SMOOCH!!!

Somewhere

Somewhere lit by the rising sun,
expecting the day that has not yet begun.
Somewhere warm with fresh dew drops,
and trees with blue birds on their tops.
Somewhat alone and feeling cold,
thinking of you and being old.
Somewhat scared, and slightly lonely,
dreaming of the "what if's" and "if only's".
Somehow peaceful and full of charm,
a quiet night void of alarm.
Somehow at ease and feeling content,
at last knowing what God had meant.
Something is throbbing and consuming the rest,
swelling and tearing inside my chest.
Something is growing as the sun sheds its light,
I cling to my legs and make farewells to the night.
Sometimes it's unique and overwhelmingly beautiful,
and other times it's tarnished and rather dull.
Sometimes my heart weighs heavy with the pain,
sludging and searching through the rain.
but...
Somehwere there's peace and brand new light,
a new morning conqueres the night.
Somewhere the sun doesn't shine as bright,
a place without you, tonight.

Elizabeth's Birthday

Today was our (Adam's...?) niece's birthday. She is now 8! We spent the morning at Chuck-E-Cheese's playing skiiball and getting Ethan (our 5 year old nephew) millions and millions of tickets.

The best was probably when we gave Elizabeth her card with a check inside. She opened the card, which played noise, and was momentarily amused, then asked "where's the present?" to which we replied "it's right there, it's that check". Of course, being 8, all she saw was a piece of paper, curled her nose and put it in the trash pile. We all laughed a minute, as Mark talked to her:

Mark: Elizabeth, do you know what a check is?
Elizabeth: no....
Mark: it's something you take to the bank and get money for, it's the same as cash
(taking the check in hand) see right here, where it says 'fifteen dollars' that's how much it's worth
Elizabeth: (snatching check) OH MY GOSH!!!!

I love being an Aunt, I think it's fabulous!

Memory

My worst fear is to forget....or should I say not remembering? I associate forgetting something as a choice made as the result of bitterness to put something from your mind...where as not remembering is simply neglected thoughts escaping to the corners of your mind -where only a shooting star or a smile from a stranger can bring to the front. Too often as a defense mechanism I choose to forget things, because it's so much easier to pretend like they never happened. Not necissarily the bad things that give you a reason to despise someone, but the good things that remind you that there is every reason in the world to be in love with them. Fortunately bad times and arguments are automatically put away from your mind as time erodes away at your memory, however the good memories (hugs, laughs, bare feet) they're harder to hide... your body gets confused, your heart doesn't understand why your mind wants to hide something that made you feel so good at one point in time.

In all reality..........why would YOU want to?

Not remembering is scary...because you can't remember to keep from not remembering - all you can think of is trying to forget. The most minor things can jog a memory.... possibly the way shoes lie on the front door's carpet, feet hanging out a car window, or those hubcaps that are hanging on my walls but i only realize they're there maybe once a year... Every so often these things will catch the corner of my eye - and flood lights illuminate the hidden memories- suprisingly enough, they haven't lost any clarity... Warm butterflies fill my stomach as the illumination of one memory sparks the illumination of many - butterflies turn into heavy weights as I realize these were things I didn't remember i was trying to forget.

At those points in time when I'm basking in the bliss of the past, I'm happy that i didn't remember to forget them...and I'll think i'll forget to keep forgetting things -because I've worked so hard to achieve good memories, so it would be a waste to let them become pale in the shadows of my mind...

Confusing? yeah, i know (heh)