Tuesday, August 25, 2009

The Barn

Our wedding made me feel grateful for so many things. We are so lucky to have this beautiful barn on our property. The warm light, the flowers, and the sounds of our friends and family brought it a new life. It is a space I'll never again take for granted.

Monday, August 17, 2009

Baking

I have mentioned several times the astounding number of desserts that my dear friend baked, dipped, and frosted for us. I hope one day I'll be able to do something just as generous for her.

Even though she had never tested most of the recipes, we only had one disaster.
That is our wedding to-do list in the background, much of which was happily ignored as the evening approached. I was too busy bumbling around the house. I was so full of joy and nerves that I kept forgetting what I was supposed to be doing, which meant I would often walk into a room and stand there looking lost. So Erin set me up dipping truffles and peppermint patties. For HOURS.
It was an incredible mess, but that time I spent with her in our kitchen is something I'll always treasure.

In the days leading up to the wedding, the kitchen was our gathering place. If you had two legs to stand on, you had two arms to lend. To see all of our friends together in that space was incredible. It filled me with joy.


I indulged in a slice of wedding cake before the wedding even began, as our dear officiant and I sat in the sleeping-bag filled living room and finalized our ceremony script.
I will never forget them, not only because they were beautiful and delicious, but because of the community that made them and the love, frustration, patience, and time they put into them. For that, Erin, I can never thank you enough.

Sunday, August 16, 2009

Post Wedding Joy

It's been two weeks now since our beautiful wedding, and life is beginning to return to normal. Yesterday we had a picnic with extended family and friends at Aaron's parents' farm, and I was officially welcomed into the fold with a taste of two traditional Luxembourg dishes: Trèipen, or blood sausage and Stäerzelen, or buckwheat dumplings with pork.

In all honesty I had been kind of dreading the event because I'm so shy and I worry about making a good first impression. But everyone was so friendly and generous, and I truly enjoyed myself. As the picnic wound down I spent a lot of time chasing flies with Aaron's little cousin Sarah, who is four and a half and quite the princess. We're pretty good at keeping each other entertained.

I still feel a little jolt whenever someone refers to Aaron as my husband, or me as his wife. It's an incredibly good feeling.

Our wedding was so amazing, so perfect for us, and such a wonderful start to our married life. There are so many things I never want to forget. Beautiful flowers and unseasonably cool weather. Helping Erin dip hundreds of peppermint patties in chocolate. Eating coconut cake as we looked over the ceremony script one last time. The look on my grandma's face when she saw me all gussied up, like she was going to break into tears. The way the wind died down right before we all gathered around Mom's perennial garden. Looking over Aaron's shoulder and seeing my sister crying as Jaret read our ceremony. Aaron squeezing my fingers. Watching one of our cats wind his way through the legs of our guests. Taking a deep breath and centering myself as I read my vows (the one moment when I thought my tears were really going to get the better of me!). Annie dropping the pole she had been supporting when she reached out to hug me, and laughing when Aaron had to catch it. Making faces with my sisters after the ceremony. The beautiful lights in the barn. Losing power when we tried to plug in a second coffee maker.

I will remember everyone who was there with their love. I'll remember Neal playing a diddy on his banjo. I'll remember the elation I felt when two dear friends broke out into one of my favorite bluegrass songs. My mom, grandpa and aunt Suzi yodeling, and hearing the voices of my grandma and uncle Bob joining them from their table, and the sound of the coins circling the bowls. A piece read by Aaron's grandma about how god loves love stories, a love poem read by his aunt. Shane stepping up first and reading William Carlos Williams, Jaret reading a valentine poem he had copied down that evening. My dear sisters singing, and later, Laura belting out the lyrics of "Hallelujah." Annie and the alp horn. Hot coffee in my rosy tea cup and laughter. Standing up and "singing" for my college girls after they surprised me with the chant, "We love you Katie..." The desserts. Dear god, the desserts.

I've never felt a moment of post wedding blues. Never believe someone who tells you that your wedding will be the best day of your life. I never wanted that of our wedding - I just wanted a happy, meaningful start to our marriage. Our wedding was incredible, but when it was done we were both ready to move on to other things. What a wonderful feeling to be moving forward together.




Tuesday, August 4, 2009