My Father.

Father's Day. As I get older this holiday means more and more to me. When I was a kid, I guess I kind of took my Dad for granted. I complained when he asked me to do chores. I fought with him when he wouldn't let me go out with friends. I cried when he disciplined me.

Looking back, my dad was rather strict. He ran a tight ship and brought up his children with discipline. He also trained us in righteousness and taught us to question the world around us. I remember my dad teaching me to think. Be skeptical. See the world and try to outsmart it {of course that one never happened with me}.

My dad is hilarious. He's brave. He's a leader. He's strong. My dad is opinionated. He's outspoken. He's always cracking jokes.

I'm becoming more and more like my dad every day. {weird right? although I will always have my mother's emotions}. And I think it's important for me to really look back on the lessons my dad taught me and use them in my marriage and life today.

Matt's the opposite of my dad :) Which is beautiful--especially when I'm a lot like my dad. But I'm thankful for the woman my dad raised me to be because it's a complement of my husband. It helps balance us out. And I think about how clever God is to create my dad like he is, knowing he would influence me to be the way I am, knowing I would marry someone exactly opposite of him. ha!

So today Dad, I want to say thank you for being you. For always loving God before your family. And for preparing me to be the wife to Matt I am today. I love you Dad :)

Proverbs 3:11-12 

My son, do not despise the LORD's discipline 

and do not resent his rebuke, 

because the LORD disciplines those he loves, 

as a father the son he delights in.

Tis the season.

Wedding season is underway! Can't you feel it (slash see it everywhere all around you)?? I'm not sure if I was oblivious to the wedding fever last summer, or if I was just so consumed with my own wedding, but somehow this year feels like a wedding bug is spreading. And I love it :)

I've been so excited for so many couples to finally seal the deal. In fact, my childhood best friend, Cassie Dunbar just tied the knot this past weekend. It was such a treat to be by her side and to be a part of the excitement in a different way.

A very different way: toast giver. OH goodness. Since I was Cassie's matron of honor, I of course was expected to give a speech--and of course I wanted to. I took Business Communications (aka public speaking) in college and somehow passed with an A. So I assumed that I would knock this one out of the park. But man was it nerve-wracking. And not only that--I managed to entangle myself into giving TWO speeches. I was trying to hint at the Best Man at the rehearsal dinner to go with speeches that night in front of a smaller crowd, but he wasn't biting. Thus led to my dual speeches--one at the dinner and one at the reception. Hopefully the bride at least enjoyed my rambling.

Butttt I'm so happy to finally have some peer married friends. Matt and I have met some wonderful couples over the past 10 months that are mostly older (which we are so thankful for and love!). But it will be fun to have some similar-aged couple friends!

Ultimately, I'm relishing the "deja vu" moments from all the weddings this summer. We have 4 in total to attend (Caitlin, Emily, and Luke & Heather to go). They are all going to be wonderful! && Matt and I kinda sorta get to relive the vows we made last summer ;)

Here's a couple pictures from Cassie's wedding festivities:

 Cassie's rehearsal dinner with the bridesmaids.

Me and Cassie in Charleston for her bachelorette weekend.