Wedding!

Well, today was the big day. And I am exhausted!! But as usual, I can't make myself go to bed early so here I am. =P

Overall, it was a really good day. I don't think I anticipated how hard it was going to be for me though. I mean, I knew it wouldn't be easy but I didn't know it would be that hard. When I first got there, Pete (my BIL) told me that Joe had called him...and made him cry. I was really glad that Joe was able to call him {even though I was extremely jealous} but I didn't ask what he said. I knew if it made him cry, that I didn't even want to know. I did pretty well until about a half hour or so before the wedding. I was talking to my MIL and SIL (Sarabeth) and was asked what I was thinking {I must have been staring out into space}. Sarabeth said "Joe" and that was all the cue I needed for the tears to start. *sigh*

The wedding went really well...and I cried a few times. They did a slideshow of pictures during the sand ceremony and I all but lost it when I saw a picture of Joe...even just as a kid. Sad, isn't it? I just couldn't help but thinking that he should be standing up there next to his brother, not halfway around the world in the sandbox. Of course, nothing can be done about that. It's just another one of those really sucky things about the military and deployment. I guess this is the first big family event that he's missed {other than a holiday} so maybe that's why it was so rough. Between me and my MIL we barely made it through the day without tears.

Thankfully, the ring bearer {who is about 5} provided some comedic relief for the day.

First, he was all smiles. Don't know why he put the pillow down though.

Then I guess he got a little tired of standing for so long.

Finally, he just sat down. He had such a hard job! Haha =)

My FIL did their ceremony also. I think it's so neat that he's done all of his kids' weddings except for one. =) He got a little sentimental at this one, though, and his voice sorta cracked toward the end. And of course, all of us were crying. =P Go figure, right? Here are some pictures from the day. I took them all with my phone, and because of lighting some of them aren't that great. You get the idea though.

Caty (my new SIL) and my nephew, Kellan.

{He is way too big!!!!!}

Pete, Caty and Kellan

Headed for the honeymoon!

Almost...

I love this shot. =)

They put balloons in the car, if you couldn't tell.

Finally off!!

After the wedding, I stayed and helped with the clean up. It was a lot more work than I thought it would be. =P But it definitely kept my mind off of things for a while, which is always a good thing. Right as I was starting to get all emotional again, Melissa sent me this text message:

Thinking about you. Won't be long and your hubby will be back.

Now, I'm not much for the "not much longer" messages from outsiders but this was exactly what I needed. Just a little reminder that while this sucks, he will be back soon... Plus, I love that my bestie knows me well enough to know that I was having a rough day without me even telling her. I think that's why she's my bestie. =)

P.S. So much for the end of the world/apocalypse/rapture, huh?! Someone's going to have an embarrassing day tomorrow. Ha!