Murphys Mom

Monday, January 31, 2022

Professional Wedding Pic's Day 4: THESE-THREE-MEN....

It was a short aisle at the Chapel....10 rows to be exact.

But as I envisioned my walk down that aisle months prior, I saw a couple of the greatest men in my life walking down it next to me. They were my late husband Chuck's brother and son, Doug and Troy. I'm not going to lie; I was nervous asking them for this favor. Very nervous.

How do you ask these men who loved my late husband so much, to walk you to your future husband?

But I believe their exact answers to me were, "I thought you'd never ask" and "I'd be honored to." I went home and cried.

And I remember standing there in the foyer of the Chapel before the doors opened and seeing Doug Etheridge mouth the words, "You look beautiful". It was all I could do to not cry. And as he walked me to aisle 5, halfway to my future husband, my step-son Troy stepped out and walked me the rest of the way.

Chuck would have been so proud of these men he loved.

Troy walked me to my 93-year old Dad on the front aisle....whose face was wet with tears as he hugged me tight, told me he loved me, and handed me over to Wayne.

These Three Men......mighty men in my heart and soul and in my life.....men who lead by example that even through death, life is meant to be lived. There are no words in this girl-of-many-words' heart to fully express the BLESSING they showered down on me that day.

A truly unselfish love they each have.....and they are my heroes.

Monday, January 24, 2022

Professional Wedding Pic's Day #3: "THINGS"....

They are just "things". But isn't it funny how "things" have a way of grabbing our heart like they're a warm blanket wrapped around us?

These things.....well....they felt like that soft embracing blanket around my shoulders my wedding day that reminded me of people near and dear to me....and several who are no longer on this earth but still occupy a corner of my heart.

The silver bracelet with the "L" on it was given to me by one of my dearest friends, Terri Ruyle, for my birthday a few years back. I remember everything about that moment, including the tears we both shed that June day as we ate lunch at Two Senoritas. In a little over a year, she would be gone....unexplainable, unimaginable and undeserving.

The pearl necklace was loaned to me by my friend Carla Melcher who knows style far-far better than Liz. As she went with me to pick up my wedding dress she said, "I know the perfect necklace for this dress!". And she handed me these stunning pearls to wear on my wedding day. This friend of almost 30 years who, if not for Chuck, I would have never met, has been one my greatest cheerleaders as I started this new chapter.

The heart necklace came from my then-fiance-now-husband on our wedding day....just minutes before the wedding....as he couriered it from person to person to arrive in my lap. I'm wearing it even today as I type this to you. And......it's engraved.....for just his and my eyes.

My beautiful bouquet (thanks Savannah Mars) was put together with my Mom in mind. Mom passed away in 2012 and was my maid-of-honor at my wedding to Chuck. Mom would have loved Wayne and to see her youngest daughter happy....and I needed a part of her at my wedding to Wayne. Thanks to my niece Jacque, we found an embroidered hankie Mom had made and a butterfly broach I had given her and made it a part of my bouquet. She was definitely in attendance at our wedding.

And last but not least, our Guest Book was Wayne's & my Bible. A Bible hand-painted by our dear talented friend Madison Melcher. I've known Madison her whole life and she has now started her own business

(https://www.facebook.com/coveredbygrace.design)