just found this one.... what an incredible day!
I love being able to look back on this day and having no regrets. No wishes. No disappointments. If you were there you know what a disaster it was but in the most amazing way. Almost nothing went according to plan and I can honestly say I was in perfect peace.
Sunday, May 23rd rolled around quicker than I expected. I woke up anxious and excited. It was looking a little stormy out but I was all the way in Fallbrook, there is no way it would look like this in Joshua Tree, nearly 3 hours away. I got in the car, got some coffee and started my trek out there alone. Listening to music, calming my heart and just spending time with the One who knows me best. Every mile I drove closer to Joshua Tree the clouds got darker. About half way there it started pouring rain, like really pouring. I honestly started laughing. I laughed out loud in the car alone. Probably quite a sight for some. For the past weeks I had been worrying that it was going to be over 100 degrees out and people were going to be too hot and now its raining. As I pulled out into the desert the skies were blue and it seemed the weather had cleared. It didn’t seem like the storm was moving that way. I went and got my nail fixed (the second one that had broke in a day!) and then went to check into the hotel. Which by the way the lady didn’t have my name at first. Of course. Still I am laughing. As soon as I checked in and got out of the shower I opened the curtains and it looked like there was a hurricane outside. The trees sideways and the rain slammed on the windows. Within minutes Jordan arrived at the campsite where the reception was to be held and reported that there was snow on the ground. Snow in the desert, in the end of May. To me it was joke. God was really having fun with this. But I continued to feel peace. He has destined this day for us long before we were born and there is a perfect plan in mind. I seriously continued to giggle. How crazy is the weather? A freak storm. My dad and grandpa found a rec hall that we had to move the reception too cause it was freezing and the winds were crazy, but rain or shine we were getting married on that rock! Make up done, hair did with the girls and a drive over to the spot where I would be getting married. I don’t think any of it hit me until we drove around a corner and I saw all of the cars waiting for me to arrive. My stomach dropped. Only 38 days ago did the love of my life propose and here I am about to give up my last name. AHHH!!!! The worst case of the butterflies I had ever experienced, actually I think it was more like Elephants having a stampede in my stomach. All in the best way possible. Excitement overwhelmed me. I think I could have ran the 30 minutes of to the rock. Patiently, we hiked, changed into our dresses at the top and soon enough I walked down the crevasse of boulder hanging 500 feet in the air to meet my groom. The winds blew my hair like a tornado, the icy chill in the air instantly gave me goose bumps but the sky cleared, the rain stopped and it was the most gorgeous moment ever created in time.
I kept my eyes straight, I didn’t hear our song being played,I was there only in the arms of my love. We said the most beautiful sacred vows, took communion and sealed it with a kiss that could kill! It was freezing and everybody came.
Everybody smiled for the pictures. And everyone came to what turned out to be an amazing reception thanks to the hard work and help of many family and friends who made it all happen.
And even with all the traditional stuff we weren’t really interested in, it was a blast!
Finishing the night there saying our goodbyes we had a huge bon fire with our closest friends back in J.T. National Park and hung out til three in the morning! They played guitars and harmonicas, we had serious conversations, enjoyed their company and stood in awe of the serenity of the desert. 9am rolled around a little too quickly but by the sweetness of my older brothers and some friends had an amazing breakfast cooked for us and the bridal party! What a day. A beautiful disaster and I could have never imagined anything more perfect!!!
