HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAD!

On my birthday, my dad loves posting tons of photos of me throughout the years. WELL NOW I GET TO DO IT! With the added knowledge of GIFS!!!!! TODAY IS HIS BIRTHDAY YAY!

Let me explain the gif above: my awesome father is a diehard Red Sox fan (where do you think I got it from?!) and during this past playoff season, he took a photographic journey of his playoff beard from start to finish. Basically, he posted beard selfies every day. I always looked forward to them (as did my friends!) and I just had to slice them together for an animation of his journey, which, might I add, TOTALLY PAID OFF. (Yes, it's his birthday, so I'll bestow upon him and his beard the Red Sox World Series win. All the magic of his beard!)

And so, here are a few photos of my wonderful, caring, genuinely amazing father. He was a military career man, and his life shaped my life in the best way possible. I wouldn't have wanted it any other way. I'm grateful, lucky, and proud. And I am constantly admiring him as a role model. He's someone I always eagerly look forward to visiting with or just having a conversation. (Usually about movies!) Love you, Dad!

With my brother and me: our annual photo tradition

He let me tell him ALL ABOUT New Kids on the Block back then

Mom and Dad, military ball style!

My dad and I last month on our fall foliage trip

07 - God Only Knows - The Beach Boys

My father and I chose this as our father/daughter dance song at the reception. There were a few reasons. Firstly, my dad is the reason I listen to and love "oldies" as I called them growing up. We made some really long trips across the country with our family when we moved every two years, and oldies were usually on the station. Until I got some musical tastes of my own, but that's another story.

Secondly, my father and I share a great affinity for movies. Any kind of movies, he's always been my movie-going buddy and he's the guy who introduced me to Hitchcock in middle school and told me his stories about working on a Francis Ford Coppola film. (Again, that's another story!) We both loved the movie Love, Actually, no matter how corny, it was dear to our hearts from the moment we saw it. That Colin Firth storyline is basically the story of my parents, by the way. Have I told that story yet? I will...another time. In the ending montage to the film, "God Only Knows" plays as everyone is reuniting and hugging at the airport. It's a sweet scene, and it's exactly what I imagined feeling as I danced with my father.

He, and my mother, definitely made me into the woman I am today and I can't thank them enough. God only knows what I'd be without him...

Enjoy!

The Wedding Day - Part II - The Ceremony

My father and I entered the church after everyone else. We had an eccentric driver from the rental company; he insisted on being next to us every step of the way. When my father and I were in a private room, waiting to walk down the aisle, the driver tried helping me with my veil, and then helped all the groomsmen and bridesmaids walk down the aisle. He was a laugh riot. I told my dad as we were waiting for the bridesmaids to walk down the aisle --

"We have a very involved driver..."

"He should be, from what I'm paying him."

Ha. So. All the bridesmaids were down and the kindly driver closes the church doors so that my father and I could get in place. Dad held my hand, looking stunning in his military uniform, as the driver made sure my train cascaded just right. Then we heard the processional and the driver opened the doors.

I don't know why right there I was overwhelmed. Okay, maybe I do know why. Here I was standing at the entrance of the rest of my life - looking at all the most important people in my life until then, and my life from then. I could feel my dad shake, and I shook too. I tried so hard not to cry - not now, not now. It was, obviously, incredibly hard.

Jesse's face appeared to me and my dad's grip got tighter - he then lifted my veil, kissed me on the cheek, and brought Jesse's hand to mine. I wanted to chase after him and hug my father again.

But I was happy.

As Father Bob began the Liturgy of the Word ceremony (Jesse is not Catholic, thus we did not do a full mass), my hand was clammy and held onto Jesse's hand until my knuckles were white. I almost couldn't believe that is was happening - that all of our planning for the last year and a half was coming to fruition and in mere minutes he would be my husband. I would be called a wife.

Jesse's mother, Sandi, read an excerpt from the Bible, as did my Uncle Arthur for the second reading. Father Bob gave a solemn homily to the gospel, and then Jesse and I read the traditional vows to each other and put on each other's wedding bands. And, the kiss. It was lovely. More lovely? Jesse reaching in for a quick second one - does that happen often in a Catholic ceremony?

Soon after, Father Bob pronounced us Husband & Wife and we walked down the aisle to claps and cheers. I can't remember a time when I was more happy. I was married. I am married. I will be married for the rest of my life.

The driver was ready for our receiving line, even though we had practiced it the day before. I got to see everyone that witnessed our marriage and I seriously felt the most love ever from the moment I kissed Jesse through the weekend. I was overwhelmed by everyone's sheer joy - the happiness they expressed for us, and the hugs that let me know of their love.

My ecstasy lasted through some more photographs by Channing with family outside of the church, and the driver popping some champagne for Jesse and I. We climbed into the Rolls Royce and got our first moment alone as a married couple. We laughed, we kissed, we breathed - finally.

And we got ready for the party!