It's one of those things that feels like it was just yesterday, and yet at the same time, a lifetime ago. Ten years ago, when we were oh-so young, we became husband and wife.
I've learned so much since then. Most of it from Matt. I believe your mate should make you a better person, and that's just what Matt does for me. He has taught me everything I know about unconditional love. He loves me when I am so very, very unlovable. I'm so thankful for the man, husband, and father that he is. I can't even put into words how much better life is because I get to live it by his side.
Now, onto the incriminating pics from our small-town wedding exactly one decade ago. Before digital photography even (in GB anyway).
(My in-laws purchased the negatives when the photographer closed up shop and I was able to make a Shutterfly book this year. The quality of pics is limited. But surely that's what you're used to on this 'ol blog?!)
If you know me at all you surely won't be surprised that I was a complete Bridezilla. With the huge mid-2000s tiara (!) to prove it. God bless Matt and his family who had to think I was a crazy lady. Because I was.
It's difficult to tell in the picture, but the bridesmaids dresses (from David's Bridal--small-town wedding central) were taffeta tea-length skirts with a striped pattern (!) of yellow, blush, and green. Two bridesmaids wore pink strapless tops, two wore yellow, and two wore green. The candle-lighters wore halter top style and all had a pink ribbon sash. The shoes were clear (!) with pink bows.
Bridesmaids were Kylie Siruta Austin and Kelly Landon Michael (Gamma Phi Beta friends), Jen Johnson (K-State friend), Audrey Cale Pool and Megan Kottmann Beahm (childhood friends from GB), my sister Gentry was the maid of honor and my sister MaKenzie was the Jr. Maid of Honor.
Matt's sister's (Christy, Cindy, and Beth) calmly handled the task of being candle-lighters while I had five (!) large sets of candelabras to be lit as part of the ceremony. Every time I watch the wedding video I think of how cruel it was to make them light so many candles in front of half the town. (I'm sorry guys. You're great and you handled it beautifully.)
Groomsmen were Adam Utz, Brooks Butler, Joel Hardee and John Gideon (teammates from MNU), Clay Crane (GB friend), and Jason Harwood was the best man (MNU teammate). Ushers were Nathan Roberts (my cousin), Johnny Ream (MNU friend), Derek Algrim and Jimmie Williams (MNU teammates). My cousins Aaron and Maci (who will soon graduate high school) were ring bearers and Matt's cousin Bailey was the flower girl. I insisted that the ring bearers carry in the stuffed bear (!?) that Matt made at Build-a-bear and used to propose to me. Bridezilla roars.
I've always loved this pic of both of our families. We decided (mostly after watching the wedding video) that Gentry gets the award for changing the least in 10 years. And MaKenzie might get the award for changing the most. #awkwardphase #iloveyou
You should know that my mom grew a large portion of the wedding flowers in our backyard. It was a hot and dry summer but she diligently kept all the flowers alive to use for the wedding. She was out cutting these on the cake tiers at 2AM the morning of the wedding day!
Our reception was held at Barton County Community College in the Student Union as the Barton Campus is located right next to my childhood church where we got married.
It was fun reminiscing about our wedding day as I made our little family watch the video tonight. (Cade and Reese actually love watching it and are always so confused about why they weren't there). What a fun day spent celebrating our (young) love with so many friends and family. I vividly remember Matt telling me to take a few seconds and look out at the crowd and take it all in after they pronounced us husband and wife. He said that everyone we love would be there and we should soak it all in at that moment. I totally would have rushed down the aisle and missed that sweet memory without him bringing it to my attention. That characterizes much of what our life is like still today. I don't want to think about all the things I would just skip by without Matt to help me savor and celebrate it. See, he's the greatest!!
And why not keep the old photos coming?! Here we are all ready to go to the winter formal in January of 2000. I was a junior and Matt was a senior. Look how awkward we are by not touching for our pic?!
The fun facts continue, because maybe you don't know about our story? I'm fairly certain I haven't blogged about it in the past 8 years of blogging.
Matt and I had a class together my sophomore (his junior) year of high school. Mr. Minton's Anatomy & Physiology class. Mr. Minton (one of the best teachers I ever had) said that he wasn't going to assign seats but wherever you sat on the second day of class was going to be your seat for the class. I vividly remember making an effort to get to class early that day so that I could sit beside Matt Keeley, the oh-so-cute basketball player. We then dated for about two years, until Matt went off to college at MNU (about 4 hours away from GB) to play college basketball. It made sense to break up. We never saw each other, rarely spoke, and didn't really have anything to talk about when we did. The next year I headed off to K-State but still went to about one MNU game per year to watch Matt play and he still called to wish me happy birthday every year. In 2003 when he called to wish me happy birthday we ended up talking for about 2 hours. And then he called again a couple weeks later. And then again. I played hard to get but we started dating again toward the middle of my junior year and his senior year of college. We got engaged in November of 2004 and married in July of 2005. Wish I could find some pics from the engagement...I'll have to try to dig some of those up! I'm so thankful Matt circled back around for me and I love telling the story of the seating chart to my students. You never know, you could end up marrying the guy behind you. I'm so glad I did.
Three cities, two apartments, five cars, two houses, two career changes, two kids, TEN years, and it feels like it's just beginning. Happy Anniversary, Matt! I'm beyond thankful to be with you on this journey!
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