Thirty

Thirty years ago Dean and I entered our apartment as husband and wife for the very first time where our 95 year old landlord had left us a gift taped to the door. Carefully clipped, was a newspaper headline that read "FOR GARLIC LOVERS ONLY" along with his best wishes for a long and happy life together. Dean reminded me that wasn't how I spelled my new last name in case I had forgotten. But mostly I remember how we laughed that 95 year old Arthur was so witty and clever. We giggled at the thought of him even knowing what love is at his age. Newlyweds know SO much about love right?

Fast forward thirty years...having a lot more perspective and wisdom, we escaped to the Dominican Republic to celebrate the milestone anniversary!

It's hard to believe that we have been together for that many years. I have been asked how we stay married for so long. I will tell you, I don't know exactly! But maybe it's just simply committing to STAY married.

I would never say that marriage is easy...we all know it isn't! But then achieving something worthwhile never is easy. For better or worse...the balance can seem to weigh heavy on the worse side at times. But the good times far outweigh the bad in the end. 

I believe love and marriage goes through stages. The first being all about romance...it's the easiest. The fodder of Hollywood and romance novels, romantic love sells and we can't get enough of it. 

The novelty of new love leads you to think about your partner night and day...idealizing everything about them. You want to spend every moment together because your brain is literally addicted to being in love.

After the dazzle of romance wears off, it's time to dig down and really get to know that person you married. I adore his passion for living and energy to start exciting new projects. And he is my number one fan when it comes to quilting or photography or anything else I love.

Living with a person day after day, year after year can be difficult. Your once idolized perfect spouse now has habits that might make you crazy like never shutting the cupboard doors (I do that), or leaving things laying around (he does that).

And let's face it, children can really complicate a marriage.

Through the years we have had moments of complete joy and perfection...

our wedding, births of each of our four children, graduations, special holidays, sunshine and powder ski days, great vacations and becoming grandparents.

But we've also had lots of imperfect moments...

sick babies with sleepless nights, worries over teenagers,

tough decisions, mistakes, employment worries...

and moments of great sorrow.

The loss of Jocie rocked our world and still leaves us unsteady.

But those moments of imperfection, hardship and sorrow, though they might be gritty and nasty and completely unbearable have helped shape our marriage and brought us closer together.

After 30 years our love is deeper and more mature. I know that unequivocally he has my back. And when I make him crazy, I know all it takes is a freshly baked pie to apologize.

Looking back...it's been an incredible 30 years being married to my sweetheart. He makes me laugh, surprises me with large Diet Cokes when I need it, and understands me like no one else can. It seems old Arthur might have known something about love after all.

A Quilt for Sam

They spent their teenage years constantly hanging out...planning parties, learning to drive, chasing boys and generally just growing up. It was the occasion of Sam's wedding shower that gathered them all back together...except Chelsea (mostly known as Chochi) who lives out of state.


The girls considered holding up a "Chochi goes here" sign when they posed for this photo. They definitely missed you girl!

As soon as Sam's pending engagement was announced...excitedly, Cass and I went shopping. Optimistic that we would be able to meet up and sew the quilt together, we selected this sweet, fresh fabric.


I was pretty sure that it would be me doing the sewing as Cass has her hands full of babies right now. But I just love how this quilt turned out.

Between Cass, Crystal, and Missy...they have a total of five kids in just a few short years. Sam, along with her new hubby has been busy graduating from law school and sitting for the bar exam. I think all of the kids sort of freaked her out a little! Don't worry Sam, you can catch up quick...just ask Cass.

It's so enlightening to see teenage girls grow up and become amazing people...intelligent, confident, nurturing women. Congratulations Sam, The Garlick Press is thrilled that you and Brandon found each other!

Wuv, Tru Wuv...

"Mawage, Mawage is wot bwings us togeder tooday."

" Mawage, dat bwessed awangment,"

" dat dweam wifin a dweam..."

" And wuv, tru wuv, will fowow you foweva..."

 "So tweasure your wuv."
And then Prince Humperdink says..."Skip to the end."

" Have you the wing?
And do you, Pwincess Buwwercup..."

 and the Prince again... "Man and wife. Say man and wife."

"Man an' wife!"

Courtney and Skyler, true loves! And this was their wedding day. Marriage, that blessed arrangement that dream within a dream perfectly orchestrated, brought us all together on this day.

Over the years the sisters of the groom have had a lot to say about the girls their brother Skyler dated. But Courtney is exactly what Shara and Carrie were hoping for in a sister-in-law.

 It seems that this brother and sister... Max and Lola were feeling the love today too.

But a daddy and his girl...there is nothing like this love! Watch out Ryan...before you turn around this gorgeous baby redhead will meet her true love.

 But for now...it's Daddy!

Kari, you will not find a sweeter mother of the groom. And she has finally married off her last child.

My brother, and the father of the groom. Another one of his offspring has found their soul mate...this must explain the happy expression on his face.

I had lots of time to photograph the little ones while waiting for the bride and groom to join us.

It is so much fun to photograph the little ones...they giggle and  frolic about, making merry wherever they go.

Lola Grace....I finally found the catch lights in those deep brown eyes. I've been trying for months to capture her eyes.

 But the shot of her toddler feet are pretty sweet too.

Khloe discovered ants crawling across the marble steps and stopped playing immediately to observe them.

 A Mother's love...knows no end. It even reaches into the heavens...this I know!

And finally the happy couple emerge...triumphant grins across their newlywed faces.

Many members of the family would tease Skyler about being single at "his age." Something about being a menace? .

As for me, I never worried. I just knew he hadn't found the right one yet...the one that would make a smile dance across his face like this.

Courtney...she's the right one! The incredibly beautiful right one.

It's mostly all about the bride on this day...you know that, right? Maybe it's a little bit about the groom too...but mostly the bride.

Oh and her gown...a simple beaded bodice with ruffles and more ruffles. Did I say how much I loved the ruffles!

 And her smile...intoxicating.

And the bouquet...so Courtney.

The first time I met Courtney I fell in love with her, as did the rest of the family. I just knew she would be perfect for Skyler.

Skyler adores everything about Courtney you can tell...look at his hand placed softly in the small of his bride's back. Just the right amount of touch to say... I'm right behind you while you soak up this moment in time with your sister and your girlfriends.

 And soak it up she did...her smile seems endless doesn't it?

Today a new family was established...Courtney and Skyler.

If Courtney's mom has her way, they'll be increasing that family soon, as she certainly has been dropping more than a few hints.

Probably my favorite shot of the day. Her hair...amazing! His look into her face...absolute adoration and complete ignorance of the paparazzi in front of them.

The Garlick Press couldn't be more ecstatic for the marriage of Skyler and Courtney. They found true love and are perfect for each other...just perfect!

And may they live happily ever after...