. . . first family heirloom . . .The Wedding Album

“When are you going to settle down, plant your roots?”

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We just moved to Arizona, as many of you know, from Montana – where we had been living for the past 14 years.  The move has been – well . . . .an adjustment.

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When we were in Montana, we lived in a very small town, where the kids all went to school within one mile of each other.  Activities were all relatively close.  School breaks were the same.

Here in Arizona, the kids’ schools are about 30 minutes apart.  The high school is on a different schedule than the K-8.  Activities are all over the city.  I am putting about 100 miles on our car a day.

Because of the distance in schools, we have been having a rather difficult time deciding where to buy a home.

Closer to one school or the other or in the middle?  That is the question.

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I must admit, that sometimes, I want to go home.  We honestly thought that moving would help us get ahead, provide more things to do, be an adventure.

And it is.  It is really all of those things, but there are times, when I still feel so unsettled . . . so unsettled.

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This past year, I had the opportunity to get to know Kyle and Jayme Tash.  They were married in July on their families’ ranch – the place where their grandparents were married and settled.  This would now be the place where Kyle and Jayme would settle – raise their family.  Grandpa Bill even married them.

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These pictures below, are not just any wedding pictures, but they are the wedding pictures of Kyle and Jayme Tash.

The scenery, the fences. The old trucks and tractors.  The trees, barns, and hay bales.  All of these things are not just props to help make beautiful pictures, but they are all a part of where Kyle and Jayme live.  I remember Jayme once telling me, “I think one of the places that is memorable to me is that ranch that we live at. It is such a beautiful place and it means so much to me. It is where Kyle and I have started our life and were I hope we can raise and family at and retire from. Kyle’s grandpa started and raised his family from there.   Kyle’s mom and dad raised their family there.   And I hope that Kyle and I can do the same.”

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When it’s all said and done, I think this is one of my favorite parts of my job.

A story complete – settled.

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Kyle and Jayme will not walk away from their wedding with only a handful of pictures slipped into a photo album or a DVD slideshow to watch on their computer.  They will not just have small pictures in frames sitting by their nightstand or hanging on the refrigerator as a magnet.  Although those things are good, and they will probably have all those things in their home, Kyle and Jayme will also have walked away from their wedding day with a compilation of all the many moments that made up their wedding day bound into a beautiful storybook that will be forever kept as their first family heirloom.  After you have seen some of the pictures below, be sure to stay a few moments and watch the slideshow of what their wedding album will look at.  You can view it at the bottom  or click here.

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These are all moments of the life they have started with one another.

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Their first look.

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Moments of quiet I love you’s . . . and whatcha doin’ laters . . .

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Moments with their friends . . . .

full of great conversation

laughter

jokes

tears.

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Moments of listening

to voices of the past

dreams for the future.

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Moments of pride.

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Moments of memories.

(Here, when Jayme’s father gave her to Kyle  – Kyle shook his hand, and placed in his hand, Jayme’s baptismal gown.  Her father had no idea it was coming, and the emotion that flooded  . . .  well, it was so beautiful and touching.)

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Moments of fun and dancing.

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“When are you going to settle down, plant your roots?”  This is what a friend asked me a few weeks ago.

“When are you going to settle down, plant your roots?”

I was so incredibly honored to have witnessed Kyle and Jayme exchange vows, settle down, and plant their roots.

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I only pray that I too will soon feel settled.

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Enjoy these moments with them as you watch the slideshow of their first family heirloom – their wedding album.

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