Happy 1st Anniversary!

Three hundred and sixty-five days ago, Brian Marsh, in his unique (& awesome) style, stood in flip-flops, with an open Bible in hand, and married us in front of God, family and friends. It was a perfect day and we both agree that choosing each other as husband and wife is the best decision we've made.


We spent the actual day of our anniversary driving back from Kalaloch, Washington where we said goodbye to Brian's parents and his brother & sister-in-law after a wonderful family vacation. (we spent 9 days on the Olympic Peninsula, in/near Olympic National Park...vacation photos to come soon)


Thanks to Brian's generous family, we were treated to a special dinner the night before at the Kalaloch Lodge (Thank you, again, Kevin, Tracey, Lew & Val!)  We ate a delicious dinner, drank tasty wine, and enjoyed a beautiful view of the Pacific Ocean.  

The friendly staff at the Kalaloch Lodge gave us a special table for two by the window to enjoy the view.

"And like a fine wine...it only gets better with age." - Brian Marsh (referring to marriage)

At dinner, one thing we reflected on is not only the amazing gift of our love, but also the unending love and support of all our family and friends.  So, to you, the people who have loved and helped shape us, we say thank you.

Yippee!
Our bridal party line-up:
Alison, Meghan, Caroline...Milt, Kevin & Ben

Brian's family: Kevin, Tracey...Val & Lew Vander Naald

Anne's family: Becky, Ben, Alex, Laura, Tom, Ella...Pete & Chris Yost

After dinner, we went to a nearby gazebo overlooking the beach and sat next to each other, with a hand over the other's heart (just like during our ceremony), and read our vows to each other again.  It brought back the feeling of being in that sacred space, surrounded by the energy of our community of friends and family.  

Anne had handwritten our vows in her journal so that we could remember the special words out loud together again.

Here's to many more years on this adventure!

Some more of Brian Marsh's wonderful words from our wedding ceremony:

BENEDICTION and SENDING

‘And now, ANNE and BRIAN…receive these words of blessing and sending…

May all of your expectations be frustrated.

May all of your plans be thwarted.

May all of your desires be transformed,

so that you may experience the powerlessness and peaceful contentment of a child,

and sing and dance in the powerful and passionately loving presence of our Lord…

And may The LORD bless you and keep you,

May the LORD make his face shine upon you,

May the LORD be gracious to you,

and may the LORD turn his loving presence towards you

and give you peace…

through the love of God our Father,

the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ,

and the presence and power of the Holy Spirit, Amen.’

“It is my pleasure and privilege to present to you…Mr. and Mrs. Brian and Anne VanderNaald”