Here Comes the Bride

 To see how we got here, read The Farmer’s Daughter and the Country Boy

Our Wedding Day

June 26, 2004

 

Thrilled bride

Mother and daughter

Daughter and father

Nervous groom

Proud parents

Down the aisle

I, Abigail, take you, Edwin, to be my husband, knowing in my heart that you are my best friend, my constant companion, and my one true love.

I promise to be true to you in good times and in bad, for richer and for poorer, in sickness and in health.

I will love you and honor you all the days of my life.

I, Edwin, take you, Abigail, to be my wife, knowing in my heart that you are my best friend, my constant companion, and my one true love.

I promise to be true to you in good times and in bad, for richer and for poorer, in sickness and in health.

I will love you and honor you all the days of my life.

Smiles and tears

Wedding party

And we shall live happily ever after.

Seven Years

Seven years ago tonight Ed and I went out on our second-first date.  Our first date was about six months earlier and then we just went on with our lives, but we reunited on November 30.  It was a double date, thanks to my friend Jessica, a.k.a. Green Mamma, agreeing to tag along with me.  What are good friends for?

We went to dinner and a movie, and I remember Ed dozing off during the movie.  The details are a little blurry, but he dropped me off at home and we had our first kiss in my driveway, next to the apartment that my dad was building for me over the garage.  Little did I know then that the apartment would become our home for the next five years.

Even though we don’t celebrate this anniversary anymore, since we have the official wedding anniversary in June, I still like to stop and think about our date.

Two weeks after that dinner and a movie, I remember telling Jessica that Ed was the man I was going to marry.  I don’t know how I knew, but apparently it was love at second sight.

Ed and Abbie, December 26, 2001

Happy Anniversary Mom and Dad!

Today is my mom and dad’s 31st anniversary.  I know it’s just another day for them, working, and taking care of the family and our farm.

However, two years ago today, we were all in Alaska, hiking out to Brooks Falls to watch brown bears feed on salmon in Katmai National Park.  It was an amazing experience. 

Mom and Dad in front of a mountain in Alaska. 

A mamma bear with three cubs! She reminds me of my mom.

A big male catches salmon by the falls.

Brown Bears fighting over the salmon.  It was amazing to be there.  We could see so many details about the bears, smell the salmon, and the roars were so loud.

Jonathan, Ed, me, and Nathaniel, bundled up for a chilly July day in Alaska. 

View of many bears at the falls.  One thing to keep in mind: We went through safety training before hiking out to see the bears.  The salmon were running, as you can see in the picture, and that’s all the bears cared about, so they didn’t mind having us watch them silently.  We did have some close calls on our hikes, but fortunately we knew how to back away slowly, say “Hey, bear” calmly, and not bother the bears. 

Well, Mom and Dad, I think this anniversary two years ago is hard to beat!  At least look back at the pictures and remember how exciting it was!