so remember {this post} back in march? well the weight of it all is on our shoulders and this song is more real to me today than ever.

[partial] lyrics:

it's only you and me

we're fighting just to breathe

feels like the weight of the world on our shoulders

if we can just hang on

i need you to be strong

feels like the weight of the world on our shoulders

josh and i have been going crazy lately. everything seems non-stop and when were done with one thing, its on to the next. it all piles on so high and it has been a tremendous weight lately. between school, work, young life, and everything else under the sun, we are swamped. we are both taking 18 credits- which is a lot for us to handle in the first place let alone with everything else. so our "down time" is really just "hurry and cram in our homework time." we even do homework in the morning- like 6 am early. it has all been really crazy. we are pushing through but dragging our feet. we're tired. we knew this wouldn't be easy- married in school working & leading & living away from where we live. but im not sure anything prepared us for this- or really anything could have prepared us. we need some rest. desperately. our brotherinlaw & sisterinlaw, kait & steve, came to visit this weekend and i unfortunately had to spend a large portion doing microecon homework. is was a nice visit but we just wish at some point the endless papers test & homework would end and we could have some quality time together, and with family when they visit. we know it will, but we're aching right now and need a lot of prayer. dont get me wrong- marriage has been the biggest blessing in all of this. doing it all together because were a team. we just need five seconds to breathe and that is not anywhere in sight. well make it i know- just gotta take it step by step in prayer & faith.

hard to breathe.

the hendys get down

after the anxiety, tears, fears, glimpses, pictures, vows, foot washing, rings, smiles, and claps were over- it was time. time to party. i mean literally party. lemme tell you a little something- our reception was awesome. i think i am allowed to gloat about that a little bit. it was about thirty minutes and the ceremony room was transformed into a beautiful reception hall. filled with history and charm. the budleigh had so much personality to it. we absolutely loved it. not to mention all the beautiful decor that some sweet parents made possibel and some sweet friends set up. josh and i were so giddy. we were laughing and all we could seem to do besides hug and kiss each other was to say to each other "WE'RE MARRIED!" just like that. we sat and waited and were in pure wedded bliss. while the set up was taking place we served our guests drinks on the porch and told them to go look at the waterfront- because 1) a trip to manteo is not a trip to manteo without a look at the gorgeous waterfront. & 2) we needed to stall while we set up... so as the guests enjoyed their stroll in the hot heat in manteo fully equipped with lemonade, cheerwine, sunkist, and coke bottles all sipping out of soda shop spiral straws, the reception set up and josh and i laughed. then it was time.

we entered the reception to matt & kims daylight song. down the stairs. it was so fun. and i even knocked over a vase with a little flower on it that was lining the stairs. it was quite funny. keep in mind i am a little dramatic.

 we ate. yes we ate. a lot of people told me not to get my hopes up about eating at my reception. but we picked that food and we were determined to break the mold. and we ate with our guests and loved ones surrounding us. our wedding menu? absolutely to die for. it was "heavy hors d'oeuvres"- which doesnt give it justice. here it is for ya- oh how i miss that food...
our menus matched our programs- both of which i designed:

 meats:

chicken marsala

beef shoulder tenders

 seafood:

crabpuffs 

blackened tuna bites (with corn salsa)

grilled shrimp

veggies:

hot artichoke dip (with pita points)

grilled & chilled assorted veggies 

miscellaneous:

sweet potato biscuits & ham

pasta in creamy basil sauce

assorted fruit & cheese

the bar was hoppin' too...

after we ate, josh & i mingled... and talked to wonderful people (like the Hildebrands pictured below) everyone was so excited to talk with us and we were excited to talk with everyone too. such a sweet time with smiles, laughter, and advice.

dance. now its time to dance. we started with the first dance. so sweet and such an intimate time. i loved dancing with that boy. it was joyful. one of my dear friends told me she had never seen a more beautiful first dance because you could see the love in our eyes and our smiles. thanks for that friend- ill never forget this sweet time dancing to one of our favorite songs hung the moon by drew & ellie holcomb (i lovelovelove them if you didnt know...)

then the daddy daughter dance... somewhere over the rainbow of course because my dad loves this movie- it was a surprise for him...

then of course some the mother-son dance which was sweet for Mrs. Cindy i know- the song started out not like we expected, but it was still sweet.

then the bet men and the maid of honor gave some sweet speeches, filled with fake nicknames, funny stories, sweet words, & 4th grade boyfriends. and then the dancing commenced for our guests. the electric slide, the virginia reel, forever, and im so sad to say i missed the dynamite dance. what were they thinking starting the song without me? i am trying to get over that... it was still so fun. enjoy these pictures. there are so many. its hard to choose.

 the virginia reel- a young life camp favorite. thanks mez & ryder for doing that.

heres some great pictures of some of our favorite couples.

john & stef doing the va reel

ryder & libby- we love you guys

kait & steven this picture is so sweet

the colonel & marybeth- oh how we do love you guys

 now its time to cut the cake. sadly, josh and i only had the two bites we fed each other. im so looking forward to our one year anniversary to eat some more....

we were nice.... at first...

then got a little messy...

still love you though

oh and we did do a bouquet & garter toss.... who would have guessed caileigh & jimmy would have caught it.... uh-ohhhh

 here are some more dance pictures...

 we're so in love.

 they match!

 josh & mezz get a little hardcore or something.... im not too sure

 my heart melts when i see this

 queeny- you look beautiful

 oh katie how i love you...

then it was time to leave...

we also had a photobooth. ill put those pictures on a separate post sometime soon, there are just so many.... hope you enjoy your weekend. i am off for a trip to harrisonburg with some good old friends to visit kristin. a little camping may be involved- well see how that goes.... josh is going to hold the fort down.

the hendys get down

ceremony pictures.

so ive already told you all about the ceremony- [go to the "our wedding" page on the left to see all the posts from the wedding] here are some pictures to help visualize. i cant tell you how special this time was. how close to jesus we and our guests felt. how beautiful and important it was and how blessed we are from it. what a beautiful day. a beautiful memory. dont ever forget your wedding- no matter how big or small, grand or not, in a church, outdoors, significant building, or a court house. dont ever forget those vows. that covenant you made. every time you fight. every time you wonder whats happening- how crazy life seems. remember this day and particulary this part. this is the most important part. not the reception or the pictures or the dress. THIS part. the part where youre joined together. where you make promises together. i dont believe in falling out of love. i believe love gets hard. and tough. and that sometimes its so hard you cant stand it. but remember this part of that day. in sickness and health. rich or poor. storms and calm. remember how lovely those promises were. dont break them stick with them. there are sometimes josh makes me so angry i cant stand to be around him (sounds harsh- but you all know its true.) and believe me, i can make that boy so angry too. but love is not a fairytale. its not the happy ending, the happy ending comes when you die and are free to be with jesus. love is real and true and wonderful and hard and it is what you make it. put forth the effort everyday to get up and be selfless. imagine what that would look like. to make the lunches when the other is lagging. to make the bed because you know its her pet peeve. to put on the hammock music because you know its his favorite. start with the little things and work hard on the big things. love never ends. it never fails. i truly believe this with all my heart.

i pray you remember this for your own future day or the one you already had. recall it. it was so special.

enjoy these pictures and know how genuine the smiles and tears are.

he sees me for the first time.

wow i am cheesin'

my daddy giving me away

the pedastools my family friend Al made specially for us. thank you so much.

why did i want to get married outside? i mean look at this room & that ceiling.

libby reading us some scripture. it was so special.

reading his vows to me.

reading my vows to him.

"I give you this ring as a symbol of our covenant in Christ."

the greatest love is the kind thats selfless and where you serve with a patient and sincere heart.

salt [water] & [Gods] light.

this was a very special moment. our first prayer as a married couple. 

seal it with a kiss.

best first kiss ever.

admiring my HUSBAND.

 since we did all the pictures before, we were able to snag some sweet time together before the party began. i loved every second of this time.

theres no denying i was one happy girl.

ceremony pictures.