The past 10 months we've enjoyed several milestones in our family: Our son turned two years old, our niece 21, my mom 39 ;), two people turned 40, + recently, my parents celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. Here are some images of their wedding in 1968:
The date of January 19, 2019 for the celebration was significant as the anniversary of my maternal grandmother's death. She would be happy that we all came together as a family to celebrate instead of grieve. We walk into her legacy in our own ways.
I'm thankful at how God brings full circle our paths. A turning point for my parents involved when my dad became a Christian when he was 28 years old, and I one, and my parents celebrated 10 years of marriage.
I married my husband when I turned 28 years old, and we welcomed the advent of our son when we celebrated 10 years of marriage.
For their 50th, we celebrated with a party at the same venue that they had married in 1968, formerly Renton Lutheran Church, now Luther's Table, a community cafe and music house in Renton, Wash.
I had enjoyed LT for years since it opened for a myriad of community, civic, and educational causes, and live music. Through photography, I connected there with other local organizations that partner in the community to care for others in need.
These organizations gave me a sense of community + connection, + a place to live out my vocational ministry where traditional houses may not have recognized the value.
My dad shared how God helped them through their marriage, and how faith in the Lord saves us.
Then we danced and sang to live music with my son.
We ate flatbread, drank wine, tea, + whatever cake was left. After parties make the BEST parties.
My parents worked with me on the design of the invitations, the pre-family portraits, the venue booking date, the cake flavours (spice cake/chocolate filling 1st layer; white cake/strawberry filling 2nd layer; white vanilla coconut icing both layers), + my mom + I designed flowers whilst Dad played with the baby after our lunch at the table + bench that we designed, built, + aged after a Parson's table from 1930 (not pictured). We sourced our flowers + accessories through our local Safeway + QFC. I enjoyed these special moments shopping + designing with my mom.
I also surprised them with images that they hadn't seen of their wedding day with digitized slides on a slideshow. The baby assisted with that, too. Water damage had destroyed many images.
Watch my parents' feed cake to each other + toast here (with some coaching from me).
Watch my parents' 50th anniversary dance here.
Watch a praise music snippet live here of Oceans by Hillsong United.
I'm thankful for this special story to me about how life comes full circle, that whatever seeds you plant or shoulders you rub, can come back in a living way to thrive, heal, + restore.
Besides, don't my parents look gorgeous? They shopped together for their ensembles.
If you feel lonely in a season, you can know that there's a connection somewhere even if waiting for you just around the bend.
Special thanks to Tom + friends at Luther's Table for playing + supporting the event, to Nuflours Bakery of Seattle, Wash., who worked with me with ease + enthusiasm on a short time horizone, + for the beautiful + tasty gluten-free + paleo cake modeled after their original + designed by my toddler + I, to Omega Photo Lab of Bellevue, Wash. for scanning the 35mm slides for my parents' slideshow, to All Things Wine of Renton, Wash. for the delicious prosecco, for my aunt V. for making the 50th side cake, and for aunts V. + D. bringing G. a gift so that he could play, + to guests for giving my parents memories to cherish.
Special thanks + pride to my parents for not giving up, for giving us an example to follow, + for circling back to the value to invest in heritage of people with faith, hope, + love.
Special thanks to G, my wonderful + joyful 2-year-old, who co-designed the event, flowers, + cake with me, rode to the "choo-choos" in the sky (skyscrapers) to pick-up the scanned slides, + helped Dada purchase + carry the balloons. He certainly was patient with my event planning frenetic energy the past few weeks. Besides, he's the best company. Love you, G!
What circles do you wish to come true today?
What connections do you yearn for?
Kindly,
Dena