.:lindsey & guy:.

I love weddings. I love meeting new people and being thrust behind the scenes of some of the most exciting and intimate days of their lives. I can't really put into words nor explain the connection that normally happens between the bride and I on her wedding day. Often we seem to become instant friends even if that is our first day to meet. She understands me, I understand her. We share knowing looks throughout the day and our smiles are infectious. There's a camaraderie that happens that I wish I could articulate. Lindsey was no exception.

Lindsey and Guy found us when Lindsey saw another of our bride's profile pictures on facebook. You may have seen it before:

Lindsey tracked us down from there. They even decided to move their wedding date back several months when they discovered that we were booked on the day they wanted!

Lindsey met Guy when she was still in High School. He was creative and artsy whereas she was the organizer. He wasn't like the other guys she had dated. Guy was different. He cared. He worked to put her first instead of himself. He was tender. He pushed her to aim high and dream big. Though he was several years her senior she had always acted older than her age and so, naturally, their courtship blossomed quickly. They had already been talking marriage seriously when they were surprised with Layla. Lindsey thought for sure with the addition of Layla to their now growing family she would obviously have to wait for some time until he would be able to propose since, as many of us know, babies are expensive. But she was wrong! Guy saved and worked more hours than Lindsey realized and one beautiful summer day, much to her excitement and surprise, he proposed!

During their engagement period (and with the addition of Layla) Guy and Lindsey started sorting out what was important in their lives. They decided God needed to be their primary driving force and love; that Layla needed to grow up with them in a creative, loving environment; and they decided they wanted all of their family to be around them on their special day. They went through ups and downs in the process. There were tears. There were times of uncontrollable laughter. There was hesitation, but, greatest of all, Guy and Lindsey worked it all out together, hand in hand.

Only a few months before their wedding, Guy and Lindsey found themselves in the lap of God. The two (separately) experienced God and His love like they never had before and knew that they needed to make some changes in their relationship with one another to honor Him in their few months left until marriage. They were both afraid to come to one another but were overjoyed when they learned that God had taught the other the exact same thing at the exact same time. They knew that God needed to be bigger, to be overarching, and they needed to allow Him to take His place as the head of all of their lives.

The day we arrived Guy was working on spraying glitter on the final decorations and getting little Layla fed. Lindsey was driving around bridesmaids, getting to hair appointments, and making sure all things were gathered. The driftwood with photos of them, the seashells in netting, the bubbling fountain, the purple flowers everywhere, Lindsey's bouquet she made herself complete with seashells (that we later discovered were perhaps a little too sharp as Brian accidentally cut himself on one!). Their wedding was absolutely Guy and Lindsey! The men helped set up the chairs outside in front of the gazebo despite the warnings that light showers were expected. Guy and Lindsey had decided long ago that rain or shine they would be getting married outside! As the bridesmaids scattered to walk up the aisle, Lindsey and I were left alone. I looked at her and gently asked if she wanted to pray. Her eyes lit up and we shared a sweet moment of offering to God as we prayed for a few moments before her father came to get her.

Lindsey and Guy bless our socks off. They love one another. Brian and I have talked so many times about how privileged we feel to have met them, known them, and captured the celebration of their wedding.

.:for the love of all that is wonderful:.

There’s a scenario repeated in the Taulbee household at least a dozen times each day. For those of you who haven't spent much time with Brian and I, I will try to describe it in third person for you. It goes something like this:

Mallory is diligently working on something on the computer or elsewhere when she notices Brian staring at her out of the corner of her eye—he has a huge grin on his face. She slowly swivels her chair around and looks at him, working to hide a smile. There is a long pause as the two look at one another, he with a growing grin, she maintaining a half pursed smile. Mallory generally breaks the silence as she stares at Brian who still continues to grin as wide as he can, “Yes?” she asks slowly and purposefully. Brian then responds with something like, “You’re pretty,” or “You’re just so beautiful, I can’t stop staring at you,” or “You’re gorgeous!” Brian then somehow manages to place an even bigger grin on his face, one that notes that he is proud of himself. Mallory then usually shakes her head, rolls her eyes slightly, and smiles. Sometimes she tries to say something deflecting or witty, sometimes she rewards him with a kiss, but often she just smiles and simply turns around to continue working on whatever it was she was working on when Brian interrupted her with his looks of awe.

Today Brian and I were perusing a local hardware store after our Chinese dinner. We haven’t had Chinese nor eaten out for a very long time so it was a treat for both of us. (Thanks, Mom, for giving us this for Easter!) On a side note, Brian is still amused at my womanly need to browse without purchasing anything. I tell him it’s part of my inspiration as an artist. I need to see what’s in the world, the possibilities, and then draw my creativity in part from that. New things spark new ideas.

Back to the Chinese. We’ve had a history of having some of our most profound and deep revelations while sharing good, half-cold Chinese buffet (maybe it’s the MSG overload?). Though tonight’s revelations weren’t profound, they were good.

A man I do not know personally but whose heart and character I deeply admire (some of you are familiar with John Piper) recently decided to take a leave of absence from all public speaking/duties/jobs/books/etc. He’s a rather important man in the life of contemporary evangelicals so the fact that he’s taking a leave of absence has created quite a buzz. The reason, you ask? Adultery? Lust? Alcoholism? Some other dirty scandal in the church? Thankfully, no. It appears that his leave of absence is due in large part to the fact that this important man has decided that he needs to learn to love his wife better. They’ve been married for 41 years but he still won't settle with a mediocre marriage. What a man!

As I was reading some of the blog commentaries and thoughts, I came across a list someone somewhere wrote out. The blogger realized that he himself had become too wrapped up in his work and the "things of God" and needed to learn to love his wife, too. He wrote out a list of questions to ask her that would, hopefully, lead to revelation of deep things and perhaps uncover wounds in his wife's heart he never knew were there. So Brian and I, over our partially cold and dried out Chinese buffet, went through this list of questions. The questions are simple but have potential to bring so much reconciliation and redemption when asked and answered thoughtfully. So much so that I felt it important to share them (or, well, a partially edited version censored for the innocents and unmarrieds) for those of us who realize that there is always room to improve and always a way to love and serve our spouse more:

Questions to get to know her better
1. What are some ways that I can demonstrate my love to you in a meaningful way?
2. When do you feel most appreciated?
3. How do I make you feel emotionally distant?
4. How can I pray for you?
5. How can I help you to know God better?
6. In what ways have I sinned against you?
7. What would help you to be more satisfied emotionally & physically?
8. How could I help us to reconcile our misunderstandings better?
9. In what ways could I help relieve physical stress?
10. What is one way I could tangibly serve you?

So in the middle of this mostly empty Chinese restaurant as Brian and I asked and answered these questions of one another I was struck again at how incredibly blessed I am. Thankfully, these questions didn’t bring up for us a myriad of issues that have been buried or almost forgotten and are painful to the touch, but served instead as reminders of how great it is to walk through life with another and give your life to them. There were parts of previous relationships in which if I had gone through this list of questions it would have undoubtedly provoked a crying/shouting match that could have lasted for days.

Over our cold Chinese I reminisced about all of the young men I have admired and had crushes on over the years. I listed my old dream guy out to Brian and reminded him (and we laughed about it) that he somehow fits little to none of my former criterion of who would make my perfect husband. However, the realization I came to over my dinner tonight though was that the list I had made and agonized over so long ago only focused on deeds and not really on heart. I realized that the “perfect man” I had put together so many years ago would never have loved me the way I wanted him to because he would have been way too busy and stubborn. He would never have treated me the way I needed him to. He would never have appreciated me the way I need to be appreciated.

That’s the beauty and charm of Brian. He loves me in ways I don’t even know yet that I need to be loved in. He is my biggest cheerleader. He is my encourager extraordinaire. He bends over backwards each day to find out what he can do to serve me better. He never yells, never sets out to hurt me, is always gentle, is always kind, always hopes the best of me, forgives my wrongdoings, forgets my faults… and yet still knows exactly who I am and loves every part of me. Despite the fact that my dear, brilliant husband doesn’t have a prominent position at Fortune 500 company, can't teach to save his life (I always wanted to marry a Bible study leader), refuses still to sing in front of an audience (I had my eye on a few worship leaders...), hasn’t written influential books, still forgets that I like surprises, takes four hours instead of 20 minutes to wash dishes by hand, and generally appears rather quiet and aloof when you meet him in a group of people he will likely never have to take a leave of absence from his job to learn how to better love me. He won’t have 41 years of marriage pass him by to realize he hasn’t been listening for my needs because he asks me every day. He has shown me, already, in our almost three years of marriage that no job or task is more important than I am. And if the job is threatening to come between him loving me and serving me in a way that makes me feel special, he decided long ago that it wasn't worth it.

He loves me. He loves this short, bossy, stubborn, sass-mouthed little girl. I still don't get it, but it's an amazing gift of mercy. I am blessed.





If I speak with human eloquence and angelic ecstasy but don’t love, I’m nothing but the creaking of a rusty gate. If I speak God’s Word with power, revealing all his mysteries and making everything plain as day, and if I have faith that says to a mountain, “Jump,” and it jumps, but I don’t love, I’m nothing. If I give everything I own to the poor and even go to the stake to be burned as a martyr, but I don’t love, I’ve gotten nowhere. So, no matter what I say, what I believe, and what I do, I’m bankrupt without love.

Love never gives up. Love cares more for others than for self. Love doesn’t want what it doesn’t have. Love doesn’t strut, doesn’t have a swelled head, doesn’t force itself on others, isn’t always “me first,” doesn’t fly off the handle, doesn’t keep score of the sins of others, doesn’t revel when others grovel, takes pleasure in the flowering of truth, puts up with anything, trusts God always, always looks for the best, never looks back, but keeps going to the end.

Love never dies. 1 Corinthians 13:1-8

If we only knew...

.:un bebe:.

In a conversation with my dear mother today she made it abundantly clear that she was sad that I had not posted for so long. I have folders on my desktop with beautiful photos of amazing people ready to be blogged but I keep getting distracted! So, this blog is for my mother. And, of course for Erica, Pablo, Lucas, and all of their dear friends and family who have been waiting so patiently for Lucas!

Pablo and Erica met many years ago in the mountains of Colorado--a place where both of them were foreigners. The Lord put the two of them together in a way and a time in which neither of them expected and they fell in love. Their whirlwind courtship ended in marriage less than a year after they met. Dear Erica, who was one of the few who wasn't learning Spanish in the group of girls we hung around, was an adament speaker of German. How like the Lord to send her of all persons a Latin man!

Pablo and Erica have now been married for almost two years now. They've left children up to the Lord and so were delighted after a year into their marriage when they found out that Erica was expecting. Baby Lucas Juan will most definitely be an evangelist with a name like his!

Funnily enough, Erica and I had been working on scheduling maternity photos for her for several weeks. After several schedule and weather conflicts we finally settled on last Tuesday afternoon for the photos but lo and behold, I got a message from Erica the morning of our scheduled photoshoot that she was in labor!

So instead of "baby bump" photos we now have Lucas himself at day 7! I had forgotten how precious newborns are. I love the feel of their skin and all of the new imperfections that surface so quickly! The little zits, the peeling skin, the red splotches... everything that makes new parents call their doctors in a panic asking if what they're seeing growing on their baby is indeed normal. I love their little fingernails and their tiny wrinkly toes. The way so many of their faces look like little gnomes with wisdom beyond their years.

It's safe to say that Erica and Pablo are getting used to this new schedule of no sleep. They decided after the first rough trimester with Lucas that they aren't so sure they want another one. (But just between you and me, we all know that they'll have another. Theresa, Erica's mother, promises she'll convince them. Lucas is way too precious not to win their hearts enough to prompt another little one!)

Thank you, Erica y Pablo for welcoming us into your home and letting us take pictures of this little bitty one! Thank you, Lucas, for inspiring me. You'll thank your parents some day when you're old that they let me take pictures of your little bitty body in the buff. And thank you, Lucas, for making me feel special by not peeing on me when your little diaper was removed.

Umbilical cords!

I know this photo is partially blown but there's something so magnificent about Lucas in this photo. I couldn't bring myself to deleting it. It's that stillness and solitude of a baby asleep that makes us believe for a moment that all is well in the world.

I love photographing Erica. She has this beautiful face that is so timeless. I've always thought she looked so classically beatiful but when she was cradling Lucas and fixing his tiny hands and the light was streaming in she looked so much like a photo of Madonna and child.

Proud Papa! Erica y Pablo han decedio que Pablo solo hablar con Lucas en Espanol para que Lucas puede hacer bilingual! (Pablo, como estaba mi espanol?)




We were all admiring how adorable Lucas was when Brian broke our sighs of admiration with, "He sure does look a lot like a rotisserie chicken." Thanks, Brian.

I will end this post with what Pablo may call "behind the scenes" photos. I would call them outtakes. When I told Pablo to kiss Lucas you'll see what he did first and then second. Then you'll see that Lucas takes his cues from his papa, even at seven days. Check out his face in the last one. = )






Don't you just love babies?

.:the most awesomest vows ever:.

For those who were curious about the infamous vows we mentioned in the previous post, Adam and Lilly have so generously let us re-post their vows. Engaged couples, take note:

[I preface Lilly's vows to remind readers Lilly is in vet school.]

My dearest Adam:

I know it is a grave tradition
For one standing in this position
To offer solemn vows of love
Sanctified by the one above.
In this duty I don’t mean to be remiss
While you wait there impatiently for that kiss
I wish to offer you this contract
which I would always like to keep intact.

I will forevermore try to do my part
To create new verbs such as ‘to shark’
I will hopefully exceed your culinary needs
And only defer to you the most unpleasant deeds
Like killing an occasional spider.
I’ll do my best to not get wider.
I’m game for most adventures like jumping from an airplane soaring
I will strive to not be old and boring.
On the number of furry friends I will try to keep a cap
So that we don’t end up living amongst massive piles of crap.
I will always seek to improve my mind body and spirit,
When you have a good point I’ll take the time to truly hear it.
I so enjoy our relationship and know we will encounter change
Over the years our experiences have had quite a range
For you I am willing to go all ten rounds
And I do not care who it astounds.
We will be defined by our achievements
And learn to handle gracefully any bereavements.
I vow to be honest
I vow to be fair
I vow to be playful
Do not despair!
I vow to be thoughtful if my angry switch is toggled
And never, ever, EVER let you win at Boggle.
I vow to be open to your thoughts and suggestions
I vow to never give in and to keep asking questions
I promise to do my best in this love and now mawwiage
To have you in my life has been a great privilege.



[I must preface Adam's vows by reminding the reader that he was a very recent law school graduate when they had their wedding.]

Lilly, this is my Opening Statement:
Lilly, I love you. I love you so much and I have loved you for so long.
I vow to love you each and every day, more than the day before;
I vow to hug and kiss you as if it were my last hug and kiss, but to look into your eyes like the first time I knew we belonged together;
I vow to dance crazy with you when our favorite music comes on,
I vow to always prepare garlic for your fabulous meals, because I know that other than that I am in the way in the kitchen;
I vow to protect you from any and all harm, including any spider that threatens you.

The Evidence.
From when we were foolish kids at the movies, holding hands and kissing, to teenagers at football games; to college students separated but not apart, I have loved you.
We have traveled from California to New York together, and from St. Louis to St. Croix, and our love has grown.
We have survived birthdays, Valentines days, weddings and funerals. We have survived vacations and Christmas, (and if we can survive Christmas with our families, I think we can survive anything).
We have sky-dived, scuba-dived, and hiked the Grand Canyon and yet all of this is slight adventure to what we will share together. I vow to take you on so many adventures, because this is just the beginning.

Lilly, this is my Closing Argument:
As your husband I promise to care for you, trust your love, be responsive to your needs, communicate my feelings, and show my love and respect for you, my better half. I say these things because I love you and I want to spend the rest of my life with you.
There is nothing nobler or more admirable than when two people who see eye to eye keep house as man and wife, confounding their enemies and delighting their friends. -Homer

To summarize:
I will love you on the sea
I will love you in a tree
I will love you here and there
I will love you anywhere

I will love you every day
I will love you come what may
I will love you more than pie (the food not the number)
I will love you ‘til I die

I will love you here and there
I will love you anywhere.
Lilly, I love you.

.:lilly & adam:.

Some love blossoms early. When Lilly's family asked Adam if he remembered how the two of them started dating, he naively shook his head, "no". (We'll get to that in a minute).

Lilly and Adam are like vanilla and chocolate, like peaches and cream, like peanut butter and jelly. They fit together perfectly and they've been together for what seems like an eternity. The fact is, some love blossoms early.

The two had decided once she was finally in vet school and he had finished his final year in law school that they would tie the knot in a small ceremony surrounded by their immediate family. So Adam and Lilly (or Lilly and Adam, if you prefer) dressed up in their finest to celebrate their new life surrounded by beautiful floral designs by My Secret Garden and a family with just enough spunk and character to keep everyone laughing and entertained. Lilly's mother put on her pink, self-labelled "monkey suit" paired with sparkly heels(which later she moved back and forth quickly every time she noticed me trying to take a photo of them during the wedding-which, as she had planned, messed up those shots) and kept Lilly in all smiles while Adam greeted the arriving family in A.P. Green Chapel upstairs.

When the moment arrived, Lilly approached the front of the small chapel arm in arm with both of her parents to the sound of a gong and Adam took her in with eyes that showed how long he had been waiting for this moment. Their claim to fame during their simple ceremony were their vows which they not only wrote, but made sure rhymed. After the ceremony and quick family photos for all Adam and Lilly made their way to Columbia's fine Wine Cellar & Bistro where they were greeted with a surprise.

They knew something was going on when they arrived to see Lilly's mother (already changed out of the sparkly heels and into tennis shoes to match her skirted pink "monkey suit") keeping watch for their arrival. Apparently, all of the family had pitched in to help create a slideshow (which they were finishing the set up of) of the couple from birth to present. But, not only did the slideshow include photos, it included the beginning of their courtship so very long ago.

After enjoying their first slice of cake together (which I might mention was a cake decorated with vet symbols for Lilly) the two finally sat to enjoy this surprise (that they were getting a little nervous about, knowing the nature of their family). Lilly's mother asked Adam, with a sly smile, if he remembered how the two began dating. Adam's face turned a little red as he slowly shook his head, "no," scared where this was going...

Turns out, as their families quickly reminded them, Adam asked out Lilly by writing a little message on Lilly's bedroom wall in sharpie one fine day in high school. Luckily, Lilly's mom snapped a photo of it, and then typed it out so that we could all read it on the screen. Everyone shared the laughter.

This is the love of Adam and Lilly.

[Adam and Lilly had their engagement photos taken the *week* of their wedding! We did a few photos downtown and got them ordered in time to have them displayed at their actual ceremony. So when those wedding books tell you that you have to have your engagement photos done a year in advance, these two are living proof that it isn't always necessary!]




And because it's technically "doppelganger week" on facebook (and strangely has been for the last three weeks...) I noticed as I was going back through their photos that Lilly bears a strange resemblance to Stana Katic, who plays a character named Kate Beckett on the show "Castle".














Notice the adorable little animals on their cake?






I bet Adam had this same suave face when he was writing that message on Lilly's wall. = )


And just because it's my goal this year to finally enjoy the taste of wine, I give you more wine corks.


The end!