6 Months and a Wedding...

I cannot believe it has been 6 months since I walked down the aisle to the man of my dreams... he is so much more today than I could have imagined just 6 months ago! He is my best friend, protector, pillar of strength, he loves me when I am a mess, he pursues me when I want to run away and be alone, he holds me when I cry, he laughs at me when I am grumpy in the morning, he teases me about singing all the time, he hugs me when I get home from work, he makes me food, he dances with me at weddings, he holds my hand in hard situations where I feel uncertain and fearful, he reminds me that I am strong and capable and doing life well, he is proof of God's immense love for me! I am more in love with my husband now than I was 6 months ago and can't imagine how much more in love with him I will be in another 6 months.

I feel like Mr. Mertz and I have been through more than we bargained for in our first six months. I feel like we have been forced to have conversations about our marriage and future family that most people don't breach until a decade into their marriage. That's us, I guess... we talk and are not afraid to wrestle through the difficult topics. However, because of this, 6 months feels both longer and shorter than I expected! in many ways I feel like we have been married for forever and in other ways I feel like we just got married a couple weeks ago and everything is still a novelty!

I actually have thought about my wedding a lot lately! Friends of ours just got married this last weekend (the day after our 6 month anniversary) and we got to be front and center for all the excitement!! Aaron was a groomsmen, so he had his fair share of wedding activities to participate in. I was in charge of the bride and her sister's hair on the big day! I love doing my friends hair for their wedding! I get the bride all to myself for an hour of her wedding day. She is just sitting and relaxing and is surrounded by her friends... it is my favorite time of the wedding - the excitement and preparation of getting ready! Love it! I kept remembering my wedding day and how my bridesmaids were machines! They anticipated my every need and before the thought "I'm thirsty" or "I'm hungry" was even fully formed in my brain their was a drink and a snack in my hand. I couldn't get over how well they loved and cared for and protected me!
Josh and Kate's wedding was in a beautiful church and their reception was in the same location as our wedding! It was so fun to be back where I said "I do" just 6 months before. Many of the same people were there and we got the question "how's marriage?" and I loved being able to honestly answer - AMAZINGLY FUN!

Alright, a little about Josh & Kate - I have known Josh my whole life! We grew up at the same church and were in the same Sunday school class and even went to prom together as friends for my Jr year of High School! He is such a good man!! His friendship with Aaron is beyond valuable and I am so thankful for Josh's presence and wisdom in my husband's life and vice versa. Kate is one of the most bright, fun, beautiful, playful, and strong women I have ever met. When she and Josh began dating, it was pretty evident right away that they were amazing together! They were so fun and playful and comfortable together. I love this couple so much and am so thankful they are in our tiny club of married w/o kids group right now! So excited to hang out with them!

Mr. Mertz and I with the happy couple at their rehearsal dinner!

this picture does not do the stain glass window in the background justice... such a beautiful wedding!

The beautiful canopy of lights of The Hearn House

We are lookin' good!

First dance

Send off!! (my phone doesn't take great night pics)

LOVE this picture of Aaron and I with sparklers sending off the happy couple! (Thanks Erica!)

It was such a fun reception! Good food, dancing, good friends, being a married couple, all of it was awesome!

This was our first wedding as a married couple and I will be honest and say that weddings are WAY FUN with my husband! We kept laughing about how little stress we felt and how much more present we were in all the festivities cause we didn't have to talk to everyone and smile if we didn't want to... haha. We can't wait for our next wedding!! Gotta find some friends to marry off pronto!



So in honor of our 6 months we got a hotel room in Phoenix at one of the resorts and went their after the wedding! We told them it was our 6 month anniversary and they had strawberries and champagne waiting for us in the room! So nice :)

Good job Point Tapatio Cliffs!

The next day we ordered room service for breakfast and spent the whole  day just laying by the pool and relaxing!!! Oh glorious sun! I need a beach vacation ASAP!

Australian Invasion: Phoebe & Liam's Visit Part 2...

The day after our Australia Party, we took Phoebe and Liam to church and they were met with more introductions and people coming up to us requesting a new dance video (which is still in editing and will be done soon I hope!)... Phoebe had so much fun meeting people and feeling like a celebrity! She finally got to experience the church and community I have raved about for ages to her.

After church we went shopping at Scottsdale Fashion Square and then had family dinner with Aaron's family.

Then the next morning Phoebe and Liam left us for a few days to have adventures just the two of them in Las Vegas. I wish I could have gone, but I didn't have the PTO nor the money for a big Vegas trip. They came back that Thursday night and had family dinner with my family. We had actual dinner with my parents and Tyler. Phoebe and Liam got to try traditional American Chili and cornbread, which they loved! Then we went over to Shawn and Nicole's house to see the kiddos and spent the whole night playing Apples to Apples!

I will say I felt like a huge loser the first week because of the rain and them being gone in Las Vegas, we had so very little planned other than movies, sitting around the house and catching up, shopping and of course the Australia party. When they got back from Vegas however, we were going going going all the way up until they left!

Friday morning saw us waking up and heading out of town for the GRAND CANYON! Aaron sadly had to work, so it was just the three of us on this adventure. It was very reminiscent of our trip to Cape Tribulation in Australia... complete with Liam driving! He was keen to try his hand at driving on the other side of the road and other side of the car... so the open roads of the I-17 up to Flagstaff was the perfect time. I drove us out of town to Sunset Point, we took some pictures and then switched spots and I gave Liam a couple hours of driving on the open road!

Sunset Point

Teaching Liam to drive on the RIGHT ride of the road!

We got to Flagstaff and were ready for lunch! Their one request was to eat at a real all-American diner... so of course we picked Galaxy Diner right on historic Route 66!

Burgers, milkshakes, Americana paraphernalia all over the walls... perfection!

After lunch we set off for the Grand Canyon!

We got there just in time to a hike a couple miles down into the Canyon and then back to the rim to watch the sun set from several different look out points!

Majestic!

There was snow everywhere at the top of the Canyon! What a treat that Phoebe and Liam saw so many different Climates in our state.

Along the Bright Angel trail we met a Mule and his rider! We of course took a bunch of pictures and the ride (who worked for the National Park) told us all about the history of the Mule rides down the canyon and what exactly a mule was... education!

Liam was so bummed he hadn't planned enough time to hike all the way down to the bottom of the Canyon! He is determined to come back and conquer the Grand Canyon! Yay an excuse for another trip!

Phoebe wanted to be a real park ranger!

We literally took a million pictures of the run setting over the canyon. We drove to about 3 different look out points and waited until the sun was all the way down before we left the park. Such a beautiful sight! And now Phoebe and Liam can say they have seen a wonder of the world!

We drove back to Flagstaff for the night staying at the Little America Hotel! Love that place :) We sadly got there after the hot tub had closed, which was what we had been looking forward to! We were late because of course we grabbed dinner and had to also stop for a Dairy Queen Blizzard.

Love that they serve them to you upside down!

The next morning we woke up, had breakfast at the hotel and left to drive out to the Meteor Crater a few miles outside of Flagstaff! This was Liam's request and I was excited to see it again cause I hadn't been there in over 15 years!

One of the best preserved Meteor Craters in the world! Believe me, I know. The video we watched in their museum repeated it probably 15 times.

We had a lot of fun wandering around the museum and gift shop on site

American Astronaut Wall of Fame is blank... odd... "To Infinity and Beyond!"

Actual moon rock that weight several ton!

nope... can't lift it.

Quick! Call everyone!! A Meteor is headed toward earth!!!

 As you can see we had a little too much fun.

Where's Miranda? Can you see her?

Jumping shot...

Liam and the crater

This view was looking away from the Meteor Crater... so pretty!

We got our fill of the Crater and so we left and headed home through Oak Creek Canyon and Sedona... literally one of the most beautiful drives in the US in my opinion. Phoebe and Liam couldn't stop "oo"-ing and "ah"-ing.

Oak Creek Canyon drive

Red Rocks in Sedona

We stopped in Sedona for a walk around the shops and Phoebe and Liam got a traditional Old Time Photo! I think this was literally the highlight of Phoebe's whole trip!

Are they not PERFECT!

It was so hard to leave Sedona! We had so much fun! But back to Phoenix we went for more Arizona/American Adventures!

Reception!

And now the party!!!

This was the point in the night, where everything important had been done, and now it was time celebrate!!!!

John Lynch wrote this on his Facebook wall the morning after our wedding and it perfectly describes the night:

I helped perform a wedding last evening. But it was an entire historic community marrying off Aaron Mertz and Miranda Thompson. It is easy, in the day to day, to forget the power of life-giving community which stands together long enough, allowing a setting for God to do His wonder. Under a canopy of lights and perfect weather, in a magical backyard, God showed us His glory, power, love, patience, timing and grace. Friends laughed, mingled, danced and reunited, with great joy, not even noticing they'd been the heroes in this story. Sandy Mowen came out of retirement to shepherd us with grace and masterful skill, Don Nelsen did his magic with sound, David Pinkerton was the perfect MC, Kelsie Pinkerton and Sarah Doyle floated around the event, taking majestic pictures, Chris Tinard filmed with brilliance, the legendary JoAnn Stern made the cake, the Mozingos and great friends served up food fit for heaven. Nancy Hahn and friends helped present incredible desserts. Pat and Laurie, Randy and Linda showed how healthy families give their kids away, dozens of heroes helped serve, Mark Williams embarrassed us with dancing that is banned in several states. Dozens of others served without notice or fanfare. Last evening, I stopped several times and just stared at what love looks like in a community. Well played community. Well played.           ~ John Lynch

And with that, there is no better way to describe the night except to just give you more pictures - 

A picture of our Venue - The Hearn House - after dark

Thousands of twinkle lights provided a magical glow

Nancy Hann did a flawless job of designing and coordinating our dessert table. She asked people to contribute and people made the most delicious treats for our guests! Literally perfection! I got one of the S'mores treats before they were all gone.

Introducing Mr. & Mrs. Mertz!

Our first dance was to "Today" - by Joshua Radin

My dad and I danced to "Mandolin Rain" - by Bruce Hornsby. I have had that song picked out for years. It is one of my dad's favorite songs and I think of him whenever I hear it. When I told him months before that it was the song I'd chose for us, he nearly cried. Nailed it!

Aaron and Laurie danced to "My Wish" - by Rascal Flatts

I'll do a separate post for the dinner, but it was in a word - Phenomenal!

After the dancing and before the food, we watched a slideshow of mine and Aaron's lives. Shawn put it together for us and it was a hit! So fun that so many people at the wedding were in pictures with us when we were little or in high school. Amazing!

Andy gave the "best man" toast

Kendra gave the "Maid of Honor" toast

After dinner, it was cake time! Aaron was a gentleman and didn't get any frosting on me... I on the other hand gave no mercy.

Get you're dance on!

Another photo favorite! He looks so terrified... what is going on here?

Another must at my wedding was to have Mark Williams dance to "Shout!" He has done it at all of his kids weddings, and I had to have him dance at my wedding. His break-dancing is truly something you can't look away from, but kind of want to! ha! He also asked me if he could wear his kilt to the wedding, and Aaron and I could not refuse!

There it is... those who weren't prepared for it, were in awe - NOTE: He does have something on under the kilt... no worries :)

Josh and Kate did our guestbook and they are getting married in May!!!

with John and Stacey Lynch

Bruce was a groomsmen of course, but he and Janet did our pre-marital counseling. So blessed by them as friends!

These are my girls! We have stood by each other for the last 10 years! Can't believe I get to have each of them in my life! (From left to right: Kelsie, Nicole, Heidi, Sarah, me, Tara, Jessica, Jeannette, and Meredith)

Our amazing Photographers Sarah and Kelsie! They are responsible for all these beautiful pictures!

My nephews, Jonah & Nathan, made a night time appearance at the wedding!

Read on my mom's blog about how she made the boys onesies with vest... such a sweet story!

During the dancing and dessert time, we had a photobooth open for our guests to have some fun! Our friend Rod Gipson did the photography! What a sweet keepsake to have our guests pictures from the photobooth. We also saw some crop up in this years Christmas card pictures! 

Aren't we adorable!

The groomsmen

Fun with Sparklers!

And the Grand Exit!

A perfect end to the wedding!