happy independence day, folks! thanks for dropping in on the Blume blog amidst your celebrations. it’s about time for us to head out for a dip at the pool and some delicious red watermelon. sadly, our town’s 25-year-old fireworks tradition (which i’ve attended since its inception) was cancelled this year. it’s hard to imagine celebrating freedom and national sovereignty without colorful explosives, but i think we’ll be all right.) the really hard part will be celebrating without the family. my sister is receiving her master’s degree today from the courtauld, a prestigious wing of the university of london. (congratulations mary elizabeth! convenient isn’t it, that you can simultaneously celebrate obtaining both independence and a diploma from our jolly ole motherland all in one day?) while some of the family is attending the graduation ceremony in england, we’re stuck here pluggin’ away. not that we can complain! we’re having a great time! but you can’t fault me for thinking a wee european vacation might have been nice, right?

i’m consoling myself with the happy thought that, today, we finally get to present a wedding that was as american as apple pie. megan and tyson were married at megan’s home church, winder first baptist. it was a beautiful sunny day. it was also on the face-melting side of hot, but that didn’t keep any of us from getting outside to explore the church grounds. among fields of tall grass, great oaks (one with a rope swing), and a fishing pond nestled away down a country road, i felt like we had been dropped into a painting of classic countryside americana. the scenes of family and friends coming together to support megan and tyson, though, was even more picturesque. when eileen and i first spent some time with megan and tyson for their lake house engagement session, it was immediately clear to us these two were a uniquely awesome couple — and that, like they, we couldn’t wait for their wedding to arrive. as expected, it was a ball! their families and friends seemed to be cut from the same cloth, all incredibly sweet and extremely funny. i wish i could show you all the images of the bridal party goofing off, or tyson’s brothers giving him a make-believe beating then hauling him off during formal portraits. at least you can see grandma dominating during the bouquet toss. take a look, then get back to your families to enjoy the holiday. as for you, megan and tyson, enjoy your first 4th as man and wife! you have a lot to celebrate! 🙂