Remembering October 6, 2012

A day in the life of our wedding: October 6, 2012

How is it possible for a year to flow through your life so quickly? Five days ago, I glanced at my work calendar and couldn't believe I was seeing "October 1, 2013." I took a yoga-influenced deep breath and relived a few memories. Around this time last year, Zach was moving his belongings into my little Bellingham, WA apartment in preparation for our union. I remember feeling a calm anticipation for the change inching towards my life. I have had the most real and positive examples of marriage in my life; How could I see it as anything but a blessing and an adventure? I remember feeling a teaspoon of melancholy. Part of my story was about to alter (forever) and I wondered if I'd miss my single life. Four months prior, my best friend had given me a beautiful engagement ring. A style I had loved ever since I'd seen it on a vintage 1920s ring. He may have had my mom's help when having it designed. ;)

On the evening of October 4, 2012, Zach and I were driving to our hometown, Ephrata, WA. It was time to get married! Having driven about 3 out of 4.5 hours of the trip, my mom called me to make sure we had remembered the tuxes. Had it not been for her superb motherly instincts, we likely would have driven all the way before remembering that they were still hanging undisturbed in the closet in Bellingham. Let's just say that was a late night. 

October 5, 2012: The night before my wedding. I slept in the guestroom of my parents' new home. The familiarities of childhood had already begun to transition out of my life (but not my memory). In a way, that realization gave me bravery for the landmark ahead. It had been a great night of rehearsal and reunion with friends and family. I went to sleep exhausted. But, surprisingly, there was a stillness in me that replaced the anxiety and jitters I expected to have. How could that have been anything but a peace from God, who had greatly and generously influenced this choice to make a covenant with my best friend?  

I woke up way too early on October 6, 2012. My nine month old North Dakotan nephew, Declan, was functioning on the timeline of a different time zone. He was cooing and babbling and it made me smile in the 5 a.m. darkness. That morning was quiet - just how I like it. My dad brewed his tea like he does every morning. Maxwell, the La Plant family dog, lay comfortably on his bed. The pink and orange sunrise was like a painting through the living room windows. I took that as another gift from God who had ministered through beautiful country sunsets and sunrises during the Summers and Falls of my youth. 

The morning included a trip to the hair salon with my bridesmaids, mom, lots of bobby pins, some hairspray and a perfectly placed vintage-inspired wedding hat. By the time we got back to the farm, the family, groom, groomsmen and photographers had trickled in. I had planned on doing my own makeup. But with so much going on around me, I ended up needing my sister's help. I have many memories of "prettying up" in a small bathroom with my mom and sister. This moment brought joy and relaxation.

While my bridesmaids got dressed in the basement, I had the help of my lovely Mother of the Bride, sister and wedding organizer, Jan. 

Then it was onto the first look...

  

                       

Fellow introverts may relate. While I am so happy we had a great photographers (and friends) to document our day, I got a little overwhelmed by the attention. I was glad to be surrounded by Zach, my family and friends as they helped ease my camera discomfort. 

My two precious nephews met each other for the first time that weekend. My older brother, Tyler, with his son, Colton, and my older sister, Nicole, with her son, Declan. 

We left for the church. When I think about the rest of the day, I realize it was much more modest than a lot of weddings these days. There was no dinner, no toasts, no dancing, a relatively quick ceremony and an old-fashioned cake and punch reception. Sometimes, I think back to things I had wanted in my wedding day that hadn't been able to happen or things I wish I had thought of. But then, I remember that my wedding was full of simple, personal details and good things that I treasure: A dress I loved, a typewriter guest book, our wedding favors: pencils with our names and wedding date etched in them, the most delicious and lovely cake I'd ever tasted, stunning white roses, my dear friend Libby playing the piano, the best wedding "sermon" I'd ever heard (thanks to our friend, Tom Stredwick), and the presence of so many people who love us. Above all, we had planned this day so people from every stage of our lives could gather as we made a promise.

At 1:00 p.m., dad walked me down the aisle to a beautiful song (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F-4wUfZD6oc).

Zach and I are convinced we have the greatest grandparents to walk the earth. They have enriched our lives in many ways and we were thrilled to have their love and support at our wedding. 

The ceremony ended and the reception began. There were many faces, hugs, smiles and words of encouragement.. Family and friends who had shared life with us since birth. Friends we had met in grade school (I was friends with Dylan first!). Teachers who meant the world to us. College friends and roommates. Family from other states. Church family from Ephrata and Bellingham. Coworkers from jobs in Ephrata and Bellingham. God surely lavished us with the presence of these people. 

 

 

Things seemed to naturally end around 4 p.m. People said goodbye to us, the chairs in the reception hall were loaded, some groomsmen had changed out of their tuxes, my baby nephews were getting tired. We left in our newly decorated car.

Instead of driving straight to Seattle, we reconvened at my parents home with my immediate family (though we missed having Zach's there). We ate, recalled the day's events and opened some gifts. Holding the cash and checks we'd received as gifts, I exclaimed, "I feel like a bootlegger's wife!" It's a quote from one of my favorite movies,  It's a Wonderful Life. And I'd hoped for a chance to say  it on my wedding day.

We left for Seattle and a great honeymoon in Maui.

It's the day before our anniversary. I'm looking through photos, reading my wedding day memories that I've documented and remembering the beauty and emotions of that day. I'm also alone today. Due to a family emergency, Zach has been gone this weekend. He will fly back to LA tomorrow afternoon. Tomorrow night, we will eat fancy Armenian food (http://www.raffisplace.com/) and celebrate our first year together, God's goodness, and all the crazy changes the past 12 months have brought.


Happy first year anniversary to us!

Stories

Small World story

Preface: I am enthusiastic about "small world" stories. They are mysterious, refreshing and can be perspective-altering. They convince me that God is involved in every movement and stroke of our lives. This is one of a few "small world" stories that we've experienced since moving here. 

As an intern for his school last quarter, Zach recently had the opportunity to volunteer at a Producers Guild of America event for the Special Effects team who won an Oscar for their work on Life of Pi. Dressed in his spiffy black suit and tie, Zach felt anxious before leaving for the event. He would know a total of one person there - not an introvert's cup of tea. During the fancy cocktail hour preceding the event, a guy randomly approached Zach to strike up a conversation. As they introduced themselves, Zach knew he had seen this person before. He looked a lot like the guy who read scripture to the congregation at church the Sunday before. (How he remembered this, I have no idea). Not being certain of this, however, Zach asked him if they'd met before. The guy said "no." Then, Zach asked if he went to Ecclesia. Bingo! He not only happens to be a producer and works on the Paramount lot, he happens to go to our new church. It's not every day you meet a Jesus-follower in the film industry, folks. (Though our new church seems to have a handful of them). Since that night, this new friend has taken the time to meet up with Zach, help with some networking and really encourage him in this new venture.  

This act of kindness came at a time when spirits were dwindling a bit, and we were praying for some clarity. It was a sweet reminder to us that God is caring and involved. This story may seem insignificant to some, but others of you know small instances can be monumental in times of uncertainty or confusion.

 Photo credit: Joseph Baum

Stories from my workplace

I have a small collection of them - but I won't go into details. While Zach continues with school and takes opportunities as they come (please pray for some prospective jobs and connections), I proceed with my new job. I still make the ten minute walk there (mostly) every morning while the rest of Glendale is heading to work and opening up shop. It's been a great way to begin and end my work days. My job took an interesting turn a few weeks ago. Now, I find myself working a lot of overtime, attending meetings, being involved in fast-paced projects, and learning new, challenging things "on the fly."

A food story

We love to talk about food. When we moved here, we thought we'd be overwhelmed with amazing food options. Naturally, LA hosts some of the most delicious restaurants and flavors. But, it's also a pretty big place with room for great places, as well as mediocre ones. We don't eat out a lot. But when we do, and if we love it, you'll hear about it! We enjoyed a delicious burger place (Hook Burger  http://hookburger.com) that was Bellingham-esque. The burgers were made from fresh, grass fed beef - and the flavor combinations were deliciously complex. 

Labor Day weekend Story

Who could turn down an extended Labor Day weekend in the Motherland (Central WA)? The farm+our families+my mom's home cooking+ the scents and sights of land uninterrupted by freeways and tall buildings+small town Ephrata= things I crave since living in a city. Add a new nephew into the mix, and you have got yourself the recipe for a great weekend. 

It's official. This little guy, Colton Malachi, is a La Plant. He is my brother and sister-in-law's son, as of a couple weeks ago! Colton is one busy and smart baby! And he loves his "Nana" and "Papa"! 

Colton wanted to hold Papa's hand while we prayed. Too precious. 

He loves reading with his Nana. 

My big brother and sister-in-law. 

Enjoying some tasty Froyo. 

                                

Departing Washington. I always love seeing the farmland from the sky. And yes, we also had a view of the WSU Cougar while we flew. 

Watch these movies!

Do you ever find it challenging to pick out a movie to watch? It's a Friday night, you're ready to relax, and suddenly, a decision that should take all of three minutes takes fifteen! Either you can't decide what mood you're in, or your preferences conflict with those of the person/people you're watching the movie with. I'm sure we're not the only ones who have this dilemma. We'll make it easy for you. The next time you encounter this decision, pick from one of the movies below. They are Zach and Carly approved, just for you!

 

 

                                                 

And now, for the movie that I'm the most excited about.....

  

The Book Thief is an amazing story. It's one of my top three favorite books. I was introduced to it in my Young Adult literature class in college. The movie hits theaters in November (just in time for my birthday). But, I was lucky enough to watch a pre-screening of the movie about a month ago. I was NOT disappointed! Something about this story deeply moves me. I had the same reaction to the movie that I had to the book (ie: I cried and couldn't stop thinking about it for days). Read the book, then check out the movie! And, please, do read the book..... it is its own unique experience that the movie (though wonderful) cannot replace. 

Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=92EBSmxinus

Happy viewing (and reading - because you will read The Book Thief)!

Foodies and French Dips

Last weekend, Mary and I traipsed around Downtown LA for the best French Dip sandwich. Click here for the inspiration: http://laist.com/2013/05/08/video_the_french_dip_las_very_own_s.php

We took the metro downtown; I was glad to have Mera there to show me the ropes. We began our quest at Philippe's (founded in 1908).

The atmosphere felt a bit like a middle school cafeteria on the first day of school (lots of lines, noise and some confusion). Or you could say it felt like a cattle pen. There was sawdust on the ground, after all.  But, we managed to get our sandwich and a seat. Since you watched the video in the link above, you already know this....but I'll repeat: Philippe's take on the French Dip includes dipping the bread in Au jus and serving the sandwich alone. No Au jus or anything to dip on the side. 

The sandwich was delicious! The meat had great flavor, and the sandwich was just big enough for us to share. But, we found that our bread got soggy towards the end of the meal. Though the meat tasted divine, it was a little dry due to the fact that we couldn't submerge it in Au jus as needed. 

Satisfied, Mary and I continued our journey. 

We walked through the Spanish-themed Olvera Street.

We stopped at Grand Park for some people watching, regrouping, and to dip our feet in the fountain pool. 

It was hot!

There's some great architecture and historic buildings to see. 

Next stop: Cole's (Also founded in 1908). 

The atmosphere here felt very 1930's Prohibition era to me: Dim lighting, rich colors, booths, and a waiter dressed in a black suit vest. 

Though portions were smaller (we split a sandwich here, like we did at Philippe's), this sandwich was a mighty tasty couple of bites. The meat was lean, there was Au jus on the side, and the spicy mustard was a fun, optional addition. And don't get me started on the garlic fries! Cole's offered a great end to our quest. It was quiet, cool and even a historic experience. 

Both restaurants were winners. You can't go wrong with either place. But, the winner of our French Dip contest was Cole's. It was a unanimous vote! 

Glad I got to spend a fun day with Mera! Can't wait for our next adventure! 

Strawberry Cupcakes

Today, I had another little food adventure of my own. On Thursday, I picked up three pints of bright red California strawberries at the Farmer's Market. Since then, I've been planning something delicious to do with them. (That means I spent too much time on Pinterest these past couple days.) Today, while Zach was in class, I used one pint to make strawberry cupcakes. 

They taste great! They'll make a fine little dessert while we watch The Aviator tonight.

In other Stratton news...

Zach is about to finish the first section of his film program. After some thought and prayer, he wasn't sure if he wanted/could afford to attend the next section. But, he was recently offered the chance to attend the next part of the program for free, if he will act as the program assistant during the courses. Thanks be to God. His intervention has been present in these past 2.5 months. In many different ways. Zach is looking for a job either part or full time - and holding out for something in the industry. We are praying expectantly that the right opportunity will come up at the right time. 

Watch these movies!

Since I've known my husband, the film guru, critic, enthusiast, (you name it), I've become a pretty well-rounded movie watcher. But, even I have had my own influence on Zach's movie repertoire and appreciation. We just enjoy watching good, thought-provoking, challenging and entertaining movies. Who doesn't? Maybe it has something to do with being in LA (or having a spouse in film school), but we've been watching some great movies lately! Some we've watched before (usually, Zach has seen them, not me), others are new to us. I've decided to add a little section to my blog posts that tells you what movies we've watched recently that we highly recommend to our friends and family. 

                    

                 

 

                 

We're also re-watching this great series:

Life is too short to watch bad movies. So, put one (or all) of these in first position on your Netflix queue. Let us know what you think!