It was at my cousin Garrett’s wedding that I first got the low down about Matt. Of course, I had started hearing a few things about this before then but it was at that wedding when I was able to see Shaunda’s face light up whenever Matt was mentioned.
They talked for hours, just like you’d expect from young love. Then she’d get off the phone and tell us all the sweet things he’d say to her. And we all has a pretty strong feeling, this was it. My grandma, the hopeless romantic that she is, was even thinking there would be a Christmas wedding.
The friendship between the Bakers and the Hales goes back 40 years, that’s right FORTY years when my parent’s were in their twenties. They all went to church together and spent a lot of time getting in trouble. The years came and went and are finally joined together by Matt and Shaunda.
Their special day was a blur of family buzzing around trying to get everything in place before she walked down the aisle. I think that’s what I love most about our family. Every one pitches in and does what’s needed. I think it’s where I learned to put others first, to love and to serve. My family has loved and served others my entire life, helping meet needs is what we do and it’s what I loved most about her big day. Matt and Shaunda’s wedding took place right in the middle of our very first family reunion so everyone was there to help in one capacity or another. Hair and make-up, cutting lemons, setting up food, moving furniture, whatever was needed, someone was always there from beginning to end. Loving a serving is a part of the incredible legacy that my grandparent’s have created and I hope that it’s something we can continue to pass down to our boys.
I can’t possibly even begin to recall every detail from the day, but here are my favorites:
-Watching Adrienne do Shaunda’s hair and make-up. (That girl is so talented and we’re so lucky to have her in our family!)
-Brittany styling my aunt Kim’s hair (Tease, hair spray, repeat)
-Seeing Shaunda’s brothers all dressed up in their fancy suits (Two of them are single ladies, wink wink)
-Watching Justice come down the aisle in a wagon pulled by Matt’s son, Collin. (Totes adorbs you guys)
-Matt’s daughter twirling in circles in her flower girl dress (She couldn’t keep her floral crown in her hair!)
-Hands outstretched, my grandpa praying over the meal (His memory is slipping, but I don’t think he’ll ever forget how to pray)
-Eating the best BBQ!! (Made by Matt’s uncle Joey, can I have more please?)
-Stuffing my face with the best.cupcake.ever. (I think it was chocolate but it may have been red velvet, it was dark and I ate it too fast to notice!)
There are so, so many wonderful things about the day that I know we’ll all treasure forever! Congratulations Matt and Shaunda! We pray for many, many blessed years!
