Josh & Kristin tie the knot!

Josh and Kristin tied the knot December 30, 2006. It was a ceremony to write a book about! Kristin and her bridesmaids walked down the aisle to music provided by accomplished violinists, the couple exchanged vows in the calm of night, lit only by the soft glow of Christmas lights which Josh had wrapped carefully around every tree in sight. Sealing their promise to each other with a kiss, fireworks shot into the sky and it was indeed the beginning of their fairytale.

Guests joined the bride and groom for an reception of margaritas, dancing, food and fun... tears filled every eye as the couple danced to "At Last" while photographs of their lives played behind them.

Christmas 2006

A little over a month later, we celebrated our first Christmas together. Bill and Karen were renting a house overlooking the lake, and our little family gathered there. What a PILE of gifts! I felt about 5 years old, waiting to attack the huge stack! The best gift of all was my handsome husband.

We Belong Together...

November 11, 2006 we were married on the bank of the river in New Braunfels, TX. It was an intimate ceremony, calm and peaceful. We exchanged our own written vows, sharing many tears and much laughter with those who joined us. Standing there in my floor length, lace dress, I remember everything else fading away except the sound of Chris' voice. Looking into each other's eyes and promising our love, we were jumping off a cliff together, and didn't care where we landed.

We danced at our reception to "We Belong Together" by Gavin Degraw, and let me tell you we did not stick around! We stopped for a quick carwash (thanks to our decorative guests) and then we drove to Mustang Island, arriving at the Mayan Princess late that night. It was the most incredible feeling. 5 months after meeting each other, I was Mrs. Christopher Coley! If I could box the perfect feeling, it was the drive that night. We had no idea what was ahead of us, just that we would be together. We barely knew each other, and yet we could not be apart. Our forever had begun...

Chris' vows -
"My dearest Sarah, I know you know how very happy you make me, but the love I have for you is unique and true. Each and every day that I spend with you is full of bliss and happiness. Even though everyone has their trials and tribulations, we are able to work together through anything. You are my one and only true love. It's hard for me to remember what life was like before we met and I can't survive without you now. I've come to realize that the love we've found in each other is the best gift God could have given me.

Our story is a long one, and even though we've only been together a short time, it seems like I've known you my whole life...and in fact I have, I've known that there must be that certain one for me, that woman that makes me smile when I'm down or makes me laugh at just about anything. It seems like only yesterday we were out swimming in the lake, not knowing what would come of this newly found love, but from the day you left Canyon Lake, I knew you were the one for me. My heart was left empty and I knew that only you could fill that void. I thought I would be able to carry on a long distance relationship with you without too much trouble. Although it wasn't easy, we made the best of it, but then you sent me an email, just listing a few reasons why you loved me...the way we mouthed "I love you" and "kiss me" to each other, picturing everyday with you and tearing up just at the thought, it's the reason I smile and then cry when I see an old couple that looks like us in 40 years, it's the way now I believe in true love, and even fate. This email made me realize that I couldn't spend another day without you, and within a week I had proposed to you, knowing that I would be with you forever.

When I used to think of marriage, I was a little afraid, maybe it was the lifelong commitment or the thought of the "new" wearing off over time, but with you, Sarah, I know that when we're old and gray (or bald in my case) we'll look at each other just like we do now. I look forward to what our life together will be because I know, that with God as our guide, it will be precious and wonderful. On this day I promise to love and treasure you eternally. You are the person that completes me, makes me whole, and I love you........I do, I do.

Sarah's vows -

As a little girl I dreamed of you. You didn't have a face, but I couldn't wait to meet you. All the things I prayed for, I have found in you, and even more than I could have known to ask God for. You are my best friend, my strongest confidant, you're my encourager and my dream maker. You're the one who cries with me and can somehow always make it better. You're the one who laughs with me and finds joy in all the simple things, all the smallest moments. You're the one who prays with me, dreams with me, and most importantly, loves me so sweetly.

As I stand here with you today, it is against all odds and yet it's with such a peace because I know I've found my soulmate. I give my whole heart to you. Today and for as many days as God gives us together. Today you become my family, my partner, my husband. I love you.

Engagement Pictures by Shelly Kendrick

We took our engagement pictures on the river, my friend Shelly did an amazing job.

We didn't know it then, but we found our wedding site that weekend! Chris and I share a love for water, it brings such a peace to us as a couple. November isn't far away!

Better Together

A few weeks into our relationship, my family found out Mee-Maw had stage 4 cancer. Within a week I had my little mustang packed down, and I was leaving Canyon Lake. That last day at the office was terrible, I thought Chris was mad at me, we didn't speak all day. Finally, unable to take it any more I asked what was wrong, and he busted into tears. Needless to say, we couldn't stop crying the rest of the day. We said goodbye and for the first time in all my jet setting, I looked into my rearview mirror at what I was leaving.

Chris called every day, several times a day. When I finally answered the phone, he was not happy! " I thought we had something special! I thought you were different!" to which I replied "I don't want a long distance relationship!" At that moment he could have let go, moved on. But he didn't!!! What he said next stole my heart...."Well you better figure something out, because after being with you I can never be with anyone else!" and so we did, every weekend someone made the 3 hour drive, and at the end of our visit it was the same picture. Two people hugging and crying and waiting til the very last second to leave.

In September, Chris invited me to Port Aransas with his friends Eric and Bri. If I had known that day as I drove to Canyon Lake that Chris had (that very morning) been in Montgomery asking for permission to marry me, I would have never believed it! At the end of a beautiful day, sitting in two faded lounge chairs, listening to Jack Johnson Chris dug up a sweet little clam. He proceeded to say he was going to crack it open! I insisted that if he did, it was going to stink and I was not sticking around to enjoy the smell! Just then, the smallest ray of light from our magical sunset peeked into the shell of that little clam....and then a glimmer!

Before I knew what had happened I was in the arms of my fiance, shaking and trying to remember all those sweet words he had spoken. All I remembered was I said "yes"!

Friendship....or love?

As the weeks passed, we started getting to know each other. He was taken and thus off limits, that enabled us to become true friends. We spent the day working a couple feet from each other, every once in a while an IM would pop up from Chris, just to say hi. I remember a conversation we had about relationships, how you should want to be with that person all the time, and that life was too short to be unhappy or to settle. Little did I know there had already been many a conversation between he and his Mom about me!

Here I was building a friendship with someone, and trying to control the feelings I had since we met! K'reesa finally told me that Chris had broken up with his girlfriend, all of a sudden it felt very complicated. Now I had to face how I felt! Chris invited me out on the lake with he and his friends on July 4th. It was a hot, summer day...typical for Texas. We were in the lake, sitting on lifejackets, talking. Sometime in the middle of our conversation I couldn't hear anything, I was staring into the eyes of this amazing guy, and all of a sudden I realized he was more than a great friend. There was something there!

I wish I could tell you I told him how I felt right then. But I didn't. You always hear about those whirlwind romances, and yet when it happened to me I was totally unprepared and had absolutely no idea how to react! That night it rained and stormed, I ignored my phone and several texts from a confused guy who happened to be feeling the same things as I! Well you can only resist for so long, and soon it takes you by the hand and without asking or waiting for permission places within your hand the most precious gift of all. Love.

Coley Mortgage, where it all began....

It all started with an innocent interview. Well, innocent on my part. I had moved to San Antonio several months before, working as a nanny during the day, for Ann Taylor at nights. I was ready for more of a business job, and had an interest in real estate. Talking to my Mom on the phone, she mentioned that my Aunt Lori's stepdaughter K'reesa, and her husband Jimmy, owned a mortgage company in Canyon Lake. It wasn't that far from my little one room apartment, so I called K'reesa and set up an interview. I had no idea how that trip to the hill country, in my little blue mustang, Sally, was going to change everything.....

I remember walking into Coley Mortgage, fresh faced and eager! The little office was bustling with phone calls and stacks of paper. The very first thing I see is this very tan, blue eyed dream. Gah! I better get the job!!!! Eventually Jimmy asks me if I knew his son, Chris. No! Job in the bag, K'reesa and Jimmy invited me over to their house for dinner (which if you know anything about their cooking, you will never turn it down!). I called my Mom on the way, "Got the job, oh my gosh Mom, Jimmy has a son named Chris, he is soooo cute" the girl talk continued and was on my mind as I walked into the Coley Lake House.

As sly as I think I was, I'm sure Jimmy and K'reesa saw right through my questions about their "children", all I really wanted was the 411 on Chris! To my dismay I find out he has a girlfriend of 2 years. Oh well, that little patter in my heart at the sight of him, must have been only girlish ooggling! Little did I know, as innocent as I was, Jimmy, Lori and K'reesa were not. Evidently my name had been mentioned to Chris in the past, and across the lake in a little green house I was on his mind as well.