Remember When

Remember when I liked to blog?

Remember when I shared my life?

Well, I hope to get back into this. 

I just haven't been in the mood to write or say or post much lately.

I've had some ideas, but just haven't gotten to them.

So, I'd like to catch up on the last month or so. 

Do you mind?

Remember when we went to Edisto for the Smith family reunion and watched the sunrise?

Remember when I made from scratch biscuits and we had breakfast for dinner?

Remember when we started our fireplace for the first time this fall? Java got scared!

Remember when I made yummy snicker doodles for the first time ever?

Remember when Java realized she liked snuggles by the fire?

Remember when we had trick-or-treaters?

And I added lights to the window.

Remember when Java's face was so smooshed?

Remember when he bought me flowers?

Remember when we bought our space heater because our fireplace is too expensive! And now it's Java's favorite spot!

Remember when I cut bangs for the first time in 5 years? If Zoey can...

Meet my grandparents!

All captured and written by: Lauren Rosenau Photography

PORTRAIT:: CHUCK & SONJA

Every now and then, you meet ”that” couple. That couple that lights up a room. That couple that inspires you with their stories of past adventures. That couple that laughs and carries on. That couple that every couple dreams of being years after they’ve said their vows.  Chuck and Sonja, are “that” couple.

Chuck and Sonja are the grandparents of  the amazingly talented, Melanie, from New Creations Flower Co., who I frequently get to work with in the wedding biz. After seeing some of the portraits that I’d taken of my dear grandma, Daisy, Mel asked me if I would accompany her to SC to capture her sweet grandparents in their element. I spent an afternoon getting to know a little more about Chuck and Sonja and all their adventures. They have a beautiful, cozy home with a huge piece of land where they take care of horses and live in love.

I can’t help but wonder to myself “where will this couple be in 50 years?”, when I’m photographing a wedding. I like to think that this is exactly how it should be. THIS is what love should look like. Love is dancing in a field and laughing until your sides hurt, with the one who holds your heart. Chuck & Sonja, you’ve been such an inspiration to me. You two are beautiful together.

Here are a few of my favorites from our time together. Enjoy!

Flowers and Yummy Things

I had the amazing opportunity to help Melanie at New Creations Flower Company in Charlotte, NC with 3 weddings she had booked for November 19. She also did our wedding last year and her business has grown so much since then. I am not very experienced as a florist, but she taught me very quickly what I needed to know and wasn't afraid to correct me at any point to make the arrangements up to her amazing standards. What a great weekend!! Along with organizing and labeling, I was mostly responsible for this specific wedding and the table arrangements. Notice her peacock feather theme?

This was a special request that would later be filled with champagne glasses under the chandelier  and candlelight

 Not all work.

After a long few days [and many weeks and hours Melanie worked before I arrived] and wedding flower arrangements and deliveries, we stopped here, at Amelie's for dessert.

I want to go back! It was the coolest, eclectic, 24-hr french bakery I've ever been to.

Here's Melanie! So lovely!

Thanks Mel, for great experience and a great weekend!

Veteran's Day

My husband has been in the military for over 5 years now. 

We met before he joined the Coast Guard.

Sometimes I don't realize that I'm a military wife. Currently, JM works quite regular hours and doesn't really talk about work that much at home. I ask him about it, but he doesn't feel it's interesting enough to tell me about. Before we were married, I understood his military life a little better. He used to go on 3 or more patrols a year. Most of our dating life was through emails while he was underway and expensive pay-phone calls. But, for the past 2.5 years he's been at a desk job. Things are about to change for us. We are waiting for our orders to see where we go next. We didn't think we'd stay in for another tour, but with job security, benefits, and JM's school being practically paid for, it's hard to resist. It's exciting and scary all at the same time. One man is responsible for choosing where hundreds of  sailors and their families go next. We are in a season of waiting after a difficult-but-amazing first year of marriage. I'm excited for a location that JM and I can move to together and start everything new. I think it will really change how I feel as a military wife. I think everything will become real to me. Changing work schedules, duty requiring him to stay on base, short deployments.... things will be different but we are looking forward to this new adventure. As for now, I thank my husband for his work and for taking care of us. I thank the many husbands and wives that work in the military around the world. I may not agree with everything they do, but I support the commitment they've made for the safety and protection of their country.

In celebration of Veteran's Day, JM and I went to historic Williamsburg. 

Just One of Those Kind of Days

Source

Today was a day, unusual.
I was warned when I married a Redwine that bad luck comes by that name.
I don't really believe in luck.
Or so I thought.
But I since I married into it, I hoped such "bad luck" would maybe skip me.
NOT!
I should have turned back at getting stranded deep sea fishing 90 miles out in the Atlantic, or when we got stuck in low tide in the middle of a huge storm in a boat we thought would run out of gas in the Tampa Bay, or when the motor wouldn't start and we were stranded on Seabrook's Island beach ... yes these may be all boat stories, but they are just a tip of the iceberg.
But I didn't change my mind! I love the man too much!
There's always a punch to be thrown:
We've slept through tornadoes on top of mountains
and
Fished for years and without catching anything good
and
Tried to leave London to go to Paris because we thought our tickets were booked and had to pay 3x as much
and
Drove three hours to go camping and realized we forgot our tent
and
Went camping in the rain without reservations on Memorial Day weekend and slept on the AT instead
and
Drove all summer without AC because no one could fix it

Really, this all happens on a day to day basis!
Surely we're not the only ones.
It happens to everyone.
Right?
Well today was my day for a series of unfortunate events. No husband, just me.
I went to get my haircut but when I arrived the salon was locked.
My appointment was at 2 but the door said they'd be back at 1.
I thought I was early.
While I waited, a unusual man started a conversation with me.
I didn't want to be rude and I had no were to go.
So we talked.
The problem was that I don't know what he was talking about.
But we talked.
He likes hotdogs, his brother and military friends got him drunk at 16 and he's been sober 5 years.
"When you don't drink, there's no trouble."
Come to find out, my dear hairstylist Lisa and 2 others were in a car accident on their way back from lunch.
Thankfully there are no major injuries.
And we'll reschedule.
On I went to talk to a hiring manager about a job and missed her by 10 minutes.
I was told she was available all day Thursdays.
I went to McDonalds for a Mocha Frappe and realized I forgot the stuff I was going donate.
After going back home to get the stuff, the clutch dropped while driving on the city's main road.
Thankfully I was going fast enough to coast into the median.
And, I had an icey Mocha to sip on.
JM came to my rescue and we waited over an hour for what we were told would be 20 min for AAA.

All that to say, just another day in the neighborhood and as a Mrs. Redwine.
Still, I don't call it bad luck, I call it life!
I wouldn't take any of it back.