First, I should start off by saying I am not accepting weddings.  I LOVE this couple so when they asked me if I’d photograph their wedding day, I was honored! I promised Chelsea  a blog of images, and I can  actually say…. I kind of miss blogging! I love seeing the entire day put together in  one place. It’s kind of like their very own story. It’s fun to see the finished product all put together. Here are some of my favorites Chelsea and Brandon, I absolutely loved being there for the “beginning” of your journey together!

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A BIG thank you to LeAnne Stratton, of LeAnne Stratton Photo, for ALL of your help!

and…

 Best wishes to the two of you!

My favorite part of this wedding? Besides the couple and the fact it was on the roof at COSI? The wedding sermon. Wow. By far the best sermon I have ever heard. Like EVER. I loved it so much I cried. During the ceremony! Yep, guilty. I asked for a copy afterwards, and sure enough, I received it via email a few days later from Pastor Chris. I loved it so much I wanted to share. I hope all of you reading this will take the time to read it yourselves. You will find it at the bottom of this post. <3

Fun? haha! Really there are NO words to describe this group of guys. Oh my goodness! Hysterical!

The Sermon!

“Sam and Meredith, I
would like to give you 4 points on how to have a marriage the will last.  In fact these 4 P’s are what I live by, I am not always great at them but they are my goals.

#1 you are a PERSON

It is true that you are becoming one today but you are still and individual.

What I mean here is that you first priority in life is your personal relationship
with Jesus. Marriage is awesome, but it is tuff, if you are not regularly going
to well to get filled with God’s Spirit you will not have anything to give the
other person. Spend time in the word every day.

In fact I am holding right now my gift to you two, The Bible I am preaching from
has your name on the front, Sam and Meredith Ross, for the rest of your life
you will have the Bible that was used to preach from at your wedding, the word
of God is strong, The word of God is love, The Word of God is for ever.

#2 you are a PARTNER

You are a partner to each other, your best asset to each other is standing right
beside you.

I encourage you both to pick a night a week, or every other week or at least one
night a month were the phones go off, you get out of the house, get a way and
just be with each other.

I call the Hottie nights, I get to go to chipotle, eat a hot burrito and take my
wife out who is hot.

This may be down the line a little but the best thing you both can do for your
children is to love each other with a love that will not be tossed by the waves
and storms of this life. I am not saying you can never fight but what I am
saying is that allow your children see the struggles and see a man and woman
that will still remain committed to each other.

Which brings me to the third P

#3 you are a PARENT

Some day there will be little ones running around.

Sam,
I always tell the dads in my youth group that the best thing they can do for
their sons is to love their wife the right way, the way you act towards Meredith
will teach your son how to treat a women, and if you have a daughter need to
take them on dates, make sure they know you love them, every girl ever born is looking
for love and affirmation from their daddy, you need to give it to her or she
will look for it in a guy that I can guarantee you will not like.

Meredith,

the greatest thing you can do for your kids is to lend your ear to them at any
time. A mom that listens is one of the greatest gifts a child could ever receive.
The way you also love Sam will teach your kids how a marriage should go.

I also tell my parents that it is not about quality time it is about quantity
time. Sometimes parents try to spend an hour with their kids and hope that it
is quality is produced; if you are spending quantity time with them quality
will come automatically.

And lastly, the 4^th P

#4 you are a PROFESSIONAL

You both have jobs but the priority of your jobs cannot be any higher on this list.
What would it profit you to have all the money in the world but come home to an
emotionally empty house? I can tell you that there will never be enough money
and never enough time to make enough.

Your family must know that they are more important that either of your jobs, they
will know this not by what you say but by the way you live. Teach them how to
work hard, how to be honest in your job and how to have integrity in their
work.

You will remember this day for the rest of your life, but there are some great
memories to come. If the journey was easy then the destination will never be
worth it.”

-Chris Coakly

Wow. I love it so much.

xoxo

Best Wishes Sam and Meredith!

Amanda and Seth made their intimate day, perfect! Just the two of them at Bendora. Congrats and best wishes!

On a personal note, blessed. I don’t say it often enough, how truly blessed I am. All around. I sit here and think, looking at the big picture… I am not sure how things can get any better, but I know they are about to be even more fabulous! 2011 was a GREAT year for our family. Lots of prayers answered and hard work paid off. 2012… will be WONDERFUL! I am so excited, and I look forward to seeing you all next year!

Cheers!

 Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

 and on to Miss Stella…

 such a ham! Loved every minute behind the camera, Miss show-off!

 I’ll see you two in just a few short weeks!

All content copyright Sarah Shambaugh Photo.

Finally!

Happy 2nd Birthday cutie!

Just one of the many “faces” haha!

“You stay owl. Stay!”

 Sweet little lashes! aw.

All content copyright Sarah Shambaugh Photo.

We always have a  blast!

Photo taken by Tasha of Tasha Braniff Photography

Where’s waldo?!?

 I love going through gallery after gallery after a wedding and finding little snapshots like these! Thank you Tasha!

Such a FUNtastic couple!

I SO wish I would have taken a photo of our feet. DIRTY. FILTHY BLACK. From this football field.  But…. Whatever it takes RIGHT guys?!

She is Gorgeous!

All content copyright Sarah Shambaugh Photo.