A Wonderful Wedding Resource - Laurie Sue Brockway's Book, "The Wedding Goddess"

Thad & Kristin's Wedding Day, August 26, 2006, Alderbrook Resort

If you are bride looking for a fabulous "comfort" read on your way to your wedding day, I invite you to purchase a copy of Rev. Laurie Sue Brockway's book, "The Wedding Goddess."

Laurie is a wonderful and contemporary non-denominational Minister on the East Coast and her perspective, strategies and words of grace will sooth your way to your wedding day. You may visit Laurie's website at www.weddinggoddess.com

Handsome Hogi - The Joy & Loss of Caring For An Older Special Needs Dog...

My husband, Greg and I, have lost two of our beloved dogs in the past four weeks. At the beginning of the year, we lost our 16-year-old, Ms. Aimee, and on the last day of January, we lost our sweet Handsome Hogi.

Like Aimee, Handsome Hogi came to us just over a year ago after he was at a shelter for eight months. A special needs gentleman, Hogi came with a boatload of challenges - tumor, bad teeth, an enlarged heart and very bad kneecaps that made it difficult to get around. Oh, and he was also deaf!

And for a year, he was a big light in our lives.

We loved taking care of Hogi. It was a privilege for us to be guardians to a furry one who had suffered so and we hope we made his last year a comfortable and happy one.

Our home doesn't feel the same without Hogi. In this rescue work that I do, I'll never become accustomed to the loss of a dog. Hogi showed the two of us such courage and resolve. He had many challenges and he was ever joyful - every day.

We miss you, Hogi. And we love you dearly.

Annemarie & Greg

Jeff and Julie Barnett - An Intimate & Wonderful Wedding At The Sorrento Hotel

Jeff & Julie Barnett, their Wonderful Two Girls
and Maid of Honor/Best Guy!

When I look at the happy faces in this picture, I remember Jeff and Julie's wonderful wedding ceremony a few months ago.

What I admire about Jeff and Julie is that they wanted their wedding ceremony to be the centerpiece of their wedding day.

And it was on a crisp and beautiful October day last Fall.

Jeff and Julie were married in front of their dearest family and friends - and Jeff's two amazing and beautiful young daughter's - in warm and intimate ceremony in a suite at the Sorrento Hotel.

While the setting was truly beautiful, what struck me was the great joy in the room....a tone set by Jeff and Julie.

Jeff and Julie worked to with me to create a ceremony that celebrated their love story, acknowledged special family/friends and also sweetly and appropriately included Jeff's two young daughters. There is a gentle balance to including children of any age in a ceremony and together we created a ceremony that celebrated their new family and at the same time, honored their own very special and unique love story/partnership.

Jeff and Julie - thank you giving me the opportunity to be with both of you on your wedding day. I wish you great joy in your future together!

Annemarie