A Year to Remember

One year ago at this very moment, I was behind the wheel of my van, somewhere in Southeastern Ohio, already having been awake for 16 hours and counting, on Black Friday. I was headed for Charlotte, NC to surprise a certain Irishman who had captured my heart over Skype and made me weak in the knees with every text message. The music was blaring, I was shaking with excitement, and I had to keep reminding myself that within hours, we would finally be together in the same room. Several hours and coffees later, I had arrived in the driveway, with the sun just coming up, pumpkin bread on the seat beside me, and a phone in my hand, calling to wake Aidan to announce the "postman calling for delivery." Moments later, we fell into each other's arms and kissed as if time had just stopped for us.

And just now, I was hanging a shirt in Aidan's closet, and I caught myself whispering, "We are married. We are really married..." I am serious -- there are moments I just have to pinch myself, this is such a dream come true to be married to this wonderful, amazing, and loving man. I have never felt so blessed.

I LOVE life with Aidan in it. He brings pure joy to me each and every day. We share everything, we talk about everything, we speak the same things at the same time, even. I absolutely love mornings -- though I've never been a "morning person," -- Aidan and I share coffee in bed, chatting, planning the say, just being "us." We pray together, which is truly amazing and I am forever thankful for that. Our relationship is exactly where it should be, with God at the head of it. When I am worried about something, Aidan is my rock. He keeps me grounded and reminds me of our faith and our togetherness. There is nothing in life I will ever have to face alone, anymore. Aidan understands togetherness and commitment like no other man I've ever known. He is my right arm, partner, team mate, the yin to my yang, the icing on my cupcake, the cream in my coffee. I don't know that there has ever been a happier wife.

Or a prouder husband.

From the day we were married, there have been moments I have glanced at Aidan, or he has called my name and I turn to look at him, and there he is, with his left hand up, showing off his wedding band. He makes me feel appreciated at every turn. It is the sweetest thing to see such a happy husband.

Not only is it barely sinking in that this wonderful man is really my husband, I am still practicing my new name every chance I get: Rochelle Bannon. Rochelle Bannon. Mrs. Bannon. I think I'm dreaming. I really do.

One year ago, we knew we had something unique between us. We both felt it, this connection we have. I knew how much I wanted to be with Aidan and when he had to go home to Ireland, my heart ached horribly from missing him so much. But in those moments, our first few days together in NC, or during those tearful Skype goodbyes from across the Atlantic, I don't think either one of us knew that THIS November, we'd find ourselves together and married and sharing this journey as one. I remember sitting on New Year's Eve, all alone in the dark, with only the lights of the Christmas tree, just missing Aidan so much, and the phone ringing at exactly that moment. Aidan had called to ring in the New Year with me - Irish time. And now, this coming New Year, we will be together, ringing in the new year -- OUR new year -- together. We are so very thankful for all of this.

What a year. Sometimes just thinking about all that's happened almost makes my head spin. Just a couple weeks ago, Jillian had asked for the 100th time to get some photos printed of our trip to Ireland so she could take them to school. Poor kid. I took well over 3000 photos, and when I discovered it was going to cost hundreds of dollars to print them all, I didn't print any -- just figured I'd get around to sifting through them all "someday" after the wedding dust had settled. I finally went through and ordered about 100 photos, and we put them in an album. Her face just lit up as she began to chat about our memories in Ireland. As did mine. What a wonderful seven weeks we spent there with Aidan and his family. And I miss them horribly.

It was almost as painful leaving Aidan's family as it was leaving him. They really had become family to us when we were there, and now I just burst with happiness knowing they are "officially" family. I adore them, and I can't wait to return to spend more time with them. Thank God for Skype, because we are able to 'see' them every week or so. I hope they will come visit us here, as well. Every other phone call, they want to know when we are coming 'over home.' Not soon enough, my sweet, new family, not soon enough.

We find ourselves in the Christmas season now, and just the other day, Aidan hauled up our Christmas tree before leaving for work. Jillian and I decorated it together. I was so happy to place our new, special ornaments on our tree. Our friend Jill in NY had sent us an Irish Cottage ornament that reads "2014" and "Bannon" on it. Aidan's family presented me with several very special Irish gifts on the morning I had to leave, one of which was a precious Claddagh ornament. Aidan and I purchased a few ornaments while on our honeymoon in Frankenmuth, Michigan, too -- an Irish flag, a glass ball that reads, "Our first Christmas as Mr and Mrs Bannon - 2014," an Irish marriage blessing ornament, and another Claddagh. I just love that we are able to be together this holiday season, after being over 3000 miles apart last year.

I just love that we are together.

On our honeymoon, in Frankenmuth, MI

The Hitchin'

Just a few short months ago, I was laying on our bed in Ireland, with hot tears streaming down my face and onto my pillow. That day, it had hit me that Aidan and I had no idea when we'd be reunited again after I left Ireland. We had spent (and survived) seven months apart while I was in Michigan and he'd gone back home to Ireland to be with his mammy who had been very ill. We spent seven amazing weeks together in Ireland with his family and my daughter. But we were about to be separated again, and with no plan on hand as to when he'd be coming back to the States, my heart was  aching.

But miracles happen.

Our loving friends pulled together and managed to raise money for Aidan's flight back to Michigan. Within three weeks from my return, I was headed back to the airport to bring my fiancé home with me for good. Our hearts will be forever grateful to each and every one of our friends and family that believed in us enough to help bring Aidan home to me.

And now, here I sit, the late October rain falling outside our window, the clock beside me on the wall ticking softly, and the light from the lamp hits the wedding ring on my left hand. Each time I look down and see that ring, I get butterflies. The journey that this life has taken us on in the last year has been nothing short of a fairytale. There are days when I think I must just be dreaming.

The last two months have been a whirlwind, and we have enjoyed every single second of it. My parents quickly fell in love with Aidan and he with them. The boys have found their place with him too, and what a joy it is to see how it all just fell into place without a hiccup. And planning our wedding was an absolute BLAST.

My matron of honor, who we lovingly continue to call "MOH," is freaking amazing. We've been friends since we were in sixth grade (a few years, let's leave it at that) and in our friendship, she's always been the organized one. I knew she would be brilliant at keeping me on track during our wedding prep, but I had NO idea that she would turn a cozy, loving wedding into one awesome, unique, and totally "us" event!! I merely sent her a text with my ideas or a photo from Pinterest and within hours or days, she'd surprise me with a hand painted sign or a computer generated map of the reception hall with the tables and vignettes all laid out! I gave her the colors and Fall theme ideas I wanted to work with and she had vintage styled bouquets intricately created. Our zippy shopping trips in and out of Hobby Lobby and dollar stores, where we trekked miles across the lower thumb of Michigan to find the dozens of leaf garlands we needed for our plans, were absolutely hysterical. I don't know how many Reese's Peanut Butter Cups or cappuccinos we've inhaled in the last eight weeks but I will tell you, I think we walked them all off around dollar stores! She was -- and is -- such a blessing to Aidan and I. And speaking of that, she has become the sister-in-law to Aidan. MOH has always been more of a sister to me than a friend, even through our teenage drama years and the times in our lives when we were so busy having babies and running households that we barely saw each other. And now we've bonded even more through this wedding. Seeing the sister/brother relationship grow between Aidan and Kris has made me so happy. My own siblings have sadly completely disconnected from me during one of the happiest times of my life, and while that has been heartbreaking and hurtful on its own, we have been so blessed by Kris and her family to be the "sibling/in-law" family to Aidan, and they immediately welcomed him in with open arms, just as his family has done to me and to our kids. Kris' daughters pitched right in, helping with lots of details for the wedding, painting, and crafting for us. What a delight to have them offer to help, too. Not to mention, Kris' dad gathered corn stalks for our ceremony venue and offered all the sticks and acorns we could ever want from their property, and her mom cooked for my shower and made lovely items for our kitchen!

Aidan's closest Irish buddy down in North Carolina had work obligations and couldn't make it as best man for Aidan. When my brother refused to be included, we called my German brother, David -- who I hadn't spoken to in ages. David had lived with us for a year way back in 1992 as an exchange student. When I called him, I told him we were getting married, and he was of course happy for me. Then I told him we'd love for him to be the best man in our wedding. Here he hadn't been back here since 1994 -- I hadn't seen him since 2001 in Germany -- but do you know what he did for his American sister? He booked a flight! We were overjoyed that David was coming to be with us in such an important part of our lives. I couldn't WAIT to pick him up at the airport on the Thursday before the wedding. He truly is such a special brother to me.

And if that wasn't shocking enough, my cousin in Austria, Katrin, and her boyfriend Andy, booked flights to come to our wedding too! Katrin hadn't been here in 30 years since the time we first met! We were just blown away at the gathering our wedding was becoming.  Austrian, Irish, German and American .. All together to celebrate love. What a blessing!

Speaking of blessings, when friends heard about our little cozy wedding we were planning, they shared their wonderful talents with us. Our ceremony would be complete with harp, dulcimer, and guitar by my sweet music friends, Cindy, Paul, and Jeff. Cindy sent me a few recordings to choose from for the song I would walk up the aisle to. When I heard Whittingham Green Lane for the first time, I got tears. I knew immediately that that was the song for us. It meant so much more to us to have special friends to be a part of our wedding celebration. And years ago, when I was volunteering for Youth for Understanding International Exchange with foreign exchange students, I had become very close to some other local volunteers, Billie and Bonnie and their families. And even though I'd not spent time with them in ages, they jumped in and became a huge part of our wedding too! Billie and Bonnie had become very accustomed to cooking for large groups of people, and they loved the idea I had for a different kind of reception -- instead of a full dinner buffet, I wanted to offer Fall soups and breads. Not only that, but Billie shared her grandmother's hand crocheted tablecloths for some of the tables, and they made Irish print aprons to wear during the reception. Bonnie designed and made our Irish wedding cake, complete with a crystal bell on the top, and she created my veil, which matched my vintage style dress perfectly. They also shared lots of ideas for the reception planning, as well. And early on in the planning, it was so enjoyable to get together and spend time after being apart for so long. Bonnie's husband, Tim, and Aidan, hit it right off. We were like a long lost reunited family all over again! Another good friend of mine, Robb, my do-it-all friend/handyman/plumber/fellow high school graduate/pseudo house husband (ha), came to our house with over 50 pumpkins for our wedding decor. We had more than enough pumpkins to line our ceremony aisle, create a path for guests to the ceremony, and for Fall vignettes throughout the reception. My niece, April, such a beautiful bridesmaid, and her two sons, Caden and Gavin, were also a part of the wedding. April cooked up a storm for my bridal shower, and her little boys were so much fun to find clothing ideas for for the wedding! All of the guys had plaid or check shirts with vintage sweater vests and newsboys caps, so naturally the little boys had to fit in. We decided suspenders would be perfect over their check shirts. And last minute, I found a "ring security" set on Etsy -- Gavin and Caden would wear dark security glasses and carry a black briefcase-looking box that said RING SECURITY across the front; our rings would be safely kept inside until that moment in the ceremony. My mom, who self-proclaimed she was "not a wedding person," and that wedding planning scared her, was such a trooper to bounce ideas off of. I love so much that I have had the chance to plan a wedding with my mom and dad. They are so special to me, and having the memories of helping Mom choose her dress for the wedding and having my dad walk me down the aisle will always be SO special to me. So much of our wedding will always remind us of each of our special friends and family that helped us continue our journey and fulfill our dreams.

All along during the planning, we had happy phone calls and Facetime visits with Aidan's family back home in Ireland. While they were not able to make the trip for the wedding, they remained a huge, special part of it as much as possible. We are going to have a blessing ceremony and reception there next year with Aidan's family and friends in Ireland. But it was really important to us that they were able to see our wedding in some capacity even though they couldn't be here. Guess what? We figured out a way to live stream it on the internet! Aidan's sister-in-law, Sheenagh, planned to host a huge get-together for the family to come watch our wedding, with all of them wearing their fascinator wedding hats and the men wearing their newsboy caps like Aidan and the guys in our wedding.

During the eight weeks before the wedding, we attended a wonderful marriage night each week at our friend, Pastor Scott's church. Scott and I went to school together all those years ago, and when Aidan and I decided to plan the wedding, I knew in my heart that Scott should officiate. It would mean so much more to me to have such a close, old friend marry us. We, along with several other couples, watched a DVD series called, "Laugh Your Way to a Better Marriage" by Mark Gunger. OH what a wonderful series. I would highly recommend it to other couples, married or not. And the discussions we had following each part were insightful, as well. It has been a time of growing closer together for Aidan and I, as we look ahead to our lives blending into one. We also grew close to Scott, and I hope even now that the wedding is over, that we will be able to spend more time with him in the future.

In the weeks before the wedding, we were receiving messages from all over the country and the world. Cards from overseas and from the other side of the country, voicemails from old friends and happy texts from so many people. We even received gifts and cards from sweet online friends that we had never even physically met. My bridal shower was amazing and I was so touched to see friends and family gather and so humbled by the thoughtful gifts and well-wishes. Bonnie even came to give me a gorgeous quilt she'd made for Aidan and I that was created "in honor of the Irish American Love Story."  Each day was truly filled with wonder and happiness!

When the week of the wedding arrived, I did begin to get a little frantic. Kris was amazing at keeping me calm and Bonnie was keeping me updated with all of the baking and cooking planning, too, so I was very comfortable knowing everything was being taken care of beautifully. We had run into only one minor heart attack: Our rings still had not arrived from Dublin.

It's no secret that we had to plan the wedding with a very tight budget. We ended up ordering the rings fairly late in the game, when we had the money to do so. But at the time we ordered them, we paid for rush service and had the confirmation that they'd arrive in time. We had chosen matching silver bands that are embedded with the words, Mo Anum Cara, which is Gaelic for My Soul Mate. The rings also have a Claddagh symbol between each of the words. Unfortunately, there had been a miscommunication somewhere along the line, because when I emailed a week before the wedding wondering if they had been shipped, one of the jewelers told me that they had had to be handmade, and they weren't finished yet, he wasn't aware that our wedding was coming up so fast. But he promised they'd be shipping overnight FedEx on the Wednesday before the wedding -- he was so funny. I asked him if he realized we were all the way over in America, and he told me that he did -- and that FedEx is super fast from Ireland, unless they have to deliver to a remote part of Alaska. That was a laugh I really needed that week! When Thursday came around and we had not been notified of shipping, we panicked. Aidan called the jeweler in Dublin, and ended up with the owner on the phone, who had not heard that the rings had shipped, and not only that, he sounded as if he thought we had taken way too large a risk by ordering them only three weeks prior. He promised to look into it further and that he'd call us back. After he hung up, I was just steaming. What were we going to do without rings?? Aidan, God love him, stayed calm and faithful like always, telling me it would be fine. A few moments later, the phone rang, and it was the jeweler again, who apologized profusely -- he had discovered that our rings HAD shipped -- and that they would indeed arrive THAT DAY. Within an hour of that phone call, the FedEx man came to the door and I about hugged him. Sure enough, our rings made it! Aidan called up Dublin again just to thank them and let them know the rings made it. The jeweler insisted I open the package with him on the phone so he had confirmation that we were pleased. OH they were even more gorgeous than we had imagined them to be!

From that point on, everything went on like clockwork. We picked David up from the airport, that was such an awesome reunion! Katrin and Andy were in the States and enjoying Chicago and surrounding areas, keeping in touch by phone, and would be coming in on Friday. Friday we headed out early to the hall, with two minivan loads stuffed full of wedding and Fall decor. Kris, April, and I had a blast decorating for the reception. It was finally beginning to hit me that this was all really happening.

Saturday morning, Kris and Carlie picked up Jillian and I early, and we headed off to the hall. Aidan stayed with the boys to get ready. We wouldn't see each other until the ceremony. Kris and I had to get the outside set up for the ceremony, her hubby was there too -- and thankfully, Bonnie and Billie arrived at the hall too, and Tim was there as well to help set up chairs. My parents brought fresh cider donuts to be served with cider after the ceremony. They had gotten up early and driven out to one of the best orchards in the area to get the donuts. Kris and I finished up the few loose ends of the decor for the reception. My cousin, Ashley, our wedding photographer, arrived and was already snapping photos. Before I knew it, it was time to hide away in our makeshift dressing room/conference room to get ready. Kris' daughter Aly was doing hair for her, Jillian, and Carlie, while I ironed my Titanic era styled dress. An old sweet family friend, Margaret, slipped in with my mom to say hello, and offered gold Claddagh earrings for me to wear as my "something borrowed." I was melted. They matched my necklace perfectly -- Kris had given me a gold Claddagh necklace that had five birthstones adorning it -- symbolizing the birthdays of myself, Aidan, and the three kids. At every step toward our wedding, I was amazed at the blessings, how smoothly it all proceeded, how precious our family and friends were toward us, just all of it. I was so full of butterflies during the last hour before the ceremony that I could barely breathe. I kept thinking, "Today I get to marry my soul mate, my best friend, and the love of my life. TODAY."

A few moments before the ceremony, Aidan and Pastor Scott came to the dressing room door to pray together. As Aidan and I couldn't see each other yet, I stood behind the door and reached my hand out to find Aidan's. We held hands on either side of the door as Scott prayed with us for our marriage and for our special day. God had smiled upon us. The day couldn't have been more beautiful. The weather was perfect, the sun was out, the colorful leaves glistened.

It was time.

We girls and the little boys made our way outside and waited around the corner for our turn to walk up the aisle. I could hear the beautiful music willowing through the ceremony. One by one, the girls walked up, and then the boys with their "ring security" garb, and then Jillian, who scattered Fall leaves out of her basket onto the aisle. Then,  I held my dad's arm and we walked up the aisle together. It was like something out of a dream. I saw so many faces smiling at us, it just warmed me inside and gave me goosebumps. And then, I saw Aidan.

It was truly all I had to not cry tears of overwhelming happiness. I tried to take it all in, seeing him standing there with David, PJ, Ethan, and the little guys. They all looked amazing in their vintage clothes. The girls were smiling sweetly and holding their bouquets. Jillian was a little angel with a crown braid in her hair. Soon, Dad and I were up at the front and we listened as Pastor Scott prayed and read from scripture. Soon he asked Aidan and I if we promise to take care of and love each other for all of our days, which we promised. Then Scott asked who gives me to Aidan, to which my dad answered, "Her mother and I," followed by a lifting of my veil and a sweet kiss, and from that point on, Aidan and I together took part in our ceremony. We shared communion, prayer, and a wonderful sand ceremony in which each of us, myself, Aidan, PJ, Ethan, and Jillian, took vials of different colored sand, and poured them together into a keepsake vessel, blending our individual colors of sand as a symbol of our newly blended family. It was precious. Then, when it was time to exchange rings, our ring security opened up the vault and handed the ring box to David, who passed the rings to Scott who prayed over them before giving them to us. When Aidan went to place the ring on my finger, it didn't want to go on very well -- just two days before, I had had a dyshidrotic eczema attack on my ring finger of all things, and it was still quite swollen! Pastor Scott shared such a wonderful message about the covenant and commitment of marriage. It was truly beautiful. He even sang Our Father in acapella after Communion. But the moment we so longed for, staring into each other's eyes, making our vows to each other, and being pronounced "man and wife" ... My heart was beating out my chest! I love this man with all of my heart and all of my soul, and I couldn't wait for that first kiss of our marriage. And when Scott told Aidan he could kiss the bride, Aidan kissed me.

And kissed.

And kissed.

And they applauded, and Scott chuckled, and we continued to kiss.

What a wonderful miracle our love is!! We were MARRIED!!!

We happily walked back up the aisle to the tune of "Star of the County Down" (a surprise to Aidan, I hadn't told him about that yet!) and then we together returned to the front to personally greet and dismiss each one of our guests. I'm so glad we did that, because the reception was so busy that it would have been difficult to get the time to talk with all of our friends and family.

But that wasn't the only surprise I had up my vintage Titanic era sleeve.

For weeks, I had been secretly contacting Irish dance studios within a two hour radius of our home trying to get one or several Irish dancers to come into the reception and dance as a surprise to Aidan and our guests. But there was a big competition going on somewhere, because one by one, the replies came back as regrets due to competition. I was desperate. Well, ironically, the weekend before our wedding, we had been invited to an Irish session in the neighborhood where I spent the last half of my childhood, of all places; but it was the same day as my bridal shower, so I was to meet Aidan there late. Before I arrived, there had been a bagpiper but he left before I got to see him. This all hit me just a couple nights before the wedding. I emailed the man that had hosted the session and he got back to me with the piper's number. I then left a long, desperate message on voicemail and prayed the piper would get it in time. Sure enough, the night before the wedding (Aidan was away at work,) the piper called and I pleaded that he come surprise everyone. Turns out our wedding was good timing for him, he'd be just finished with a funeral, already in full kilt/uniform, and on his way to a later party for his mother's birthday. I was a little nervous about being done with the photo shoot after the ceremony in time for his arrival at the reception, but I just figured we'd run with it and hope for the best.

SO. Just as we had completed dismissing our guests from the ceremony, in the distance came the sound of bagpipes. Seriously -- it couldn't have happened at a more perfect time! Aidan's look of surprise was PRICELESS, and my mom almost passed out from excitement -- she LOVES bagpipes. And for me, it was like Christmas. I LOVE surprising people. Kris (the piper) walked through the ceremony area and out onto the grass and continued to play beautiful music as we stood by smiling and enjoying the moment. We were able to get some photos with him and I thanked him over and over for coming right when he did. It really completed the already perfect wedding day!

Afterwards, it was off across the road to the photo shoot, to a little gathering of old buildings surrounded by gorgeous woods, all a part of the same county park we had married in. While riding in Photographer Ashley's car, I stared out the window, held my new husband's hand, and let it all sink in: On this beautiful day, our dreams had come true.