Omar & Savannah's Rehearsal Dinner

We just got back from a beautiful wedding weekend celebrating Omar and his bride, Savannah. This is our 3rd wedding in just over a year and with the three celebrations we've had, I have figured out that the Rehearsal Dinner night is one of my favorite parts. We have a time of sharing where close family and friends get to stand up and share with the couple what they mean to them, how they appreciate their friendship, and of course, funny memories!

I am including what I shared about Omar at their Rehearsal Dinner (mostly because some have asked me for it) so in honor of the newlyweds, here we go:

Before we adopted, I had a recurring dream of a little boy with a round face and big smiling eyes looking up at me. I would wake up and think "That's my son" and say a prayer for him wondering where he might be. Now when I remember that dream, I see Omar’s face. I'm thankful God gave us you, Omar. 

Some of you may know we adopted Omar from Colombia when he was seven years old. He only spoke Spanish when he first came to us. Omar repeated a couple of phrases many times a day when we first adopted him.

The first was “Me acompanas?” “Will you join me?” Whether he was going out to the back yard or just to the back room, he would look up at you with his sweet round face and big green eyes, and through a smile ask, “Me acompanas?” He didn’t want to go anywhere alone. Not to play, not to school, not to bed and not even to the bathroom!

It was probably a mix of wanting the company but also getting used to his new family and new surroundings. A lot of change occurred in his first seven years.  

Omar’s phrase reminds me of someone else that has said something similar. Jesus invites us to join Him. We have that invitation every day multiple times a day when we have opportunities to love other people and serve those in need. 

The second phrase that Omar often repeated was “Mira! Mira!” “Look! Look!” Omar has always been able to pick up anything athletic quickly. He learned how to do flips on the trampoline and on the ground. He could walk a tight rope with ease. Jumping on a pogo stick, skate boarding, water skiing, tree climbing…Omar could pick up, climb up, glide on anything in a flash. He excelled in any sport he tried. Gymnastics, football, track, and he set swimming records in the 8^th grade as if he had been a swimmer his whole life.

Anytime we had guests at the house or when Omar learned something new, he exclaimed “Mira Mira” and ran out to show off what he could do or he proudly brought his creative work for us to admire. 

This phrase also reminds me of the times God reveals His glory for us to admire…sometimes a colorful sunset, a vast starry sky when we can get away from city lights, or the delight of cardinals calling from the trees close by…these are all times God is saying “Look! Look!” and we can enjoy His handiwork and marvel at His works.

Some things have not changed. Omar has found the one to join him in life and Savannah is the most important person for him to ask, “Me acompanas?” “Will you join me?” The day he asked her to marry him, he looked at her with those big green eyes, and with a smile, asked that familiar question to the most important person to receive it.

He will now have a lifetime to exclaim, “Look Look!” as they start their adventures together exploring all God has for them in the years to come.

Merry Christmas 2024

 

When I look at our photos from this past year, our lives could look very much like a fairytale. Most fairytales begin with "Once upon a time..." and end with "Happily ever after." I am not sure this year could fit in between those two lines but we do have so much to thank God for!

 

We welcomed new beginnings--new life stages for Emily and Wesley...

  

Omar and Saimon launched...

Marian moved to College Station...

Katerin opened up to new possibilities...

and renewed health for Savannah...

We celebrated 3 graduations--Savannah completed high school a year early, Omar graduated from THS, and Wesley from College of the Ozarks...

The biggest family celebrations included 2 weddings less than 3 months apart!

And in between those two weddings Omar pulled off a sweet surprise proposal for his now fiancé, Savannah. (Yes we will have two Savannahs!)

Wesley and Sarah's Spring wedding took place in Bentonville, Arkansas and was likely the most beautiful wedding in all of Arkansas! No kidding--their wedding made the pages of Arkansas Bride magazine this past month. What made it an even more special union was that it was the first family reunion where all nine of us were together since July 2023. The day of the rehearsal dinner was filled with storms and tornado warnings, which made the next day's plans for an outdoor wedding look pretty bleak. But thankfully the torrential weather moved out and their wedding day was dreamy. Rain and shine, we soaked in every beautiful moment. 

 

Emily and Zach's Summer wedding took place right here close to home. It was everything we hoped it would be--a true glimpse of God's glory as family and friends shared the weekend, and what this couple meant to them, with us. Their wedding provided a second family reunion for us. Emily had her 3 sisters in the bridal party, along with 4 sweet friends, and Savannah shared a lovely tribute to the couple in her Maid of Honor speech. I replay the photos and memories in my mind and heart and continue to be amazed at what God has done.

 

With all of these changes, we traveled over 41,000 miles in 2024. But what is more than the miles, accomplishments and life changes, is how we have grown in number and in relationships as a family. If I picked a word to describe 2024, it would be GROWTH. God restores our weary, tender hearts. He is still working, and I think because He is who He says He is, one day we will have a happily ever after.

 

Merry Christmas!

The Evermons

Wesley & Sarah's Wedding Photography: Emily May Photography

Emily & Zach's Wedding Photography: Shutterup Photography

Cheers to Zach & Emily

 

 

One of Emily's bridesmaids shared a speech at the reception, and she gave me permission to share it with you. It is a beautiful description of the love between Emily and Zach and the friendships they have with others.  

 

Hello, my name is Paige and I have had the privilege of being friends with both Zach and Emily for the past 5 years.

 

Emily is a beautiful, tender soul, a hopeless romantic in most aspects of life. She holds on to joy wherever possible. She is honest and open and direct, but such an honest person. She loves with a depth and genuine nature--to be loved by her is a true privilege.

Zach is such an incredible friend. He is full of wisdom, he is smart, generous, faithful and diligent. With a fierce heart, thirst for adventure and a relentless perseverance of the things he cares about. Especially Emily.

 

You may not know that Emily's favorite movie as a kid was Peter Pan and that she had a crush on Peter growing up. Ironically, she herself is much like Wendy, a responsible big sister who cares deeply for those around her and loves to read and dream of wonderland.

It's fitting then, that Zach is much like Peter. A thirst for adventure with a troop of friends who would go anywhere with him. A natural born leader who will rise against any forces who would threaten what he holds dear. He has such integrity, even his shadow knows what he is about. He would stare down a crocodile-fearing pirate captain, challenge his friends, and even say hard things to the one he loves if life calls for it.

 

Emily, like Wendy calls others higher. She calls shots as she sees them, and will not be left out of the adventure. She loves deeply, and creates a safe space for those around her.

Together, these two have truly built something that seems like it belongs in a kid's book for the pure love that it holds. Like the story in Neverland, it's not been perfect, there have been arguments, and moments when the faith in the magic almost faded. But they fought for it and it came back stronger and brighter than ever.

 

 Zach, I couldn’t have hoped for a better man to pursue this sweet friend. In your love, Emily has found the peace her heart longed for, it is clear how you hold her in equal parts gentleness and fierceness and she has become more of the beautiful girl that I have had the privilege of knowing privately, in public.

Emily, thank you for loving Zach. Two weeks into dating, I remember you looking me in the eyes and saying, "I am going to marry Zach." Thank you for contending for him in the hard things, for choosing the narrow path, and always fighting for your relationship. Zach is clearly so secure in your love, and that has been a joy to see. He has become more joyful, vibrant and gentle. And you were right! Here you are, marrying Zach.

 The only thing I could now hope to say is… Zach I lost the game…. Also, congratulations, for this day and all the days to come. And never forget the secret to life is the live with love, faith, trust, and pixie dust…. CHEERS!

 

(Thank you Natasha Miley and Arin Love with @Shutterupphotographers (Instagram) or @ShutterUpPhotographyTexas (Facebook) for not just amazing photos, but a wonderful experience!)