You are invited to a wedding

Welcome to a wedding!
It's an odd story -- sweet and romantic, though.

Cathie is my army daughter. Though she is from a small town in southern Kentucky, she has been around the world and met many people, in her nine years of army life.
She has considered marriage in the past, but had trouble finding the right guy.

One guy was from a military family, and it looked like things would be great for them... for a while. But then they weren't. He was manipulative and controlling. I was happy when she finally said it was over.
The next man in her life was a little hard for me to warm up to. He was different, but he still seemed a little aloof.

Then they split up, but she hesitated to tell anyone. So we really didn't know what was going on. And when she ran into an old neighborhood buddy from back in the day, we were kind of confused.

So Cathie finally came clean that, yes, she and the other guy were history. And, yes, she was dating someone else. Who had lived across the street back, when, sixth grade? He's a police officer now. He still has the polite manners I remember from way back, but he's taller, now, and he wears a badge. It says, "to protect and to serve."

Cathie came home from Iraq a few months ago, only to find out she had to go right back. She tried to be optimistic about it, but she was really sad. She was also told that when she returned to the US, she'd be headed for a post in Washington state. (That's all the way over on the other side of the country, boys and girls.)The guy she was dating said not to worry. He said he could get a job there so they could still be together.

Then Cathie found out she could come home early, although she'll need to be in North Carolina for two more months. And instead of Washington, she'll be able to transfer to Fort Campbell again. Yay!

When Cathie got back to the US, she came home on a short leave.
"Mom, we're getting married. On Thursday," she announced.

No time for bridesmaids, rose petals, candles, and lace. Those will have to wait a few months. The couple chose rings from the jeweler's shop on the square. They were married in the judge's chambers in the historical courthouse, next to an American flag. Cathie had to be back in NC by Monday.

I took some pictures, some of which I posted on Flickr.
I also took my first ever video. 

(It used to be here, but it's moved, so I've deleted it, as of 01-01-2013.
Well, I tried. Blogger has done some remodeling, so it may take a while for me to figure it out. Or maybe this will work....)