Love Looks Good on You

February 13, 2021 was definitely a day to remember in Mexia, Texas! The entire State of Texas was slammed with a major winter storm which consisted of widespread power outages, as well as water outages. Due to both of these outages, many pipes froze causing damage afterwards. This winter storm was literally record breaking with 205 consecutive hours of freezing temperatures from February 10th to February 19th, 2021. Ice was literally everywhere!

Jonathan and Kaci would exchange vows in the company of family and friends at the First Baptist Church in Mexia, Texas on a very cold day in the midst of that record breaking winter storm.

The wedding rings were photographed on leaves covered in ice.

Jonathan and Kaci

Jonathan and Kaci met online on October 24th and were able to develop a relationship with one another which eventually led to their first “date.” The two had a mutual friend that invited them to her house for beer around the fire. Jonathan is deaf and this mutual friend knows ASL (American Sign Language). She was worried about the two communicating and knew the two were perfect for each other. Since this “date,” the two have not spent more than 24 hours apart.

As Jonathan’s birthday approached, Kaci planned him a surprise birthday party. He thought it was going to be just the two of them and he had a plan to propose to Kaci! He, of course, did not know that all of their family and friends would be there! When Kaci went to cut his cake, she turned around and he was down on one knee. He thought it would be a private proposal, but instead they were surrounded by family and friends. It was perfect!

To this day, their perfect date is sitting around a fire. listening/watching ASL music videos while enjoying a few beers. The two are strong, trusting, kind, faithful and funny. Jonathan truly puts Kaci’s needs before his own. He is compassionate and loves her for who she is. Jonathan loves that Kaci is accepting and non-judgmental. Her smile makes him smile.

The love they have for each other was evident throughout their wedding day. Jonathan frequently picked up the train of Kaci’s wedding dress and carried it as she walked. He was very careful not to let it get too dirty or stepped on. They were both so incredibly sensitive of each other’s needs throughout the entire wedding! Their family and friends have even told them that they have never seen either of them more happy.

The Wedding

Jonathan and Kaci’s wedding was a traditional wedding in the sanctuary at the First Baptist Church in Mexia, Texas. The sanctuary was decorated with flowers along the aisle and small artificial trees covered in white lights, which complimented the cold weather that could be found outside! The ceremony was complete with their friend signing for Jonathan. The two also included Kaci’s two daughters in a sand ceremony. Jonathan had a special surprise for the youngest daughter during the ceremony. He presented her with a ring! Later during the reception he danced with her as well.

The reception was complete with a photo booth for the guests to enjoy, cake and other tasty treats, garter toss and bouquet toss. They exited the reception and left to their honeymoon with their family and friends blowing bubbles as they walked out of the building.

Vendors

Venue: First Baptist Church of Mexia

Wedding Planner/Coordinator: Penny Lenamon and Cheryl Hardin

Florist: Rusty Rose

Cake: Angela Reed and Bee Jay Stinson

Bridal Gown: Pat’s Gowns

Bridesmaids Dresses: David’s Bridal

Groomsmen and Groom Attire: Squires Formal Wear

Officiant: Marcus Sheffield

Invitations: Level 33 Graphics

Special thanks to Kaitlyn Pagel with Kaitlyn Pagel Photography for assisting me in capturing the memories for Kaci and Jonathan!

Life at the Old Pecan Inn

Recently I had a family contact me regarding an Extended Family Session. The session was going to be a surprise gift for the parents, Gary and Pam, in celebration of their 45th wedding anniversary. As I drove to the location I couldn’t help but notice how beautiful the Point Enterprise area was, which is located just outside of Mexia, Texas. This quaint little community was covered in large trees and the golden sun was peeking through the leaves kissing the ground.

As I drove up the driveway and approached the family home, I noticed an eager family standing outside waiting on me. They were all so welcoming and proceeded to show me around the property where they’d like the portraits to be taken. They had a couch in the front pecan grove, a large windmill out back looking across the green landscape as the sun was setting and a 1971 red Ranchero parked out front. I was looking forward to spending time with this wonderful family that was so excited about capturing the precious memories, along with the history of Gary and Pam, for generations to come.

As I walked around with the family from place to place I heard several stories about so many places and things on the property. It was clear that family means a lot to each of them! Family is embedded into nearly everything on the property - pecan trees, the original house with the stones from another piece of family property, the Ranchero and the windmill. After all, the property has been in the family since it was purchased in 1887 by the Franks Family.

“Every family has a story...welcome to ours.”

History of the Old Pecan Inn

T.L. Franks was a Civil War Confederate Army veteran traveled from Houston in search of sandy land to purchase for farming, as well as living. He found 45 acres of a perfect piece of sandy land in Point Enterprise, Texas in 1887.

T.L. used the land to raise food and crops to sustain his family. Cotton and strawberries were raised and sold to help provide the family with money. He planted pecan trees in an orchard and 10 of the original pecan trees are now massive and still growing. They are now over 130 years old and still produce pecans!

T.L. Franks had a great-great-granddaughter named Pamela Sue Franks that was born in 1955 while her father, Dan Franks, was in seminary and her mother, Sue Wiggins Franks, was teaching school. Pam grew up in a military family as her parents served 30 years in the United States Air Force.

Pam visited Point Enterprise growing up during the summers, but never lived in Texas. However, she dreamed of someday living on the farm she loved to visit. Pam would quilt with her grandmother, Edna, in the Point Enterprise Clubhouse with the Quilting Club when she visited. As a young girl, she often dreamed of quilting in that same clubhouse when she lived on the farm.

Gary and Pam

Gary bought his 1971 Ford Ranchero brand new in November of 1971 for $3100 when he was a new airman in the United States Air Force stationed in Denver, Colorado.

One year later, Gary and Pam met in the Edwards Air Force Base Chapel. After Pam graduated in 1973, they had their first date in the red Ranchero. He was so nervous, but he prepared note cards to assist him in keeping the conversation going throughout the date. The first card read, “Hi, my name is Gary Smith.” The second card read, “How are you doing tonight?” These were followed by several more cards!

The note cards must have worked because they exchanged vows on June 21st, 1975 in the same chapel where they first met in 1972.

In 1981 they welcomed their daughter, Amity, into their lives and 8 years later in 1989, they welcomed their son, Daniel, into their family as well. Amity is married to Will and they have 2 boys of their own. Daniel is married to Chante’ and they have 2 daughters of their own.

Gary still owns his 1971 Ford Ranchero, 49 years later. Pam has stuck with Gary for 45 years now. She says she married him as she thought it would be “an adventure.” It turns out it’s been more of an adventure than she could have ever imagined!

Gary and Pam celebrate their 45th anniversary with a kiss next to the 1971 Ford Ranchero that took them on their first date in 1973.

Life at the Old Pecan Inn

The Franks Family almost sold the farm in 1998 when Pam’s grandmother, Edna, passed away and none of the brothers wanted the farm. Pam called her dad and told him, “Do NOT sell the farm! Gary and I will buy it someday when we finish all this moving around in the military.” Her dad agreed to buy the farm from his two brothers so he could sell it to Pam someday.

In 2019, after 31 years in the United States Air Force, Pam’s dream of owning and living on the Frank’s farm came to fruition as Pam and Gary bought the Franks farm along with the old farmhouse. In 2000, they built a new home on the property. They decided to restore the old farmhouse and turn it into a bed and breakfast which is now called the Old Pecan Inn. The original pecan orchard separates the two houses.

Pam quilts every Monday and Wednesday afternoon in the Point Enterprise Clubhouse, just as she dreamed of doing as a young girl. Some of the quilters are still alive who quilted with Pam’s grandmother, Edna.

Gary and Pam spell Point EnterpriZE with a “Z” because they say it is a prize to live there.

A family portrait to celebrate Gary and Pam’s 45th wedding anniversary with the windmill in the background overlooking their favorite view from the property.

“Following your dreams is nothing but hard work.”

— Brandon Stanton

Trash That Dress!

In December of 2018, Mike wanted to propose to Mysti, but not in an ordinary way - he wanted to do something REALLY special for her! At the time I was searching for one guy that was about to pop the question so I could document it for them through photographs. Mike reached out to me and we set the plan in motion.

Mike proposed!!

Fast forward a couple of months when the wedding plans are beginning to take shape…

Mysti contacted me asking if I would photograph their wedding. Of course I said I would love to! During 2019 the plan took off in many directions as they explored all the awesome venues - one was even an old caboose! At one point they decided on an elopement on a cruise trip, but Mike’s family would not be thrilled about missing their big day. As their plans changed so did their family’s plans. One of the daughter’s was going to join the navy after graduation and they definitely wanted her to be in the bridal party so they made plans for a backyard wedding in Mexia, Texas before she left for the military. But then the completely unexpected happen…COVID - 19!

Texas was suddenly under a shelter in place order and no one knew how long that would last. The days turned into weeks. The weeks turned into months. How much longer could this possibly go on?? Slowly the state began to reopen, but there were still restrictions in place. One such restriction was the amount of people in one gathering. That definitely put a damper on wedding plans!

One day Mysti messaged me and said she was so over all the planning and waiting on restrictions to lift that her and Mike decided to have a simple family wedding before her daughter left to the navy so instead of the typical wedding photograph she wanted to trash her dress. And that is exactly what we planned - complete with a cake fight (after sanitizing hands) and lots of toilet paper!

Spending this time with this family was so refreshing and carefree, especially during a time of quarantine. It was amazing to see the entire family having so much fun with each other creating crazy memories their cherish forever!

“Because when you stop and look around, this life is pretty amazing.”

— unknown

Trash THAT Dress!!