Bill & Jill

Today's tribute goes to Bill & Jill Lemieux, my favorite married couple outside my family!

Bill is a major Green Bay fan, in case that wasn't clear! :)

(Mini-backstory:  Bill was divorced a few years ago, and Jill was a widow.  Then they met at work - both work at Tinker AFB - and fell in love.)

Let's face it... anyone who gets married in Vegas is awesome in my book! :)

I especially love that Jill chose 11-11-11 and that they got married at a little Vegas chapel and did a classy reception at the top of the Stratosphere!  I like her taste in everything (both at the reception and at their house).  And it was really surprising but nice that Bill thanked me in his speech at the reception (for calligraphying their invitations) - he said, "There are two people I want to say a special thanks to tonight..." The first was the guy who set them up... the second was me. lolol  Did not expect that. :)

They are so happy together and I love seeing that!

They danced here to "Forever Young," my favorite Rod Stewart song and a song that fits them... they both are adventurous and live with heart and passion!  They even wanted to do the SkyJump (from the top of the Stratosphere) after watching Andrew, which I thought was awesome!

Bill cracks me up - he's witty and sarcastic and has always had such a great sense of humor!  They rehearsed a dance for the wedding reception, and his Saturday Night Fever style stole the show! :) The purple shoes were intense.. and that shirt - sooo shiny! lol  Afterward, he autographed these pics as "Disco Billy" and gave them to all the women at the Super Bowl Party... love it!!

Jill holding Jace just a few days after he was born (at their Super Bowl party).

Bill & Jill have always been great friends and people I enjoy and admire, but I have never appreciated them more than last November!  It was only four days after their wedding when Mom and Dad were in this car wreck.  Bill and Jill were the first people to arrive at the Vegas Hospital where they mediflighted Mom, and they stayed there all day, helping out in so many ways.  They comforted me and Rach as we called from Oklahoma trying to figure out exactly how bad things were.  And they spent a good part of their 'honeymoon days' standing by Mom's hospital bed and bringing her Carmex and whatever else she needed.  They even offered for Bill to drive back with Dad and Jill to fly with Mom.  Not much I can say other than I love that!!  Very thankful!

Bill Lemieux, Rick Minnich, Dad, and Bill Wallace!

The four of them have been in a "Fantasy Football" league since I was born.  (Whoever wins hosts the Super Bowl party for all the families!)  We've gotten together for dinners, cookouts, road trips, Christmas parties, and have all sorts of fun memories with their families!  But what I love most is that these men (and their families) are there for each other in the hard times.  We've been to a lot of funerals with them through the years, and the stability of those friendships truly means a lot to me.