This painting was commissioned by Karla, my sister in law.  It is a painting done off of an old, falling apart wedding photo.  Its hard to really appreciate this painting without going into a little detail.  For starters, this couple has now been married for over 30 years!  Hows that for a running start?!  They've been through good times, and not so good times and still pulled through it all.  And in the meantime had 9 kids to boot!  You would think that nine kids and being together for over 30 years, going back and forth between the U.S. and Mexico, religion (and all that it applies)  with all the trials marridge brings on its own would be enough wouldn't you?  But nay, the plot thickens, Sara (the lovely bride above) has not only been married to her husband but also the first wife (known as a sister wife in polygamy) for over 30 years!  Now that demands pure grit.  This woman has been through more than the average person could even imagine in their wildest dreams, and still pulled through.  She has sucsesfully  raised (and is still in the process of raising the last 4) children to become amazing adults that have families and children of their own.  Call me crazy, but I think 9 kids would be enough to send someone up the wall.  Add in the polygamy factor and you've just been handed hell in a hand basket.  Not only has she survived it all, but is still walking a straight line!(so remind me, how does someone accomplish this without wine?)  Damn that woman and her endurance!  She is making the rest of us look bad.  This painting marks the beginning of a life with trials she had no idea even existed, and the life she lives now having gone through it all and come out on the other side with a great family and still married to the man she gave her vows to.  If anyone deserves congratulations for being a mother she is up at the top of that list (and I mean waaaay at the top).  Happy Mother's Day Sara!