Of Love and Bison: Elopements in Yellowstone

Of Love and Bison: Elopements in Yellowstone

Yellowstone is sacred ground in the truest sense.

For thousands of years, Indigenous peoples recognized the spiritual power of this land. The geysers. The thermal pools. The way the earth visibly breathes steam into the sky. This wasn’t scenery. This was living proof of forces larger than human understanding.

When you stand at the edge of a hot spring, you’re standing above a supervolcano. The earth is alive beneath you—molten, churning, creating and destroying and creating again. I felt this monumental power the first time I visited when I was 5 years old, and I’ve been honoring it ever since.

Finding the Sacred in Silence: A Christmas Eve Reflection

Finding the Sacred in Silence: A Christmas Eve Reflection

In our world that fills every quiet moment with sound—notifications and news, hurried conversations and endless distractions—this welcome into Christmas Eve is also a welcome into stillness. Christmas asks us to acknowledge the whispers of the Divine, to create space in our hearts for that still, small voice that speaks to us in silence. Tonight, let us welcome one another into celebration and contemplation, into the kind of deep listening where God’s voice can be heard.

My First Wedding

My First Wedding

One of the most common questions I get from the guests at a wedding is “How did you start doing this?” My guess is that no one probably grows up thinking they are going to be a wedding officiant, myself included. If I could have predicted that when I moved to Bozeman in my mid-twenties that I would be frolicking in the mountains while working a fun, creative job, I would have told myself I was crazy. And I would have been right.

How to Write Your Wedding Vows

How to Write Your Wedding Vows

One of the biggest parts of the wedding ceremony is “The Vows”. Let’s face it, it’s what everyone came to hear. You can have nice prayers or readings in your ceremony, but what everyone leans into, and what gives everyone a tear in their eye is the words you say to your partner. And this is the framework for how you will treat your partner for the rest of your life, so it better be good. No pressure!

Marriage Mission Statement

Marriage Mission Statement

A Marriage Mission Statement is a vision for what you want your marriage to be. Done well, it will help shape the next generation too, as the stronger YOUR relationship is the greater security and stability you will offer as an example to the youngsters in your life. A Marriage Mission Statement is an expression of your core values of life for your primary relationship. It will reflect your priorities and enshrine what’s important to you as a visual reminder to you as a couple, so that on those hard days it will serve as a tool to keep focused on what matters most.

Why Little Rituals Can Be the Foundation of a Great Marriage

Why Little Rituals Can Be the Foundation of a Great Marriage

It might seem simple, but keeping family traditions is fundamental to your marriage and family life. Whether you realize it or not, traditions strengthen marital bonds by providing a solid structure, a sense of continuity, and a feeling of belonging. They are crucial in providing support through life’s transitions by creating deeper commitment in times of joy and celebrations, and also offering comfort through crises, disappointments, and losses. Most of all, meaningful traditions contribute to the emotional health, self-esteem, and self-respect of both the individual and couple.