Double Wedding Day

“BLESSED (HAPPY, fortunate, to be envied) is everyone who fears, reveres, and worships the Lord, who walks in His ways and lives according to His commandments. For you shall eat [the fruit] of the labor of your hands; happy (blessed, fortunate, enviable) shall you be, and it shall be well with you. Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine in the innermost parts of your house; your children shall be like olive plants round about your table. Behold, thus shall the man be blessed who reverently and worshipfully fears the Lord. May the Lord bless you out of Zion [His sanctuary], and may you see the prosperity of Jerusalem all the days of your life;”
(Psa 128:0-5 AMP)

“Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.”
(John 12:24 KJVS)

These two verses keep going over and over in my mind as we celebrate TWO MORE weddings!

*The sacrifices made to raise a family requires a lot of work. But Psalm 128 tells us we will enjoy the fruit of our labors. I am truly enjoying the fruit of our labors. And yes, what my Dad told me is so true: my children have given me so much more than I have ever given them.

*So many times my husband and I "died to our selves" to raise a family. But look at the fruit of it!

My girls are marrying two young men that will continue to love them and cherish them the way they have been loved and cherished at home. Both Gabriel and Michael love the Lord with all their hearts and will lead their homes the same way. Both young men have been truly hand-picked by God to be our sons and the husbands to our amazing daughters.

Last year when Jesse and Amber were married we felt the same way. Now, I can't even IMAGINE our family without Amber in it! Because God is sooooo faithful. The fruit that came from us living the way He instructed us to for real joy.

Today I am so happy and excited for Gabriel and Hannah, and Michael and Bethany! They are going to have an amazing day! What a privilege to be their Mom.

Christa and Brandon's Big Day!

When Christa set out for work on Friday, little did she know what was in store. As soon as she left, Kristen and I sprang into action, and began cooking for a surprise engagement party to be held later that evening. Decorations came flying out from hidden places, as we scurried about all day getting things ready. Paula, Brandon's mom, came over and helped, and together we all began creating a masquerade themed party that Christa would never forget.

Brandon took Christa to an ice rink, where he rented out the entire rink. When Christa wondered why no one was skating, he just said because it was June and it's not too busy, and she thought that was a reasonable explanation so still didn't have a clue! Then he played a special song he wrote for her that he had pre-setup at the rink. She was so surprised, because he had been writing the song for some time.

When Brandon got down on one knee in the middle of the rink, though, Christa knew this was not just an ordinary day.

Brandon called me in from the parking lot, where I was waiting with camera in hand. After snapping a few pictures, I went back to the party, and Christa & Brandon went to Mike's house to get ready for the party.

We had an amazing party, with awesome tributes to Christa and Brandon given throughout the evening. An incredible menu and theme (masquerade), with Brandon's and Christa's family all there...

What an amazing night to remember!

To see ALL the pictures, click here