13 Days

I am really not sure how we got from this ~

to the wedding is in 13 days. 

This has been a fun, fast, blessed year ~ getting ready for our daughters wedding. 

Greg set a budget ~ we just have food for the reception left to buy...and we are under budget.  This would not have been possible without all our talented friends and family who have done so much to help.  A sweet lady at church altered the bridesmaids dresses, another sweet friend is doing lots of behind the scenes help, we've got lots of volunteers for help on the weekend and especially the day of the wedding.

Amy and Austin have been tremendously blessed with 4 wedding showers.  They have loads of new goodies to start their married life with.  Here are some shower pictures ~

Elvis gnome is adorable ~ thank you Hobby Lobby & Denise & Cheyenne ~ he will be at the wedding!

Comforter set from Granny

Austins cousin volunteered to do Amys hair ~ she worked herself into a bridal hair fixin' job!

thanks Jaylee ~ Amy's hair was awesome!

Greg bought these shower gifts ~ tools for the groom!

Amy is wearing my pearls at the wedding ~ Tammy took a set of pearl buttons and made Amy a pair of earrings.  The buttons were some from my great aunt.

these 4 together made me cry!  Amy's teenage year, church friends from our home in Brandon.

l-r Amy, Morgan, Lee Catherine, Emmalyn

baking cross stitch I made Amy

Sweet friends from Brandon

beautiful cake by Shelby

Thankful for ~

the blessings we receive
fun times with the bride and groom
anticipation of the "big day"

I know the next 13 days are going to fly by.  And we still have stuff to do! 

Wedding Jitters

Is the mom of the bride supposed to having pre wedding jitters?  I have them.  I wake up suddenly in the middle of the night with my mind racing and my nerves on edge thinking of something yet to do.  Some important but mostly just little things.  I am very thankful to have some big projects that HAD to get done accomplished.  And honestly, some of the little stuff can get done or not get done.

Last week one of those moments was realizing we didn't have the bubbles for the send off for Amy and Austin.  Its just a detail but one she wanted.  I had a little time so I went to Hobby Lobby ~ found what we wanted and then had a glorious time walking around for about an hour, just looking.  I found a 24 pack of bubbles for 3.99 in the party section ~ the little bottles are brightly colored but not real wedding-y looking.  Then I found the wedding bubbles 24 pack for 9.99 ~ paying 6.99 more per box for a slender tube with a heart lid was not worth it to us.  So we have the brightly colored bottles. 

I am very thankful for help ~ a dear lady at church is altering the bridesmaids dresses, loads of offers for wedding day and the weeks leading up to it, clean up offers, etc.  This is a huge blessing!  Greg has kept the Amazon deliveries coming ~ he is ordering the candy for the candy favor bar.  There are just 2 I have to look for at Walmart in the big holiday bags. 

I am thankful that Amy is not a bridezilla!  We have all the important stuff taken care of or in the works.    She isn't stressing (to much).  She is going to take off the week before the wedding and bake ~ because every bride needs to bake her own wedding cake (a multi layer chocoloate chip cookie cake) and cupcakes.  Bakers don't trust others to do this for them!  I will just be ready for a messy kitchen and pantry while the baker is at work.  I am sure the dishwasher will get a workout that week!  Since our chickens are laying eggs of all different sizes, we are going to buy uniform size eggs at the grocery store for the baking.  And she has to decide on what flavors to bake ~ my absolute favorite is her spice cupcake, closely followed by lemon, and then chocolate. 

We are working on their little house and Austin moves tomorrow to GA.  Amy and I will be down there today, arranging and putting stuff up.  They have been blessed with tons of wonderful gifts for their home.  We have unpacked, arranged, and moved around multiple boxes ~ my recycle bins were overflowing with cardboard this week. 

Thankful for ~
offers of help especially from folks who will actually follow through
a not too picky bride
free shipping with Amazon
a delivery driver with a sense of humor
decisions
sleep

Prayer request ~
for Me and Tammy (Austins mom) ~ lots of changes in our lives!
for Amy & Austin ~ lots of changes in their lives!!!!!

Weekly Chores for Life

While working on a Homemaking Binder for Amy for a shower gift ~ I came across this great chore list~  what great reminders as we go about our daily tasks, week after week. 

Monday ~ Wash Day

Lord help me was wash away all my selfishness and vanity, so that I may serve you for the week ahead.

Tuesday ~ ironing Day

Dear Lord, help me to wash out the wrinkles of prejudice that I have collected through the years so that I might see beauty in others.

Wednesday ~ Mending Day

O God, help me mend my ways so I will not set a bad example for others.

Thursday ~ Cleaning Day

Lord Jesus, help me to dust out the many faults I  have been hiding in the secret corners of my heart.

Friday ~ Shopping Day

O, God, give me the grace to shop wisely so that I may bless my family with contentment and happiness and all others in need of love.

Saturday ~ Cooking Day

Help me, my Savior, to brew a big kettle of brotherly love and serve it with clean, sweet bread of human kindness.

As I was typing this, I noticed there wasn't a Sunday.  Since Sunday is historically and typically a day of rest from the work of the week, its "chore" should be to take your family and yourself to church to worship the Lord. 

Thankful for ~

reminders of the cleaning we have to do in our lives

the sanctuary of our homes from everyday trials in the world

the fact we are all a "work in progress", no one "has arrived"

that kindness, selflessness, contentment, love and happiness are worthy goals

Women

I just found this on Pinterest and love it!  How appropriate for today's world ~ too many women are trying to be rough and tough and compete with men.  The Lord made us differently and this life is not a competition.  We shouldn't have our own agendas ~ especially is they don't line up with the word of God.  His Word hasn't changed ~ its not politically correct ~ it is pure and holy and perfect for our lives, no matter what our circumstances.





Living in the world today ~ we have to fight for what is good, virtuous, tender, kind and pure.  And it is a battle, everyday! 

Thankful for ~

the Lords truth
His encouraging words to us in the Bible
His unfailing faithfulness and love for His children
His guidelines for us, as women, throughout the scriptures

Anniversary

Yesterday was our 12th Anniversary !!!!!!  In that 12 years we have experienced unspeakable joy, growing in our Faith in the Lord, heartaches over our children and family members, loads of fun and laughter, and many times of quiet reflection and prayer. 

In 12 years we had 6 of our 7 children graduate from highschool, 3 graduate from college, Greg got his Masters in Engineering, I retired after homeschooling 18 years, we moved from Mississippi to GA, downsized our house, upsized our land, started keeping chickens, had 5 cats adopt us, our dogs had 3 litters of puppies, we traveled a lot both the kids and just the 2 of us, served on mission teams in New York, Oklahoma and Honduras (7 trips to Honduras...I love it), had 3 of our children get married ~ the 4th wedding is in 7 weeks. 

The Lord has grown us in our faith and our love for each other and for Him.  We marvel at the truths He has taught us at the same time.  He has taken us to 3 different church families.  Two here in GA...unfortunately the first one was not theologically sound in their doctrine and teaching. 

We are thankful for our years together and pray we are blessed with many more!

Eclipse

It was lots of fun watching the moon cover the sun (with my proper eye proctection!).  But it wasn't what I expected....it did not get dark here - just less light.  Taking pictures with my good camera was a bust ~ the sun shines brightly in all my pictures in spite of the moon covering the surface (about 98% coverage at my house).  However ~ the time was well spent ~ and it does show the magnificent creation of the sun and moon, and the Lords  creativity.  No debates on any issue that isn't important, just the Glory of God on display for everyone to see. 

With vertigo, I can't look up for long periods of time - so I got a chair. Before coverage.

About half coverage.

Family

Today was Aiden's 3rd birthday ~ we had loads of fun partying with him, lots of family and friends!  We love our grandbuddies!