Weddings are...

beautiful,

special,

momentous,

life changing,

joyful,

exhausting :)

"There is nothing more nobler or more admirable than when two people see eye to eye keep house as man and wife, confounding their enemies and delighting their friends." - Homer

Alf did a fabulous job this weekend. He also looked pretty fine, if I must say so myself. (I helped him look fine by getting him a swanky silver tie - go me!)
The couple, they are great. Two people that love the Lord and serve Him to their fullest potential. It is nice to see that in this world that we live.
The cutest part were the FIVE flower girls. Oh my gosh! They really got into throwing the petals and danced their little hearts out at the reception.
The sexiest part was the kiss that the groom laid on the bride when Alf said 'kiss the bride.'
The sweetest part was the dance that the bride and her dad did together (had lessons.)
Well, that was are weekend. If anyone is interested, the photographers website is ericmccarty.com. He currently has a cool video he put together with all the pics of the rehearsal. He is a VERY talented man.

Now, my dad just got in town and look forward to spending time with him.
Peace out!

The Lord provides are every need

The Lord does supply are every need. My sweet, sweet, sweet son - Athan.
You see, Alf is doing a wedding this weekend. I get to dress up and enjoy the festivities this weekend with him (the benefits of being a pastor's wife, yeah!)
Well, there is a shirt that I have had in my closet since the winter that I have been excited to wear once it warmed up. Today was that warm day ...to get out the new shirt ...that I got in the winter ...on the clearance rack at Cato's ...to wear to the dinner rehearsal.
I go out in the family room to give the boys kisses good-bye and Athan says, 'thats a pretty shirt, mom'
Be still my heart!!
Isnt he sweet? God love him!
OK, God love Alf too. But gosh darn it, I cannot get a comment like that from him for the life of me. Sure, I tell Alf to tell me nice things. Sure, he knows he should. But does he?
That is why he gave me Athan.
Thank you Lord. Thank you Athan.
One more thing...
Alf and I do love each other :) Did I need to say that?

Dominican Republic

Here is Victor, our sponsored child with his mom standing in his home. We sat in his home and drank coke and looked at pictures of him growing up AND we saw quite a few pictures of Alf and I 'growing up.' He has kept all the pictures and letters that I have sent over the years.

Victor is very gifted with wood. Here he is standing with some friends in the workshop. He has been working with wood for close to five years. He makes beds, tables, chairs, etc. Stuff that gets taken to furniture stores. Really beautiful stuff!

Alf and I are very proud of him! He is 18 years old now and actually has a few more years of school. He has a very quiet and kind demeanor. His friends that hung out with us said that he is the quiet one. It was nice to see that he had a good group of friends. Alf and I have always been blessed with a good group of friends and are very happy to see that he has the same.

Victor loves and cares very much for his sister and mother......Please say a prayer for his mother and sister......I don't feel that their faith is very strong. Alf and I are actually impressed with Victor's stamina and staying with the compassion project for as long as he has in spite of his circumstances. We feel that God has given Victor a HOPE that is very special and will not be shaken. Dominican Republic is a beautiful country. Victor's town is called Paraiso, which means Paradise. It certainly lives up to its name....the ocean, mountains, tropical flowers. Above is a picture taken in Santa Domingo. We toured the historical area of the city and the architecture was awsome.


These two last pictures were taken at a beach called Boca chica. It was our day to just relax - sort of. This trip my friends was a blessing, I would not trade it for the world. It was fun and adventurous BUT also uneasy. The language barrier, making great effort to travel inexpensively, etc. made for some uneasiness. I certainly felt God's hand on it and hope that Victor has been blessed above and beyond any expectations. In case anyone is wondering, the boys did great with Uncle Ian and Aunt V (they are the best!) I just wish the kids would have missed me a little bit:)

My First Loose Tooth

I woke up this morning and I started my day

I stumbled out of bed and I made my way

Down to the kitchen where I poured some juice

That's when I noticed that my tooth was loose!

I can tell you're thinking right off the bat

I don't see what's so great about that?

It's something that happens nearly every single day

To kids from Canada to Tampa Bay

Well, you might be right; that might be true

But maybe someday this will happen to you...

Maybe one morning when you're putting on your shirt

You'll notice that your mouth is starting to hurt

You'll rush up to the mirror and open up wide

And notice there's a tooth that's loose inside!

Now the very first thing that you're gonna wanna do

Is reach up with your finger to see if it moves

You'll wiggle it left and you'll wiggle it right

'Til it wiggles all morning and it wiggles all night

You'll wiggle at school and you'll wiggle it at home

You'll wiggle it in crowds and you'll wiggle it alone

You'll wiggle it for friends and you'll wiggle it for foes

You'll wiggle it for everybody everywhere you go!

Until you wiggle it one little wiggle too far...

And it POPS right out wherever you are!

Well, now you've got a hole where you tooth used to be

And you're feeling pretty strange 'cause you can taste it bleed

And you're telling everybody I'M GONNA BE SICK!!

That's when you figure out a brand new trick

'Cause you can spread you lips and clamp you jaws

And still have room to stick your straw

To slurp your milk or gurgle up your coke

Impress your friends and embarrass your folks!

So now you're thinking "Hey, this is pretty fun!"

But the bery best part is yet to come

'Cause when you get back home and you're ready for bed

You can stick that tooth underneath your head

And if everything goes exactly right

The tooth fairy comes in the middle of the night

She sneaks in your room when you're sound asleep

And she leaves a little cash where your tooth used to be

So, you're still sitting there thinking "I know that scene. Everybody's done that whole routine."

Well, you might be right; I might be wrong

It might not be worth writing this song

Except for one little thing you see

It's the very first time it's happened to me...The End.

(written by: Roger Day - He's got great CD's for kids, so check him out at RogerDay.com)