A Wedding Story

On the day after the royal wedding in London, we had our very own royal wedding.  

It was a beautiful day, clear and cool, not a cloud in the sky.  Early in the morning, I sat outside on my patio and prayed that God would bless this union and would be glorified on this day.

On Thursday night, they had their rehearsal and rehearsal dinner.  

Talking about their vows.  Arwen and David decided to write their own vows.  I must admit I was nervous about David's, but well....more of that later.

 Practicing the walk down the aisle.

 The wedding party in order as they would stand on wedding day.

 Mother of the groom with groom.  

And with my new granddaughter, Devin.

The groom with his soon to be daughter.

As they call themselves......the posse

The bride and her daughter, do they look alike or what?

The bride with the posse

Rehearsal Dinner.  David and Arwen with David's dad and step mom.  His dad had just been released from rehab for a hip replacement that afternoon, so we were impressed he made it to the dinner.  He was the host and did a great job.

The same group with grandma added in....

David and Arwen with Russell and me and Russell's mom.  Matt was across the table but it was just too hard to get to that side to get in the picture.

Arwen with her matron of honor and best friend.

Some of the wedding party

More of the wedding party

That was a sweet night.  But the big event was even sweeter.

On the morning of the wedding, I took down a small box from my closet.  It held two little bonnets made from handkerchiefs and two cards.  Both of my two older sons got one of these at their births.  Click and read the little card and you'll understand how special this is on your wedding day.  I gave it to Arwen before the wedding.

The bride before the wedding with daughter and mother

 The groom's mama and two of his grandmas.  Grandma Duncan wasn't able to be there and we missed her so.

Our two youngest

This was a sweet moment.  David walked over and kissed me on the cheek.

And the wedding was on!  The wedding party started down the aisle.

My BIL was taking pictures with my camera and he wasn't able to get all of the wedding party, but this is the sweet little flower girl

And here comes the bride!

 The preacher asked David to start with his vows and he reached into his pocket and pulled out his notes.  David's vows were some of the sweetest I've ever heard!  I was so very proud of him.  Arwen's were beautiful too, they both just glowed with love!

The kiss

That happy walk back down the aisle as Mr. & Mrs.

 Proud parents

Bride and groom with their mothers

Tommy, Claudia and Charley

Russell with his mother

 Bride and groom with the other set of parents

Bride and groom holding a picture of Ashley and Adam.....we missed having them and David's brother Paul at the wedding

 The bride and groom

The reception

The wedding party

The cake was absolutely beautiful and their topper was so much fun

The groom's cookie cake

Missy and Kim.........Kim opened her home for the reception and we thank her so very much!

The garter

The bouquet throw

Nana and Charley having a bite to eat.......I promise that's not his wine.

Sister Cathy and Missy

Sister Debbie and her son Joshua

Matt, Tommy and my brother Michael.  We also missed my brother Steve and family who weren't able to make the wedding

My brother Tommy and bil Dick and some of the guys

Pappy and Charley

The three sisters

David with Aunt Lois and Uncle Tommy

The bride and groom got comfortable

After the wedding, I took Grandma Duncan her corsage and told her all about the wedding.

And so ended a beautiful day.  The weather was gorgeous, the bride and groom were happy and gorgeous and I don't think the royals did it any better!

I pray that David and Arwen will have a long and happy marriage and always keep Christ in the center.

Easter weekend

I didn't mean to upload the following two little movies of Charley, but I can't seem to delete them and I don't know if they'll play or not!

What a great after tax vacation we had this year.  We were privileged to go down a few days early to our son and daughter in law's home and kept Charley Thursday and Friday while they worked.  We had a wonderful time, though maybe not restful!  No matter, we loved every hug, kiss, smile and laugh from our youngest grandchild.

Charley is 10 months old and is just delightful.  He almost always has a smile on his face and lately it turns to a grin for the camera!  Here he is saying hello Pappy and Nana!  Or maybe, hello Mikey!  

Charley's showing us how he can pull up and stand.  We are convinced he'll be walking before his birthday.

Pappy had not seen Charley since Christmas due to tax season so he was just especially excited to see his big boy.

Thursday and Friday Tommy and Claudia had to work, so Tommy brought Charley to us at the RV park and we kept him there for a while, then went out and about.  Below, I'm getting my morning hug!

Charley was ready to go on a motorhome trip.  

There are lots of things to turn on the the motorhome and Charley tried them all.

So much to see.....even myself!

We went for walks in the park.

You don't see many babies in an RV park, so Charley got lots of attention from our fellow campers.

Nana ended up carrying one tired little dog while Charley fell sound asleep.  We did try to lay his head back, but he wasn't having any of that!  

Hey, Nana.....are you sure you don't need this turned on?

Obviously, the movies moved, quite on their own I'm sure, so here they are or aren't again!

We rocked.

We shopped! 

We played with the dogs.

But there's just nothing like when mama comes home from work!  Charley was so happy to see his mama.  Aren't they just beautiful??

Friday, Charley got there while Nana was still in her pjs...but he was glad to give her a kiss.

Come on, Pappy, let's go outside!

There's that sweet grin we love

Back at Charley's house, Pappy gave a lesson on putting the balls in the right holes.

We got a bath

I'm soooooo big and happy!!!

Reaching for a lift

Have I ever mentioned what a great guy my husband is?????  Well, he's also the world's greatest Pappy! He's saying let me out Charley!!!

Charley is saying.....No, you let me in, they try to keep me out of there!

Just can't resist that water bowl

We celebrated Christ's resurrection by going to church.....our beautiful children.

Pappy and Nana with Charley

Pappy plays with Charley in the car.

Daddy and Charley even wished the Flat Princess a fond goodbye!

We had a wonderful time visiting the kids for Easter.  We'll see them again this weekend as we celebrate another son's wedding....

Speaking of which, I'd better get busy getting ready for that!

Hope you all had a wonderful Easter.

He is risen!  Let us live in that Resurrection power.

I should be....

..... packing the motorhome for our trip!  We leave tomorrow morning and I haven't put one piece of clothing or anything else for that matter in the motorhome.  I did however, put a ham and some twice baked potatoes in the fridge for Easter Sunday.  :)

I'm excited that tax season is over!!  My husband got home at 6:22 pm last night.

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Two of my sweet girls came a few weekends ago for a very short visit.  Actually, they were here for a bridal shower and I got to keep the children along with my friend Carol.

Grady and Anna Cross are sweet cousins.  Oh, they never even missed their mamas!  :)  They watched a little movie.

Played with their Donald Easter bunnies.  Those Donalds are so cute!  My MIL got one for our grandson and it was so neat that I got these two one.

Grady hula hooped and Miss Carol helped and Anna Cross looked on giving directions!

AC and Grady had a snack, then it was on to rearranging the house!  Grady looks like he's saying this basket needs to go!

We had lots more fun before their mommy's came and the visit wasn't long enough at all!  But Anna Cross got sick toward the end of her stay and ended up having to go to the doctor when she got home!

It was so much fun seeing these girls with their children.  Thanks for letting us keep them i.e. trusting us with them!  :)

Hope to see you all again soon.

When things never seem to end.....

Like Tax Season!   This year the season doesn't end until Monday, and Monday can't come fast enough for me.  Don't misunderstand, I am so grateful  that in the economy we live in that God has provided for us!  But toward the end, I am really lonely for my husband.

I miss these strong arms to hold me tight!  

When Monday comes and goes, we will take a little trip to get away and this year we are going someplace very special!  

To see our newest grandson!  AND to be there for his first Easter!

Look how he's grinning thinking of Pappy and Nana coming.  We will even get the privilege of taking care of him two days while Mommy and Daddy work!  

And yes, we're excited to see them too!  :)  

Russell will also start coming home at normal times instead of 9 or 10 o'clock p.m.  

And I'll get to see and hear him do this....

Laugh at something silly I've just said!  I love his laugh, it's unique and if you're in a crowd and hear him laugh, you immediately know where he is!  

I know I say this a lot, but I also know I can't say it enough.....I'm so grateful God gave me this husband!!!

Oh, how He loves you and me......

It has been said to me that I'm very transparent.  Truthfully, I don't mind sharing anything in my life that may help someone who is either going through something that I've been through or who is contemplating some sin I've committed and need warning if it will lift them up and help them, or just let them know they aren't alone in the battle.  Some of the things I've done in my life have been, well, let's just call them really bad decisions for now. 

So, let me say that for the past few months, I've been in a bad place.  Almost despair. Sad, hurt, angry and on and on.  Not because of my decisions, but because of life circumstances that we all face in this fallen world.

But in everything, let me say this, God is good.  He has sent His Word and people into my path to encourage me.  You know who you are and I love you all!

First, during this time, I joined the Blogging the Bible in 90 days team and what a comfort to daily take time and just read His Word.  The right thing at the right time!  

After the Lord, I need to thank my husband.....that rock God gifted me with 15 years ago.   He is a strong, good and Godly man who reminds me that God is in control ......he's also famous for the words......get over it.  :)  During this time, he has also been hurt and disappointed by friends he respects in the Lord.  He is able to walk through these things with the confidence of 1 Corinthians 4:5.

Then my thanks to the people who are closest to me and again, you know who you are!  I thank God every day for you all.  I can call you and you will listen and let me vent and pour out my heart's troubles!

And at a few of my lowest moments things like these......

In the mail.....

Click to read

This is the front of a card I received from a long, long time friend.  Another evidence of how God works.  I got home one day and got the mail from the mailbox.  I thought I saw my friend's return address on a card, but had to run back out and just threw the mail in the car.  On my return home, I couldn't find that card and assumed that I just misread another address on another card.  Then on a particularly down and blue day, I got out of my car and looked down and there in the pocket of the door was a card.  I almost didn't pick it up.....true story.....but I did and there was the card!  I don't want to write what she wrote to me .......but just let me say that I knew it was appointed for me to find it just at that time!


This morning, after asking a friend to pray for me, I got an email from her....I am going to put parts of it here because it will probably help most of you too.

She starts with..

I have been praying you'd have the peace that passes understanding.  THINK THINK THINK, dear sis, on whatsoever things are TRUE (I'm sure the Lord put that first because we are such creatures of doubt, worry and speculation) , HONEST, JUST, PURE, LOVELY of GOOD REPORT, if there be any VIRTUE, if there be any PRAISE, think on these (Phil 4:4-8).


How very comforting these words are.  I don't tend to think on those first....do you?

Another thing she had....

Praise His name, you can calm down, because HE IS YOUR SUFFICIENCY 2 Cor. 3:5, YOUR PEACE Romans 15:33, John 14:27.....YOUR HIDING PLACE Psalm 32:7 YOUR REFUGE, YOUR STRENGTH, YOUR VERY PRESENT HELP IN TROUBLE Psalm 46:1.....


The sweet thing about this friend is that she didn't say now stop your crying!  She said instead .....let the tears flow. Cast the care on God HE CARES SO MUCH FOR YOU  1 Peter 5:7  


Bathe in that awesome truth.  Let it wash over your soul until all the things of this earth grow strangely dim in the light of his glory and grace.  


I am so thankful for my friends.

And I cannot leave out my sweet blog friends all over the world who are such prayer warriors and who bind together to pray for one another.

And so I remember this......OH, HOW HE LOVES YOU AND ME!