What A Wetting Day!!!

My sweet niece, Brittany, got married this past weekend at a beautiful outdoor venue called Deerpond Plantation in Charlotte, NC.  To say that when I got down there on Friday that it was raining was an enormous understatement.  It rained 5 1/2 inches on Friday morning alone!!!  I directed and decorated for her wedding.  She had asked me months ago if I would make her table centerpieces for the reception like I did for my own daughter Erica's wedding.  I love that kind of thing so I happily agreed.  Brittany is a very funny girl.  She likes very few traditional wedding things so I had to do some quick thinking and planning to please her and Aaron.  I took a ton of pictures and I have posted quite a few.  Take a look....

This was a slack time of the rain on Friday morning....

I made a mad dash across the patio section around the pond.  Every step caused a wave of muddy water to gush over my shoes.  I ended up going barefoot the whole day!

This was the inside of the reception tent.  It was dark and so damp.  You can't tell but the water was over my feet where I was standing.  I was almost in tears from the stress!!  I was so glad I was by myself!

This was a few hours later.  I had dried my tears and got to work.  I was starting to make a little headway.

Yeah!!!  the sun finally came out on Saturday morning!!  Little did I know this was the calm before the storm...literally.

It rained on Saturday from about noon until 4:56 p.m.  the wedding was slated to start at 5:00...we were only 20 minutes behind schedule.  Here come all the handsome guys looking snappy in pink.

Here is my sweet daddy giving his last girl away.

The groom kissing his lovely bride.  They each wrote their own vows and they were so tender and sweet.  then they each placed sealed letters in a mahogany chest that said what they loved, admired  and wished for each other and for their life together.  They vowed to open this on their 50th wedding anniversary and to never throw the key away..nor each other.  One of the most precious things I have ever seen.

They came down the aisle to their guests blowing bubbles and to the song "Somewhere Over The Rainbow".  I even caught a bubble in the center of the frame!!

Piper was the cutest "Flower Fairy" I have ever seen.  She did such a good job too!!!  Her mommy was so proud.

Even fairies need to sit down and rest their wings.

My sweet crew...  I love these guys to pieces.  Megan's face cracks me up!  Behind them was a candy bar for the guests to make a bag of candy to take with them.  All pink of course!  Those are some of their engagement pictures hanging from the pink and coral pom-poms I made.

The newlyweds first dance.  Brittany was such a happy bride!

For the father/daughter dance Brittany wrote a song for my daddy and went to a studio to record it herself.  Now first of all...she is not the greatest singer.  But it was hands down the most precious thing I have heard or seen.  The name of the song was "Isn't She Lucky".  My mom and dad raised Brittany and the song was all about her memories of my parents and growing up with them.  The words made everyone just weep!  My daddy cried so hard!  It is truly a moment I will never forget. 

I am so privileged to have such loving young women in my life.  I have to say that God has blessed me with some wonderful daughters and nieces.

Out of Sorts

I have been so out of sorts lately.  The school where i work had a huge fire and our cafeteria kitchen was a total loss.  The damage was so bad that the insurance company ruled it condemned.  So, we have been feeding children a makeshift breakfast and lunch in the gym.  We have set up tables for them to eat and for them to be served off.  I start my day at 6:30 a.m. at my school.  I prepare breakfast, serve it, key each student in, take in money, ready the morning deposit and set up for lunch service.  then I head over to another school 6 miles away to help my coworkers prepare lunch.  We load it in a maintenance van and truck it back to our school.  Serve, clean up and then one of us heads back to wash what we have used and I then go to the bank to make the deposits.  Very hectic day.  Many more like them to come.  It is going to take months for all this to be fixed.

The other thing on my plate is my niece's wedding.  It is this Saturday and I am getting nervous.  The wedding is 45 minutes away and I am taking a literal car load of centerpieces, flowers, candles and all the stuff it takes to put on a pretty wedding and a dinner reception.  It is really going to be pretty.  Her colors are bright pink and orange.  I have incorporated some greens and ivory into many of the arrangements.  When I get all the tables set up I will post some pictures.  Right now Brittany wants to keep everything a surprise for the most part.  She is getting nervous too.  I think most brides get that way.  It is such an exciting time.  I went to the sweetest wedding this past weekend.  This bride, Jennifer, was so excited.  She looked like a dream.  There is just something about a sweet, young bride.  So many expectations.  Her joy just bubbles over.  I remember when Erica got married and how happy she was.  She just glowed.  I am sure Brittany will be just as happy and glowy too!  I haven't seen one yet that didn't.  When this wedding is over I hope to get my house back in order and to get all the fall events i love on the table and planned.  Thanksgiving is coming and I am hosting a couple of Bible study dinners, class parties and my small ladies group is coming over too.  Christmas will be here before we know it!!!  Maybe by then I will be less frazzled and not so out of sorts!

Beauty From The Ashes....

Be still and know that I am God.  I will be exalted among the nations;  I will be exalted in the earth.

Psalm 46:10  ESV

In God's Heart I Am...?

I saw this today and just loved it! 



This made my whole week better!!!

Fresh Start....

The first week of school is over and things are getting in a familiar rhythm.  Our Ladies Bible Study started back up last night and I am so glad to be back in that routine.  I have been a tad lazy on that circuit.  I closed my pool today.  This was a little sad for me and Megan.  We both love summertime and the pool but once school starts back it doesn't get as much use.  Fall is around the corner and that means a new season.  A fresh start.  Hot days turn to warm days.  Nights get a little brisk.  The air loses that summer swelter.  Football starts back.  Leaves turn.  Hunting season kicks in full gear.  The summer is slowly dying.  Autumn signifies the coming of winter.  The dormant time.  Death.  But, not really.  It is a fresh start of all that will be new.  Cycles of life are like this.  As I have watched Piper just take off walking like an old hand this week I realize that she is moving on to a new stage.  A fresh start.  I see new students come to school and think of the ones that have moved on to the middle school.  Some of them I really miss.  The new ones are really just babies.  New ones to love.  So little, so sweet.  School is new to them.  This routine.  This fresh start.  My own life is alot like this at the stage I am in right now.  I have become involved in a monthly Bible Study group geared towards step families and divorced people.  I was so reluctant at first but was nervous for nothing.  It was so wonderful.  If that could be the word??  Families that are broken but being put together in a new shape.  Different, but maybe better.  A fresh start.  What kind of new thing is in your lives?  What is God showing you right now?  What is the fresh start He has for me?  You?  We get one each day you know.  I, for one, am so glad.