Wedding Memories

Wow! Not sure exactly where to start on this post, because it was such a full day. Actually, it was a full two weeks! Ashlee came home a couple weeks before the wedding (from Georgia), and we rushed around for getting all the final prep done and getting my place ready for company (lots of company!). I believe we had (at one point) 15 or 16 people residing at my house.

In that two weeks, we:

• Had a wedding shower
• Met with all sorts of people at the church we rented
• Sent out a bajillion emails to the wonderful folks from church and family members that were helping with the details
• Made a power point slide show for the reception (no small feat!)
• Made pew decorations, decorative baskets, etc.
• Tied one million one hundred and fifty little tiny red bows
• Cleaned this, cleaned that, hung curtains, etc.

Those are just a few activities that went on, but you get the point. If you've ever had a daughter that got married, you'll know exactly the type of hustle and bustle that I'm speaking of.

Our Pastor officiated the ceremony, and I will be forever grateful. He and his family have been the chiefest of friends throughout Ashlee's teenage years. Once the official pictures come in, perhaps I'll be able to share a shot or two of them.

As far as ceremonies go, everything went as smoothly as a wedding can go. No flower girl nervous breakdowns. No bridezilla. No tripping down stairs. No cold feet. No ring bearer screaming. No mother-in-law hatin' of the groom. Love you, Dan'l!!!! :))

There was one little part in the ceremony where the flower girls forgot to escort the ring bearer out of the chapel, but if you didn't know it was supposed to happen, you wouldn't know anything was amiss.

There were also only four honor guard cadets, because one cadet forgot a certain part of his uniform (and there will be no discragin' the Air Force uniform!). But that turned out to be for the better, since there was truly only room for four at the front of the chapel. As it was, I nearly got beheaded by a sword as I was sitting in the front row.

Not really.

But I like to be dramatic like that.

The amazing part of the day was that there was peace. The only way you could understand that statement is if you knew our extended families. My parents are divorced and both were present. Daniel's parents are divorced and both were present. Many other family dynamics were a factor, but we had been praying that peace would be imparted.

Some things are just too big for us to handle in our human frailty. And ensuring that everyone behaved themselves was simply too big of a task. So - we prayed. For weeks and months we prayed. And God answered us in a very mighty, gracious way. Yes, there were a few verbal jabs here and there. There were some sour attitudes. Some close relatives of the groom's did not attend. But overall, it came down to it being Ashlee and Daniel's day. The Lord was glorified through them and their gracious attitudes, and peace hovered over us like a soft, puffy, beautiful cloud on a warm, spring day.

Aaaahhhhh!! Refreshing!!!

As you can imagine, giving a daughter away and accepting a new family member isn't exactly easy. I can't say I had full assurance and peace about that until a few days before the wedding. What can I say, other than God is good! I'm not sure it was anything anyone said or did. I believe it was simply a God-given peace that surpassed all understanding.

Most of all, I am hoping and praying that the conduct of my immediate family was and will continue to be a testimony of God's grace to those who are struggling. Because if He can do amazing things within my family ... He can do them within yours.

Blessings and Peace to all of my wonderful, loyal readers!

~Brenda

Mr. and Mrs. W.

There's so much I could say about Ashlee and Daniel's wedding day. And I will, soon. But for now, I think I just want to let the pictures speak for themselves. These are the pics that I took as a photographer. The pics I'll post later are pics that were just for fun and are not as staged. I love their expressions in the pictures of just the two of them. But again .... I'll let the pics speak for themselves.

Enjoy!!

Wedding Whirlwind

Two days until the wedding. A whirlwind is exactly what my house feels like right now. People coming, people going. Beautiful singing voices, practicing for the big day. Like this cutie pie. She's our pianist and vocalist (at times, simultaneously!). She has a beautiful voice. The only thing I don't like about it is the fact that it made me tear up. And if I tear up in my own home, I'm a little concerned about what might happen on the big wedding day. ;) So dear little pianist ... please go easy on me. I'm fragile.

More of the happy couple and activities:

And a teaser of what's to come on Saturday!! These are bubbles that all the guests will shower the newlyweds with on their send off. Cute, huh?

More to come!!!!

~Brenda

Chester the Grasshopper

All blog posts about the upcoming wedding are on hold. There are obviously uber disgusting hoppin' things going on around here, and I knew you would all like to get in on the action.

Last Sunday evening, Ashlee informed me that Peter had found a grasshopper in the deli chicken that we wolfed down for lunch that day. Peter was fitting right into the family when he warmed up a piece for himself for dinner. As he neared the end of his snarfing, Jessie looked over to notice he was trying to keep the chicken from coming ... back ... up.

Turns out there was an itty bitty full grown grasshopper nestled comfortably in the bone of the chicken wing.

When Ashlee told me, I thought, Oh sure ... a grasshopper.

I mean, how did they KNOW that it was a grasshopper? Perhaps it was just a little something that resembled a grasshopper. Perhaps they were all being teenagers, aka overdramatic. I mean, a grasshopper?? In the chicken? Like, in it? IN the chicken?

I didn't really want to take a look see. But my curiosity got the best of me. And here's what I found. What do you think? Grasshopper? Or no grasshopper?

(Click to enlarge)

The reason we call him Chester:

There are very few things that will grab my undivided attention at this point in the wedding prep. But that, my Lovely Lurkers, succeeded in grabbing it like a shark grabs its victim from the murky waters. I was captivated ... sick to my stomach ... completely grossed out ... sorry for Peter ... upset with the deli ... but after that ... I couldn't help but laugh. I am at least fortunate enough to not have even touched the batch of chicken, since it was not gluten free (hence the reason I could laugh). But my stomach was turning and heaving for Peter (Poor Peter!!!)   ... and Jessie, who needless to say, did not finish her leftover chicken that evening. For everyone that ate it at lunch, it was just too late. Who knows, maybe they unwittingly ate this grasshopper's babies without even knowing. Now isn't that a comforting thought?

Chester sat in my refrigerator (along with the two other untouched pieces) for a day and a half before I decided to take it in to the Deli to let them know of their mishap, if that's what you want to call it. I admit, I immediately saw dollar signs when I saw the grasshopper. Memories of cut off fingers in Wendy's chili flooded my mind. Granted, that finger was fake. But I knew my grasshopper was real ... once alive, and hopping with joy in the weeds wherever this young chicken called home.

I never really considered throwing enough of a fit to actually come home with the wedding paid for anything substantial. But I at least wanted the Deli to know of their less than accomodating customer service. And I secretly hopped hoped that they would return my money, and perhaps everything on the ticket that day, which only consisted of the sides and a dessert.

Ok! And maybe a few groceries to boot. I admit it.

I walked away with $6.28 for the chicken. And just before I left the manager said, "You know, I think I should give you a ten dollar gift certificate, just because I feel so bad."

How generous of you.

Aloud, I said, "Oh, thank you very much. I appreciate it."

I wonder if this means I'll be making the fried chicken next Sunday.

~Brenda

Snail Mail, Snot, And The Springs

Snail Mail

In the last couple of weeks, I've gotten back to the old art of letter writing. And sending them snail mail. You know, the kind where you use a pen, jot a few lines down, place it in an envelope, stick a stamp on it, and walk it out to the mail.

Sounds like a pain, huh?

Well, yes. It kind of is. It's harder than whipping up an email and hitting the send button. But it's so much more rewarding. Not just for the recipient, but for the sender. To me, there's nothing better than getting a handwritten note in my mailbox. Even if it's a one-liner. It means someone took the time to sit down and think about me. I hope that's the message I'm conveying when I send my little notes and letters. I just want folks to know I'm thinking of them, praying for them, or to let them know what it is that I appreciate about them.

So try your hand (pun intended!) at old fashioned letter writing like the old Pioneer women on the Prairie used to do! You (and those you send them to) will be glad you did!

Snot

And lots of it, folks! My face has been a faucet dripping with it since Wednesday. Thanks to a friend's suggestion, I'm getting better.

What did she suggest?
She suggested snorting salt up my snout! How silly is that?! Surprisingly, it was a successful suggestion that led to less sniffing, sneezing, and stuffy sinuses! What a sweetie!

Sorry - alliteration bug bit me!

The Springs

If you live in Colorado, you'd know what I meant by the Springs. If not, then I'll tell you I mean Colorado Springs. You know, where the famous Focus on the Family headquarters are ... and the Air Force Academy (that my beloved, future son-in-law graduated from) is? Yeah, that one! That's where I took a little trip to today to retrieve my darling daughters and Peter from (see side bar pics). The best man in the wedding is moving there, so they figured they would help him out by traveling there, unloading the truck, then making the hop to home. Point is -  Ashlee is finally home with us once again! April 24th is two weeks away, and much preparation is needed to get this wedding on the up and up. However, we're together now, and that makes everything so much better. Working together means progress. Working 2,000 miles apart means chaos. Ha! So welcome home, Ashlee! Now let's get to work!

More to come on the wedding plans, and my little life in general. In the meantime, dig out your handy dandy stationery, and jot a note to someone you love. It's hard to find the time! As a mother of the bride, I know this. But sometimes the rewards far outweigh the sacrifice of time.

Until next time,

~Brenda

Psalm 25:11 - A word fitly spoken (or written!) is like apples of gold in pictures of silver. (parenthetical comment mine)

Thoughts Of A Mother-In-Law To Be

Ahem!! Remember this couple? Yeah, the ones getting married in 18 days? Yeah, them. Ashlee will be home on Saturday!!! Sister Jessie is out in Georgia as I "speak" having a week long party with Daniel, Ashlee, and Peter before driving back with Ashlee, Peter, and Daniel's best man, Eric.

Clear as mud? Good!

It's been challenging to plan a wedding so far apart, but I think we've done fairly well. Having said that, the you know what might hit the fan when Ashlee gets here and it dawns on us what we've forgotten. However, if that happens, I'm sure I will be cool, calm, and collected. Because Prairie Girls .... they're always dignified like that, mmmhmmm.

All dresses are bought (but not all have not come to the house yet - including mine), flowers are ordered, cake is ordered, church is reserved, reception is planned. Now if we can get all the decorations made and in order, ready to take to the chapel, I think we'll be doing good.

At least I'd like to think so.

I woke up Monday in a panic that was bigger than Texas, and I determined that it was absolutely necessary for me to put an end to it. The hymn "Moment by Moment" immediately came to my mind, and I've chosen to focus on the lyrics (even though I loathe the tune), and at the same time, asking for grace in time of need. God is faithful, and He has helped me to literally live moment by moment. Granted, that does not mean that I don't do any planning. I still make my lists and check them twice. But I want, nay need, to operate on a moment by moment basis. Any operation that requires keeping track of a lot of details has the potential to make me suffer near panic attacks. Definitely not my forte, and therefore, I am in need of an extra dose of grace and help in my time of need.

Honest and true - I am looking forward to the 24th!! I will see lots of family, friends, take lots of pictures (which is becoming more and more a love of mine) and I get to wear a pretty dress (vain, I know). In a lot of ways, it will be sad, simply because my daughter is moving away - really far away. My husband will "give her away", although if anything ever happened to Daniel, she knows we would be right here to catch her. But the "giving away" is not for the faint. She's been in our care her entire life of nineteen years.  Perhaps this is where Corrie ten Boom's advice to "hold all things loosely, so God will not have to pry them out of my hands" should be heeded. It's not that I am unwilling to let go of her. It's just that, in the letting go, I look down to see rose colored imprints on my palms and fingers. But I know that with time, this too shall pass ...

So come April24th, as I look on, Shaun will take one last walk with Ashlee as his very own, down the petal laced aisle, to meet her bridegroom in holy matrimony. Our little arrow that we have hopefully taken from our quiver of three, shot into this world to make it a better place, and to further His gospel. From that day forward, she will still be our daughter, but she will primarily be Daniel's helpmeet, his confidant, his lover ... and so much more. Such potential to be an arrow that will go far, make an impact, and hit whatever target the Lord gives her to hit. This is my sincere hope and prayer for her. And although it will not happen because of our excellent markmanship skills, I trust it will happen because God has the power to direct our precious little arrow in whatever direction He wishes. I trust Him fully with my little arrow ... in spite of my frail aim.

Much love to both Ashlee and Daniel as they embark on this crazy, exciting, wonderful, and (at times) painful thing called marriage. Always know that you are loved, prayed for, and cherished.

Much love,

Your Mama on the Prairie

Easter Weekend in Pics

I can honestly say that I was very blessed this weekend. Not only am I a Daughter of the King, but I'm a daughter in law of this lovely lady, who celebrated her birthday just a day before Easter this year. If you'd like to read more about her, click here.

She's reading a poem that Shaun (my hubby, her son) wrote her for her birthday.

Mom and Dad in law, enjoying each other and family.

Kiley and Gracelyn. They're sisters - can you tell?

I can't help but take a million pictures of her. Here are a few of my faves.

This is her immediate response to anyone who will say "Hello." :)

She gets tired of being my hat model, I do believe.

Mama moment.

We went where the buffalo roam Sunday afternoon and did a little shooting and just unwinding. It was fairly uneventful ... which was the goal. :-)

 

Aliens coming to say hello ...

Shaun and Andrew, my dashing hubby and son.

I hope you had a blessed Easter. There was a time in my life when Easter was nothing but a reminder of a painful event in my childhood. It's taken years, and years, but I now enjoy Easter every year, and I think it may be becoming my favorite holiday. God is faithful, and He heals us from all of our hurts with time. Not only does He deliver us from hurts, He delivers us from our sin and ourselves. For this, I am deeply grateful, hopeful, and just plain joyful over. One day ..... one day I will not struggle with all that I do. He will come and make all things right. Oh glorious day!!!

Happy Belated Easter to all of you!!!

~Brenda, the prairie appreciatin' Mama