Amy's Wedding Weekend Update 2

We worked ALL DAY LONG up at that church, after I finally got there! And also got up there early on Saturday morning and worked right up until the time of the wedding.

My sister, Leanne, had everything so organized. She had the vision and the plan...and the rest of us just waited for her to tell us what to do.

She had bought an arbor for the stage in the church, and we put a green garland on it, and then stuffed it full of peach and purple and white flowers. Along the back wall-ledge thingy that separated the choir loft from the stage, we put more garland and flowers, and placed tall candles in glass hurricanes up there. We put the green garland down the stair rails and it was really pretty. Leanne had rented two GORGEOUS candelabras and we placed tall candles on them. We used purple tulle fabric on the aisle chairs. Holly made bouquets of peach roses and attached them to the chairs that were on the center aisle. They looked so pretty! And Leanne had ordered a runner for the center aisle, and we put that down and attached it to the floor with some sticky dots. The runner had Amy and Andrew's names on it and their wedding date. The last thing we did was rope off the center aisle...so no one would walk on the runner until the bride came down the aisle.

The REAL work was going on in the fellowship hall. Leanne rented purple table cloths, and we had 20 tables to cover...plus a grandparent's table. We placed these white candelabras on them...they had these little sparkly things hanging on them, and once the candles were lit, it was so pretty! We placed the candelabras on these square mirrors  and then sprinkled crystals on them. So pretty! We also decorated the beverage bar with this silky purple fabric. Leanne had gotten 5 or 6 large beverage containers. On the day of the wedding, they were filled with tea, raspberry tea, lemonade and water. And then we had a coffee area. There was a cake table that had two purple cakes and a tall cupcake tower that my brother made. He made the tower, NOT the cupcakes! Ha! The next table had a popcorn bar...lots of popcorn and little bags to put it in...and several different flavors that you could shake on the popcorn. So fun! The next table was a candy bar...lots of peach/orange-ish and purple candies in large glass containers. So pretty! And the last table was a parfait bar...small containers of plain yogurt, and then tons of fun toppings like chocolate chips, different fruits, and home-made granola that the caterer lady made.

Leanne had also gotten these GIANT balloons and rented a helium tank. Robin and I blew up peach and purple balloons to use in the entry-way lining the fellowship hall...so that the bride and groom would be able to make a grand entrance. Amy also used the balloons in some of her pre-wedding pictures with her bridesmaids.

Everything turned out beautiful! I think the bride was pleased. (Updated here and here)

And Joshua's view on things? I leave you with his words: "not too bad for a wedding...15-20 minutes."

"...whatever you do, do all to the glory of God." 1 Corinthians 10:31

Counting the Fish (post from Ann Voskamp)

This post...soooo good.

Amy's Wedding Weekend Update 1

I think I can mayyyybeeee put together a coherent series of sentences about our weekend. We'll see.

We had such a great weekend! Jim was able to get off work on Thursday and Friday, so we left to go down to Texas on Thursday morning.

First of all...there is just no fast way to get from central Arkansas to the DFW area.

We basically hung out on Thursday night after we got there, and my sister went over the plan for the next day.

On Friday morning, we got up and hit the ground running.We had much to do to get ready for my niece's wedding. My brother had already come by and loaded up most of the wedding stuff onto his trailer, but we still had to take 3 vehicles to the church...full of people and decorations!

The only frustrating funniest thing of the entire weekend happened as we were all preparing to leave for the church on Friday morning. We had driven in the night before on one tank of gas, so we needed gas in the Burb. Jim said he would go get gas and come back and pick us (Holly and I) up. Well, we waited...and waited...and waited. No Jim. We had already loaded our purses and everything into the car before Jim left, so there was no way to get in touch with Jim. Finally, Holly used Logan's phone and called Jim. When he answered, he was already almost to the church...over 30 minutes away.

Ummm...

He said that when he came back to the house after getting gas, my sister was already loaded up in her car, and my Dad was in his...and when they saw Jim pull around the corner, they took off. Jim ASSUMED that Holly and I had climbed into another vehicle for some reason...so he took off and followed the caravan, without checking to make sure we were in it.

Meanwhile...

*crickets chirping*

We are waiting...and waiting...and waiting...

This day, my birthday, was not starting off on a good note.

When they all got to the church and Holly and I did not get out of any vehicle...Jim felt bad, and my family all went nuts! Because in my family, we are nothing if not able to laugh at with each other! I'm so glad that everyone had fun at our expense. Except NOT! I feel sure this will be a story that is shared from now on and into infinity..."hey, we're all gonna go eat at On The Border...Jim, don't forget your wife!"

The rest of the day, whenever I would meet someone at the church...the wedding coordinator, the caterer, members of the wedding party, extended family members of the bride and groom...they all said, "oh, are you the one who got left behind?"

Yes, yes that would be me.

So thankful for my other sister...who came back and got us. (Updated here and here and here)

"Do not let kindness and truth leave you..." Proverbs 3:3

Dark and Empty

Joshua: "I was reading Genesis 1:1-2...about when the earth was not formed and it was dark and empty.

I was thinking that that's how we are in our lives, without Jesus...dark and empty.

That's what I've been thinking about today."

"...I am the light of the world..." John 8:12

Travel-sized

Just took a 7 hour trip yesterday. I spent some of it squished curled up in the back seat with Joshua.

Joshua (to me):  "Holly is tall and lean, but you are travel-sized...like ME!"