Signed Up for Another 25 Years!

This past week Brian surprised me with the most thought out, well played surprise EVER...A beautiful ceremony of renewal of our wedding vows.  After being married for 25 years he says I am still a mystery to him, that he hasn't "figured me out"...but after a gift like this I think he "knows" me more than he thinks.  This ceremony was so beautiful, so special and we got to share it with so many of the people that are MOST important in our lives. I could NOT have planned it any better myself.  I'm writing this blog to not only share with YOU the deceitful measures "sneakiness" that my family went thru to pull this off but I'm writing so that I won't forget all the details!! Grab a cup of tea and a comfy seat..it's gonna be a long one!  :)

A text came early in the day that it was going to be "date night".  Supposedly our friend, Tony Bye (who officiated the ceremony), had given Brian tickets to the movies at Jefferson Point.  They expired that day so we HAD to use them that night!  We were leaving the house at 6:30 pm, dinner was planned and movie picked out (Star Trek).  Since it was a special, unexpected date night Brian said he was dressing up, maybe even wearing a tie!  That set the precedent for me to forgo the jeans I had planned on wearing and bump it up a notch!!  Looking back I now know why he was so concerned that the heels I was wearing made me so much taller than him!! :)

Brian's sister, Bette, popped in for an "unexpected" visit.  Bette lives in New York but she was on a retreat in Northern Indiana so having her show up really wasn't too strange...little did I know she was all part of the master plan! :)  I spent the afternoon visiting with her while Brian was at the church setting up for the wedding! One thing she said has stuck with me.  I joked about how that day was going so great, I got to see her and Brian and I had an unexpected date night planned!  She laughed, "Wow, your day can't get any better than that!"  ....she knew...she knew all along!! :)

The kids all loaded up and left to go to the "park and hang out"...but not before asking for pizza $.  Later Wes said he had a hard time keeping a straight face as I handed him $20 so they could eat dinner...while Brian and I were on our "date".  They were actually heading to the church to get things set up for the ceremony.

6:30 came and it was time for Brian and I to head to out. On the way down the road I told Brian that the van had actually overheated earlier that day.  He said we should probably stop by the church to add some water to it.  For those that don't know our church, Mt Etna Wesleyan, is on the way to Ft Wayne.  See, even I had a role to play in deceiving myself!! :)-  He didn't even have to "make up" a reason to stop by the church!

As we pulled up to the church the neighbors flowers caught my eye, fortunately they were in the opposite direction of the church parking lot full of cars.  I did, however, notice Joseph standing in the doorway of the church, and take off running as our van pulled in the parking space.  No sooner than the words, "What's going on?" were uttered from my mouth...Brian was on his knee proposing to me...once again.  *sigh*

....and THAT began the whirlwind as I floated up to cloud 9.  Details?  I can't remember...my brother was there so I thought maybe it was a small, family thing.  As he took my arm to walk me down the aisle I remember asking if there were a lot of people in the sanctuary (the doors were closed).  Jim in his calm demeanor said, "Eh, just a few".  As he walked me down the aisle my tears were flowing and I was in amazement at the number of people standing and clapping!  Thankfully, Brian had a box of kleenex for me as soon as I walked in...see he knows me!! :)

Now to let the pictures do the talking...

The look of surprise!!

Nearly a hundred people filled that sanctuary.  

All secretly invited by my most wonderful hubby! 

Reading of scripture and family prayer by Bette

Lighting the candles representing our family

Brian played the same song that was played at our wedding 25 years earlier.

"Security" by Leon Patillo 

Serving communion to our kids :)

Vowing for another 25+ years...sealed with a KISS :)

Brian wrote his own vows...which I have read and re-read!! :)

Jessica and Krista wrote my vows.  They did an excellent job of saying all that 

I would have said if I wrote my own!

We laughed at the decorations at our original reception...balloons and crepe paper.

Brian HAD to recreate that!! :)

Thanks for sharing with us this beautiful step in our journey together.  I praise God that he brought Brian and I together.  I could NOT imagine spending my life with anyone else.  He always says that he married "up"...but I know he is way out of MY league.  Together we make a great team as long as we keep HIM first in our marriage.  "He is before ALL things and in HIM ALL things hold together." Col. 1:17

Summer of Blessings

In order to make this the most relaxing vacation we tried not to cram so much into our time that we would be totally exhausted when it was all said in done. Most of the days we all slept in (which was quite a treat) and didn't actually leave the house until after lunch.

There were so many inexpensive things to do in the area we had a hard time choosing! One day we headed to Blue Springs State Park to do some tubing. Even in the hot temps of Florida the water was FREEZING. This was the park that I saw the manatee!! This was the HIGHLIGHT of my trip! Yep, I even teared up a bit! :) I had told the family that I just wanted to see a manatee at some point on our trip...in the wild...not in an aquarium. We had just finished tubing and decided to drive on to another part of the spring and was amazed at all the gar to be seen! The water was crystal clear and there were hundreds of them! According to a sign we read this was a refuge for the manatee in the winter months but they were usually gone by April. Well, one stayed behind....just for me!! :) It was awesome...so slow...so huge...yet so graceful! And to think we were just tubing right up stream...I would have FREAKED if one of those swam by me! :) No pictures of this awesome experience...just in my head...and I don't think I'll EVER forget it!!

These pics are from De Leon Springs State Park. We just did some hiking and had a picnic. It was really hot so we enjoyed our time and then headed back to the pool! :)

The community pool at the house was unbelievable. I think Joseph and Anna could have spent their whole vacation there. Even if we spent the day at the beach, they wanted to go back to the house and go swimming!! :) When we first arrived Joseph was scared to get in the water...after two weeks we couldn't get him out!

Summer of Blessings

I wanted to share with you the wonderful vacation we had the privilege of taking in June. I haven't posted in full about this because I'm still overwhelmed with it all and just don't feel I can express in words how big a blessing it was to our family. Hopefully the pictures will do the talking! (and there will be LOTS of them) :)

Over a year ago Brian stumbled upon this website http://www.pastorsrr.com We took the time to fill out the application and thought we'll just see what happens. What happened was that God blessed our family in a BIG way!! :) We were approved and were offered a two week stay at the most b-e-a-u-t-i-f-u-l home in Deland Florida!! Two weeks...two SOLID weeks away from home. We have NEVER done that before!! What a wonderful time to unwind, relax, refresh and renew!!

The kids finished school on Friday and we headed south Saturday morning. We stayed in Georgia so that we would be able to worship with the Hill family on Sunday morning at their church in Americus. Brian was on staff with Pastor Steve at Bryant Wesleyan. Our kids grew up together and it was such a great time to get together with them again. For some reason I didn't take ANY pictures of this...not sure why but :(

Fun in the van!!

The amazing house! When we got settled in Joseph said, "Mom, this feels just like home!" I had to giggle knowing this was NOTHING like our house...but he was right. For those two weeks that was our home as we were together as a family enjoying one another!! God is good! :)

I've got a little itch to start a new project!! I know a few of you who are rolling your eyes at this! That's okay, I'll finish a few others before I attempt this one. When I was a kid we macramed all the time. My sister taught me and I made owls, plant hangers, "bird cages", wall hangings, bracelets...it was sooo fun!

When we get our living room painted there will be one of these bad boys hanging in it

...made by little old me!! :)

Jess found this little jewel at the Upland rummages.

She brought it home just to inspire me.

Jessica making her own feathered friend...

...and she finished it...she's good that way! :)

The Jig is Up!!!

The teenagers is our house have gone to sneaky measures

to be sure they get what they want!!

The old hiding the "good" cereal in the "gross" cereal box gag...

But, we've caught on to their silly little scheme...

fool me once, shame on you...fool me twice, shame on me!!

You won't get away with it again!!! :)

They're Gone....

Joseph's 1st day at preschool.

There were no tears but he did keep rubbing his eyes when I dropped him off.

He said they were just burning!! :)

Jessica and Krista...the beginning of the end!

Seniors all bright eyed and cheery cause they

didn't have to show up to school until 3rd period!!

Anna 4th grade and Wes is a sophomore!!

Backpacks thrown by the back door...I didn't miss this sight all summer long!!

Prom!!

The hemming of the dress.

Mischele did an excellent job on Jessica's hair.
Can you see the cloud of hair spray!!

Joseph wanted to wear his suit. He thought he was taking her to prom!

yea...they really love each other!

The look that says a thousand words!!

Well, what can I say...

Jess and Scott...with the heel pop and they're out the door...

...but back home again to get her prom ticket!

friends

and dates

a lovely dinner hosted by Upland Christian Church!!