An Eventful Weekend

This last weekend we all traveled up to Oregon for Bob and Molly's wedding. It is hard to believe that only one week ago we had not even left for the trip to Oregon yet. Somehow it seems like several weeks ago! That's not a bad thing, it's just that so much has happened and we were so busy.
On Friday we drove up to Oregon. We had a great time eating dinner with Rudi and Carla Booher and their children. After that we stayed the night at their aunt and uncle the Nydem's house. We had never met them before. They were so hospitable and friendly and it was easy to feel comfortable in their home.
Saturday was the wedding. It was a simple and elegant wedding. I wasn't able to take very many pictures because my camera didn't like the lighting in the church :(
That evening we stayed up late playing games and being silly. That night we all kind of went separate ways, also. Our parents went to the coast for their anniversary. Melissa and I stayed at the Shultzes with the Keulens and Jonathan stayed with the Engells.
On Sunday morning we drove over the pass to Bend for the reception for Daniel and Jenny Gillogley. It was a fun and busy day. We spent that night at the Johnson's home. There were many people staying there. It was enjoyable to have a chance to spend more time with everyone before going home.
The plan was to leave at 9 a.m. Monday morning but that isn't what happened. It always takes longer than expected but this time the reason was an accident. The Keulen's cousin was driving the four wheeler and flipped. His shoulder was injured so we waited while he was taken to the doctor. It was a blessing that he was not hurt more seriously. Anyway by the time everyone got back and we got on the road it was 4:15 in the afternoon. We traveled all night and didn't arrive at the Keulens until 6:30 the next morning. We were so exhausted that we all just went to bed and slept until much later in the morning. We had a very lazy day at the Keulens then went home that night. Our parents got home a few hours later than we that night also.
That is the shortened and condensed version of our crazy trip. There was so much more that happened, too. It is really strange, but for some reason I didn't take nearly as many pictures as usual. So there are only a few.


Bob And Molly's wedding




Daniel and Jenny's reception

Meaningful

These are the verses that I have been thinking about this morning. Actually they have been coming to mind the last few weeks, too.

Philippians 4:4-7

Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!
Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand.
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Beach Fun

Even though the wedding is over things haven't slowed down around here. We have been keeping busy and having way too much fun! Last Monday we went with a group of friends over to the beach. We had a wonderful time playing on the beach, walking, talking, and exploring tide pools.


Football


Eating Lunch and visiting


Walking and talking


Exploring the tide pools


Waving at the camera

Wedding Preparations

Sewing bridesmaid dresses. Three days before.



Tea party prep.


Making Signs


Setting up chairs


Setting up sound

A Beautiful Wedding

Daniel and Jenny got married on Saturday. They are now Mr. and Mrs. Gillogley! I feel so blessed to have Jenny as a special friend. It was so fun to everything unfold and to get to know Daniel. It was also very fun to be involved in the many preparations for the wedding.
The wedding was beautiful. It was a perfect spring day for an outdoor wedding. It was wonderful to see the way they both desired to honor God through the whole process. And to see their love and commitment to God and to each other.
It was also fun to see everyone who came from out of state. Friends came from Washington, Oregon, and even Missouri.
Here are a few photos from the wedding. I was way in the back so I didn't get any good ones of the ceremony.


Preparing the bride.


That is me over seeing the gift table.


Beth playing harp prelude music.


The groom and groomsmen.


Here comes the bride. Isn't she beautiful?


The lovely bridesmaids.


Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Gillogley


It was special to see Beth and Rebecca Serven all the way from Missouri.


The Engell Family from Washington playing music.


The getaway car.

That is probably enough pictures for now. Later I will post some of the preparation pictures.

I've Been Busy

The last three days have been very busy. I have barely even been at home. My very good friend Jenny is getting married on Saturday! We have been over helping with many last minute preparations. We helped sew the bridesmaid dresses and we have been painting and planting flowers at the wedding location. Tomorrow I think we will be setting up chairs.

Happy Valentine's Day

Love suffers long and is kind;
love does not envy;
love does not parade itself,
is not puffed up;
does not behave rudely,
does not seek its own,
is not provoked,
thinks no evil;
does not rejoice in iniquity,
but rejoices in the truth;
bears all things, believes all things,
hopes all things, endures all things.
Love never fails.

1 Corinthians 13:4-8

My Other Blog

I have started a new blog. It is more of a promotional blog for our Etsy shop. There will be fun polls, and giveaways on there as well as projects and crafts. That blog will have more creative projects and this blog will be more personal. But there may be some overlap as far as posts go. I am going to try to keep up both blogs. So we'll see how it goes :)

http://handdrawncards.blogspot.com/

New Books

I received two books for my birthday. The first is Wild Color by Jenny Dean. It is a wonderful book on making dyes from plants. So far I have tried three dyes. I will have to post pictures sometime. I have been wanting this book for a long time but it is out of print therefore hard to find(at least for a reasonable price). My sister was able to find it online and she got it for me. I have such a great sister.


The second book is The Rim of the Prairie by Bess Streeter Aldrich. It is a sweet, simple story that takes place in a small prairie town. It is beautifully written. The characters are so real. You feel like a part of their joys, heartache, laughter, and trials.

Walking this Road

The day was a lovely, sunshiny one. No clouds were in the sky. The road I was walking was easy, it meandered through meadows and along streams. Birds were singing and flowers blossoming. The way ahead around the bends looked inviting.
I said "Lord I will follow wherever You lead, I will walk this road with You."
Slowly the road became harder, clouds blew across the sky. Soon it was very dark and there were thorns across the path. The road had become rough and painful.
"Lord I don't understand, this isn't the way I thought it would be," I cried.
"Will you still trust Me?"
"The pain is too much, I can't see Your face through the tears."
"I am with you still holding your hand" was the reply.
I answered "Yes, Lord I will follow wherever You lead, I will walk down this road no matter how hard"

This sounds silly now that it is written out. These are just some thoughts that have gone through my head as I have struggled with something painful. I am learning to trust more deeply even when I don't understand.

Psalm 56:8
You number my wanderings;
Put my tears into Your bottle;
Are they not in Your book?

Psalm 23
A Psalm of David.
The LORD is my shepherd;
I shall not want.
He makes me to lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside the still waters.
He restores my soul;
He leads me in the paths of righteousness
For His name’s sake.

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil;
For You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
You anoint my head with oil;
My cup runs over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
All the days of my life;
And I will dwell in the house of the LORD
Forever.

Proverbs 3:5-6

Trust in the LORD with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;
In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct your paths.