A One-der-ful Year in the Life of A Boy

   He is officially "one" tomorrow, this first grandson of ours. He is a charmer from his head to his toes. I wondered when he made his debut if I would love him as much as I had my first two grandchildren. But of course, God does that marvelous thing in our hearts when the love is shared...it divides and multiplies and runs over until the cup of love is filled to the brim!
 

Welcome to the world, little boy! 

Here I am chilling out under the warming lights, and I am not even one hour old!

That's my Dad there with a good grip on me. I already love that man.

Here is my Momma getting me ready for my first bath!

Ahh...I love it when she talks to me like that

Worn out and ready for my nap!

My Daddy rocks my world! 

Here I am meeting all of my Nonna's friends and being introduced to some

very important people at my Sip-n-See

Too bad I slept through the entire thing...

Now that I am waking up to life, I can tell you that I have fallen in love with my Big Sister. 

 Mom thinks it's possible that I might have a future as a comedian.

Check out my facial expressions

Here I am all decked out for Christmas! I love playing with Dad. 

He does fun stuff like throwing me up in the air.

Nonna has to look the other way.

Did I mention that I love my Momma?! 

Mom and Dad left me with Nonna and Pappy when they went out of town for a little vacation.

Don't tell anybody, but things happen at Nonna's house.

 Like getting licked all over by Wilson, the dog.

And now for a random fact:

Did you know that the paper at the pediatrician's office tastes good?

Sissy and I like to ham it up for the camera and for our amazing photographer, Katherine Holly.

Here I am getting worried that they might leave me up here all alone...

with that ratty ole bear

 It's amazing all of the changes a year can bring.

I can already crawl like greased lightning and stand on my own.

 I am starting to talk and can call a few folks by name.

I finally got some teeth (I am up to four).

I love to laugh, am ticklish, and like to make funny faces.

 Oh, and occasionally I like to rock a natural mohawk!

See what I mean?

My special day is off to a great start. Hope yours is too!

Wedding Beauty and a Prayer

    Take a look at the pictures of Julie and Richard's St. John's island wedding captured by the professional photographer. They are AMAZING. Wow. And I thought The Husband and I had a decent camera. My humble Canon cannot hold a candle to whatever this guy was using. He's the real deal.
     This is my favorite. Can you guess why?

 My prayer for each of you is that the Lord will be your strength and your guide.

And that you will learn to have confidence in and to rely upon the love that the Lord has for you...

That you will find healing, comfort, and peace in the company of each other.

That you will laugh often

And forgive easily

That you will give one another the freedom to grow and change as individuals

That you will each be the best friend the other has ever had or will have

That you will make time often just to be together...without words

That you will find a joy you have never known before and that you will share that joy with others

 And when the hard times come...

that you will hold fast to the vow you made before God to love one another for as long as you both shall live.

Rest assured, it won't be easy. 

The good things in life never are.

But it will be worth the journey.

So worth the journey.

Thirty-Nine and Counting

 Thirty-nine years. 

That's the age of our marriage. 

Sure sounds like a long time. 

It is.

In this age of drive-by marriages followed by drive-by divorces, our marriage has aged well. 

The Husband and the marriage are keepers. 

Even today, when I hear the words to our song, 

"Could It Be I'm Falling in Love," by The Spinners, 

I still smile and say yes. 

I know it's corny, but I can't help myself!

Here's our secret to a marriage with longevity: 

Lots of forgiveness,
lots of falling in love again,

and lots of clinging to the Lord when it all seems to be going downhill! 

Oh, all that, and the ability to laugh at oneself!

Happy Anniversary, Honey. 

I am pretty sure I would marry you again today.

Nope, make that very sure.

Here's a glimpse of the way we were way back when

 

 Who knew what the future would hold?
The joys, the sorrows, the laughter, the tears.
The good times, and the hard times.
Together then.
Together now.
I am one blessed woman.

I have found the one whom my soul loves...
                                                                    Song of Solomon 3:4

And the Two Shall Become as One

    And the LORD God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a companion for him..."
It is a story oft told of a man and a maiden, yet somehow the tale of true love never grows cliche, and we never tire of hearing of the way that deep and abiding love springs up and grows between two souls. These two found their way to one another after a time of suffering and loss. And yet, when you know the way that the LORD God works, it does not seem strange that they were drawn to each other. Each found peace and strength in the other. And as we have watched their story unfold, we, their friends and family, have found encouragement, comfort and joy. God is good!
    And besides, who wouldn't want to travel to a destination wedding on St. John, Virgin Island? Twenty-five adults and five children did just that to watch Julie and Richard pledge their love to one another.
     Their joy is real. And so is ours.
     

It's a beautiful day for a wedding!

Getting ready for the big day!

Watching the Bride get ready!

 The flowers arrive

The ecru lace came from the Bride's mother's wedding dress.

Later, a Victorian locket was added with her parents' wedding pictures side-by-side.

 The tranquil and secluded beach where the wedding took place

Headed to the area where she will wait as the guests gather, this Bride was happy and relaxed!

 It's almost time!

 The Bride's niece Chloe oh so carefully places the petals on the walkway

 Here comes the Bride!

 Her joy was obvious!

 The Kiss

 "We did it!"

Part II to follow