Big and Bright

This is a very small sampling of our pepper harvest. Dad knows how to grow veggies!

Maren's Bridal Shower #2

Maren's second shower was held at an old gas station turned coffee shop and café.

Loved the atmosphere!

Kathy (future-mother-in-law) also got to celebrate a special birthday that day.

Maren with Louella, Jason's grandmother. Louella's cheery smile and visits made my day!

Yummy food...

...and luscious chocolate cupcakes.

Shower number three comes tomorrow.

Maren's Bridal Shower #1

 

Maren's first bridal shower began with food - fancy sandwiches, brownies, and frappes.

 

 

A lovely program came next. Each part was so special and meaningful! The Bright Lights girls surprised us by singing, "The Mind of Christ."

 

Gifts came next. Here is one of our gift-ferrying sentinels.



 

Happy and blessed.

This time I will praise the Lord.



"Because the Lord has looked upon my affliction; for now my husband will love me... Because the Lord has heard that I am hated, He has given me this son also... Now this time my husband will be attached to me, because I have borne him three sons... This time I will praise the Lord."

Genesis 29:32-35 (emphasis mine)

 

I do not know Leah's heart attitude when she bore Judah, her fourth son, and praised the Lord. Her circumstances weren't different than after the births of her other sons. Her husband still didn't love her. Yet her words were drastically changed. She moved from "me, myself, and I" to "the Lord." A place of peace. A place of blessing. And God brought forth the Prince of Peace that ushered in blessing to all people from this baby's descendants.

 

What is my heart attitude in both the varied and unvaried circumstances of life? Am I praising the Lord? There dwells peace and blessing.

Turkey Road

Wild turkeys have made a highway of our yard.

Wedding Preparations

Great-Grandma's Pillow

While looking for a few castaway treasures from Grandpa and Grandma's home, I came across Great-Grandma's pillow. The worn applique on black caught my eye. I began to look more closely to decide whether this was a treasure to keep when I caught site of a bit of embroidery underneath. No more did I wonder if this pillow was coming home with me.

At home I began to dissect. Out came a beautiful embroidered basket of flowers. But there was more.

 Mom finished the excavating process and found three more layers of pillow coverings making a total of five. If this pillow could speak, it would have many stories to tell.

Happy Zinnias

Tractor to the Rescue

What do you do when one day's tomato, pepper, onion, and elderberry harvest is backbreakingly large? Use a forklift.

P.S. This picture was taken one week ago. Today's harvest was even larger! Tomatoes, anyone?

Pot of Plums

Our plum tree rarely gives a good crop, but this year it made up for its previous negligence. Plums out of our ears! Plum sauce, plum jelly, plum juice (for jelly in the future), frozen plums (amazing in cupcakes), dehydrated plums, and many given away.

Photo courtesy of Mom

Engagement Picture Session

Dad's Head of Romaine