And now it's the end of the weekend and I am far too tired to wax poetic. But I still want to get some things out while they are fresh.
- Mom and Dad were both overwhelmed. Mom said their ceremony was better than their original because she didn't remember a single thing their pastor said. This time she could appreciate every word. Lamar's message was receive each other as they are and release them to be all they can be. And years after their first vows, God is still compelling them to be more to each other for Christ's sake.
- It was so awesome to see how much mom and dad love each other - despite the bickering :).
- Our songs at their ceremony turned out awesome although none of us could look at them while we were singing.
- Carrie's cake was just beautiful and delicious too. It was a real hit.
- We got mom some flowers to hold and Emily and Carrie really hit the jackpot with some beautiful pink roses that looked just gorgeous this morning.
- Mom's friends from work and Aunt Becky and Uncle Dave and Helen and Robert and Uncle Bill were the perfect people to be there.
- I said one prayer on Thursday morning for good weather and put it in my faith jar and it was amazing. Hot enough to swim and sunny for a good part too. Pool water was only 74 but that didn't stop anyone - especially the kids :) Emma and Hope were purple:)
- More food than we needed - how unusual:)
- Newlywed game was sweet and fun. We were all the winners hearing their answers.
- Communion at Iron City this morning was a fitting end to our weekend.
- Not our best worship service but Carrie loved every second of it so somehow, it made it worth it.
- Carrie and Emily were awesome. I could not have done it without both of them and the cooperation and love of their families (especially Dan and Ray), it would have been absolutely impossible. Carrie's creativity was so great with the cake and the book and the frame. And both of them stepped up at the end when I was completely out of gas, and did a huge part of the clean up.
- Bob stepped up too. He was just awesome on Saturday. He was helping to set up with things that I hadn't even got to thinking about. And he began cleaning up when all of us were still numbed by the events of the day.
- Some mean games of cornhole were played. That game rocks.
- I love those those kids with all my heart. And I love my family. God has blessed the daylights out of us.
I was ridiculously emotional all this weekend - some of which was okay and at other times wasn't. Not sure if it was the intensity of the weekend or hormones but there were a few times when I was overwhelmed resulting in either frustration or tears.
That's all I have for now. I'm about as spent as I can remember being. In a good way. In a beautiful way.
PS - I figured out how to load my slideshow of the pictures onto the blog. If you want a bigger view then double click on the pictures. I didn't get the very best photos but they will do for now. Enjoy!
Showing posts with label 60/40 weekend. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 60/40 weekend. Show all posts
Sunday, July 6, 2008
Saturday, July 5, 2008
Overwhelmed by the past - in a good way
It's the middle of the night and my head is swimming with nostalgia from yesterday's journey through time. So I'm going to do some purging and try and lay back down so I get some rest for Part 2 of the 60/40 weekend!
- The house - It was overwhelming in so many ways. It's so amazing how "the woods" have grown in 20 years. Trees that were once seedlings have become trees of significance. Cleared areas are dark with growth. Time has moved on. And where once was a house that was loved and cared for is just a crumbling shell of its former glory. The memories were still there but little of the physical shell has been kept up at all. In an attempt to prevent myself from being judgemental I'll just say that loving that house to my parents meant taking care of it and the owners since that time have a different perspective.
As I walked up that driveway though, there was a moment when I was back there, making that walk up and down that driveway each day. Just around the bend from the stream as you look up to the hill - that's where it hit me that the thing we once griped about was the very same thing that I was loving at that very moment.
- The VanSnicks - I can't even express the joy in seeing them after 20 odd years and reliving some of the memories of growing up on Mamont Road. They were special folks then and they remain so now. And as Emily said, we grew up in their yard and house nearly as much as our own and their children are such a part of our past. And they are still living there and their grandchildren come to the house and are tasting the same elements of our childhood that we did - the stream, the vine, the woods. We could have spent hours reminiscing. We hugged when we arrived and we hugged when we left. These two people were special in our lives that in many ways seems surprising. Funny how 20 years built a love there that we might never have guessed. I suspect that mom and dad are feeling that way today too.
Mr. VanSnick turned 70 this year. Whoa. Still both of them look awesome but whoa. Robert is a VP CPA and Ellen a Phd in Ecology. Again whoa.
- The other places - Some have not changed at all. The high school for example. For all the years and growth, some things about it are just the same. That felt good. I like that some things didn't change. It was comforting.
- Gateway Drive - You know I don't ever think I recall seeing that house! How is that possible?
- Delmont - It's a cute little historic looking town. Who knew?
- Murrysville - You know 20 years of change has cycled parts back so that it doesn't look as different as it did even 10 years ago..... Or maybe it's me.
- King's - It was a fitting end for dinner and a great big sundae. Like we used to get at the one in Plum after church.
Purged for now. Now there is less in my brain to be shaking my head awake. I'll be posting photos with this later.
PS - The kids were all asleep somewhere before 11pm. It took awhile and some scolding but they were just needing to lie still for a few minutes to get there..... I probably have about 90 -120 minutes before they are back up...... :)
- The house - It was overwhelming in so many ways. It's so amazing how "the woods" have grown in 20 years. Trees that were once seedlings have become trees of significance. Cleared areas are dark with growth. Time has moved on. And where once was a house that was loved and cared for is just a crumbling shell of its former glory. The memories were still there but little of the physical shell has been kept up at all. In an attempt to prevent myself from being judgemental I'll just say that loving that house to my parents meant taking care of it and the owners since that time have a different perspective.
As I walked up that driveway though, there was a moment when I was back there, making that walk up and down that driveway each day. Just around the bend from the stream as you look up to the hill - that's where it hit me that the thing we once griped about was the very same thing that I was loving at that very moment.
- The VanSnicks - I can't even express the joy in seeing them after 20 odd years and reliving some of the memories of growing up on Mamont Road. They were special folks then and they remain so now. And as Emily said, we grew up in their yard and house nearly as much as our own and their children are such a part of our past. And they are still living there and their grandchildren come to the house and are tasting the same elements of our childhood that we did - the stream, the vine, the woods. We could have spent hours reminiscing. We hugged when we arrived and we hugged when we left. These two people were special in our lives that in many ways seems surprising. Funny how 20 years built a love there that we might never have guessed. I suspect that mom and dad are feeling that way today too.
Mr. VanSnick turned 70 this year. Whoa. Still both of them look awesome but whoa. Robert is a VP CPA and Ellen a Phd in Ecology. Again whoa.
- The other places - Some have not changed at all. The high school for example. For all the years and growth, some things about it are just the same. That felt good. I like that some things didn't change. It was comforting.
- Gateway Drive - You know I don't ever think I recall seeing that house! How is that possible?
- Delmont - It's a cute little historic looking town. Who knew?
- Murrysville - You know 20 years of change has cycled parts back so that it doesn't look as different as it did even 10 years ago..... Or maybe it's me.
- King's - It was a fitting end for dinner and a great big sundae. Like we used to get at the one in Plum after church.
Purged for now. Now there is less in my brain to be shaking my head awake. I'll be posting photos with this later.
PS - The kids were all asleep somewhere before 11pm. It took awhile and some scolding but they were just needing to lie still for a few minutes to get there..... I probably have about 90 -120 minutes before they are back up...... :)
Friday, July 4, 2008
0 - 6 kids in 1 day
As I type this blog, six children lie in my livingroom desperate to calm down after an interesting day of firsts and a fun night of play in the yard. Molly, Sarah, Ben and Grace and Emma and Hope are fighting the noise of fireworks and the joy of cousin sleepover to get to sleep. It's still fairly early for me but for these little ones, it is late late late. I just hope they can get over it and fall asleep. If not, tomorrow is going to be a long day for everyone..... A little blip of a prayer goes up for all of them.
And for me too. Today was not easy for me since Bob kind of lost it and in the process, I lost it a little too. And because of that, I was upset that I lost focus on the importance of who this day was about - mom and dad. They had fun and that's what counts. I just really hope that I can restart tomorrow fresh and Bob can too.
And for me too. Today was not easy for me since Bob kind of lost it and in the process, I lost it a little too. And because of that, I was upset that I lost focus on the importance of who this day was about - mom and dad. They had fun and that's what counts. I just really hope that I can restart tomorrow fresh and Bob can too.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
