Reid and Amy's Wedding

Amy and Reid were married last weekend in Lancaster County, PA.  The wedding was held in a quiet country meadow along a creek with beautiful landscaping.  It really was a breathtaking location!  That morning we all woke up early to rain coming down.  I was impressed with the faith of the groom – he had sunglasses in his pocket and he pulled them out when we started photos as the drizzle stopped!  Soon the sun was shining and things were refreshed and beautiful from the showers. It was the beginning of a day blessed by God!

photo credit: Marla Martin

photo credit: Marla Martin

photo credit: Marla Martin

The creek was flowing behind the arch where the couple gave their vows to each other. 

photo credit: Marla Martin

This ancient Irish Hymn was sung at the ceremony:

Be thou my vision, O Lord of my heart,
be all else but naught to me, save that thou art;
be thou my best thought in the day and the night,
both waking and sleeping, thy presence my light.

The Reception was under a white tent beside the creek and each table was decorated with an assortment of wildflowers in collections of vintage bottles and vases clustered together.

Rock Bunnies

It all started last week when Kadi was cutting the boxtop from the Wheaties box after breakfast.  Soon she was punching air holes in the top of the box with the scissors and making a home for a bunny.  She asked if she could buy a real bunny. So I proceeded with the normal comments as a mother will do, “a bunny is a lot of work”, etc. etc. 

I suggested sensibly that she find a stuffed toy bunny to put in her bunny box.  She proceeded to chatter about taking it all outside to play so I gave another motherly reminder that we don’t take our stuffed animals out because they get dirty.  Then I recommended going outside and finding a rock to be a bunny. 

That is the point at which I was sucked into the event, and the messy kitchen and dirty clothes got a break. J We took our sharpie markers out and went on a rock bunny hunt in the backyard! I learned something new when I asked what the sticks were for, Kadi informed me, “they help the bunnies come to you better.” So sticks it was! 

We found some normal rough quartz rocks in the back yard, but they didn’t look very bunnyish and were hard to draw on (but once a bunny is made you really can’t just throw it away, that’s like murder).

So we hunted some more and came across a pile of discarded river rock. (Doesn’t everyone have these in the backyard? That’s another story.)

Kadi had to take her most brown dirt colored bunny along as we continued to search “because it’s camouflage and might get lost,” little sister Cassie couldn’t be left out and responded, “Mine is 'camomauge' too!”  I love these funny kid moments!

The bunnies have been well cared for and have gone along with the girls wherever they go. They’ve had baths and lots of bunny food (found seed pods, berries and such) and been tucked into their bunny boxes quite regularly. I’m almost considering a real bunny. Well… maybe next year.

So do not fear, for I am with you;

do not be dismayed, for I am your God.

I will strengthen you and help you;

 I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Isaiah 41:10

Tim & Rachel: maternity

I did a little maternity photo session for my dear friend Rachel.  She is beautiful inside and out and so are her two adorable girls.  Her husband is pretty awesome too. J  Each one is a true friend to us, and we value that friendship!  We’re all waiting for the Little Guy to arrive and begin balancing out the male/female ratio in the family!  God bless you Tim and Ray!

Queen Anne’s Lace

Queen Anne’s Lace… it’s just a weed growing along

the roadside and fencerows, but there is something

that I love about it with its ferny leaves and funny

smell and all the memories of hot summer days.    

Queen Anne’s Lace

By Mary Leslie Newton    

Queen Anne, Queen Anne, has washed her lace,
(She chose a summer's day)
And hung it in a grassy place
To whiten, if it may.

Queen Anne, Queen Anne, has left it there,
And slept the dewy night;
Then waked, to find the sunshine fair,
And all the meadows white.

Queen Anne, Queen Anne, is dead and gone
(She died a summer's day),
But left her lace to whiten in
Each weed-entangled way!

 

Legend says that Queen Anne
gave the ladies of her court a
challenge to see who could create
the most beautiful piece of lace. 
No one could match the Queen’s
exquisite work, but while she
was at work, she pricked her
finger and a drop of blood fell
on her handiwork.  That is why
there’s a wine colored center in
most of the flowers.

 

When I see the lacy flowers I think of the beginning of a poem I used to read a long time ago.

                                          Queen's Lace
                                                             By Edith Shank

                                         Fragile and lovely as old lace,
                                         But just a roadside weed;
                                         Tall and slender in regal grace,
                                         And faithful to its breed
                                    Ever growing loosely wild,
                                         With the pose of Nature's child…

He has made everything beautiful in its time. 

  He has also set eternity in the human heart;

yet no one can fathom what God has done from

 beginning to end. 

Ecclesiastes 3:11

I Heart Faces Enjoying Life Entry

Enjoying Life  is the theme for July’s contest at

 I Heart Faces.  Some of summer’s most enjoyable

 moments are by the ocean with its endless

sand and waves!   

Click on the I Heart Faces button to see other entries with life's enjoyable moments!