Marvelous Light

Sarasota Surf and Raquet Club in Siesta Key (my family has come here for 35 years)

The sunsets never disappoint us!

I had so much fun with Maddie!

Music on the beach with family

Different night, different sunset

Sweet boy.

Maddie would run for hours like this every night.

My very talented niece and nephew

Pure Joy!

And more JOY!

My kids and their spouses!

"Here comes the little redhead" was heard often on the beach.

HI!

My newlyweds

Sweet grandchildren

Gorgeous moon with sunset clouds!

Crazy Celebrations!

We started off July 3rd in church! Our "Community God and Country Celebration" was fun, fun, fun!  Of course, when I can sing with my choir I am always having a blast! Our minister of music, Joe, did an amazing job of narrating the hour-long program as well as singing beautifully "The Lord's Prayer" after TAPS was played by one of our young trumpet players.  We celebrated our servicemen with two standing ovations and also sang a 9 minute "Sunday School Spectacular" which was made up of songs from our childhood like "Do Lord" and "Jesus Loves Me" and "If You're Happy and You Know It". Joe had gotten the audience to stand for the piece which really got them participating. Huge hit! After all, everyone loves to reminisce.  We ended the service with the flag-waving audience enjoying "Stars and Stripes Forever" by the orchestra.  Our pastor emphasized the freedom we have in Jesus in a few closing moments.

Later that afternoon we celebrated my dad's 77th birthday. It's actually the 5th of July but we usually combine it with a family get together for the Fourth...but it ended up on the 3rd...well, whatever!  Had a good cookout and birthday cake and enjoyed each other's company as usual at my parents' house.  My dad has written a book called The Chattahoochee Boys and is waiting on the final draft before it's published.  This book is made up of stories from his childhood and teen years spent in the Whittier Mills neighborhood in Atlanta. I'm proud of him and my mom as they have been putting this together for several years now!

We decided to go to Kennesaw's fireworks display after supper.  We usually hit up P-Town's but thought this might be a nice change.  We drove along with my daughter's family to the baseball park nearby and parked. Started walking and walking trying to get to some of Brad's friends who had saved a spot in downtown to view the fireworks.  I had called my best bud, Cheryl, and she met us there in the center of town.  Wind started to blow, we heard thunder, saw lightning and just hoped it would blow over.  The city had blocked all crossings over the railroad tracks there in downtown and people were having to cross into the other part of downtown through a pedestrian tunnel.  No problem. Right?  Well, we stopped just outside it as we got to the other side and the rain started coming down. Streaky lightning, rolling thunder, and crying babies. Wow!  Mobs of people started going through the tunnel both ways and weren't giving in to each other.  Loud-mouthed men started yelling "MOOOVE" and "get going" and more. I don't use the word "idiot" much but these folks were that. They were agitating the crowd and nobody could move anyway. Finally, a policeman had to come into the crowd and try to straighten things out. No luck.  We finally were able  to move into a corner outside and covered up with a waterproof blanket that Cheryl had brought with her. Maddie was not having it and Cheryl was doing her best to keep Landon calm by singing to him and holding him very close.

At last we made our way up to where the friends were and by that time the rain had stopped and it had cooled off. We stood there with the other tired but happy wet folks and counted down for the fireworks.  The fireworks began and they were wonderful! Maddie didn't like them and hid her face. Finally, she warmed up a little to them and enjoyed the colors.  Great patriotic music played as we watched. All's well that ends well! Whew.  Back to the car and we sat in traffic for a long time with everyone else. But, hey, that's American, too!  Just like fireworks, cookouts, birthday celebrations, choir concerts, everyone dressed in red, white, and blue (and rednecks trying to incite a crowd) HA!

 Great day and fun, crazy celebrations to begin it and end it.  I do thank the Lord for our country and the freedoms we have.  He continues to bless us and will, I think, as long as we continue to spread His name here and in other countries and give generously as only Americans can.

Cheryl and me ....Drowned rats but HAPPY!

Maddie was just happy it was all over!

Three of my favorite people in the world!

The Wedding of Stephen and Rachel

What an interesting and exciting weekend we had.  Thunderstorms and high winds interrupted the wedding rehearsal on Friday night.  But we managed to get our instructions and then headed to Olive Garden in Athens where we had a great time and good food and great service!  It was nice to meet all of Stephen and Rachel's friends. They are a faithful bunch and seem like they will be lifelong friends.

Madison got her instructions at the rehearsal.

Friends and family

The bride and groom and their dear friends

Such great friends..ready to celebrate with Stephen and Rachel

The next morning, June 25, John and I got up early. I just could not believe that this was my son's wedding day.  It had been a short engagement and, being the mother of the groom, I had not had a lot of responsibility this time around (unlike being the mother of the bride as I was 4 years ago).  I started feeling a little emotional as I thought of my son getting married but I was so happy for him.  We love Rachel and feel that she is his perfect match. The Lord is the ultimate match-maker! Their personalities complement each other and we can tell they love each other very much.

We left for Statham and the http://www.johnolivermichaelhouse.com . We picked up my parents first.  Got to the wedding site early and then the wait began.  We got dressed,  Madison and I wandered the grounds, we got pictures made with Stephen, and got to see the "princess" as Maddie called Rachel.  The weather had turned out perfect. Just a little cloudy, cooler than the day before and breezy under the trees. Jake, Stephen's friend who was officiating the ceremony, had prayed the night before at our rehearsal that the wedding day would be balmy, 71 degrees, and no rain.  The Lord gave us 2 out of 3.  The temp was more like 85 degrees. Just beautiful.

My best friend, Cheryl, came on around 5 and we had her support and help as well as my sister-in-law, Vicki, as we juggled babies and helped out where needed. Our son-in-law was running the sound system along with help from my nephew.  My niece was taking the photos and Erin was a bridesmaid.  Finally, it was time and I got to be escorted down the aisle as mother of the groom. I enjoyed it immensely. Then we waited for Madison. She came down after the bridesmaids, dropped a few rose petals and then saw me and made a beeline toward me. She was perfect for most of the time.  When she got restless we gave her a sucker. Thanks, mommy.

Flower Girl getting ready!

We love Cheryl!

I had this one on my hip for a lot of the day!

My special chair !:)

We enjoyed watching the photo sessions

Rachel and her father came down the aisle. She was beautiful. Her dress was very elegant and simple with just a few crystal designs on her waist and hip. She wore flowers in her hair and carried the lovely bouquet that Morgan made for her. Morgan is a dear friend of Stephen's from UGA and is married to one of his best friends, Garrett!  Our bouquets were purple and blue and Rachel's and the bridesmaids also had white roses within those colorful flowers.  Jake began the ceremony by reminding us all that miracles happened in the Bible. Moses parted the Red Sea, Jesus healed and raised from the dead, etc. AND today, Stephen McLaughlin was getting married!! Very funny and helped me relax and not be emotional.  It was great! After vows, Kathryn, Jake's wife sang "Heavenly Day" by Patty Griffin.  A perfect song for the day and the weather.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kWzuLAHnGBQ
The ceremony ended with the rings and the kiss and the introduction of Stephen and Rachel McLaughlin! Such a sweet time.We thank the Lord for this new family.

 

We sat around tables outside at the reception and listened to some great music from the playlist that Rachel and Stephen put together.  No one danced but Maddie. She had a blast dancing in the doorway of the barn. So cute!  She would fall to the floor and ask her Lito to pick her back up "Upsy Daisy".  This went on for half an hour or more.  We ended the day with seeing the couple off.  Just an overall satisfying day, blessed by the Lord. I can't tell you how I feel. The Lord is good!

John got to sign the marriage license. A privilege!

Beautiful!

Maddie and Bass Pro Shops!

Grandmommy and Lito took Madison out for the day today. I had given John some gift cards to one of his favorite places for his birthday. The nearest Bass Pro Shops is about an hour away from us so we picked Maddie up and braced for a long car ride.

She was ready to go!

Blessed be the nap!!

We arrived at the store and Maddie woke up in a good mood. Sometimes that happens!  First thing she wanted to do was sit on the front porch of the store.

If you know Bass Pro Shops then you know there are stuffed animal trophies everywhere.  Maddie saw "Bambi" first thing!

Found her a t-shirt right off! I know Mommy and Daddy are happy about a patriotic T with a big fish over the flag but what can we say! It's AMERICAN!  We are training this girl right!

On to the HUGE fish tank.  Maddie was fascinated. We were, too.

"Hello, Mr. Fishy", she said countless times.

We enjoyed a couple of hours there and got some souvenirs for the girl and then on to lunch and home. And, no, she did NOT take a nap on the way back.  Could've been that Frosty Coke Float we got her for lunch.  We did have to take a detour into the 'hood so she could go to the bathroom as she pleaded in a panicked voice.  Other than that, great day! The best part was the big hug and the kisses we got as we left her back with her parents.  I think I'm enjoying this grandparent thang!

EXACTLY!!

Stuffed Grizzly! We do NOT call this a teddy bear.

Yum, Coke Float!

On our way home with a place mat...?