It is so very quiet in my house this Christmas morning. The only thing I hear is the soft twirl of my Christmas village lighthouse as it spins it's light around. "Be still and know I am God." This came at me like a bolt this early morning. Be still. No rushing, no panicking, just Be Still.
This is the first Christmas morning since our first year of marriage that we have been alone.
It will, however, get loud soon. I have 20 family and friends coming for lunch at 2:00. So, Be Still, I will for now and just bask in the presence of my Savior. My heart is full. Full to over flowing. How so blessed I am. My precious family, my precious friends, my precious husband. My list goes on but I will think of these for now.
Last night's church service was a message of God and His reason for the season. He sent His precious Son to me, for me. Me. Little ole me. Sometimes it is more than I can wrap my head around. So, I just wrap my heart around it and go with it. He loves me, He cares about me, and He will never leave me.
This has all made me realize that I need to be much more than I am. I need to be his representative. I need for others, everyone, to see Him through me. I want this so much.
Be Still. Be still and feel God and know He came to you and for you. He loves you that much.
So Merry Christmas. And my you all feel the presence of the Savior today and everyday to come.
Tuesday, December 25, 2012
Monday, November 26, 2012
The Wedding
Well, it's over. The guests have left, the bride and groom are at Disney,(she has already sent me pictures of Pluto's house) the lodge is cleaned, the leftovers dealt with, the trash cleared and my house, somewhat, back to normal. I'm still in activity mode. What do I do now? Christmas? I guess.
I feel like I missed Thanksgiving. Was that last week? Oh, But I am so very thankful. Thankful for the success of the wedding, thankful for all the great people who helped me, thankful for my amazing husband who was the perfect father of the bride well, after I threatened him, thankful for my new son-in-law that truly loves my daughter and us, thankful for my 3 new grandchildren that I love and love us, thankful for how Elizabeth was the greatest bridal attendant ever for her sister, thankful for Catherine's new sister-in-law who was by her side all morning of the wedding just doing whatever needed to be done, thankful for "that little Herndon girl" as my dad calls Melanie Hayes, and Judy Herndon who has done stuff like this all her life, thankful for Sheila who did whatever needed to be done whenever I wanted it done and sometimes before, thankful to Pastor Jeff who honored all of Catherine's requests, even the odd ones, and did an amazing job at the ceremony, thankful for the 5 "black apron" ladies (I made them cute black aprons to wear), thankful for my parents who helped so much and were there the day after for cleaning detail, thankful for neighbors and friends who showed up Sunday morning to help out without even my asking.
The wedding was everything and so much more that I wanted for her. OK, and me too. I think Southern Living magazine should have been there to take pictures of the serving table at the reception. Melanie Hayes is amazingly talented. I just handed her what I wanted on the table and she had it beautiful in about 15 minutes. I cried. I couldn't take it down until last thing on Sunday. Then there was the "canteen". I had set it up for a coffee bar during the wedding and reception since we had to get the people out to set up. It was beautiful. I used vintage tablecloths from Mrs. Logan and my mom. Helen would have probably died at how I had them arranged, but I loved it. My mom says that was what I was most proud of. It was great.
Friday before the wedding was crazy. I had been to the lodge everyday last week, even Thanksgiving, taking things. I think I took 8 car loads before Friday. I was up very late every night and stayed busy.One night I was so tired I walked into the laundry room and hit my head. I wore a nice goose egg to the wedding but it was not noticed, thank goodness. On Thanksgiving night, my cousin Sheila and I baked 216 cupcakes of various flavors. The day before, I had baked a four layer wedding cake. (It was actually six but the first 2 layers went in the trash; they were not pretty and flat. I know I could have saved them, but .....) Anyway, on Friday, Melanie, Judy, Sheila, mom, my sister, Lane and I were there allllllll day. I made 6 very large broccoli casseroles, mom made a ton of marinated cole slaw, we cooked 23 very large eye of round roasts, and Melanie, Sheila, and I decorated all those cupcakes assembly line style. At about lunch time, I about lost it. I think I was just overwhelmed and tired. I ate a pop tart and recovered.
After the rehearsal dinner, which was very nice, and the rehearsal, which scared me, we all left. Well, the bridesmaid and the bride and the groom and the groomsmen stayed for the night in the cottages on the grounds. We left them with a blazing campfire. I told them I had locked the lodge and for them to STAY OUT,(I didn't really lock the lodge.) Well, that didn't work. Kathlene Miller, the bridesmaid I had left in charge, called me Saturday morning around 7 asking for gator aid and goody powder and then mentioned that they may have gone into the lodge and cooked some of the rolls intended for the reception. I told her that if I saw her even look at my rolls at the reception, I would hunt her down and yank it from her hands...:) We had more than plenty.
The day of the wedding, the "Black Apron" ladies and Sherri Ruffalo showed up and finished all the cooking and food prep. Theat gave me such great peace of mind and the time to be with the girls and get ready. It was great and even relaxing. We had a blast. The photographers followed us around and we had fun with that. Everyone was beautiful. All the dresses worked and hair was done and makeup perfected. It was fantastic.
I think we ended up with about 180 or so guests AND we didn't run out of food. That was one of my biggest fears. That and falling in my red high heel shoes. Yes, the mother of the bride wore red shoes and loved them.
Catherine called us early on Sunday morning, around 7:00, to tell us again how much she loved us and appreciated all our hard work. She was more than pleased and said it was everything she had ever dreamed of and so much more...whew..that was what we wanted for our baby girl.
All I can say is that everything was wonderful and perfect and couldn't have been any better. But I do miss the lodge. It had become my home away from home for the past 4 months. Even when I wasn't there I was thinking about it and what I had to do and wanted to do. But, it is finished...it was a huge success..and I will always remember it as one of the best times of my life and I know Catherine will too.
And a very special thanks and more hugs to everyone who helped us and made it so wonderful..I love you all!!!!!
I feel like I missed Thanksgiving. Was that last week? Oh, But I am so very thankful. Thankful for the success of the wedding, thankful for all the great people who helped me, thankful for my amazing husband who was the perfect father of the bride well, after I threatened him, thankful for my new son-in-law that truly loves my daughter and us, thankful for my 3 new grandchildren that I love and love us, thankful for how Elizabeth was the greatest bridal attendant ever for her sister, thankful for Catherine's new sister-in-law who was by her side all morning of the wedding just doing whatever needed to be done, thankful for "that little Herndon girl" as my dad calls Melanie Hayes, and Judy Herndon who has done stuff like this all her life, thankful for Sheila who did whatever needed to be done whenever I wanted it done and sometimes before, thankful to Pastor Jeff who honored all of Catherine's requests, even the odd ones, and did an amazing job at the ceremony, thankful for the 5 "black apron" ladies (I made them cute black aprons to wear), thankful for my parents who helped so much and were there the day after for cleaning detail, thankful for neighbors and friends who showed up Sunday morning to help out without even my asking.
The wedding was everything and so much more that I wanted for her. OK, and me too. I think Southern Living magazine should have been there to take pictures of the serving table at the reception. Melanie Hayes is amazingly talented. I just handed her what I wanted on the table and she had it beautiful in about 15 minutes. I cried. I couldn't take it down until last thing on Sunday. Then there was the "canteen". I had set it up for a coffee bar during the wedding and reception since we had to get the people out to set up. It was beautiful. I used vintage tablecloths from Mrs. Logan and my mom. Helen would have probably died at how I had them arranged, but I loved it. My mom says that was what I was most proud of. It was great.
Friday before the wedding was crazy. I had been to the lodge everyday last week, even Thanksgiving, taking things. I think I took 8 car loads before Friday. I was up very late every night and stayed busy.One night I was so tired I walked into the laundry room and hit my head. I wore a nice goose egg to the wedding but it was not noticed, thank goodness. On Thanksgiving night, my cousin Sheila and I baked 216 cupcakes of various flavors. The day before, I had baked a four layer wedding cake. (It was actually six but the first 2 layers went in the trash; they were not pretty and flat. I know I could have saved them, but .....) Anyway, on Friday, Melanie, Judy, Sheila, mom, my sister, Lane and I were there allllllll day. I made 6 very large broccoli casseroles, mom made a ton of marinated cole slaw, we cooked 23 very large eye of round roasts, and Melanie, Sheila, and I decorated all those cupcakes assembly line style. At about lunch time, I about lost it. I think I was just overwhelmed and tired. I ate a pop tart and recovered.
After the rehearsal dinner, which was very nice, and the rehearsal, which scared me, we all left. Well, the bridesmaid and the bride and the groom and the groomsmen stayed for the night in the cottages on the grounds. We left them with a blazing campfire. I told them I had locked the lodge and for them to STAY OUT,(I didn't really lock the lodge.) Well, that didn't work. Kathlene Miller, the bridesmaid I had left in charge, called me Saturday morning around 7 asking for gator aid and goody powder and then mentioned that they may have gone into the lodge and cooked some of the rolls intended for the reception. I told her that if I saw her even look at my rolls at the reception, I would hunt her down and yank it from her hands...:) We had more than plenty.
The day of the wedding, the "Black Apron" ladies and Sherri Ruffalo showed up and finished all the cooking and food prep. Theat gave me such great peace of mind and the time to be with the girls and get ready. It was great and even relaxing. We had a blast. The photographers followed us around and we had fun with that. Everyone was beautiful. All the dresses worked and hair was done and makeup perfected. It was fantastic.
I think we ended up with about 180 or so guests AND we didn't run out of food. That was one of my biggest fears. That and falling in my red high heel shoes. Yes, the mother of the bride wore red shoes and loved them.
Catherine called us early on Sunday morning, around 7:00, to tell us again how much she loved us and appreciated all our hard work. She was more than pleased and said it was everything she had ever dreamed of and so much more...whew..that was what we wanted for our baby girl.
All I can say is that everything was wonderful and perfect and couldn't have been any better. But I do miss the lodge. It had become my home away from home for the past 4 months. Even when I wasn't there I was thinking about it and what I had to do and wanted to do. But, it is finished...it was a huge success..and I will always remember it as one of the best times of my life and I know Catherine will too.
And a very special thanks and more hugs to everyone who helped us and made it so wonderful..I love you all!!!!!
Friday, November 9, 2012
Countdown to Wedding Day...Bring It
Ready or not, there's to be a wedding in my life in 15 days. And no, I really don't have time to blog, but here I sit.
I do have a dress. The Dress. Yes, the dress Catherine said made me look like a 51 year old mother-of-the-bride. That's OK. I still love it. Now to get shoes. I want red. Catherine wants the two of us to wear matching shoes so red probably won't do. I am going to Sumter this week-end for a shower at her church and to do our shoe shopping. This will be interesting. One of us will cry.
Things really seem to be falling into place. Had a little scare at the florist today. I had called her last week to order a corsage for a shower the bridesmaids were doing (umm, I forgot to go pick it up) and told her I would come by one day this week to discuss details. We had already met a couple times but need to finalize stuff. I didn't go so I stopped by today and her comment to me was, "I didn't really realize the wedding was the Saturday after Thanksgiving." I just stared at her then reminded her that that was the first thing I had told her to be sure she could handle it. She assured me she could but had just not realized when it was. Whew, anyway, I am going on Tuesday after school and finalize what we need.
It has been crazy. Altering the wedding dress has been amazing. She is wearing my wedding dress which has been butchered and rebuilt to modernize it. It is finished and beautiful. Catherine says it is everything she wanted it to be. Good. Don't know what we would have done at this late date if it had not been what she wanted. The flower girl dresses had to have a little work and a couple of the bridesmaid dresses had to have a few alterations. I did the bridesmaid dresses and they turned out great. I have also made 10 precious aprons for the ladies helping me at the wedding. I finished all the truffles and hope I never see another one. In the beginning I was eating one every now and then. I soon tired of the nasty things. Yuck. Hate truffles.
Thank God for family and friends who have helped me so much. Some things just get frustrating and somebody always steps up to the plate for me. Blessed beyond measure. Got all the bows made, all the jars wrapped with burlap, all my orders have arrived, and my freezers are full. Every spare inch in every room of my house is stacked with .....stuff. Hitting Sams again Tuesday night and finishing my duct tape water bottles. I am making gift bags for all my helpers and am spending a lot of time with those handmade projects. I love to give and receive handmade things. They are so special and I want these gifts to be special and personal.
I have done a lot of antique shopping. I spent the night in the mountains last Thursday and went to a thousand shops on Friday. I found this place deep in the woods where a lady was having a "Barn Sale". Oh my gosh. I feel in love with her. She opens her "barn" about 6 times a year. I sat on one of her beautiful antique sofas for about an hour and a half drinking cider and talking. I felt like I had known her forever. What an amazing day it was. I love days like that. My good friend calls those days "dumb days". Days where you do something totally unexpected and unplanned. Amazing.
Catherine has had 3 showers and another one in Sumter this week-end. My aunt, Ethel Lee Crocker, gave her a fabulous "Around the Clock" shower. It was indescribably amazing. The flowers, the decorations, the food....amazing. The bridesmaids, (with the help of Shearra Miller, my mom and me) gave her a "Months of the Year" shower and my cousin gave her a drop-in shower. So she has already been thoroughly "showered". I know this one in Sumter will be fabulous.
They are going to Disney on their honeymoon. How fun. They can only stay a few days because of work but I know it will be great.
I am feeling a lot less stress this week. Last week I thought I was going to explode. All this wedding stuff was about to get to me and then i broke my cat's leg. (another blog) But the love and words of a great friend helped ease my stress and I feel like everything is going OK. (even the cat is back to normal with her cast)
I am only working through next Friday. Ethel Lee and I are going to the mountains on Sunday night and having our nails done on Monday at our favorite place we discovered. The "barn" lady is opening for us that morning. She had a couple more things I need/want for the wedding.
Monday afternoon and Tuesday will be spent baking cupcakes and the wedding cake for the wedding and visiting the lodge to clean and start getting ready to decorate. Wednesday will be back to the lodge. Turkey day...Then back to the lodge very early on Friday for the beginning of the week-end festivities. whew..a lot going on but it is going to be great.
Well, I have things to do and my babies are here. So, until next time......
I do have a dress. The Dress. Yes, the dress Catherine said made me look like a 51 year old mother-of-the-bride. That's OK. I still love it. Now to get shoes. I want red. Catherine wants the two of us to wear matching shoes so red probably won't do. I am going to Sumter this week-end for a shower at her church and to do our shoe shopping. This will be interesting. One of us will cry.
Things really seem to be falling into place. Had a little scare at the florist today. I had called her last week to order a corsage for a shower the bridesmaids were doing (umm, I forgot to go pick it up) and told her I would come by one day this week to discuss details. We had already met a couple times but need to finalize stuff. I didn't go so I stopped by today and her comment to me was, "I didn't really realize the wedding was the Saturday after Thanksgiving." I just stared at her then reminded her that that was the first thing I had told her to be sure she could handle it. She assured me she could but had just not realized when it was. Whew, anyway, I am going on Tuesday after school and finalize what we need.
It has been crazy. Altering the wedding dress has been amazing. She is wearing my wedding dress which has been butchered and rebuilt to modernize it. It is finished and beautiful. Catherine says it is everything she wanted it to be. Good. Don't know what we would have done at this late date if it had not been what she wanted. The flower girl dresses had to have a little work and a couple of the bridesmaid dresses had to have a few alterations. I did the bridesmaid dresses and they turned out great. I have also made 10 precious aprons for the ladies helping me at the wedding. I finished all the truffles and hope I never see another one. In the beginning I was eating one every now and then. I soon tired of the nasty things. Yuck. Hate truffles.
Thank God for family and friends who have helped me so much. Some things just get frustrating and somebody always steps up to the plate for me. Blessed beyond measure. Got all the bows made, all the jars wrapped with burlap, all my orders have arrived, and my freezers are full. Every spare inch in every room of my house is stacked with .....stuff. Hitting Sams again Tuesday night and finishing my duct tape water bottles. I am making gift bags for all my helpers and am spending a lot of time with those handmade projects. I love to give and receive handmade things. They are so special and I want these gifts to be special and personal.
I have done a lot of antique shopping. I spent the night in the mountains last Thursday and went to a thousand shops on Friday. I found this place deep in the woods where a lady was having a "Barn Sale". Oh my gosh. I feel in love with her. She opens her "barn" about 6 times a year. I sat on one of her beautiful antique sofas for about an hour and a half drinking cider and talking. I felt like I had known her forever. What an amazing day it was. I love days like that. My good friend calls those days "dumb days". Days where you do something totally unexpected and unplanned. Amazing.
Catherine has had 3 showers and another one in Sumter this week-end. My aunt, Ethel Lee Crocker, gave her a fabulous "Around the Clock" shower. It was indescribably amazing. The flowers, the decorations, the food....amazing. The bridesmaids, (with the help of Shearra Miller, my mom and me) gave her a "Months of the Year" shower and my cousin gave her a drop-in shower. So she has already been thoroughly "showered". I know this one in Sumter will be fabulous.
They are going to Disney on their honeymoon. How fun. They can only stay a few days because of work but I know it will be great.
I am feeling a lot less stress this week. Last week I thought I was going to explode. All this wedding stuff was about to get to me and then i broke my cat's leg. (another blog) But the love and words of a great friend helped ease my stress and I feel like everything is going OK. (even the cat is back to normal with her cast)
I am only working through next Friday. Ethel Lee and I are going to the mountains on Sunday night and having our nails done on Monday at our favorite place we discovered. The "barn" lady is opening for us that morning. She had a couple more things I need/want for the wedding.
Monday afternoon and Tuesday will be spent baking cupcakes and the wedding cake for the wedding and visiting the lodge to clean and start getting ready to decorate. Wednesday will be back to the lodge. Turkey day...Then back to the lodge very early on Friday for the beginning of the week-end festivities. whew..a lot going on but it is going to be great.
Well, I have things to do and my babies are here. So, until next time......
Sunday, October 7, 2012
Wedding Planning Chaos
WOW. The wedding planning is well underway around here. My house is full of, well, stuff. Cups, wreaths, ribbon, lots of ribbon, tons of ribbon, more ribbon than that, truffles, lots of truffles, lots of burlap, more ribbon, mason jars, more ribbon, more fabric, cowgirl boots, bottles of water that need to be dressed up, dresses (except no dress for me) cute little place card holders to use on the reception table, sparkly stuff to hang on the rafters at the lodge, candles, lots of candles, deer antlers (don't ask), vintage table cloths for the breakfast buffet, toilet paper and paper towels for all the cabins. I also have a freezer full of food items that can be purchased this far ahead. I also have a store house of non-perishable food items in the guest room. There is even stuff here that I don't remember what it is for. Oh well, I am sure it will come to me.
And then there are the lists. Guest lists, bridal party lists, lists of food, lists of drinks, lists of things for me to do now, lists for the bride to do now, lists to do next week, lists to buy, lists to ask others to do. I have a list of things I have to get made and I also have a list of things that have been ordered; cups, napkins, flowers, signs, etc. You name it, I have a list for it. I even have a list for my lists..Seriously.
My mind is constantly on this wedding. Lane and I were in the mountains this week-end and I took truffles and wrapped them. Well, about a third of them. I also took 75 yards of tulle to make some of the bows for the wreaths but forget something I needed and didn't get to those.
I don't know what I would do without my dear friends who have helped me with things and who are coming over this week to help more. Sticking stamps on invitations and response cards is going to be loads of fun...yeah....and then sticking all that stuff in the envelops. fun, fun. This couldn't be more fun than the day Catherine and I sat up my kitchen as a print shop and printed all those invitations and response cards and return envelops only to discover three days later that we had left off one tiny bit of info on the invitations....THE TIME of the dang wedding. We were both all over those darn things allllll day. How did we miss that???? Fortunately, I was able to slip the invitations back through the printer and get it on there. Perfectly, I might add.
Now, I mentioned above that I have no dress. That's right, the mother of the bride has no dress. I have tried. Me, mom and my aunt went to a place in Shelby she had suggested. I forget the name of it but it is on 74 kinda across from the Wal-Mart area. Never knew it was there. Well, the minute we pulled into the parking lot, I slammed on the brakes and screamed. My dream dress was hanging in the window. I ran in the store and had the little lady yank it out of the window. Never mind that it was a size 2 or something stupid, I tried it on and LOVED it. There were only a few tiny problems. I am not a size 2 so it wouldn't zip and the color totally clashed with the brides maid dresses. They could order it for me but I refuse to order a dress. What if I don;t like it when I try it on??? Nope, not ordering a dress. The next day I was in Charlotte visiting with my precious babies and left early enough to go the Belk's at Southpark. The minute I walked into the formal ware area, I saw a dress that stopped me dead in my tracks. My first thought was that my mother would say, "Donna, that dress looks just like you". I took a picture of it and sent it to Catherine. She told me to put it on, go in the dressing room and take my picture in the mirror like a teenager would do. So, that is what I did. I then sent her the picture and her response???? "Mom, that dress is beautiful and looks great on you but you look like a 51 year old mother-of-the-bride." Hmmmmm. Somebody help me out here. Is that not what I am???
So, I didn't buy the dress but it is still on my mind. Who knows, I may go back and get it. It is beautiful but I have to keep reminding myself that this wedding is in the woods.
So, the planning and preparations continue. And the dress? It will happen. I hope.....
And then there are the lists. Guest lists, bridal party lists, lists of food, lists of drinks, lists of things for me to do now, lists for the bride to do now, lists to do next week, lists to buy, lists to ask others to do. I have a list of things I have to get made and I also have a list of things that have been ordered; cups, napkins, flowers, signs, etc. You name it, I have a list for it. I even have a list for my lists..Seriously.
My mind is constantly on this wedding. Lane and I were in the mountains this week-end and I took truffles and wrapped them. Well, about a third of them. I also took 75 yards of tulle to make some of the bows for the wreaths but forget something I needed and didn't get to those.
I don't know what I would do without my dear friends who have helped me with things and who are coming over this week to help more. Sticking stamps on invitations and response cards is going to be loads of fun...yeah....and then sticking all that stuff in the envelops. fun, fun. This couldn't be more fun than the day Catherine and I sat up my kitchen as a print shop and printed all those invitations and response cards and return envelops only to discover three days later that we had left off one tiny bit of info on the invitations....THE TIME of the dang wedding. We were both all over those darn things allllll day. How did we miss that???? Fortunately, I was able to slip the invitations back through the printer and get it on there. Perfectly, I might add.
Now, I mentioned above that I have no dress. That's right, the mother of the bride has no dress. I have tried. Me, mom and my aunt went to a place in Shelby she had suggested. I forget the name of it but it is on 74 kinda across from the Wal-Mart area. Never knew it was there. Well, the minute we pulled into the parking lot, I slammed on the brakes and screamed. My dream dress was hanging in the window. I ran in the store and had the little lady yank it out of the window. Never mind that it was a size 2 or something stupid, I tried it on and LOVED it. There were only a few tiny problems. I am not a size 2 so it wouldn't zip and the color totally clashed with the brides maid dresses. They could order it for me but I refuse to order a dress. What if I don;t like it when I try it on??? Nope, not ordering a dress. The next day I was in Charlotte visiting with my precious babies and left early enough to go the Belk's at Southpark. The minute I walked into the formal ware area, I saw a dress that stopped me dead in my tracks. My first thought was that my mother would say, "Donna, that dress looks just like you". I took a picture of it and sent it to Catherine. She told me to put it on, go in the dressing room and take my picture in the mirror like a teenager would do. So, that is what I did. I then sent her the picture and her response???? "Mom, that dress is beautiful and looks great on you but you look like a 51 year old mother-of-the-bride." Hmmmmm. Somebody help me out here. Is that not what I am???
So, I didn't buy the dress but it is still on my mind. Who knows, I may go back and get it. It is beautiful but I have to keep reminding myself that this wedding is in the woods.
So, the planning and preparations continue. And the dress? It will happen. I hope.....
Goodbye Amy Vanderbilt
WOW. The wedding planning is well underway around here. My house is full of, well, stuff. Cups, wreaths, ribbon, lots of ribbon, tons of ribbon, more ribbon than that, truffles, lots of truffles, lots of burlap, more ribbon, mason jars, more ribon, more fabric, cowgirl boots, bottles of water that need to be dressed up, dresses (except no dress for me) cute little place card holders to use on the reception table, sparkley stuff to hang on the rafters at the lodge, candles, lots of candles, deer antles (don't ask), vintage table cloths for the breakfast buffet, toilet paper and paper towels for all the cabins. I also have a freezer full of food items that can be purchased this far ahead. I also have a store house of non-perishable food items in the guest room. There is even stuff here that I don't remember what it is for. Oh well, I am sure it will come to me.
And then there are the lists. Guest lists, bridal party lists, lists of food, lists of drinks, lists of things for me to do now, lists for the bride to do now, lists to do next week, lists to buy, lists to ask others to do. I have a list of things I have to get made and I also have a list of things that have been ordered; cups, napkins, flowers, signs, etc. You name it, I have a list for it. I even hae a list for my lists..Seriously.
My mind is constantly on this wedding. Lane and I were in the mountains this week-end and I took truffles and wrapped them. Well, about a third of them. I also took 75 yards of toille to make some of the bows for the wreaths but forget something I needed and didn't get to those.
I don't know what I would do without my dear friends who have helped me with things and who are coming over this week to help more. Sticking stamps on invitations and response cards is going to be loads of fun...yeah....and then sticking all that stuff in the envelops. fun, fun. This couldn't be more fun than the day Catherine and I sat up my kitchen as a print shop and printed all those invitations and response cards and return envelops only to discover three days later that we had left off one tiny bit of info on the invitations....THE TIME of the dang wedding. We were both all over those darn things allllll day. How did we miss that???? Fortunately, I was able to slip the invitations back through the printer and get it on there. Perfectly, I might add.
Now, I mentioned above that I have no dress. That's right, the mother of the bride has no dress. I have tried. Me, mom and my aunt went to a place in Shelby she had suggested. I forget the name of it but it is on 74 kinda across from the Wal-Mart area. Never knew it was there. Well, the minute we pulled into the parking lot, I slammed on the brakes and screamed. My dream dress was hanging in the window. I ran in the store and had the little lady yank it out of the window. Never mind that it was a size 2 or something stupid, I tried it on and LOVED it. There were only a few tiny problems. I am not a size 2 so it wouldn't zip and the color totally clashed with the brides maid dresses. They could order it for me but I refuse to order a dress. What if I don;t like it when I try it on??? Nope, not ordering a dress. The next day I was in Charlotte visiting with my precious babies and left early enough to go th Belk's at Southpark. The minute I walked into the formal ware area, I saw a dress that stopped me dead in my tracks. My first thought was that my mother would say, "Donna, that dress looks just like you". I took a poicture of it and sent it to Catherine. She told me to put it on, go in the dressing room and take my picture in the mirror like a teenager would do. So, that is what I did. I then sent her the picture and her repsonse???? "Mom, that dress is beautiful and looks great on you but you look like a 51 year old mother-of-the-bride." Hmmmmm. Somebody help me out here. Is that not what I am???
So, I didn't buy the dress but it is still on my mind. Who knows, I may go back and get it. It is beautiful but I have to keep reminding myself that this wedding is in the woods.
So, the planning and preparations continue. And the dress? It will happen. I hope.....
And then there are the lists. Guest lists, bridal party lists, lists of food, lists of drinks, lists of things for me to do now, lists for the bride to do now, lists to do next week, lists to buy, lists to ask others to do. I have a list of things I have to get made and I also have a list of things that have been ordered; cups, napkins, flowers, signs, etc. You name it, I have a list for it. I even hae a list for my lists..Seriously.
My mind is constantly on this wedding. Lane and I were in the mountains this week-end and I took truffles and wrapped them. Well, about a third of them. I also took 75 yards of toille to make some of the bows for the wreaths but forget something I needed and didn't get to those.
I don't know what I would do without my dear friends who have helped me with things and who are coming over this week to help more. Sticking stamps on invitations and response cards is going to be loads of fun...yeah....and then sticking all that stuff in the envelops. fun, fun. This couldn't be more fun than the day Catherine and I sat up my kitchen as a print shop and printed all those invitations and response cards and return envelops only to discover three days later that we had left off one tiny bit of info on the invitations....THE TIME of the dang wedding. We were both all over those darn things allllll day. How did we miss that???? Fortunately, I was able to slip the invitations back through the printer and get it on there. Perfectly, I might add.
Now, I mentioned above that I have no dress. That's right, the mother of the bride has no dress. I have tried. Me, mom and my aunt went to a place in Shelby she had suggested. I forget the name of it but it is on 74 kinda across from the Wal-Mart area. Never knew it was there. Well, the minute we pulled into the parking lot, I slammed on the brakes and screamed. My dream dress was hanging in the window. I ran in the store and had the little lady yank it out of the window. Never mind that it was a size 2 or something stupid, I tried it on and LOVED it. There were only a few tiny problems. I am not a size 2 so it wouldn't zip and the color totally clashed with the brides maid dresses. They could order it for me but I refuse to order a dress. What if I don;t like it when I try it on??? Nope, not ordering a dress. The next day I was in Charlotte visiting with my precious babies and left early enough to go th Belk's at Southpark. The minute I walked into the formal ware area, I saw a dress that stopped me dead in my tracks. My first thought was that my mother would say, "Donna, that dress looks just like you". I took a poicture of it and sent it to Catherine. She told me to put it on, go in the dressing room and take my picture in the mirror like a teenager would do. So, that is what I did. I then sent her the picture and her repsonse???? "Mom, that dress is beautiful and looks great on you but you look like a 51 year old mother-of-the-bride." Hmmmmm. Somebody help me out here. Is that not what I am???
So, I didn't buy the dress but it is still on my mind. Who knows, I may go back and get it. It is beautiful but I have to keep reminding myself that this wedding is in the woods.
So, the planning and preparations continue. And the dress? It will happen. I hope.....
Sunday, July 29, 2012
The Adventures of Daniel "Lane" Boone and His Innocent Companion
I walk every day. Usually 4 or so miles. I'm addicted. My day is not complete without walking. Recently, my loving and adoring spouse has joined me on occassion. We have walked the gateway, we have a trial near our house we walk, and yesterday we walked the trail from Lake Crawford to the National Park. Fun. We have a good time and we laugh a lot and just enjoy each other's company. I know, awwwwwww. Well, my husband decided he was going to take our lab and little Tobi and go to the woods over behind the old Sadie mill. I decided not to join him so I texted my loyal walking companion to see if she wanted to walk. Hubby left and I didn't hear from her immediately so, figuring she was too busy for me, I called hubby and told him to wait on me behind the mill and I would join him. I thought this was the wifely thing to do since I am leaving for the beach for 4 days in the a.m. without him. Quality time. hmmmm.
Hubby told me to put on jeans because the path (and I use the word loosely) was a little overgrown. Now, happily, I have lost 43 pounds and have no jeans. Things to do: BUY JEANS. I figured a pair of shorts and my old walking shoes would be fine. It was hot outside. So I changed clothes and headed on over. When I got there, I set my GPS watch, grabbed my bottle of water and stuffed my keys into my pocket. We started by walking around the soybean field on a nice little tractor road. This was good. I was thrilled with the path. Then about 2/10s of a mile (according to watch) we took a turn into the woods. This is where I really should have turned around and left. But, being the trooper I am, I followed my leader
We have walked here a thousand times over the years. The girls used to come with us when they were home. There were always some great 4-wheeler paths through here. (Note to self, kids don't ride 4-wheelers that much anymore, they are on the internet.) At this turn into the words there is a nice bridge across the creek. Well, there used to be a nice bridge. Now there is just an old rotten log or telephone pole or something. Hubby went across first, as I beat my way through the brush, then Toby, There is the next place I should have turned and left. With a little help and holding my breath, I made it across the pole. Here we took a left and about 20 yards later (next point where I should have turned and left) we encounter mounds of poison ivy and briers. Loving and adoring husband assures me the path gets clearer up ahead. Boy was he wrong. It got worse and worse and worse. This whole time he is about 10 feet OR MORE ahead of me and frequently turns to smile and ask if I am still there. The only time he doesn't smile is when I stop, look down at my legs as the blood gushes from them and the mosquitoes swarm and burst into tears and scream "TAKE ME HOME". If I had taken my cell phone, I would have called my daddy to come to my rescue.
Anyway, I get settled down and Lane assures me there is a clearing ahead and when we reach it, I tell him to take me to the nearest road. There was one point where the path was a pine tree. I had to walk about 30 feet on a pine tree. At the end or beginning or root or whatever of this tree was a huge hole filled with muddy water and probably all sorts of creatures and snakes. I had to walk around this death whole on a ledge that was about 3 inches wide. (Too late to turn around and leave now.)
I honestly believe we walked around in circles trying to find Canterbury Road. My husband, being a typical man, was absolutely sure he knew exactly where we were. At one point he asked me to check my watch and see how far we had walked. It had lost it's signal and was flashing at me. I honestly think it was smirking at me saying, "ha ha, your lost in the words, bleeding, being attacked by mosquitoes and briers, I bet you stay on pavement from now on."
Cars. I could hear cars and knew we had to be close to the road. We finally came to a service road of some sort that lead to Canterbury Road. We had one problem at this point. The dogs. Since we were in the woods, he had taken off their collars and left their leashes in the car. My husband, and this is the ONLY good thing I have to say about him right now, took kudzu vines and made the neatest collars and leashes for the dogs. They were amazing.
So, with the dogs properly leashed we headed out of the woods toward Canterbury Road only to be stopped in our tracks by the barking of a very loud very big dog., Well, I never actually saw the dog but I know it was big. I grabbed a big stick and headed on out to the most wonderful sight in the world. Canterbury Road.
Now, the way people were staring at us as they drove by, you would think they had never seen two people leading to dogs on kudzu leashes, a women with smeared mascara from crying in the woods, and blood gushing down her legs, and a crazy man laughing at her. If I had seen these two people, I would have stopped to help them. Well, no I wouldn't have either. I would have called the police.
We walked up Canterbury toward King Street. Lane said we would go behind Patriot Jacks and be back in the soybean filed. Of course the church there was packed with people and we just very quietly walked through their parking lot to the back of the church and headed back into the words. More briers, poison ivy and tears, At the beginning of this adventure, I was careful to respect the soybeans but by this time I could not have cared less about the plants and headed straight through the middle of the field. I felt like Dorothy running through the poppies headed to Oz. When we finally reached our cars, Lane's only words to me were, "I'll see you at home". My words to him? Well, let's just say they weren't very nice.
Hubby told me to put on jeans because the path (and I use the word loosely) was a little overgrown. Now, happily, I have lost 43 pounds and have no jeans. Things to do: BUY JEANS. I figured a pair of shorts and my old walking shoes would be fine. It was hot outside. So I changed clothes and headed on over. When I got there, I set my GPS watch, grabbed my bottle of water and stuffed my keys into my pocket. We started by walking around the soybean field on a nice little tractor road. This was good. I was thrilled with the path. Then about 2/10s of a mile (according to watch) we took a turn into the woods. This is where I really should have turned around and left. But, being the trooper I am, I followed my leader
We have walked here a thousand times over the years. The girls used to come with us when they were home. There were always some great 4-wheeler paths through here. (Note to self, kids don't ride 4-wheelers that much anymore, they are on the internet.) At this turn into the words there is a nice bridge across the creek. Well, there used to be a nice bridge. Now there is just an old rotten log or telephone pole or something. Hubby went across first, as I beat my way through the brush, then Toby, There is the next place I should have turned and left. With a little help and holding my breath, I made it across the pole. Here we took a left and about 20 yards later (next point where I should have turned and left) we encounter mounds of poison ivy and briers. Loving and adoring husband assures me the path gets clearer up ahead. Boy was he wrong. It got worse and worse and worse. This whole time he is about 10 feet OR MORE ahead of me and frequently turns to smile and ask if I am still there. The only time he doesn't smile is when I stop, look down at my legs as the blood gushes from them and the mosquitoes swarm and burst into tears and scream "TAKE ME HOME". If I had taken my cell phone, I would have called my daddy to come to my rescue.
Anyway, I get settled down and Lane assures me there is a clearing ahead and when we reach it, I tell him to take me to the nearest road. There was one point where the path was a pine tree. I had to walk about 30 feet on a pine tree. At the end or beginning or root or whatever of this tree was a huge hole filled with muddy water and probably all sorts of creatures and snakes. I had to walk around this death whole on a ledge that was about 3 inches wide. (Too late to turn around and leave now.)
I honestly believe we walked around in circles trying to find Canterbury Road. My husband, being a typical man, was absolutely sure he knew exactly where we were. At one point he asked me to check my watch and see how far we had walked. It had lost it's signal and was flashing at me. I honestly think it was smirking at me saying, "ha ha, your lost in the words, bleeding, being attacked by mosquitoes and briers, I bet you stay on pavement from now on."
Cars. I could hear cars and knew we had to be close to the road. We finally came to a service road of some sort that lead to Canterbury Road. We had one problem at this point. The dogs. Since we were in the woods, he had taken off their collars and left their leashes in the car. My husband, and this is the ONLY good thing I have to say about him right now, took kudzu vines and made the neatest collars and leashes for the dogs. They were amazing.
So, with the dogs properly leashed we headed out of the woods toward Canterbury Road only to be stopped in our tracks by the barking of a very loud very big dog., Well, I never actually saw the dog but I know it was big. I grabbed a big stick and headed on out to the most wonderful sight in the world. Canterbury Road.
Now, the way people were staring at us as they drove by, you would think they had never seen two people leading to dogs on kudzu leashes, a women with smeared mascara from crying in the woods, and blood gushing down her legs, and a crazy man laughing at her. If I had seen these two people, I would have stopped to help them. Well, no I wouldn't have either. I would have called the police.
We walked up Canterbury toward King Street. Lane said we would go behind Patriot Jacks and be back in the soybean filed. Of course the church there was packed with people and we just very quietly walked through their parking lot to the back of the church and headed back into the words. More briers, poison ivy and tears, At the beginning of this adventure, I was careful to respect the soybeans but by this time I could not have cared less about the plants and headed straight through the middle of the field. I felt like Dorothy running through the poppies headed to Oz. When we finally reached our cars, Lane's only words to me were, "I'll see you at home". My words to him? Well, let's just say they weren't very nice.
Sunday, July 22, 2012
Mother of the Bride
It's official....I Am The Mother of The Bride. Along with this "title" comes major responsibilities. Following, in no special order, are a few things that come to mind: sleepless nights, panic attacks, decisions about colors, flowers, music, photography, food, dishes, guests, dresses, male attire, centerpieces, other decorations, invitations, response cards, Wilek carrying a ring down the aisle, what to have catered and what to make ourselves, weather, wild animals, spiders, lizards, bears, breakfast the day of the wedding, lunch the day of the wedding, breakfast the morning after the wedding, will there be leftovers from the wedding? will there be enough food at the wedding? how many people will actually be there, how many people will be spending the night(there are 35 cottages at this place) will the lodge hold everybody, gifts for my "special helpers".....oh, the list goes on and on.
I know, people do this all the time and everything works out but before it can work out, it has to get done.
Catherine, Elizabeth and I have done great thing in the last 7 days. The most important thing (at this point) was the venue. That was secured on Monday with great surprises. (In the effort of not spoiling the surprises of the wedding, I am sworn to secrecy about venue and the wedding week-end events). I will say that it is going to be amazing. And yes, we have changed it from "Wedding Day" to "Wedding Week-End". The venue is ours for the week-end so we have planned to take full advantage of that.
I have had to rechanel my thoughts on wedding planning to modern day themes. I had to throw my "Amy Vanderbilt Complete Book of Wedding Etiquette" book out the window. I am now in the phase of acceptance and really in high gear with this modern wedding theme of outdoors, cowboy boots, and smores bar. Oh, I will, somehow, manage to sneak a little southern flare into this. Just you wait......
I know, people do this all the time and everything works out but before it can work out, it has to get done.
Catherine, Elizabeth and I have done great thing in the last 7 days. The most important thing (at this point) was the venue. That was secured on Monday with great surprises. (In the effort of not spoiling the surprises of the wedding, I am sworn to secrecy about venue and the wedding week-end events). I will say that it is going to be amazing. And yes, we have changed it from "Wedding Day" to "Wedding Week-End". The venue is ours for the week-end so we have planned to take full advantage of that.
I have had to rechanel my thoughts on wedding planning to modern day themes. I had to throw my "Amy Vanderbilt Complete Book of Wedding Etiquette" book out the window. I am now in the phase of acceptance and really in high gear with this modern wedding theme of outdoors, cowboy boots, and smores bar. Oh, I will, somehow, manage to sneak a little southern flare into this. Just you wait......
Saturday, March 24, 2012
I have "observed" recently that when we have the babes on the week-end, I spend most of the time in the kitchen.....with them. Adalai and I have spent countless Saturdays cooking, baking and crafting and now my precious little boy is right in the mix of things with us. How precious it is to watch them get so excited about making something with Gamma. Wilek will grab a chair and scoot it right up to the counter before I can turn around. He loves eggs. Still trying to teach him how to crack one, yes, at the age of 18 months. Seriously!!!!!
Adalai is a master with a hand mixer and can measure ingredients like a champ. Well, I have to show her which mark to go to, but she can do it.
Memories. That's what keeps go ing through my mind. Someday, when I am dead and gone, they will, hopefully, remember those Saturdays at my counter whipping up something. They also might learn something.
When I was a little girl, we lived way out in the country. Well, not really that far, but it seemed that way to me. We raised our own vegetable, meat, and my mom made my clothes. We never spent the night away from home except occasionally we would get to spend the night with a cousin. (As I got older, if my dad had known some of the things we did he would not have let me go there either.:), just saying.) Anyway, I was not really sheltered, but my dad was very, very protective and very practical. My parents felt that dance, and brownies, and music lessons were a lot less important for a country girl than 4-H club. Oh, don't get me wrong, I did love the 4-H club: I pledge my head to clearer thinking, my heart to greater loyalty, my hands to larger service and my health to better living, for my club, my community, my country, and my world. I learned a lot in 4-H. I guess the most important things I learned were cooking, sewing and gardening. Three things I love to this day. Put me in the kitchen, at my sewing machine or in my yard and I'm a happy person. Did those girls who took dance and were Brownies feel the same about their experiences? Hmmmmm. Food for thought. Maybe my parents knew a little bit after all.
Anyway, I hope Adalai and Wilek will treasure these things as much as I do. Dance and Brownies and music are all very important and I have been a part of all of these in one way or another. Weekly dance classes for my girls for years, I WAS a Brownie leader, and both my girls have musical talents. But as for me, I'm glad I was in 4-H and thank you, Mrs. Greene, for everything you did to help me. I can still make a mean vanilla pudding from scratch. Oh, I won a blue ribbon at a competition for that....Just saying...
Adalai is a master with a hand mixer and can measure ingredients like a champ. Well, I have to show her which mark to go to, but she can do it.
Memories. That's what keeps go ing through my mind. Someday, when I am dead and gone, they will, hopefully, remember those Saturdays at my counter whipping up something. They also might learn something.
When I was a little girl, we lived way out in the country. Well, not really that far, but it seemed that way to me. We raised our own vegetable, meat, and my mom made my clothes. We never spent the night away from home except occasionally we would get to spend the night with a cousin. (As I got older, if my dad had known some of the things we did he would not have let me go there either.:), just saying.) Anyway, I was not really sheltered, but my dad was very, very protective and very practical. My parents felt that dance, and brownies, and music lessons were a lot less important for a country girl than 4-H club. Oh, don't get me wrong, I did love the 4-H club: I pledge my head to clearer thinking, my heart to greater loyalty, my hands to larger service and my health to better living, for my club, my community, my country, and my world. I learned a lot in 4-H. I guess the most important things I learned were cooking, sewing and gardening. Three things I love to this day. Put me in the kitchen, at my sewing machine or in my yard and I'm a happy person. Did those girls who took dance and were Brownies feel the same about their experiences? Hmmmmm. Food for thought. Maybe my parents knew a little bit after all.
Anyway, I hope Adalai and Wilek will treasure these things as much as I do. Dance and Brownies and music are all very important and I have been a part of all of these in one way or another. Weekly dance classes for my girls for years, I WAS a Brownie leader, and both my girls have musical talents. But as for me, I'm glad I was in 4-H and thank you, Mrs. Greene, for everything you did to help me. I can still make a mean vanilla pudding from scratch. Oh, I won a blue ribbon at a competition for that....Just saying...
Saturday, January 7, 2012
WOW...Apparently, I haven't observed anything since November. Well, maybe I have and just didn't write it down. I love writing/blogging. Even if nobody reads what I write, it is a great way to express thoughts, feelings and ideas about, well, any and everything on your mind. It's kinda like poetry. When I teach poetry to my 8th grades, I always start off explaining that poety is nothing more than somebody's thoughts, feelings and ideas about something. So, everybody can write because verybody has thoughts feelings and ideas about somethingl
Let's take my 81 year old dad for example. I know, without a doubt, that he has thoughts feelings and ideas about lots of things. I ask him things everyday. And he always has an answer. Sometimes very useful and other times, well, let's just say I look at him and wonder where that came from. He is 81, you know. 81!!! Can you imagine living 81 years? Thats a long time in one sense and not very long at all in another sense. If you put a penny a year in a jar you would only have 81 cents. Hmmm. Thought provoking.
I have been walking. ALOT. Everyday that I can. I'm hooked. I feel so much better when I walk and I sure do sleep good. Oh, and I am losing some weight. I have to get serious next week. I want to lose 10 pounds....fast. Anyway, on these walks, which I usually go on by myself, I have lots of time to think. Lately I have been thinking about my life and changes and goals and desires. With the new year, I know most people make resolutions. I didn't really make any this year. But I do have things I want to do. I want to grow more in my faith. I want to walk closer to my loving God. I want to love and serve others more. I want to spend more time outside. I want to camp more. I want to be creative. These are some of my goals. Nothing to drastic or unattainable.
But mostly what I have been thinking about lately is what I have. How did I get chosen to be so blessed? I'm not that great. Well, I'm pretty great, but no better than anybody else? I mean why do I have a nice home, healthy family, plenty, if not too much, food. Nice clothes. A car. A good job. I look around me all the time and just praise God for his goodness. But sometimes I feel a little guilty. I see people struggle. Kids at school. People I know. Older people who are lonely. People who just seem lost in this big ole world.
So, my biggest goal for this year is to reach out more. Serve more. Love more. Be more than I have been. I am so blessed. Thank you, God.
Let's take my 81 year old dad for example. I know, without a doubt, that he has thoughts feelings and ideas about lots of things. I ask him things everyday. And he always has an answer. Sometimes very useful and other times, well, let's just say I look at him and wonder where that came from. He is 81, you know. 81!!! Can you imagine living 81 years? Thats a long time in one sense and not very long at all in another sense. If you put a penny a year in a jar you would only have 81 cents. Hmmm. Thought provoking.
I have been walking. ALOT. Everyday that I can. I'm hooked. I feel so much better when I walk and I sure do sleep good. Oh, and I am losing some weight. I have to get serious next week. I want to lose 10 pounds....fast. Anyway, on these walks, which I usually go on by myself, I have lots of time to think. Lately I have been thinking about my life and changes and goals and desires. With the new year, I know most people make resolutions. I didn't really make any this year. But I do have things I want to do. I want to grow more in my faith. I want to walk closer to my loving God. I want to love and serve others more. I want to spend more time outside. I want to camp more. I want to be creative. These are some of my goals. Nothing to drastic or unattainable.
But mostly what I have been thinking about lately is what I have. How did I get chosen to be so blessed? I'm not that great. Well, I'm pretty great, but no better than anybody else? I mean why do I have a nice home, healthy family, plenty, if not too much, food. Nice clothes. A car. A good job. I look around me all the time and just praise God for his goodness. But sometimes I feel a little guilty. I see people struggle. Kids at school. People I know. Older people who are lonely. People who just seem lost in this big ole world.
So, my biggest goal for this year is to reach out more. Serve more. Love more. Be more than I have been. I am so blessed. Thank you, God.
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