Baby Brother Wedding Extravaganza!

So my baby brother Paul is all grown up and married. He had a super wedding up in Johnstown, PA. I got to hang out with his wife, Nicole's sisters, who are just as fun and great as she is. He has really chosen well! There is just something about weddings that is awesome. Two people coming together to make promises with God to each other. I love it!

This was a first for us, our kids were at the wedding. Alyssa was the flower girl and did a superb job, which is good because with a 4 year old, there is a bit of risk involved, you never know what they might do. She was angelic. Patrick actually fell asleep on the pew! That was great, he couldn't have been more well-behaved. Although, I was a bit worried looking across the aisle at him asleep, he never does that! Of course I thought something had to be wrong. No, he was just wiped out. They had an awesome time dancing at the reception and eating from the cookie table. Which for the first time in Alyssa's life did she admit to eating too many cookies, "Mommy, my tummy hurts, I think I ate too many cookies." Wow!

As for Paul and Nicole, I am so happy for them. In each other they have found such love. They go together so well. It is so nice to see my brother so happy and having so much fun. At their wedding I prayed that their marriage be blessed by, "love, faith, perseverance, forgiveness, mercy, babies, and laughter" for the invocation.

"Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity." Colossians 3:12-17

"If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames,but have not love, I gain nothing.

4Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

8Love never fails." 1 Corinthians 13: 1-8.

Well-Built

Six months later . . . the project continues. The top picture shows Paul and Brett during the demolishtion of the bathroom in December. The 2nd pic is taken after putting up the drywall, Brett's dad helped with that. My mom and Joel helped us spacel (sp?) and tape the walls and now finally Paul, Brett and Alyssa are priming the walls! It's been a long haul, but things are really starting to shape up in there. Next I have to learn how to tile. I am a little terrified of that. That will make all the difference in how that shower holds up. What a learning curve for us.

"He is like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built." Luke 6:48

"Unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labor in vain." Psalm 127:1

To my cousin

So, apparently people read this thing! Whoohoo! My cousin Lisa just e-mailed me to tell me I hadn't posted in awhile and she was awaiting a new entry. So this is for you, Lisa!

Since I wrote last this is what we have been up to . . .
-the beach with Grandma Linny and Grandpa Charlie, cousins Grayson and Shay. The beach was fantastic. The best weather we've seen in a long time on Memorial Day weekend. There were these huge tidepools the kids played, excuse me, swam in. Alyssa could actually swim underwater.

I got to take the kids to a butterfly exhibit with some friends. That was totally fun. The kids loved it. I tried to be educational and bought a guide for Alyssa to identify the kinds of butterflies she saw flying around, but she kept handing the thing back to me. She just wanted to catch one, which of course, they don't allow!

Brett and I had a little getaway of our own. We went down to Williamsburg for the wedding of our friends Ryan and Carey. We had a great reunion with some of Brett's college friends and their wives. A great time! All except I think the King's Arms Tavern gave Brett and our friend Trish food poisoning. They both had the ham sandwich and were sick, sick, sick the next day. Too bad, Williamsburg used to be known for very good quality food. This time there was a marked difference, very mediocre. However, the weekend was so fun and we've been waiting for the day Ryan would tie the knot! Carey is such a awesome girl--both of them are so laid back, so was the wedding which made it extra fun. Everyone was in flip flops by reception time.

We just went to wedding last night for one of Brett's co-workers. Small ceremony and reception but very nicely done.

Now we are gearing up for my brother's wedding. That I cannot wait for. I get to see lots of my family. I am so excited for Paul, he's found such a wonderful partner in Nicole. They are a great pair. Full of fun and love.

I am so thankful for all the love we have been celebrating this month. I pray for all these couples perseverance, faithfulness, laughter, togetherness, respect, humility, patience and love.