Parks, Patios, and Pictures

I feel like I've finally gotten over the post-wedding bla's.

The Monday after the wedding, C and I went to Disneyland with some friends of ours. Tomo, Yoshi and Mado came over from Japan to attend LK's wedding. Fifteen years ago Tomo came to the U.S. as an international student, and we were his host family. We had a fun filled three years getting to know him, and later his wife: Yoshi. Now they are parents of a beautiful 2-year-old little girl (Mado). As it turns out, we had free Disney tickets and asked to treat them to a day at the Magic Kingdom.

I've never been to Disneyland with a young child before, and I now realize why Mom and Dad didn't go when we were little. You just have to take things slowly. I think we went on a total of five rides, and stood in line to see Mickey Mouse for over an hour. BUT we had a marvelous time, and Mado walked everywhere--what a trooper!

After the parade we were so tired and sweaty that we bought some cold sodas and found a shady spot to sit. Later we discovered that we were sitting in one of the designated smoking sections--oh well!

Watching the ducks--while the rest of us chilled




In the car on the way home, Mado taught C and I a song in Japanese. We could only follow the motions, and do our best to imitate the sounds she made, but she seemed to understand that we were trying. That was one of the most laid back, and fun times I've spent at Disneyland.

After Monday, life began to slow down and fall into its usual rut: work, chores...etc. One of my chores the other day was to wash the patio furniture--a sign that summer has officially arrived!!! I enjoyed the time to myself, taking in the sun, and soaping and sudsing all the grit and grime off the chairs and table cloth. Aaaaahhhhhhh!

And...I'm sure you all are eager to see the newest wedding pictures.

I have to say that this one looks like something I'd see in a magazine, or as a scene in an old black-and-white movie: classic


The bouquets were GORGEOUS! I felt honored to carry one down the aisle.


What a smart lookin' pair!


Hows that for a teaser? If you want to see more you will have to go over to Kristin Rogers' blog and see her latest installment of L and L wedding shots. Kristin was our photographer, and she did her job so well that during the ceremony, I forgot she was even there! (Kristin, if there were any way I could look into the future and see my wedding date, I'd book you now!)

Wedding Thoughts

Here are some of the thoughts that have been running through my mind as we prepare for L’s wedding tomorrow.

Who can find a virtuous wife? For her worth is far above rubies. The heart of her husband safely trusts her; so he will have no lack of gain. She does him good and not evil all the days of her life.
- Proverbs 31: 10-12


But when thou findest sensibility of heart joined with softness of manners; an accomplished mind and religion, united with sweetness of temper, modest deportment, and a love of domestic life—Such is the woman who will divide the sorrows, and double the joys of thy life. Take her to thyself; she is worthy to be thy nearest friend, thy companion, the wife of thy bosom.
- Noah Webster—describing the qualities which a young man should identify in his future life partner.


You are that woman. You have cultivated your heart for the Lord, and God has fashioned you into a woman of character, a woman who will bring great blessing to her husband.

I wish I could express my thoughts more eloquently. Words aren’t sufficient to express what I feel right now. But I just want you to know how much I love you.

Anne

An Engagement

January 1, 2008, on a hill in western Oregon, a wonderful man asked a precious woman to marry him.

It has been such a blessing to see God working through all of this. He guided you individually these 25 years, drawing you each closer to Him. He fashioned the paths you would walk, the trials you would face, and the joys you would experience. He also led you to your initial meeting in July, the subsequent relationship, and now your engagement.

Dearest sister, this time is bittersweet for me. I am experiencing the sorrow of knowing that soon I will no longer hear your voice in the house, share the backseat with you in the car, or have you around to run errands with. But mingled with the sorrow is an irrepressible joy. You have patiently waited and prayed for the right man, and sought to be the right woman; and now you are seeing those years of sowing bloom into a bountiful harvest. I am so unspeakably happy for you as you look ahead to life with “L.” Your blossoming love for each other has truly been beautiful to see.

But, the most beautiful thing of all, is seeing how God is the binding fiber in your relationship. You both put Him first in your lives, and use your love for Him as the source of your love for each other.

I love you. And I pray God blesses you and “L” as you both continue to look to Him, and take this first step on the journey towards glorifying Him as one.


"I've felt for the first time in my life the joyful consciousness that I am truly loved by a truly good man, one that with all my heart I can love and honor~one who loves me for myself alone, and with an unselfish, patient, gentle affection such as I never thought to waken in an human heart."
~Anna Bronson Alcott (On her wedding day May 23, 1860)