The Big Day

We had a WEDDING today!

Here are just a couple

straight-out-of-the-camera

unedited shots by Ben,

but wanted to give you

a sneak preview.

Josh & Hannah

The Happy Couple

A Broken Refrigerator. Really?!?!

I know that this should be a small thing, in the big scheme of things, but ... I'm a bit frustrated today because ... our refrigerator died yesterday, in the midst of our meal prep for the Rehearsal Dinner.  Seriously?!?!  NOT a fun thing when it is FULL of food for yesterday's BIG dinner and today's BIG dinner.


I ran to the store for blocks of ice.


We have coolers STACKED in our dining room.


We were able to find a repairman who could
come out today.


But ... he doesn't "carry the part" that we need.


He will come back SOME TIME NEXT WEEK 
to fix the refrigerator.


This was NOT in my plans.


This was NOT in my budget.


But ... I am doing my best to be THANKFUL.


It could have been worse.


It could have been the FULL 
upright freezer in our garage.


Thankful that we only "lost" a gallon of milk.


Thankful that we have food to eat.


Thankful that we have friends and family
to celebrate with this week.


Thankful that it is fixable next week.


I will continue to be THANKFUL,
in the midst of the swirling storms of life.






***  We had 22 for a BBQ dinner tonight.  One of our friends, upon seeing the stacks of coolers and hearing the story, said, "Aren't you glad it wasn't the oven that went out yesterday?"  Oh. My. Yes.  I am THANKFUL that BOTH of my ovens worked yesterday.  (We have a 2nd kitchen off of our basement rec. room, which came in very handy yesterday for our Dinner for 39.)

Mama's in the Kitchen Today

Tonight is the night ...

we have 38 people coming over for


The Rehearsal Dinner.


Here's what Mama is cookin' today:
(with the help of Ashleigh, Lindsey, Ben, & Hosanna)

1 ... 11x15 Chicken Alfredo Lasagne
                  w/ mushrooms, onions, and garlic

1 ... 11x15 Beef Lasagne w/ onions

1 ... 11x15 Sausage Lasagne w/
                   mushrooms and onions

1 ... 10x12 Four Cheese Chicken Fettuccine

5 ... large Caesar Salads

20 ... sm. loaves "Seattle Sourdough Sticks"
         (from the local grocery store, not homemade)

1 ... 9x13 Deep Dish Apple Pie

1 ... 9x13 Deep Dish Apple/Blueberry Pie

1 ... regular Apple Pie

1 ... 9x13 Cappuccino Brownies w/
                mocha whipped cream frosting


Nope.  I don't think anyone will go home hungry.

Oh ... had to laugh ... 16 of the 39 people won't
"go home hungry" ... because they they won't
"go home" at all ... because they live here
(or at least are staying here ... because they are FAMILY).


Tomorrow night ... only 25 people here for dinner.

Praising Jesus for His Provision

Last weekend, Papa had an "extra" painting job (over and above his painting job with another company, which he works for on M-F, weather permitting).  We now have money in the bank to pay for gas to get to Cassie's wedding in OR.  Now, we are praying for a bit more so that we can afford to rent a house or hotel room for the weekend.  (If not, we are prepared to find a place to camp.)


He has another "extra" painting job lined up, which was supposed to be in July but got changed to August.  So, we can at least plan for that to help us out with August bills if we spend all of our July funds for the July 30th wedding.  


The LORD is Our Provider.  He has taken care of ALL of our needs these past 6 months since Papa left his pastoral position on the island.


Praying for our tax refund so that we can have just a few of our "wants" met, in addition to the needs that the Lord has continued to provide for.  (The little guys have begun to ask, "When we get the tax money, can we _______?")


I am continuing to PRAISE JESUS in the midst of the storm that is swirling all around.






Don't miss yesterday's post "God Is In The Details" about His amazing gift to us yesterday.

God Is In The Details

Oh my!


I am nearly speechless 
(which is quite rare for me).


God has BLESSED us in the 
most unexpected way today.


God has shown that His provision can 
come from the most unexpected places.




Tomorrow night, we are hosting the
rehearsal dinner for Josh & Hannah.


We will have 40 people here 
for dinner and dessert.


I LOVE hosting parties, and am
totally EXCITED to host this dinner.


But ... I have pretty much been dreading
spending money on paper plates, cups,
silverware, napkins, etc...


I didn't want to buy the "cheap stuff",
even though I know it wouldn't really 
matter in the big scheme of things.


But, I really couldn't justify spending
$100 or more on the NICE 
stuff, with our limited budget.




This afternoon ... I was out running
a quick errand.  On the way home, I
was making my mental list of all that
I needed to buy for tomorrow's dinner.


I came in ... picked up paper and pencil
to make the list ... and suddenly decided
to check my email first.  This is what I found ...




Hi Laurel, 

I recently got married and I have some plates, cups, and plastic silverwear that I would like to give to your family for the various upcoming weddings. I live in (your town), and would be happy to meet with so you can see what you might want. If you are all set that's fine just wanted to offer. My number ______ and my name is ______.  I hope you have a great week.

In case you were wondering, I know your daughter Lindsey ... and I also like to read your blog.


K.




How fast do you think I picked up my telephone?  I was at their house 10 minutes later, putting boxes in the back of my little station wagon ... with 300+ dinner plates, 200+ dessert plates, 500 plastic cups (the NICE kind), 100 "nice" dinner napkins, 450+ "nice" plastic silverware, and a full jug of powdered Strawberry Lemonade as an extra treat.  


Oh. My. Goodness.


Can you say ... 

"AMAZINGLY BLESSED!"

Thank you, Jesus!

Thank you, M & K.

The Sacrifices of Our Military Servicemen and Women

I hope you read Monday's post about 
"Why Do We Celebrate the 4th of July?".


I was pondering how ironic it is that Jeremiah 
is at Officer Candidacy School so that he can fight for 
Our Nation's Freedom ... yet has lost all of his 
Freedom for the next 3 months while at O.C.S.




He isn't allowed to see his wife for 3 months.


He isn't allowed to phone his family.


He isn't allowed to come home to celebrate
the weddings of 2 of his siblings this month.


He isn't allowed to be on the internet.


His days are pretty much controlled 24/7.


He is told when to get up, when to eat,
when to go to bed.  (He's probably also
told when to "go pee" ... but I can't phone
him to ask if that's part of his schedule.)


His life is "not his own" for 3 months.




I realized, though, that maybe it isn't irony ...


... maybe our Servicemen and women need to
experience unimaginable control over their lives,
in order to fully understand the Freedom
they have committed to fight for.


... maybe they must sacrifice so much while in training,
in order to get just a small glimpse into the sacrifices
they will be making once they are deployed to serve.


... maybe they need the control and sacrifice during
training, in order to develop the character necessary
to defend the Freedom and Liberty that this 
Great Nation stands for.




Just the ponderings of a Proud Mama today ...

The Big Kids Are Coming! The Big Kids Are Coming!

Make the extra beds!

Find the extra towels!

Stock the refrigerator!

Put the leaves in the table!

Find the extra chairs!

Throw open the doors!

Why?

The Big Kids Are Coming!

It is PARTY WEEK at the

Big D. House.

Oh.  Yes.  It.  Is.

Ashleigh is flying in from TX today.

Gregg is driving up from Puyallup today.

Lindsey is driving in from CO today.

Cassie, Dean, and Carissa will be

driving in from MN on Thursday.

(Please pray for safe travels, as they 

will be driving 1600+ miles 

"straight through" in one day.)

Yes.  That means we will have 

15 of us here for most of the week.

Yippee!!  Yahoo!

We are ready to have some FUN!!!

Why?

If you are a new reader ...

we are getting ready for ...

Josh & Hannah's Wedding!

Yes.  We.  Are.

We are EXCITED!!!

And ... after this wedding ...

only 3 weeks until ...

Cassie & Dean's Wedding!

It's time to PARTY!!!

We Are FREE!

Melody, a bloggy friend of mine, wrote a great post about Independence Day.  I hope you'll pop on over and read Melody's simple yet powerful thoughts on, "We are Free" .


And, don't miss my post, below, about "Why We Celebrate The 4th".

Why Do We Celebrate "The 4th"?

What is today?

"The 4th"

"July 4th"

"The 4th of July"

Yes ... all of those are true.

But ... what else is today?

Why is July 4th a significant 

date for our great country?

Sadly ... many, many people 

cannot answer that question.

To them it is ...

...  a day off of work.

...  a day to play.

...  a day to gather 

with friends and family.


...  a day to spend a boatload of money 
play with fireworks.

Which.  Is.  All.  Good.

But ... there is so much more.

I just googled July 4th, 
and quickly came up with this 
definition of our National Holiday:

Fourth of July is Independence Day

Independence Day honors the birthday of the 

United States of America and the adoption of the 

Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. 

It's a day of picnics and patriotic parades, 

a night of concerts and fireworks, 

and a reason to fly the American flag.

Yikes!  


usa.gov even defines this holiday as a day to play, 
and a "reason to fly the American flag".

Hello?  

No word about the "Independence" part?


No word of Freedom or Liberty?

Just picnics, parades, concerts, and fireworks?

Sad.

So sad.

While Freedom is a word that most of us are familiar with,
do we ever spend time thinking about what
that really means to us?  Do we really
appreciate the Freedom that we have here in the U.S.A.?


How about Liberty?
Do we even know what it means?
It is a word not often heard,
but critical to what Our Nation stands for.


Liberty:  the state of being free within 
society from oppressive restrictions imposed 
by authority on one's way of 
life, behavior, or political views.

I have many thoughts swirling in my head ... 

about Independence ... 

about Freedom ... 


about Liberty ...

about Our Great Country ... 

but, I am just not up to figuring them out 

and writing an essay for you today.  

Instead, I would like to share with you 

something that my son, Jeremiah (age 24), wrote 

(which I just happened to find on FB yesterday).

As Navy OCS approaches, I am often asked why I decided to join. Here is the answer I wrote down last year. It's every bit as true today. 

Why I Will Be A United States Navel Officer

I believe that the single greatest miracle since Jesus Christ occurred when, in a crowded room of 55 men in May 1787, the United States Constitution was born. The Constitution and the nation it gave charter to have made available freedom, liberty, and economic growth never before equaled in the history of man. The US Constitution gives voice to the self-evident truths written on the heart of every man. I believe that those natural, God-given rights of the individual should always prevail over the will of the state and whims of the masses. The loss of this cornerstone of liberty would be a deadly blow in a battle fought against the tide of history since those great men pledged their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honors on 4 July, 1776. I do not believe in Socialism, Marxism, or elitism. I believe in the Constitution of the United States of America. Though many have been willing to die for a cause, I will live for freedom, fight for liberty, and if in the living I meet my death, it will have been for a just cause.

More than merely giving me the opportunity to sail on ships, fly in planes, and wear a sharp uniform, the Navy gives me the best opportunity to live out my convictions and defend the Constitution from all enemies, foreign and domestic. It will prepare my body for challenges unmet, my mind for the ideological enemies of liberty, and my heart for the courage to boldly challenge the status quo and in the process, to change the world ...

By granting me a commission as an officer, the Navy will add to its ranks a committed, determined, intelligent and capable patriot, one willing to learn and grow as he contributes to the pride and capabilities of the US Navy. The expenditures the Navy makes in developing me into the fullest potential I have retained from the moment of my conception in the mind of my Creator, will be far outweighed by the time, effort, ability, heart, courage, and patriotism it receives in return. For these reasons, I am seeking a commission in the greatest fighting force in the world: the United States Navy.




Today, Jeremiah has just completed his first week of Officer Candidacy School of the U.S. Navy in Rhode Island.  Even now, he is sacrificing a LOT in order to serve his country.  He will not see his new wife for 3 months.  He probably will not speak to his family for 2 months.  (He may get a very short weekly phone call with his sweet wife.)  And ... he will miss the weddings of 2 of his siblings.  So. So. Sad.  Both weddings were scheduled around his schedule with the Navy.  Then ... the Navy changed his schedule.   We are very sad that he can't join us next week for the wedding ... but we couldn't be more proud of the choice that he has made to ... 

... serve 

Our Country 

... live or die for  

Our Freedom 

...  fight for 

Our Liberty 

... defend 

The Constitution of 

the United States of America

Thank you, Jeremiah ...  and Big Brother Gregg ... and all of the brave men and women that have sacrificed for the FREEDOM that our country is known for throughout the world.


I hope that we will all take a moment today to ... 

Praise God for Independence Day!  

Parenting An Extra-Large Family

Sometimes ... I read a blog post and think, "I could have written that.  I know exactly what she is saying."


Today ... I read just such a post.


Today ... I popped over to "meet" one of my new blog followers and was delighted to find Diane's Blog.  She is a sweet mother of 9 children (ages 1-15).


Here are a few of Diane's thoughts from, "Our Hands Are Full Indeed".




"I can’t help but wonder if far too many well meaning people are missing out on God’s incredible blessings by refusing to open their minds to the possibility of more ...

If our lives only take us to a place where we can manage everything in our own strength, then how have we walked by faith? If we will not allow our minds to explore possibilities we have absolutely no clue how we would ever accomplish, then we are reducing God to a limited God who can only work within the blighted scope of His finite creation. It is our own lack of faith that limits God’s miraculous work in our lives, not God’s lack of ability to take us beyond ourselves. And it is Society’s lack of faith that causes it to fear growing a family beyond its comprehension.

We are not a family without limitations and weaknesses. We are not a family without challenges. We are a family that walks by faith. We are parents who very early in our parenting years asked God to join us on our journey. We asked Him to help us with each child He gives, to bless our efforts to love and guide them, to complete our limited efforts with His ability to make all things good. And we have been blessed beyond comprehension ...

Throughout the Gospels, Jesus says over and over again, “Ask whatever you will in my name, and I will do it.” And, “Thy faith has made you well.” What if we all believed God to take us beyond ourselves? What if we allowed ourselves to dream bigger dreams? Or like Jabez’ now famous prayer, asked God to enlarge our territory, and to use us for His glory? I get the feeling we have barely scratched the surface of what we could do if we believed God for more.

My husband and I have allowed God to take our family beyond ourselves, He is blessing us beyond all that we could ask or imagine. In response to all the questioning glances and comments. I am compelled to answer a hearty, “Yes, we do have our hands full, and I am so thankful we do. God has blessed us indeed!”

“Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.” 2 Corinthians 9:6. "

Thanks, Diane.

Please Pray ...

Just in case you have a little room 
left on your Prayer List today ...


my heart is BURDENED 
for these friends and loved ones.




Please pray for ...


My eldest son Gregg (27) ... who is really struggling with the loss of his dream job, life choices, consequences, and the pain that haunts him from his 2 1/2 years in Iraq.  Pray for wisdom, and strength, and a desire to give his life FULLY over to the LORD.


K., a young 19 year old woman ... who suddenly lost her father 2 weeks ago.  He got sick, went to the hospital, and died from a ruptured spleen before she could even get to the hospital.  She is now living with her step-mother, whom she has only lived with for 2 years.  And, now, life has thrown her a serious curve ball, that I am sure she really wishes her dad were here to walk her through.  Please pray that the LORD would wrap His arms of comfort around her, and that she would seek His wisdom and strength in this most difficult situation.


B. & M., dear long-time friends of ours.  B. was just diagnosed with prostrate cancer.  Please pray for healing, and for wisdom for the doctors.  Pray for peace in their hearts, as they face these scary times.


Thanks.