Father's Day

For us, Father's Day came at the end of a busy weekend with VBS all week and then a wedding on the weekend.  We were slated to be the greeters for 1st service, so we had to be at church a half hour early.  

Here is Eden giving her Daddy a good morning kiss.  

Seth with the kiddos and his Father's Day present from them.  We created simple cards from an envelope and made a tie for the front.  We think he's "tie-rrific" and we included a Hershey's chocolate bar.  

And one last photo outdoors.  The girls were allowed to wear their flower girl dresses for church on this  Sunday.  Eliza wanted her hair looped in braids, just like the character Kirsten in the American Girl book series we are reading.

We are so grateful for all that Seth does for our family.  He works hard, long hours during the week and makes time for church and family on Sunday.  

After greeting at first service, the children sang their VBS song at both first and second service.  In between services was a special Father's Day event with tractors, semis, old cars and other special vehicles that dads like.  There was bacon and sausage on a stick and mustache stickers (see Emmet's face below)!
After all our church responsibilities (Seth also had to pick up offering at both services) we headed to my parents' for lunch.

A picture of my dad and I with Ephraim, Eden, Eliza and Mr. Mustache (Emmet).

 We had a nice afternoon with my family and here is a photo of Grandpa Harold with the grandchildren: Alyssa, Eden, Eliza, Emmet, Ephraim and Garret.

 Now, you can't have a serious photo without taking a goofy one!

It was an enjoyable Father's Day!

"Fathers, don't make your children bitter about life.  Instead, bring them up in Christian discipline and instruction."  Ephesians 6:4

Here come the Flower Girls!

The day had finally come for the girls!  The wedding would start at 4:30 and we had to be early for pictures, about 3:45.  We were there by 3 to change and get ready and pictures were running ahead of schedule, too.  We had a little "undergarment color" issue and I'm thankful for a friend who lives nearby who delivered us a pair of light-colored undies within minutes, all in time for the wedding.  

So pretty!  The bride, Haley, had picked out the dresses locally and they fit the girls perfectly.  We found their shoes at Kohls.  The bracelets were their gift from Haley at the rehearsal.  The flower halos were designed by the florist.  We rag-rolled their hair for some curl and body and then touched it up with a curling iron.  It was a bit breezy on this day but I think their hair held up pretty well.  

Taking some pictures with the bride:

The boys were looking pretty handsome, too. 

Beth's family:  Chris &  Renee, Randy & Beth, Haley & Vince, Cara & Chris with Evelyn.

Then we had some time to wait in the restaurant until the wedding guests were all seated.  

One last picture with Haley, this time with Vince and the ring bearer.  

Waiting again.  

Practicing their petal dropping.

Rehearsing their walking. 

Goofing around with each other.  

Getting closer to the wedding.  This time we have moved from indoors to waiting outdoors.  We'll wait for a golf cart to take us to the location of the ceremony.  

Riding on the back of the golf cart to the ceremony.  

This is it!

Oh, so pretty.

After the bridesmaids and the ring bearer, it was Eden & Eliza's turn to walk down the aisle, dropping the flower petals.  

(That's Judge DeGeest performing the ceremony).  

The girls took their place by the bridesmaids for the remainder of the ceremony.  

It was a beautiful day for an outdoor wedding.  Perfect temperature and sunshine, a bit breezy at times, but nothing to complain about.  

The Mason jar decorations on the rows of chairs.  

All done!  Time to walk to the back of the aisle.  

Once the wedding was over, we opted for a few more pictures at the alter.  

While we waited for the bridal party to return to the reception, there was a popcorn bar.  Here is Eliza enjoying her popcorn.  

Sometimes it can be hard to get a picture of cousins together but when there's popcorn involved, it isn't so difficult at all.  This is only half of the great-grandchildren, but still a nice photo.  

We took a picture of the girls with the cake, while we waited for the evening meal.  

 And a picture of the girls with Grandma & Grandpa.

Drinking her lemonade.

Eden

The end of a beautiful day.  One that the girls will certainly remember for years and years.

Proverbs 8:6-7:  "Set me as a seal upon your heart, as a seal upon your arm, for love is strong as death, jealousy is fierce as the grave.  Its flashes are flashes of fire, the very flame of the Lord.  Many waters cannot quench love, neither can floods drown it.  If a man offered for love all the wealth of his house, he would be utterly despised."