Surrounding the Wedding

We are back home! Our oldest is married!

We couldn't be happier to have Amos join our family. 

I will share the pictures I have surrounding the wedding ceremony, and the official ones will come later. She had a great photographer, so I can't wait to see them all!

Thanksgiving was a full family effort. Mimi made the rolls we love so much.

Jonathan made cranberry sauce and apple pies.

Phoebe made the homemade noodles for our chicken and noodles dish. 

Harrison put on the corn and green beans.

It was just the right amount. We enjoyed eating and visiting with Mimi and Papa!

Our little kittens. 

We arrived back home from five days of travel and narry a cat was in sight. But today they have been trickling back home or out of their hidey-holes. We are still missing Pickle and the two tiny kittens.

Phillip is our packer! 

He packed everything up Thanksgiving evening, so we could get up and go the next day.

On the road Friday morning! Driving down to Bella Vista, Arkansas.

The airbnb we found was a true gem. Very clean and spacious. It's near a lake. Phoebe went there to draw and Jonathan went there to identify trees.

Amos and Lanaya Elizabeth joined us Friday evening.

At the rehearsal Saturday. 

Danny and his wife and kids drove all the way from near San Antonio to officiate the wedding. Chrissy had her hands full with their little ones. What a great mom! Lanaya Elizabeth and Jonathan spent lots of time with Danny and Chrissy while we lived in Texas. He was their youth minister for several years. 

Figuring out what to do for the big day. 

And talking with my parents and brother and his wife who just arrived.

Father of the bride.

Everywhere you looked was beautiful here! 

It's the Mildred B Cooper Memorial Chapel.

Mike and Jonathan figured out how to play chess with a deck of cards.

Saturday night the Gonzalez family invited us to Olive Garden for dinner. 

The newest baby in the Gonzalez family! We all enjoyed the baby.

There are nine siblings in Amos' family, so with spouses and kids, there was a large crowd!

We were able to get to know Mike and Jan a little better. This was the first time we had met. They raised a good son!

Sunday we went to church while Lanaya started getting ready. 

Jonathan and Lanaya Elizabeth heading toward the chapel offices for the bride to ready herself.

The coordinator caught this picture of us. Finally got that thing hooked!

We all left so Amos and Lanaya could have time together alone for first look and communion.

The registry was a Bible. I had the kids sign their names before we got there since we had the Bible at the airbnb with us. They all chose funny verses to sign next to: A nagging wife is a dripping faucet and such. Siblings.

The chapel is beautiful.

Phoebe was the sign-in chick. 

Danny is ready to preach!

He did a really great job. Interestingly, he knew both Liz and Amos separately before they met. He knew Elizabeth because she was in his youth group. And he knew Amos from attending CIY where Amos was on staff. He wasn't even the one to introduce them! That's a pretty cool deal. 

My mother and I.

Sitting on the front row waiting for it to start. Jonathan was in charge of music. He controlled it all from his phone.

We're not all quite ready for that picture, I see.

Mr. Gerald and Mrs. Elaine came over. They were our Florida representatives. :-) They used to take the kids from us when we lived in Florida and give us much needed "away from kids" time. We were so glad they came!

Beautiful Augusta also came all the way from San Antonio. She was also in Danny's youth group and good friends with Liz. I want to point out that my brother is wearing a leather bowtie that his wife made. She makes lots of neat leather items, earrings, etc. Check her out!

Kristy (Phillip's brother's wife) came over as well. Thank you for coming, Kristy!

And then we left Monday and headed to a college visit at Ozark Christian College in Joplin (pictured is supper at IHOP). We thought this was a way to save time later, but we were super exhausted. But we did it. College visit done.

Now we're home. I process things after the fact, so now I can go enjoy thinking about everything that happened. I didn't cry at the wedding, by the way. I cried that morning though. And I caught some tears in Phillip's eyes! He was thinking about holding her as a baby. My mom started crying thinking about the wedding vows she made. This is all new, having a married one and a new son-in-law. I put emotions off when change happens. :-) But it'll come. I'm so proud of Lanaya Elizabeth and Amos. So excited for them. They are beautiful.