{lately}

My poor neglected blog.

Yes, life has been filled with more change that I can count this year.
And yes, part of that change is a part-time job which leaves me with less time at home.
And the time I do have at home seems to be catching up on what I missed when I was gone.
And thus is the vicious cycle.
It's all good, mind you.
But I do miss this.
The quiet.
The personal space.
The processing.

Our firstborn has completed his first year of college.
Crazy.
He's working a gazillion hours a week this summer doing hard manual labor.
I'm so proud of that man-son of ours.
And then there's son #2, quickly catapulting into his senior year of high school.
Tomorrow night he's having his senior pictures taken.
He, too, is working hard and causing me to marvel at God's grace and goodness.
Son #3 turns 15 in just a few days.
He's grown and matured by leaps and bounds this year.
He's inherited his dad's deep love for people.
I love how he loves.

Anyhow, that's just a little update on life in these here parts.

In other news, we're entering wedding season again.
So far this year, we've got 8 weddings on the docket.
Man, it's such a joy and honor to get to do life with all these young couples, and in many cases, to have had the privilege of watching them grow up.

Not too long ago, a couple friends of mine asked me to share the tables I did for some wedding receptions last summer.  Pinterest is full of ideas, but the first series of pics is my take on a candy bar.  The wedding colors were royal blue and purple.  And the groom had called his bride "Sweetums" all through their dating days, so I decided to use that as the name for the table full of sweets.

The following week, I was asked to do an ice cream sundae bar at a wedding reception.  The pictures don't do it justice, as during the actual wedding reception, the lights were low and there was a soft, warm candlelight throughout the whole room.  Nonetheless, I had so much fun working with a shabby chic theme.

Homemade sauces went in these milk bottles

We served a vast array of ice cream toppings:  candies and nuts and cookies and sprinkles galore (without plastic wrap)!

I'm lovin' all the fun, casual wedding reception ideas out there these days.  What have been some of your favorite takes and themes?

{may your days be merry & bright}

Christmas festivities are in full-swing around these parts.  In addition to our long-held and treasured traditions, there's a new excitement and freshness this year as we anticipate welcoming home our college-age son for Christmas break.  "I'll Be Home for Christmas" has once again taken on sweet meaning and significance.

In a year, season, life of significant change, I take special comfort and joy in the familiar, but of course, my greatest hope is in my unchanging, faithful God.  I'm savoring the traditions that help me prepare my heart to welcome Him and lift Him high.

Among those traditions is our annual Ladies' Christmas Brunch.  Held at our church each December, this evangelical outreach to nearly 500 women is one of the most anticipated events of the year.  A day filled with the sights, sounds, tastes, and smells of the season culminates in a rich presentation of the gospel.  This year we were blessed and honored to have Jill Briscoe as our featured speaker.

Here are a few snapshots of the two tables I decorated for the brunch.

This was my "Joy to the World" table, featured in one of the two "Music of Christmas" rooms. 

These chargers have quite a story to tell.  Once upon a time, they were gold.  Then I needed them to be red, so I spray-painted them.  And this year I'm in love with chalk paint, so I decided to give them another makeover.  Each lady seated at this table got a mini wreath as her take-home favor.  

My second table was a vintage kitcheny/hot chocolate theme.  

Guests at this table received a little mason jar of hot chocolate mix for their favors.  And yes, chalkboards and labels made an appearance here, too.  I'm a chalkboard junkie.

The silver coffee pot on this table is a treasure to me.  It belonged to the wife of the founding pastor of our church.  She was a godly, bold, and courageous woman who lived her faith in a way that was compelling.  When she passed away a few years ago, her daughter passed her mama's coffee pot on to me, knowing it would be loved and cherished.  It is.  

i just wanna celebrate {grad party}

I love a party.
So it probably comes as no surprise that I've been planning our firstborn son's graduation party for a while.
Now, when I say "while," I mean a loooooong time!
I vividly remember driving away from grad parties in years gone by.
Turning around to three little boy faces behind me,
I'd eagerly ask,
"So, boys, have you thought about what you'd like to serve at your graduation parties yet?"
To which firstborn son replied,
"Mom.  I'm 8."
Hence, this is what they put up with:
a slightly neurotic, sometimes overly zealous mom who simply wants to celebrate God's gracious hand in the lives of her family!

I had a blast putting together our son's grad party.
It didn't feel like work,
as it was so much my heart.
As his plans are to one day become a worship pastor,
I wanted to bring a music theme into the party.
I had a bunch of old cds to work with,
so I found a way to upcycle them for decorations.
Our son doesn't really care for cake,
so I opted for a cookie bar.

A sweet time of prayer before the festivities got underway

Many friends helped make this happen by offering their help and services.
Several of the same friends offered to serve and keep the food flowing throughout the party so that I could greet our guests.  My heart & soul friend even traveled all the way from Minnesota to serve and simply be here for me.
There are no words.
While the tears never fell at the actual graduation ceremony,
they flowed freely this weekend at the party.
Being surrounded by all those who have poured into and invested in our son was humbling and overwhelming (in a good way).
Seeing and feeling all the love and support they have for him and our family filled my heart to overflowing.
What a joy to celebrate God's abundant, never-ending grace!

I saved each of our boys' outfits from their 3-month pictures.  At the time, I didn't know why.  But it sure was sweet to dig into my mementos and pull this one out for our party.  

Collage posters are the mom of a graduate's best friend!

Old cds made into graduation decor

Shutterfly books:  one featuring friends, the other family

Inexpensive (almost free) centerpieces:  I planted grass in old tin cans, wrapped them in scrapbook paper, and added a cd picture pick.

I transformed one of our old doors that was laying around the house into a chalkboard.  It made the perfect menu board.  

Cookie bar

Oh, one more thing.  Sunday afternoon, the day after the party, we sat around our table eating leftover carnitas for lunch.  Good-naturedly, I started quizzing our middle son (who graduates in two years) about his graduation menu. You'll be happy to know we've got a menu.  Now to dream about pulling it off...

The Festivities Begin

Amidst the busy Christmas preparations of December,
I'm thankful that God invites us
to rest, be still,
and simply listen.

December began with such quietness of heart.
While the week was a flurry of activity,
the weekend was God's invitation to rest for a while.

Our annual ladies' Christmas luncheon brought together 460 women together to enjoy the beauty, the tastes, the scents, and the sounds of the season.
It was our opportunity to share the reason for the hope that we have within us;
to reflect Christ in the way we love and give and serve.

I'm always thankful for the opportunity to have a small role in providing this kind of atmosphere for the women in attendance.
This year, I decorated two tables---my regular table in the main dining area, and a second table in the "12 Days of Christmas" overflow room.
As always, it was a beautifully refreshing morning of fellowship.

4 calling birds...

Our annual 3-generations picture:
My grandma, mom, and me

Of Pink and Tea and Chocolate

It doesn't come as a surprise to anyone that I'm a girlie girl.
I've spoken about it often.
It's also not news to anyone that I live in a houseful of guys.
Gentlemanly (sometimes), raucous, never-a-dull-moment, what-will-they-think-of-next? guys.
I love them.  I over-the-top love, love, love them.
Yet...

God, in His goodness and grace, also placed me in close relationship with girls. 
I have dozens upon dozens (hundreds?) of daughters that have come through our youth group.
Girls I meet for coffee...lunch...movie nights; girls I get to disciple and grow with; girls I get to point to Christ.
I also have dear, dear friends with daughters; friends who have graciously shared their daughters with me and brought me into their girlie circle.

So perhaps I shouldn't have been so surprised when my dear friend, Nichole, spoke to me months ago and asked me to do a tea for her daughter's 16th birthday. 
But I was. 
I was awed and humbled and grateful. 
I was reminded that God sees me...sees my heart...sees my desires. 
And He used my dear friend to selflessly share, not only her daughter, but a milestone event in the lives of both of them.


Cake Pops, Rich Chocolate Trifles, & Sugar Cookies

Chicken Salad Tea Sandwiches, Ham & Apricot Pinwheels, Chocolate Chip Scones, Banana Muffins with Cream Cheese Frosting, Fruit Skewers

Far left corner of the table: Chilled Strawberry Soup

 



Beautiful Mom and Daughter

 

The lovely guest of honor

 

I've had the joy of watching her grow up since she was 3. 

 

My precious friend, Nichole ~
Thank you for sharing your heart, your life, and even your daughter with me. 
It was a day I will treasure always, just as I treasure you.