Great weekend with Tara and Todd, Carli and Jeremy. So nice to have lots of noise and laughter in the house again. Not to say that Ted and I are boring or anything...

Tara's little dachshund Coney (coney dog, get it?)came home not knowing that she was going under the knife. She was going into heat, and they don't want puppies, so grandpa Ted spayed her late last night. By this morning she was running and jumping like nothing happened. Why can't it be that easy for humans? I would've signed up long ago !!

Carli has her labwork and chest x-ray tomorrow. Please keep praying! Then her appointment with Dr. Stallings is on Tuesday afternoon after she plays with dead people at school. Well, not plays....just cuts and learns....would freak me out, I think. Cadavors are a great way to learn, but a little weird. She said "I see dead people...really". Yikes.

so far she says that it will be hard, especially her biomechanics. Plus, they assume that everyone knows a lot of medical terminology and such. Will be a challenge, but she's been challenged before and done very well.

Talked to Kelsie via Skype this evening. So nice to see her and hear her voice. What did we do before all of this technology? I say that we had more time to do important things but now we sit at the computer...oh well, a sign of the times which has it's positives and negatives. Kelsie sounds like she's having a good time, and there were kids talking and laughing in the background. She's still at the beach this week with the Italian lessons, then on to Florence this coming weekend.

Saying goodbye

Bittersweet...........

Kelsie's blog address!!

Kelsie will be writing a blog during her adventures in Florence, Italy. The address is : gerberkj1.blogspot.com

It will be fun to follow her and see what she is up to during her travels. She will also be updating on Facebook.

Goodbye Kelsie...see you in December! (we do have Skype...so see you via webcam)!!

Lots of changes...

Carli just sent a text...they are on their way to St. Kitts. I hope that they have a marvelous week on the beach, and that they come home refreshed and ready to jump in to life with both feet!

Trying to get Kelsie ready for a semester in Florence, Italy. She is excited, but I am sure a little apprehensive. She flies first to London, and she is really looking forward to that. Then on to Italy and 2 weeks intensive language and culture study. Then she will mostly be taking art classes in Florence. Wow, she is so fortunate! It will be hard not to see her for so long...but we are hoping to go visit her sometime this fall.

She is struggling to get everything for 4 months in her suitcase! And she is the one who can pack in a tiny suitcase, normally. Not totally knowing what the weather will be and what to expect is a little daunting. I'm sure that she will be fine. She has a couple of side trips that they take...so exciting!

I'm back to school, but am fortunate to have a couple of days off that I can spend with Kelsie. She spent a few days in Pennsylvania and Columbus visiting friends and Tara...now it's my turn!!

Today is Tara and Todd's 5th anniversary. I can't believe that it was five years ago that we were doing the first outdoor wedding experience. I wish them both many years of happiness...marriage can be so hard, and I am so proud of them for the way that they handle things both big and small.

Lots of changes in our household...but for the time being, they are all blessings and we are so thankful!

So sorry that I can't get photos to load...I will post as soon as possible!!

And they lived happily ever after....

That is what I wish for Carli and Jeremy. Happily ever after...for many years!

The wedding was what Carli had dreamed of since she was a little girl. She always wanted to get married outside...God provided a beautiful day with just enough sunlight and clouds to take wonderful photos. Right before the ceremony it POURED just a mile down the road, but all we had were a few sprinkles. How cool is that? Then for the actual ceremony the sun was shining and everything was beautiful. Carli was absolutely radiant, and Jeremy was emotional when he saw her for the first time.

They took photos before the wedding at a dear friend's gardens that will be absolutely beautiful. Our good friend, J, was the photographer and he is amazing with a camera. I think that he can make anyone look good !! But the wedding party didn't need any help...they were all stunning and the flowers were bright and cheery.

The actual ceremony was so meaningful. Darrell (our pastor) gave a wonderful meditation, the strings and the vocalists were top-notch, Keegan read a piece from CS Lewis, and Jane and Craig read I Corinthians 13. That is when I cried. I just kept thinking that without them she might not be here...but instead, we are celebrating a wedding!! Yea!! Then Carli and Jeremy wanted the first thing that they did as a couple to be to take communion. It was very spiritual, which fit them to a T.

My great-niece was the flower girl and as cute as a button. She had practiced "throwing" the flower petals at home, so she knew just what to do.

It took us a while to get the family photos taken, and I hope that folks weren't getting antsy. Then Carli and Jeremy arrived in a cute blue Beamer convertible (Jeremy's brother's). Too bad the reception was just across the road...I'm sure that they would've liked to have driven further!

The reception was great with good food and fellowship. The flowers were so beautiful...Julie, her sister Pam, and Michele Nussbaum did a great job arranging and coordinating. The only problem I had was not being able to talk to everyone...it was so frustrating. There were dear friends and family that we don't get to see very often and we wanted to spend more time with them.

It ended with fireworks and sparklers...just the right mood and ending for a perfect day.

I just had to stop and reflect on all that has happened in the past 2 years...and am so thankful that we had a great reason to celebrate.

We are so blessed.