A Family for Ellie-Kate: June 2014

Thursday, June 26, 2014

Wedding reflections...

Hi everyone--

I wish that I could have blogged right after the wedding, but time just didn't permit it. Instead, as usual, we had to rush back to our lives-- very much already in progress. I had to finish a book; Emmy had to get ready for her 8th grade trip (and I was co-chairing her 8th grade graduation party); Ellie-Kate had to get back to softball; Roger had to finish up the semester; Chelsea had to finish up at Baylor, and Britti had a busy 4-H season on the brink of taking off full steam. As I write now, life continues to charge right on...

However, as I pause to reflect on the wedding, I remember such special moments, and we are so blessed that Brittany and Ramon's celebration was such an incredible experience. We praise God for...

... allowing all of the relatives to arrive in plenty of time for the rehearsal dinner...
--- allowing the cakes to arrive without a scratch or crack in the icing...
--- allowing the church staff to be patient as we arrived a bit late for the rehearsal and stayed a tad late after the ceremony-- causing another rehearsal on Friday evening to start late...
--- allowing us to work together on decorating the rehearsal space without drama or argument...
--- allowing us to get free passes for breakfast on Friday morning in the Lafayette...
--- granting us the grace of a beautiful wedding day, right on the amazing Ohio River...
--- enabling all of the grandmas to get along so well and even do some sight-seeing on Friday before the wedding...
--- permitting all of the little pre-wedding "kinks" (such as Chelsea's dress and delays at the hair salon) to get worked out without much stress...
--- blessing us with a beautiful church, Biblically-based sermon, lovely attendants, patient relatives and friends, and joyous onlookers for the full-length, Catholic ceremony...
--- allowing us to find a great photo booth company, fun DJ, and caring photographers and videographers...
--- enabling all of our family and friends to have a great time as they celebrated Brittany and Ramon's union...
--- providing a special and unique space for the reception as well as cool rooms in the historic hotel...

Thank you so much, Lord, for handling all of the details and allowing everyone to have such an amazing time at the ceremony and reception!

Tuesday, June 24, 2014

Brittany and Ramon-- Happily Ever After-- May 2, 2014

Mercedes and Ramon

Emmy, Sarai, Laura, Sarah, Ellie-Kate, Chelsea, Katie, and Kathleen

Christie and Britti

Roger and Britti

Britti and Ellie-Kate

Emmy

Engagement and Wedding Pictures :)

The photo booth was such a hit at the wedding! May 2, 2014

Elena, Stephanie, Chelsea, and Ellie-Kate

Jeff, Ellie-Kate, and Brodie

Patricia, Emmy, and Madison

Sydney, Emmy, Patricia, Madison, and Ellie-Kate

Brodie, Ellie-Kate, Phoebe, and Emmy

Grandma A., Grandma B., and Grandma P.

Sydney, Grandma P., and Karol

Stephanie, Britti, and Sarah

Stephanie, Sarah, Britti, Chelsea, Sarai, Laura, and Elena

Michelle, Christie, and Shari

Ramon and Britti

Emmy, Britti, and Christie

Britti and Grandma P.

Michelle, Britti, Shari, and Christie

Elena and Chelsea

Kylie and Chelsea

Sarah, Britti, Kathleen, and Katie

Sarah, Kathleen, Britti, and Katie

Stephanie, Britti, and Sarah

Last batch of reception photos...

Some kind of tradition...

Elena, Britti, Chelsea, and Emmy

Saying goodnight...

Our suite at the Lafayette

Reception at the Lafayette Hotel...

Brittany and Ramon enter and greet their guests...

We had a phenomenal dinner. The food was tremendous-- guests had a choice of chicken parmesan, stuffed chicken, or a vegetarian entre. A few people didn't show up, and Chelsea and Elena said later that they wish that they had known so that they could have eaten those dinners too! We had some humor when the smoke alarm went off without reason, but, overall, it was a lovely, special event. Hits of the night? The food and the photo booth :)