The entire day was blessed and everything went smoothly. Annie was a gorgeous bride and I was so honored to stand next to her with my sister Katie as her maids of honor. One of my favorite parts was getting to sing with my sister and brother as Annie and Abe lit the unity candle. Annie asked us several months ago if we could sing Miranda Lambert's song Making Plans during the ceremony. Casey played the guitar and added a little vocals while Katie sang melody and I did the harmony.
Annie and Abe had all their nieces and nephews act as flower girls and ring bearers. Three girls and two boys - Kolden is 6 but everyone else is 3 or under. After the rehearsal, I wasn't sure how it was going to work…there were a lot of crying children and frustrated parents...but I shouldn't have worried - everything went well during the actual ceremony.
Everyone was cracking up because Rowan only tossed out a couple of petals on the way down the aisle. Then when she and Kallan got to the alter, they both emptied their baskets in a big pile. Then Kallan looked back down the aisle behind her and when she saw the few petals Rowan had tossed, she walked back down, picked them up and brought them back to the pile at the alter. Dawson just went to Casey and had him hold her for most of the ceremony, but the rest went and sat down with the goodie bags Abe and Annie had made for them.
Afterward everyone went to the reception hall for dinner and dancing. All in all it was a beautiful day. I just pray that Annie and Abe will find true happiness in their marriage by making God the center of their relationship and by always seeking to avoid selfishness and put each other first. It's a skill Taylor and I are always working on. Occasionally we fail, but once we correct our mistakes, that is when our relationship is at its best.
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| For the garter toss the DJ played a joke on Abe. First he blindfolded Abe and then he had Casey take off his shoe and sock and then had Annie sit on his leg so it seemed like Casey's leg was actually Annie's. It was pretty funny to watch Abe touch Casey's leg and then jerk his hand back in confusion. He took his blindfold off pretty quickly to figure it out. |
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| When Abe actually went to toss the garter, he didn't get it far enough to reach the group of guys so Kolden ran up and grabbed it. This happened twice and they kept making Abe redo the toss. When he finally got a good toss another kid grabbed it and poor Kolden was so sad that he didn't get to have it that he started crying. Here Abe was trying to console him. |
Taylor and I have spent a lot of time discussing what all we will need to do to make this venture work. Right now the plans are that I will do a lot of the bookwork/record keeping/helping look over the cattle and treating if necessary.
Although I enjoy writing for the Kansas Livestock Association, I didn't feel like I would be able to take on this new role and still have time to continue writing articles on a regular, time-specific basis. So last week, I told my editor that after the next couple of pieces, I would no longer be able to write for them. It was a little bitter sweet, but I'm excited to work together with Taylor to build a dream and hopefully make the grow yard successful. Our friend Jim is also planning to be a part of this operation with us.
Between wedding preparations/celebrations, helping with Bible school last week, my 13 bucket calves, my writing, and the garden (which sadly has been rather neglected as of late), things have been pretty darn hectic. I keep hoping it wi
ll slow down, but now wheat harvest is in full swing. I'm working to finish my writing so I can get into the fields to serve as grain cart driver once the fields dry up from some recent rains we've gotten.
I'm keeping my fingers crossed that we might have a little bit of a break after wheat harvest is done.
Admittedly, I kind of lose track of the different things I've listed as "western Kansas facts" so please forgive me if I've repeated one…
Western Kansas Fact: scratching is less of an issue. It's too dry here for many mosquitos and I've never experienced chiggers out here like I did growing up. At my mom and dad's it seemed like if you walked around in the yard at all, you'd end up with chiggers. Heaven forbid you sit down in the yard without bug spray…you'd end up with an underwear line full of chigger bites and 2 days of scratching in some unseemly places.
We shall all be changed in a moment - in the twinkling of an eye. 1 Corinthians 15:51-52
The other day this Scripture reminded me that Christ could come back at any point. Often I think of that time as some vague point in the future…definitely not during my lifetime. But that is completely the wrong way to look at it. I need to live as if I expect Christ's second coming within the hour. I need to be constantly prepared for my Savior, and when I give God an account of my life and actions, I want to be able to do so with confidence, not regret and embarrassment.
I hope you all have a wonderful week!
