The Things Which God Hath Prepared

“But as it is written,

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EYE HATH NOT SEEN,

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NOR EAR HEARD,

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NEITHER HAVE ENTERED INTO THE HEART OF MAN,

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THE THINGS WHICH GOD HATH PREPARED

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FOR THEM THAT LOVE HIM.” 1 Corinthians 2:9

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We are extremely excited to introduce to you our new son!

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We have named him Tate Owen! Tate means “cheerful”, and Owen means “young warrior”. Our cheerful, young warrior!! Tate is three years old!

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We received Pre-Approval from China on October 11th to adopt him!!

We cannot wait to hold him! Kiss him! Love on him!! Teach and train him!! OH the wait is already SO hard!

Rejoice with us! Pray for our little man with us! Praise Jesus with us!!

“God setteth the solitary in families…” Psalm 68:6

Last But Certainly Not Least

David’s family hosted a beautiful rehearsal dinner on Friday night. It was such a blessing that the church had two reception halls (I know!), so they were able to have the dinner catered right there to us!

The decorations were amazing! The food looked amazing too!!

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At the dinner, Blake stood up to share part of a poem that Kayla had written to Blake and I in January 2009 when she was 15 years old:

I write this poem with a special request,
Please protect my heart, keep it at its best.
One pure and true, shining a new.
A light in the dark, that’s what it will do.
And when that special young man comes asking for me,
You can give him it whole, not broken in three.
For it was protected, spotless, and true,
Not broken in pieces like the world’s prone to do.
Through love it was kept, and love it be given.
With the Lord’s guiding hands, I trust your decision.
Take this small token, a promise from me
To keep my heart pure, as you oversee.
And if the Lord will,
It may be passed to my groom on our blessed wedding day.
I love you, dear parents.
May the Lord guide your way.

Blake gave David the silver heart pendant that was attached to the poem when Kayla gave it to us all those years ago. What an amazing blessing for Blake to pass on the protection of Kayla’s heart to a man like David. We love him so much.

After dinner, our Pastor led the rehearsal. It went smoothly and was very organized!

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We were up bright and early Saturday morning, as us girls were heading to the church to get ready while Blake stayed at home with the boys and Eliza to get ready. I made a breakfast bar of muffins, butters, oatmeal, orange juice and coffee for us gals and left some for the guys at home too!

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Our bride was beaming!! And eating gummy bears!!

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Our get ready time was relaxing and enjoyable! Photos started for us girls with the photographer. Some were taken inside, and then we headed outside for the rest. I got a text after my hubby saw me from way across the parking lot – “Hello. My name is Blake. You look fantastic. I love you!” I love you too, honey! We had not seen each other much last week! He looked fantastic too!!

The wedding was beautiful!!! David and Kayla had written their own vows and they were so beautiful. The music was beautiful. The message was amazing. Everything was perfect. All to the glory of God!!

We personally did not take any photos after we were dressed and ready for the ceremony to begin! I do have just one photo from the reception though…..after David and Kayla cut their cake, they put on aprons and served the guests at the reception!!

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And I will leave you with a few sneak peaks from our super talented photographer Hannah….just so you know that waiting for the rest of the photos of this most amazing day will be SO worth the wait!!!

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Our hearts are full!!! From everyone who gave of their time and talents to make this day special, to those who traveled from so far to bless us with your presence, and for all of those who were diligent to prayer on our behalf……we could never find the words to thank you enough. We haven’t stopped talking about the day since -sharing stories of ALL the blessings that abounded that day.

David and Kayla are on a two-week honeymoon – which has been their secret!! We have no idea where they went!! Isn’t that fun??!! I do know, without a shadow of a doubt, that they are having the time of their lives.

We love you David and Kayla!!!! Congratulations!!!!!

It Is Time

We woke up very early Friday morning full of excitement, joy, anxiousness, and disbelief that it was already the day before the wedding! There was much to do….so we all got busy…..and as usual, many hands made for light work and a lot of fun!!!!

First, we finished up things at home…..

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We stood in a circle holding hands to pray before we left the house, and kept constant reminders around us where our focus should be!

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The piles made it into four vehicles!! Next we unloaded it all at the church!

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Then there were tables to set up. I am still praising the Lord for David’s Aunt Sandy (in the blue on the far right), who whipped that reception hall into order in such a short time!

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Now it was time to decorate!

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It all came together beautifully!!!

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Both David and Kayla’s family farms were represented…..with a mailbox from David’s, and the top of our corn crib!

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There were other details to attend to as well – getting the water and root beer chilled, popping the popcorn, and having our Auntie Gail arrange all of the flowers!

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There is that angel Sandy again! I doubt she will ever eat popcorn ever again. Ever.

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Doesn’t this dashing young man look calm, cool, and collected?!!

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There is still more…..stay tuned!!

A Beautiful Day In The Making

When David and Kayla began courting in November of 2013, they, and both sets of parents, had the mutual goal of a shorter verses longer courtship. When David asked Kayla to be his bride on August 2, we were also in agreement to a short engagement, which would allow the blessing of the weather still being good for all of Kayla’s extended family and any out-of-state friends to be able to travel safely for the wedding as well!

Planning a wedding in twelve weeks was SUCH a blessing! It kept David and Kayla organized, motivated, and making decisions without over thinking them! What a blessed time these last three months have been!!!

There were decorations to be made on a budget!

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Kayla had hoped to top each of these tree cookies with a blue canning jar. When she looked into purchasing the jars, we knew it did not fit our budget. So, our God fearing beautiful bride prayed a simple prayer – “Lord, I will wait and watch you work out the detail of the blue jars.”

ONE hour later, I answered the phone and it was a dear friend from up north who was coming to visit the next day. She says to me, “I was just in my garage looking for some canning jars because I am canning today. I found boxes full of blue canning jars from my mother-in-law, and thought maybe the soon-to-be-bride might want to use them for her wedding day?” Seriously??!

Seriously. Praying allows the glory to be given where the glory is due!

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We worked as a family one evening to get the invitations ready to mail that Kayla designed and had printed.

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There were so many other details….some of which I have posted about as they happened! Dress shopping!! Wedding showers!! Getting David and Kayla’s place ready for them!! Food shopping!! Friends coming over to help with preparations!!

Last week we had some baking and cooking to do!!

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And wedding meetings to be had with the event coordinator!! (We love you, Meg!!!)

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And haircuts to be given!!

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And decorations to be finished up!!

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And piles to be made!!

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And then, suddenly, it was TIME!!!

Stay tuned for more……