The Most Elegant Wedding

Last weekend Grant and I were privileged to be a part of the most elegant wedding either of us have ever attended, and perhaps will ever attend in our lives.  Yes, it was that special.

We felt like we were back in time as all the ladies were in beautiful, long formal gowns and the men were dashing in their tuxedos, walking around a plantation in Thomasville, GA.  The grand oaks and dripping moss set the mood as the sun set, vows were spoken and toasts were raised.

The evening began in the trophy room with champagne.  The plantation owner  was known for her horses and winning races back in her day.  Silver cups and trophies adorned this spectacular room at the end of the house.  Floor to ceiling windows on every wall revealed the majestic setting we were in.

Escorted into the room for the ceremony, we only had to wait a few minutes before the processional and the beautiful bride walked in the room.  I have known my friend Jackie for over 15 years now.  We met on the tennis court when we were just 13.  Opponents at first, we quickly became close friends traveling to tournaments together and playing doubles every chance we got.  So when Jackie asked if I would read the scripture at her small, intimate wedding I was honored down to my core that she would want me to do something so special.

As elegant as the bride was, the ceremony reflected her completely.  Her touch was evident with every detail.  Following the ceremony we all gathered on the front porch for cocktails, hors d'oeuvres and music.  The best part was still yet to come.  A 7-course meal prepared by a chef and his army of waiters and waitresses all the way from Athens, GA.  This chef has even competed on the Bravo TV show Top Chef.  Every morsel was delicious.  I don't think I can do it all justice, just imagine mouth watering delicacies and that's what we ate.

After dinner and many more toasts, we all retired to the porch for more music and dancing.  It was the perfect ceremony, wedding, dinner and reception.  As it should be for every bride and groom on their special day.  But this one I will remember always.

Congratulations Jackie and Matt.  May your marriage be just as special as your wedding weekend was.

Today I Choose Self-Control

This is the last of the Fruits of the Spirit that Max Lucado brings to life in his introduction to Grace for the Moment.  It is the longest and to me the best.  He wraps it all up well and in a way that I hope to remember to implement in my daily life.  So for today...

I CHOOSE SELF-CONTROL

I am a spiritual being. . . .

After this body is dead, my spirit will soar.

I refuse to let what will rot, rule the eternal.

I choose self-control.  I will be drunk only by joy.

I will be impassioned only by my faith.

I will be influenced only by God.

I will be taught only by Christ.

I choose self-control.

Love, joy peace, patience, kindness, goodness,

faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

To these I commit my day.

If I succeed, I will give thanks.

If I fail, I will seek his grace.

And then, when this day is done,

I will place my head on my pillow

and rest.

Today I Choose Gentleness

With Blogger being down for a couple of days I couldn't finish what I started.  But alas, we can finally pick back up where we left off with Max Lucado's beautiful introduction to Grace for the Moment.  And the last two Fruits of the Spirit.  Today...

I CHOOSE GENTLENESS

Nothing is won by force.  I choose to be gentle.  If I raise my voice, may it be only in praise.  If I clench my fist, may it be only in prayer.  If I make a demand, my it be only of myself.


Whew, what a good one for a Monday morning.

Today I Choose Faithfulness

This might be one of my favorites so far.  Simple.  Honest.  True.  Integrity in the most important things in life.

I CHOOSE FAITHFULNESS

Today I will keep my promises.  My debtors will not regret their trust.  My associates will not question my word.  My wife will not question my love.  And my children will never fear that their father will not come home.


These words are from Grace for the Moment by Max Lucado and I continue to give him all the credit.  Check out the other posts on Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness and Goodness.

There are just two more to go - Gentleness and Self-Control.  I'm sure they will be just as good as all the rest.

Today I Choose Goodness

Here is what Max Lucado had to say about Goodness in his intro to Grace for the Moment.

I CHOOSE GOODNESS

I will go without a dollar before I take a dishonest one.  I will be overlooked before I will boast.  I will confess before I will accuse.  I choose goodness.


Good stuff.

Today I Choose Kindness

I CHOOSE KINDNESS

I will be kind to the poor, for they are alone.  Kind to the rich, for they are afraid.  And kind to the unkind, for such is how God has treated me.


This is the fifth segment from Max Lucado's intro to Grace for the Moment where he goes through the fruits of the Spirit.  His words are simple and yet so rich.

Happy Monday Everybody!

Today I Choose Patience

Not always, but perhaps 90 percent of the time I need more patience than what I'm generally equipped with.  And I'm learning that even more importantly I need an ample supply of Godly patience.  And I truly believe there is a distinct difference.

So, continuing the journey of Max Lucado's powerful words on the fruits of the Spirit, today...

I CHOOSE PATIENCE

I will overlook the inconveniences of the world.  Instead of cursing the one who takes my place, I'll invite him to do so.  Rather than complain that the wait is too long, I will thank God for a moment to pray.  Instead of clinching my fist at new assignments, I will face them with joy and courage.


Check out what Max Lucado had to say about Love, Joy and Peace.

Thank you Max Lucado for these inspirational words.

Today I Choose Peace

The next fruit of the Spirit that Max Lucado talks about is Peace.  Simple and sweet today.

I CHOOSE PEACE

I will live forgiven.  I will forgive so that I may live.


Read Max Lucado's first two entries on Love and Joy.  Great words that resonate in my soul as I strive to learn and grow in my relationship with my Lord.


Happy Friday!!

Today I Choose Joy

Continuing with yesterday's entry, which you can check out here, I continue to give all the credit for these great words to Max Lucado from his book Grace for the Moment.

Today I CHOOSE JOY.

I will invite my God to be the God of circumstance.  I will refuse the temptation to be cynical... the tool of the lazy thinker.  I will refuse to see people as anything less than human beings, created by God.  I will refuse to see any problem as anything less than an opportunity to see God.


I saw God this morning at 3:30am.  With one screaming toddler in the house, Grant and I took turns turning on music and finding pacis.  Finally when we couldn't take it any longer I got up and LB and I trudged down the hallway to find Sesame Street on.  Praise the Lord.  She only wants to watch Elmo these days.  After my alarm when off a little while later, hubby/daddy trudged down the hallway too.  He took over so I could jump in the shower and put on the coffee.  I came back to find these two kiddos snuggled up on the couch zonked out - both of them.  Joy filled my heart as I watched them.  Even when none of us resemble human beings at 3:30 in the morning I was reminded that God created this precious little girl that brings so much joy to my life.

Grace for the Moment

A few days ago Grant picked up the small book that sits on the little table just outside our bathroom.  It's one of those books that you put out because it looks pretty and at one point you read it and it was great so you want to leave it out for others to see.  Well, with its current location there probably aren't too many people that see it, so I wanted to share a little bit of the treasure we discovered in its intro.

The book is Grace for the Moment by Max Lucado.  It is a collection of inspirational thoughts for each day of the year.  The intro goes through the fruits of the Spirit.  After Grant read it he looked at me with "wow" written all over his face and he told me I needed to read it.  There are nine in all.  And I'd like to take them one at a time.  I think Max Lucado provides so much to think on that I'd like to let each one rest on our hearts to let it fully sink in.  So here we go.

Each Day...
It's quite.  It's early.  My coffee is hot.  The sky is still black.  The world is still asleep.  The day is coming.

In a few moments the day will arrive.  It will roar down the track with the rising of the sun.  The stillness of the dawn will be exchanged for the noise of the day.  The calm of solitude will be replaced by the pounding pace of the human race.  The refuge of the early morning will be invaded by decisions to be made and deadlines to be met.

For the next twelve hours I will be exposed to the day's demands.  It is now that I must make a choice.  Because of Calvary, I'm free to choose.  And so I choose.

I CHOOSE LOVE...
No occasion justifies hatred; no injustice warrants bitterness.  I choose love.  Today I will love God and what God loves.


Max Lucado receives full credit for the words above reprinted from Grace for the Moment.  And aren't they wonderful words?

We all have a choice to make.  And today I choose love.

The Flowers in Vegas

I know its been a while since I've blogged, but I have an excellent excuse.  We were in Vegas!  To answer your first question - we won a little and lost a little.  It didn't come out even, but we weren't expecting to come home any richer either.  We just do a little for the fun of it.

Most of these pictures are from the Bellagio's Atrium area.  Absolutely beautiful.  We were fortunate enough that the convention was in the Bellagio so we walked by the thousands of flowers daily.  And it should be no surprise that all of my pictures involve some sort of flower, right??

Early in the morning they change out the flowers.

We discovered their plant yard right next to the hotel.

Beautiful butterfly in the Atrium

Everything can't be perfect

And this is just a fun picture of our little munchkin from yesterday.  Laura received her own watering can for Easter so that she can help me water our own flowers.  She hasn't quite grasped the concept of holding the can up until you get to the pots so that you don't spill all the water.  She mainly likes to watch it pour out and if the water manages to hit a pot or two, well that's just an added bonus.  Yesterday she slowly started pouring the water on herself until she was about half wet.  Well, I couldn't help myself and in the fun of watering things I sprayed her pretty good with the water hose.  Next came out the flower water sprinkler toy from last summer.  And the end result is a completely happy, completely drenched little girl.  This summer at Water World should be fun!