Hello from the bride-to-be and maid of honor, who are busy as bees preparing for The Wedding. As hard as it is to believe, I (Natalie) have already been in Oregon for a week. The days have flown by filled with many wonderful tasks and memories, from shopping at thrift stores for household goods…to a tea at church…to painting a mailbox!Thank you to all who prayed for Gretchen. Her voice has returned and her cold seems to be making a steady retreat. No one else has gotten sick, which is a blessing at all times but especially as we lead up to the final week before The Day. 10 days to go!
Hmm, what else? I’m too tired to think. So here are some pictures of us ladies enjoying springtime. I am realizing afresh how precious each day is…each day with tears and each day with laughter; each day healthy and each day sick; each day with family and each day spent alone.
We’ve been too busy to take many photos, much less put them on the computer but Jennifer kindly gave us a CD with a few of her shots at a get-together today…thank you! Yes, and on the picture at left, note that the lovely Miss Jennifer won the prize for the most el
egant hat. Gretchen won the prize for the most funky (is that a real word?). Aren’t they cute?
Captions: Natalie and Jessica at Gretchen’s bridal shower last week. Jennifer (Gretchen’s cousin), Gretchen, and Natalie at a ladies’ tea on Saturday (we had a hat theme). Sabine, Gretchen, and Sheila (two of Gretchen’s lifelong friends) at a bridal shower.
What a precious time you are all in, preparing Gretchie Anne for her happy new future.
Natalie, it is great to take note of each day, no matter what it brings. I too have been suffering from a cold over the past few days, along with my two boys, aged 6 and 8. But God is so good, that even while we all felt miserable yesterday, my precious little ones still found time to play, a moment to laugh and enjoy their day, and me, well, I did something not so typical in my usual busy schedule.
I lay on my bed, reading and gazing out of my bedroom window, taking in all the glory of God’s creation, in my beautiful garden. And although my garden is quite small, because it boasts an enormous Cedar, whose branches tips are just touching the edge of my house, and my bedroom is at the high end of the block of land, I felt as though I was living in an amazing tree house, and I could imagine that my small garden was in actual fact a large garden that stretched for miles, filled with the lush green plants, spotted with white and blue and purple and red flowers.
I’m glad that Gretchen is starting to feel better…full health to you all over the coming days.
I wait patiently to see the beautiful bride on her Wedding day!
Blessings to all.
Love from
Anne of Lavender House
Australia
What beautiful pictures!
Awww…what great pictures! And cute shirt in the top one, Natalie! It looks/sounds like you two are having a wonderful time…
What a great time I had this last weekend! It was wonderful to see ya’ll once again! The bridal shower was great, and I am so glad I got to spend the day w/all of you on Saturday! I am counting down the days as well to The Wedding! Gretchie you will a gorgeous bride! Blessings to you all!
miss sheila=-)
Hi
Great to hear that you’re having such a splendid time (and that Gretchen is better)!!! Thanks a lot for the update and the cute photos! I wish you a very happy and blessed remaining time…enjoy! Debbie
“You have been a refuge for the poor, a refuge for the needy in his distress, a shelter from the storm and a shade from the heat.” Isaiah 25:4 (this motto for today has blessed me, hope it’ll do the same to you)
!squeal! I just read your courtship story, Gretchen! Can’t wait for the next ‘installment’! Ya’ll are so cute together!
Awwww… sniffle… I so remember the days when my sister was the bride to be… Ah, what bliss! It was not the easiest thing in the world to keep her head out of a cloud.
Anyway, I, as the maid of honor, got to do THREE bridal showers for her. In winter too. Definitely not the most convenient time of year for planning those sort of things
. One of them I did a hat theme, and that was really fun. Every variety of hat showed up–garden, elegant, fur, snow cap, baseball cap (I like that john deere one, Gretchen… so cute!)…
Just want you to know I’m praying for you during this extremely exciting and busy time. Thanks for the sweet post. God bless!
Thanks for sharing those cute photos of friends with Gretchen.
I’m glad she is feeling better now and I hope she is fully recovered by the 27th!
Prayers and Hugs,
Samantha
Natalie and Gretchen’s dresses match! Too cute!