What a Beautiful Bride She Is...

The Party Was At Our House!

We have hosted many parties for the kids over the years that we celebrate Birthdays, Graduations, Baptisms, First Communions, Anniversaries and now a Wedding. Kate wanted her favorite foods and I was trying to figure out how many cheesecakes I've made in my lifetime. Needless to say, we have had some great leftovers! The countdown is in hours to the BIG DAY!

And Then Came the Wedding Rehearsal

Kate's rehearsal at the Church went without glitches. In fact, her roommate, Becca, of 4 years from college undergrad was able to make it and practice her reading in spite of incredible winter weather and dense fog. I had been tearing up the last two weeks in anticipation of this event and the practice was good for both my brother, Dave, who would be walking her down the aisle and me, so we could practice holding back the tears!

More Christmas Day

Christmas Day

Our family has spent a part of Christmas Day with my brother since he was born. He now has a family of his own and we can't imagine Christmas without them. SarahPearl was easily entertained by the bird feeders and the squirrels and birds that surrounded them. She wanted to go outside and join them! hen darkness came she had to settle for watching her cousins and siblings play Rock Band and chess. A little too young for either reindeer game!

SarahPearl and Christmas Eve

Last year as I was waiting for China to send me my travel approval to come and get my sweet SarahPearl, my heart was aching for her during the Christmas season, wishing she could be here with her family. I had bought her the Fisher Price Nativity earlier in the Fall anticipating her arrival by Christmas. Nothing says it better than Third Day's music...the final verse is,

It's Christmas time again and
now you're home.
Your family is here and you
will never be alone.
Tonight before you go to sleep,
I'll hold you in my arms
and tell you from my heart,
I wish you Merry Christmas.

Kate's Wedding Shower

Kate's celebration began on December 20th with a shower at our beautiful Anderson Garden's. It is a Japanese Garden, that is world renowned with a new restaurant that recently opened. Our family has had a membership to the Garden for years and it has always been a place of beauty and tranquility in the midst of some pretty busy schedules. Kate was showered with a snowstorm as well that day adding to the beauty outside the windows. She was surrounded by those who love her!