JaRissa's Wedding Rehearsal

We had one hour between graduation and Jared and Larissa's Wedding Rehearsal!  We actually arrived a bit early so Michael could meet with the couple and the Wedding Planner. 

Ditch the gown and add a bouquet

It was fun to find out Annie Z was their wedding planner. We've made some fun memories with the Z Team when we live here....and look at these kids adulting all over the place. Penny, the wedding photographer, was another one of the "kids" from our Goodfellow days.

Some of the groomsmen make an entrance

Getting organized....Steven and Michel H are adopted brothers

Tiffany and Warren - Larissa's Stepmom and Dad

Larissa with her parents

 

This was the smoothest wedding rehearsal I've attended - we were out of there in 45 minutes and heading to the Graduation/Rehearsal dinner at the Lake.

Jared's Graduation

A day Jared worked for long and hard - GRADUATION - Magna Cum Laude! We're proud of all that Jared accomplished in the past four years. It's not easy to work your way through college, and to do that while leading an active social life AND serving on Student Government (as rep, senator and then President) is especially awe-inspiring.

We were an excited crowd when we met at Junell Auditorium for Jared's graduation from ASU.

Jamin and Michel

Nolan & Arielle

The man of the hour

Jared- in profile

Congrat from Dean of Poli Sci department

Spot our graduate - hint blue Student Government sash

Jared and the brothers

Jared and the Sisters (Larissa is the girl's sister not his)

Jared and Veronica - Larissa's mother

Me, Earl (Michael's brother) Jared, Mary (Earl's wife) Michael 

 Nearly all of us - BreZaak and Bella weren't able to travel

F - Stacia, Krista, Me, Larissa
B - Arielle, Nolan, Alex, Jared,Josiah, Michael, Jamin 

You done good!

*Text from the write up in the paper, ASU website and program: 

Jared G was nominated by the Department of Political Science and Philosophy. A political science major with communication minor, he received the B.T. Taylor Memorial Scholarship. His academic performance merited him induction into the Alpha Chi and Phi Kappa Phi national honor societies, as well as the Pi Sigma Alpha political science honor society and Lambda Pi Eta communication honor society. He also presented research at the National Alpha Chi Convention. His extensive involvement in the ASU Student Government Association (SGA) earned him selection as Student Senator of the Year for 2012-13 and election as ASU student body president for 2014-15.  

As SGA president, Jared G led efforts to launch the Ram Tram public transportation system, worked to strengthen ties between the university and the community, and represented the student body on the search committee for ASU’s new provost and vice president for academic affairs. He also completed a semester-long internship at Congressman Michael Conaway’s office in Washington, D.C., and worked as a regional field manager for Governor Mike Pence’s re-election campaign in Indiana during his senior year. Following graduation, Jared G plans to begin a career in business and hopes to pursue a career in public office. 

Shamelessly taken from Riss' Facebook Wall

I just have to say - "Not bad for a socially awkward, can't compete in the real world with a mommy diploma, homeschooler!" Beware of sterotypes y'all!  And to all my fellow-homeschool moms in the trenches....hang in there, it's worth it.

Note - from here we moved on to rehearsal and rehearsal/grad dinner - more posts to follow. LOL

#WYFF - A Busy Friday

A busy Friday! Jared and Jamin ran to Doole to pack his clothes and such. 

Krista worked to finish two papers/finals for her first semester of her MDiv. Michael edited papers. 

Arielle, Stacia and I picked up Josiah at Fam Camp and headed to the mall. Josiah checked in with his "old" Chick Fil A. It was heartening to see the warm reaction from co-workers and customers alike. 

Stacia and I got haircuts and such.....Krista and the boys took a study break and went for a walk downtown. 

The older male Gherkins all went to pick up the Wedding cake and deliver it to Larissa's grandparents.
Michel arrived. He and Steven have been friends with the boys since junior high. They will both be groomsmen on Sunday. We chatted a bit and then our boys, and all left for dinner and a movie - bachelor party. Steven met them at the restaurant so avoided a nasty photo. LOL

The girls and I went for a walk while Michael finished either editing a paper or the wedding ceremony.....we stopped in for a quick visit with Deja. Team A is doing all the cooking for the Graduation/Rehearsal dinner...and the shopping.  What a blessing.

Michael's 1/2 brother Earl and his wife arrived. We all went out for a nice dinner at Outback. It's always fun to catch up with them. Jerome, their son, will arrive tomorrow. He'll miss graduation but arrive in time for the party and the wedding.  We're excited to see him again too.

It's been busy - but I think we're ready for the weekend.

Bella's One Month Old!

Look who is one month old today! Bella Angel.....we miss having the D family here with us in TX, but I can think of no sweeter reason to miss a wedding than adding Bella to the family.

Converging on TX

Krista's day began at 0400 with a trip to her local airport.

The kids slept and slept this a.m. We dug through this stack of boxes...EVERY thing we ordered for the wedding fit! Score - that's rare!

Our first stop of the day was HEB to order a couple of cakes for the graduation/rehearsal dinner.  We met up with Jamin and Jared in the parking lot. 

We hit Ross', the Commissary and BX.....I had wondered how to cook for this crew in the trailer. It's nice to have that question settled. LOL  

Michael always likes to see the venue for weddings before the "games on" and we love the Waterlily Gardens.....This is going to be a beautiful spot for a wedding in just 3 days. 

We came back to the house and watched the Spurs game....we are not OKC fans.  Our day ended at 11:46 p.m. when we picked Krista up at the airport.  We're going to have a graduation and a wedding real soon y'all!