Pre-Wedding & Decorations

A few last minute details to take care of at the church .... gift table as you come in one door of church 

BreAnne set out gifts for groomsmen and bridesmaids - the rest of us took pictures....worked on flowers etc.

This table was for the sand ceremony  - this was the right side of the platform

Three separate lives about to be combined

Out of order but this is what it looked like when they were done - 3 empty bottles (Dakota joined them) and one new family. They have a frame they will pour the sand into later - but it would have taken forever for the sand to sift down if they'd used it in the ceremony. 

Good job Jared

Stacia's hair - didn't Arielle do a great job?  So glad Shelby thought to get a photo of it.  The rest of these decoration photos were taken by Shelby. 

They had a friend, Sue Beaird, make this sweet cake...to feed a crowd and stay in budget they bought the rest of the cake from Costco. 

Hung on pews

 It was hard to get a photo of the entire platform....but here is the center....

This door was perfect! 

In the reception area

Guest book - they borrowed an idea from Cy and Shelby - guests signed their names on their birthdays. 

A dear family friend loaned us the antique suitcases, the chandelier hanging from the lace platform, the cake sign, the door and a couple of other things.  The suitcases and lace etc were on the platform - but not opened like this....the picket fences were some BreAnne has used in VBS and for various church functions. 

There were keys scattered around - the significance will become apparent when I share their vows

The groom and groomsmen wore converse and black fedoras

The boys were ushers - not sure we got a photo of all four of them....but I know we have photos here are there of them. 

Finally, time to get ready for photos and ceremony - Stacia wasn't quite sure why there was so much noise from the women upstairs.  (Taken with a cell phone. LOL)

 One groomsmen and bridesmaid brought munchies.....

I didn't get a lot of photos upstairs. We were busy. We had great fun. I enjoyed getting to know BreAnne's friends in such an intimate setting. 

Dakota was Izaak's best man. 

Choosing Joy!
©2013 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Wedding Day Brunch and Track

Friday morning....The Valentine's Day BreAnne was waiting for....and the essential things must be done! One of my hoarded masks from Asia. 

Michael hands over his mega camera to Shelby. She took some wonderful photos during and after the ceremony.....stick with me - you KNOW I HAVE to blog in ORDER. I'm already skipping the dress shopping and such to get to the wedding photos. 

I have great picture of our first look at BreAnne on her wedding day - but I promised I wouldn't blog it. 

The Texan Gherkins flew in Thursday afternoon, had Friday with us and left at 0700 on Saturday.  The only time to attempt to get us all together was a Wedding Morning Brunch. We invited everyone - but Izaak and Dakota had school, Will, Sherri and Drew had to work and Mom G had other commitments.   We pressed on.  There were nine Gherkins, my cousin Lorri, my parents and Michael and I in Krista and Drew's (nephew) living room.  We kept it simple. We did our best to accommodate all with the time limitations.

 After brunch, many (most) left to go look at Dad's Koi Pond.....BreAnne ran through her vows....

Michael ran through his charge - I think this was good for both of them. 

BreAnne and Arielle headed to the church. Michael, Krista, Jamin and me went to Hayward Field - the mecca of track....

Our next stop was the church and I think I'll begin a new post here. It was incredibly sweet to have all the kids in one location - and we made the most of our time. 

Choosing Joy!

©2013 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

He Does All Things Well

They were extremely astonished and said, "He has done everything well! He even makes deaf people hear, and people unable to speak, talk." Mark 7:37 - Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

• He schools the Pharisees (7:1-13)
• He teaches the crowd & His disciples (7:14-23)
• He casts a demon from a gentile girl (7:24-30)
• He heals deaf and mute (7:31-36

The crowd responds.  They are "utterly astonished" (NASB). They are over the moon - out of their minds. 

I KNOW He is God, they were just glimpsing that revelation. Even knowing, there are times when I am out of my mind amazed at His faithfulness, His love, His heart to restore. 

He does ALL things well! Thousands of years later I declare with the crowd in utter astonishment - He does all things well. 

The good things and the hard things: 

• Healing from past sins and sins committed against me
• Career set backs
• Career successes
• Failed relationships
• Restored relationships
• Healing of unborn babies - even the loss of babies

He hasn't caused the sin done to me, the injustices, my sins and poor choices, the diseases....but He doesn't waste any event in my life.  He does all things well. He does redemption really well. He shapes my life, he heals me, he restores those things taken from me as I surrender it all to Him.

I understand Joseph well. God used injustices, treachery, sins committed against him to form Joseph into his leader, his tool. "...you meant it for evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result..."Gen 50:20.

He does all things well! I am exceedingly astonished...

Choosing Joy!
©2013 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Rehearsal Day/Night

We debated posting a rehearsal post now - don't want to show decorations.  Surprise, surprise...I have enough pictures to post without decorations that we can make this work. I'll post more after the wedding. LOL

Today was another day packed as full as I believe is humanly possible!  These four arrived.....I believe they had been up well over 24 hours by the time they arrived. They drove to Dallas late Wed night and left early Thursday a.m. to arrive here this afternoon.

Guess which one shares the family clowndom with Mom? 

 There are so many unexpected blessings which came with a large family.  When everyone shows up we have an instant party - and an instant work force. On the way from the airport we stopped at the florist, went back to the church, ordered pizza, and began to help BreAnne create her vision for The Wedding.

Gma T stopped over to help

We put Lorri to work too _ she was thrilled I found my memory card

Krista came directly from work....and who KNEW she and Michael would become florists today! Way to GO! New skills.....this one may pay off well in future Gherkett weddings. ::snort::

Izaak was busy making waffles for after rehearsal....and it all came together. The boys and Shelby went to Will and Sherri's for a quick shower and rest. The rest of us moved to rehearsal....

Praying for the couple

 Trevor (red and blue striped shirt) has been friends of BreAnne and Krista since Master's Commission. He is determined to keep his gaze fixed on the Bride and Groom. 

Yes, Cool Beans do follow her. ::snort::

Dakota and Krista

Our Flower Girl

A Bride and Her Father

Rehearsals are so much fun! 

Bailey (Trevor's daughter) likes the music selection....Erin is one of BreAnne's great friends. We are so happy they were able to come down for the wedding. 

Two Pastors

 We went to Bible College with Kirk. He and Michael are tag teaming the wedding. Pastor Kirk has been a spiritual father/mentor to Izaak and is the Senior Pastor where BreAnne is the Children's Pastor. 

The kids are excited to have their first nephew! Jared enjoyed spending time getting to know Dakota....yep...our first Grand Gherkin! Official, tomorrow!

Not pictured is the family prayer circle after all had gone home. We all circled the new family - Izaak, BreAnne and Dakota and prayed for God's blessings to flow in their family. We took advantage of the moment to get Josiah and Shelby in the circle too - TX was so hectic we'd never prayed for them as an ENTIRE FAMILY when they were THERE.

Shelby  has amazing artistic talent. She and BreAnne share a passion for a show called, "Once Upon a Time." She drew this poster for BreAnne. I must remember to check out this show. 

Layla - Drew's Dog - loves to play with Gherkins

The older kids stayed up a bit and visited....

Choosing Joy!
©2013 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...