Joy and I have had a wonderful time this week-end. Just being together is a treat, but being with friends and helping make their days more special is a DOUBLE TREAT! It is Sunday morning and we have to get packed and move on back down the road to Dothan. But first, I want to show you some pics from the weekend!

THE REHEARSAL DINNER

working hard in the afternoon….

…and it was all worth it at the dinner!

WEDDING DAY…It dawned hot, hot, hot! But at least no rain! Joy and I did a few things in the morning, but came back to rest. I needed to let these tootsies rest a little because I was going to direct the wedding and I knew I would be on my feet a long time. We noticed a few clouds as we were going to the motel, but nothing major. Joy took a nap, and I tried to get my computer to work. It started raining a little…and then a little harder….and THEN thunder and lightning…BIG lightning! But, then it began slacking off. We drove to the winery in the drizzling rain, it got lighter and lighter as we got closer. As the wedding party and guests drove into winery, down a dirt road with beautiful vineyards of each side, they were met with the most beautiful rainbow. What a gift! As if God was sending and ‘extra special’ blessing on this couple.

“God has given us these times of joy.” Nehemiah 12 : 43

My friend Pamela…don’t you love her dress…Mother of the Groom…

From Dothan…Donna and John Walker…

…Monty and David Clark…

…Juliann and Tillman Black…and Ron Ellis…Father of the Groom…

…Joy and I…

…Our dear friend, and the Minister for the wedding, Rev. Billy Rich…

Beautiful grapes in the vineyard…

Tonja…Pamela…Joy

And…it was over……

The sun began to set…..

…And, the beautiful Birmingham scenery enthralled us as we drove back to the motel…

The newlyweds are off to Mexico, the Mother and Father of the Groom are taking a day or two to recoup, and most of the friends and family have returned home. What a joy to have been a part of the fun. The couples in the pictures I showed, including the Mom and Dad of Groom, and Joy and my families, have been friends for 35 years, at least. We have had babies together, married children together, buried family members together, some worked in jobs together, and most importantly…worshipped together. How wonderful that God allowed us to grow and share some of life’s happiness and good times, as well as sadness and burdens together. The most important quality that we have shared is our faith. We have grown our faith and taught our faith to our own and each other’s children. And, now we are reaping the rewards of seeing those children becoming responsible adults in the world and carrying on what we started. God is so good!

“We will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord,
his power, and the wonders he has done. ..so the next generation would know them,
even the children yet to be born, and they in turn would tell their children. Psalm 78:4-6