One Brief Shining Moment

One brief shining moment and it is over. Tomorrow we say hello to August - the month of summer's last days and school's first days. Everything starts back or almost so. I just want to say one more time that God blessed our family beyond measure on July 16. We are still talking about the fun times, memories made and happy friends and family.

Molly's Etsy Store

Several of you have asked me, 'Where is Molly?' Meaning, she has been absent from her blog for over a month! Well she has moved, been Sarah's matron of honor, and started a business! Her business just launched today - Sweet Mondays Tees. The adorable hand-designed children's tees and onesies are available on her Etsy store.

She has four designs - little night owl, sweat pea, social butterfly, and digger. The colors are yummy. All tees and onesies are Rabbit Skins 100% cotton - soft and comfy and precious! The designs she drew herself and my favorite is the sweet mondays logo on the back.

I have to say I'm partial to the digger. Maybe I'm just getting excited about Baby Benjamin due in about 2 months!
Super affordable and great for births, birthdays, stocking stuffers or just little happies.

Take a look and pass along to all the young moms you know... grandmothers too!
Sweet Mondays Tees

Wedding Letdown

And what a sweet letdown it is. Gentle. Kind. So like God. There is no way to describe the exhausted good full joyful overwhelming feelings of today. There is no way to thank everyone for their outpouring of love.

So I am asking God to bless them with deeds only He can do, in ways only He can know.

to the Glories for prayer on our knees in the sanctuary just days before
for Kristi delivering guest bags all over town and making everything fun
for Amanda for writing, under God's inspiration, a prayer I carried around all weekend and will share later
for Lowell and Ken exhibiting pure grace by rescheduling flights and picking up bags and driving two cars and more I don't even know about
for Bee and Ben for pushing through every obstacle and humiliation to get here and be there
for Lucy and John being here full of smiles and support
for Luke - always a dedicated uncle and mentor
for Ann, Mary Alice, Lakshmi, Lee, Kim & Rica for putting together dinner and delivering joy
for everyone who came from out of town
for Pennie, Judy and Karen - other MOB's who carried me in prayer
for the entire Matthews crew
for Steph and Rob both being here
for my cousins who mean the world to me
for Dedra who came for the sole reason to pray
for Shay who said she cried when I walked down the aisle
for Pat, Elaine and Libby, the "fearsome foursome" tennis group from 35 years ago
for Nance, still the best freshman college roommate anyone could have
for unbelievably sweet time with the awesome bridesmaids all day Saturday
for Cathy
for Megan
for more unforgettable Matthews Kelly memories that even Sarah said when she called Sunday morning that these memories were the best of all
for Alison's email and Judy's message
for Houston, Nate and Molly - incredible kids who know when and how to shift the spotlight to their sister
for Ben reaching for my hand during Sean and Sarah's vows
for The Lord calming me with His Word and His Presence

Blessings to you all!

Wedding Countdown

A mother of the bride, that would be me, learns all kinds of random things while working on a wedding. I thought you might enjoy a few of my faves.

pure barre. The best workout in town. Barre none. I'm hooked. Just came to our town a few months ago and it has provided this MOB the ability to fit into her MOB dress! Read about the calorie burn and the idea behind the technique. Whew!

My favorite wedding book is this one from The Knot. I'll use it even when the wedding is over. Great flowers, color combinations, favors, little gifts, ideas.

I never even heard of fashion tape before but it has zillions of uses. It sticks to skin - so our use is holding our bride's wedding dress straps just barely off her shoulders.
And I found my most favorite summer 'find' at the Greene Street Market. It is held on Thursdays, 4:00 - 8:00 PM at the corner of Greene Street and Eustis Avenue. My long-time family friends, the Tutt's, have put their fabulous cucumber relish on the market. It's called Relish our Relish and so delicious as a side for butter beans, lady peas, in egg salad, or on turkey sandwiches. I recently made myself a cream cheese and relish sandwich on whole wheat bread - yum! I bought a case and I'm giving jars as thank you gifts for the angels in my life who have helped me in scads of sweet ways.

I even now know a lady who monograms leather. See what I mean about random.

Happy Independence Day!

In the last year, I have fallen in love with the Navy Hymn. It is especially appropriate today as we celebrate freedom and the One in whom we are truly free.

Eternal Father, Strong to Save

Eternal Father, Strong to save,
Whose arm hath bound the restless wave,
Who bid'st the mighty Ocean deep
Its own appointed limits keep;
O hear us when we cry to thee,
for those in peril on the sea.

O Christ! Whose voice the waters heard
And hushed their raging at Thy word,
Who walked'st on the foaming deep,
and calm amidst its rage didst sleep;
Oh hear us when we cry to Thee
For those in peril on the sea!

Most Holy spirit! Who didst brood
Upon the chaos dark and rude,
And bid its angry tumult cease,
And give, for wild confusion, peace;
Oh, hear us when we cry to Thee
For those in peril on the sea!

O Trinity of love and power!
Our brethren shield in danger's hour;
From rock and tempest, fire and foe,
Protect them wheresoe'er they go;
Thus evermore shall rise to Thee,
Glad hymns of praise from land and sea.

The original words were written as a hymn by a schoolmaster and clergyman of the Church of England, the Rev. William Whiting. Rev. Whiting (1825-1878) resided on the English coast near the sea and had once survived a furious storm in the Mediterranean. His experiences inspired him to pen the ode, "Eternal Father, Strong to Save." In the following year, 1861, the words were adapted to music by another English clergyman, the Rev. John B. Dykes (1823-1876) , who had originally written the music as "Melita" (ancient name for the Mediterranean island of Malta). Rev. Dykes' name may be recognized as that of the composer given credit for the music to many other well-known hymns, including "Holy, Holy, Holy," "Lead, Kindly Light," "Jesus, Lover of My Soul," and "Nearer, My God to Thee."