My Sister's Wedding Shower

My Dad and I



My Mom and I



My sisters and I

The Ferguson Girls...



Stacie and my Mom



My Dad and His girls...

Stacie and I, at our parents house, for her shower.



Some of Stacie's friends...



Stacie and Jennie, my sisters

Wedding Planning...

I'm in Iowa now and have been since Sunday night. It's been a great week so far, but I already can't believe how fast time is flying! Weddings seem to speed time up, I'm convinced. We have been running all over town, dropping stuff off, picking stuff up and realizing we forgot to do something! But, no major setbacks or meltdowns yet, so I would consider that a good thing. It's late and I'm up waiting for Travis to get here. He did Church tonight and then drove down afterwards, so I'm expecting him at about 1:00am! I've missed him though, so I'm anxious to finally see him. Ryley came down with me on Sunday, and he is exhausted! I think he loves to come to my parents house because they have such a great yard and he gets constant attention and someone to play with him! He is passed out right now, trying to recover for another day, and I'm wishing I could pass out with him.

Tonight my sister Jennie and I threw a shower for Stacie and her close friends. It was very fun and we all had a nice time. I will post pictures as soon as I can...we took a million, of course. Tomorrow is rehearsal day already, which I cannot believe! The guys are golfing in the morning while the girls continue doing all the work...how true that is! Tomorrow night I'm sure the emotions will hit us, as the rehearsal has a funny way of making reality hit home. We watched the newly completed video tonight of pictures and video footage of their 6 year relationship...it was cute and somehow I managed not to cry!

We have lots of family and friends coming in tomorrow and on Friday...that is always the best part of a wedding! We're all looking forward to seeing everybody and catching up again, it seems major events like this are the only things that make us connect these days. Travis and I had lots of family and friends come to our wedding in Florida, and it meant so much to us. We missed the people who couldn't come, but we loved having everyone there...it was the best party. Looking back on our wedding, in light of planning this one, there is still nothing I would change about ours! We had the best night and we have great memories of all of it. I LOVE watching our video and "re-living" that as much as I can. I think STacie is doing a good job of soaking this all up and taking it in...it's all over before you know it.

Well, I better check in with Trav...Here's hoping for a sunny couple of days with no rain in the forcast!

A sleepless night!

Travis and I had our first attempt at a sleepness night with a newborn last night. We had our student and her baby over, to spend some time with them and to give our student a "night off" from middle of the night feedings (see previous blog below for an explanation of situation). We put the baby in our room with us, and we quickly got on her every 2 hour feeding schedule! Amazingly, we made it through the night without any problems or prolonged bouts of crying...we actually kind of enjoyed it. Of course we enjoyed it because we knew it was just for one night! We did discuss what it was going to be like when that was our reality, night after night, and we decided we could understand why sleep deprivation was the number one complaint of new parents. I was so wiped out this morning, it took me most of the day to recover! But, she is one cute baby and we looked at her many times, looking forward to the day when we're dragging through the night with our own.

We have finally had a great Saturday, with nothing scheduled!! I seriously don't remember the last time we had that. We've laid around, watched TV, and been online, waiting for some friends of ours to have their baby! They have an online blog that they've been updating all day, so we're still waiting to find out if it's a boy or a girl...exciting! We did watch an excellent movie today that you should rent if you haven't seen it...it was The Queen with Helen Mirren. I didn't expect Travis to agree to watch it, but he did and we both really enjoyed it. It's all about the events surrounding the death of Princess Diana and the royal family's reaction, namely the Queen's. So fascinating to imagine that kind of life. I can't say that I would ever want that. Seems so lonely and empty. But, a great movie!

I am headed to Iowa tomorrow to help my family with the wedding...we're less than a week out now, so the pressure is on! I will try to update as the week unfolds, with some pictures of course for my girlfriends! I can't wait...it's going to be a fun week! Hope you have a great Memorial Day weekend! We are!!

American Idol and Dancing with the Stars...

Ok, so my 2 favorite shows (besides The Office) are wrapping up...dancing, last night and idol tonight. Travis and I watched Dancing with the Stars all season long and we were happy that Apollo won, although I was actually pulling for Joey...We have totally loved that show! Maybe because we like to dance, but also because we like the celebrities that have been on the show. It's one of the few shows left that is not offensive or ridiculous...although, sometimes those outfits are just about scandalous! We've both decided that we would NEVER EVER let one another dance that closely with another person! NEVER!

American Idol is still holding our interest until tonight, when the winner is revealed. Travis is a big Blake fan...I thought he was going to freak out when it was Bon Jovi night! I think I also like Blake more than Jordin. She's totally talented, but I like Blake because he's different. He's fun to watch and he's not your typical idol contestant. So, there you have it...our opinion. Go Blake! Sorry, Mike and Holly...we'll still be happy if Jordin wins! At this point, they all win, right?

Have a happy Wednesday night! I'm off to Church...

Sometimes it's hard to be in Ministry...

I wanted to post pictures of a new little baby, who the Lord has brought into our lives. I can't share details on a blog, but I can tell you that this little one was born to a student in our junior high ministry recently. As delicate a situation as this has been, the Lord has clearly put me in a position to minister there, no matter how hard I tried to avoid it. I'm sure you can imagine the wide range of emotions involved, none more elevated than my own. As circumstances played out recently, I found myself in the delivery room, watching this little life enter the world...a world not chosen by someone so innocent. What a day it was, on one hand full of feelings of resentment, wishing it was me delivering that baby and on the other, a day of obedience. I did not choose to be there, but the Lord has made it very clear that He put me there for a reason. I'm privilged to have witnessed that, humbled by the calling that is Travis' and mine. And yet, I'm human and I feel so inadaquate, like I have nothing to bring to the table, no wisdom of my own. But the Lord doesn't called the equipped, instead he promises to equip the called. So, in this season, it's clear I've been called. Please pray...not for me, the Lord has tenderly walked me through this without bitterness or regret. Pray for this precious little one, born into such brokeness and disorder...doesn't that just describe the world we're living in today? God is so faithful, our Protector and Provider, and we are trusting Him today to make a way where there seems to be no way. Life isn't easy, but God is good...