For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.       Genesis 2:24


We haven't written our blog the last two weeks as July 3rd we were in Georgia preparing for Rebecca's wedding, and July 10th we arrived home that evening exhausted from the wedding and travel. So, we are now renewing our Tuesday blogging. We apologize for missing the last two Tuesdays.

On July 1st we left for Georgia to prepare for our daughter Rebecca's wedding. When we arrived in Atlanta, the first thing we did was help her move out of her apartment. This meant packing up all items that remained such as pots and pans and then cleaning each room. Late Tuesday afternoon we arrived at her fiance, Rick's, home where the wedding was to be held. There was much to d,o but fortunately many of Rick's family gladly pitched in to help. The house and yard needed to be decorated for the wedding and the food for the reception needed to be purchased and prepared for the 170 people who were going to attend. It was amazing to see how everyone worked together to make it a special event for Rick and Rebecca.

Having the rehearsal dinner, wedding, and reception all in the same place made preparation that much more difficult.  Cleaning up after the rehearsal dinner Friday evening and getting ready for the wedding by 10:00 the next morning kept all of us hopping. Thanks for everyone's help all was in readiness by the time the wedding was to begin. It was a special blessing to have four couples from the Adrian area attend as well as my brother, sister-in-law and our niece. It meant so much to Rebecca as well as us for them to travel such a distance for the wedding.

                           Rick and Rebecca feeding each other cake.

As we write this blog, we are now a week and a half after the wedding. It seems like such a whirlwind and went by so quickly. It took us several days to recover once we got home. The pace we had to go to prepare for the wedding was fast and furious, but we have jumped from the frying pan into the fire. Now a tea is being planned in Rick and Rebecca's honor for July 28th here in Adrian. Thanks to the help of many friends, the decorating for the tea should be relatively easy.

We are so thankful for the many in Georgia and here in Michigan who have helped and are helping carry the load to make it a memorable time for the newlyweds.  These helpers have truly been a blessing from God. This has been such an encouragement to us as we have been the recipients of so much help during this time in our lives.

Below is the blessing that the minister gave at the conclusion of the wedding ceremony.

May God the Eternal keep you in love with each other,
So that the peace of Christ may abide in your home.
Go forth and serve God and your neighbor
In all that you do.
Bear witness to the love of God in this world
So that those to whom love is a stranger
Will find in you generous friend.
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God,
And the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

Amen

Blessings and Encouragement,

Paul and Gail