Shawn & Kaitlyn's Rehearsal Etc.

The night before the BIG day, there was the traditional rehearsal at the Church, the rehearsal dinner at Coach and Four, and the groomsmen had their final dance practice. This was the FIRST time I got to see the dance in person. The rehearsal went really well. The kids even did their practice run and they seemed to feel comfortable performing their individual duties. Dinner at Coach and Four was very yummy and filling. Shawn's mom and dad did a nice job!! It was so nice to just sit and relax with some of our close friends. Kaitlyn and Shawn passed out their generous gifts to the bridemaids and groomsmen at the restaurant too. My favorite part of the night was the slide show that Shawn's mom put together for the bride and groom. It contained childhood photos and current photos.

Less than 24 hours until these 2 become 1.

Tyson practices his BIG role as the ring bearer pulling a red wagon.

Jax holds the ring bearer pillow.

The sweet lil flower girl.

"I think the ring goes here!"

"I'm just not sure if I can pull this off!"

The restaurant was located on Williamson Road. I had never heard of this restaurant, but it was really delicious.

Allison with her prime rib and baked potato. Is that thing still alive?

My lovable husband and I.

Prince William and Kate Middleton wannabes. J/K Brett and Jody!

A snap shot into the bride and groom's table!

The favor that night was personalized m&m's with the bride and groom's face on it. The m&m's also were designed in the same color scheme as the wedding. Very clever.

A portion of the group that ate at Coach & Four that night. This looks like a family reunion photo. My poor hubby is all alone since I'm the camera nerd.

"So, tomorrow's the big day, huh?" Walking back to their car. They say good-bye to single-hood.

Miss Kayla Strickland aka the dance teacher. She used to be on the dance team at JMU. And is GOOOOOOD at dancing. I could watch her ALLLLL day.

The boys get busy practicing for their "show" tomorrow.

The guys gather around to.....

Throw Shawn in the air.

They really got into character for this dance.

These boys were BRAVE. This is not a move everyone can succeed at.

After this dance was actually performed at the wedding, some of the guests came up to Darren and said, "You HAD TO HAVE BEEN in a boys band before! You cannot pull off moves like that without a life of dance practice." LOL! They wanted to know what the name of the boy band was. Darren replied, "I used to be in the band called "NShape!" LOL!!!!!!! Kayla, AWESOME job teaching these boys how to dirty pop.

1 Day AND Counting Until Miss Graham Becomes Mrs. Belcher

Last night Kaitlyn and I got a manicure and pedicure before the big day. It was rather surreal. It seems like 3 years ago I learned she was engaged. When I think about Kaitlyn, I smile from ear to ear. She is a rare find. She's mature and not the in the sense the world thinks of as mature. She's responsible, dependable, reliable, sweet, and helpful (just to name a few of her great chracteristics). I'd say the hardest part about being friends with her is the fact that she is so quiet. Obviously, I AM NOT. I'm a blabber. I do not like uncomfortable silence. In trying to get to know her, I have been forced with being the talker, but now that she is comfortable around me, she's grown so much in that way. Our relationship started out as a working relationship, but flourished into a beautiful friendship.

Witnessing her courtship and engagement with Shawn has been remarkable. She has stood firm in her faith with minimal temptation, keeping CHRIST her focus. I hope and pray that 18 years from now, I am reliving this scenario with Lilah. I pray Lilah's focus is Christ and that her love for a man remains wholesome and pure until the day of her wedding, just like Kaitlyn. Just recently, in a conversation with a friend, she said, "It's pretty unrealistic to save yourself until marriage." At first, I cringed hearing that because I know and have witnessed how UNTRUE that is, but then I realized, she was right. It is unrealistic for anyone to save themselves until marriage WITHOUT Christ. There is no ability to comprehend how to live a life striving for excellence and righteousness in the Lord, apart from the world, WITHOUT Christ. With Christ, ALL things are possible, even saving yourself for ONE MAN! YOU GO GIRL!!!!

Kaitlyn, I cannot WAIT until tomorrow. I am so privileged to be your Matron of Honor AND I cannot wait to see how beautiful you will be as a bride. LOVE YA!

Kaitlyn and I got gel polish put on our hands. Not gel tips, but gel polish. It's the newest craze and I love it!!! Fairly expensive, but you get the long lasting manicure without the fake nails placed on your real nails.

Getting ready for the BIG day!!!!

Every lady should make her feet pretty for her husband.

"Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. "~Genesis 2:24

Evacuation from Abstinence Party!

Aka bachelorette party!!!!! Yes, good, Christian women can have a bachelorette party for a soon-to-be bride too!!!! Of course ours was a clean one! Mattie did a wonderful job planning Kaitlyn's bachelorette party. It started at a very nice restaurant in downtown Roanoke, called Blue 5.

This is a really alive and yummy restaurant.

We filled our tummy's and enjoyed each other's company. There were a few ladies in the group who made certain there was MUCH laughter taking place.

A group shot, minus the photographer... me! Oh and a few others (Jill and Stephanie). They hadn't arrived just yet.

The decor matched the brides wedding colors.

Allison (bridesmaid) and Jill (long time friend/mentor to Kaitlyn).

I am blessed with the true honor and privilege of being Kaitlyn's Matron of Honor.

Mattie is the Maid of Honor.

Literally these girls are SOBER! Whoever said alcohol is a must to have fun is a liar.

I wish I was a part of whatever it was that was so funny here?

From Left to Right: Molly Carroll, Allison Ward, Kaitlyn Barnette, Mattie Benson, Kaitlyn Graham (BRIDE), ME, Tabby Shelor, Jill Higginbotham, and Stephanie Belcher (GROOM'S SISTER, who just got off work from a nursing shift).

After we left the restaurant, we headed over to Mattie's home where we showered Kaitlyn with all kinds of goodies from panties, to lingerie, to bedroom toiletries. Mattie and Allison made some wonderful cake pops (well, so they say. I was on asugar strike, but they sure did look delicious) and other snacks.

The cake pops were decorated to match the brides color scheme: purple and teal.

There they go again! Still totally sober! I LOVE IT!

Most of the girls spent the night, but a few of us have husbands and children and we had to return home to them. Mattie you did a great job planning this evening for Kaitlyn as she says good-bye to singlehood/abstinence :) Thank you! I am sure Kaitlyn is very thankful.

Kaitlyn, in just a few short days you will no longer be husbandless. I am so happy for you and Shawn both. You're no longer going to be a girl, but instead a WOMAN! I can't wait to hear all about it ;) wink wink!!!

PS. If anyone is interested in seeing pictures of the gift I gave to Kaitlyn, send me a text or email. Being it's a tad R rated, I am choosing NOT to post it on my blog, but I will use my discretion in sharing it with anyone interested in seeing it. I loved the idea and am happy to share it with any married female over 18 years of age :)

NO ONE Really Looks As Good As Matthew Mcconaughey, Not Even Matthew Mcconaughey HIMSELF!

As our family prepares to participate in the much anticipated wedding of the year, Kaitlyn & Shawn's, we are experiencing some angst. What will we wear to the rehearsal? Who will watch the kids during the rehearsal dinner? Will Lilah's flower girl shoes arrive in the mail on time? Will my bridesmaids dress fit? Who's wedding attire needs ironing? What time are our hair appointments? Will Lilah sit still and allow the hair dresser to do an updo on her? Will the twins get to nap before the wedding? Will Tyson, Lilah, and Jax actually perform and fulfill their tasks as ring bearers and flower girl? Will my husband remember all of his dance moves during the groomsmen's dance to "Dirty Pop"? All of these things are miniscule compared to the bride and groom's stresses, I am sure, but still, all is relative to each individuals circumstances, right?

Well... HERE IS MY BIGGEST STRESS for this WEDDING, as superficial as it may seem...

How can something so cute be so ugly sometimes?

WILL MY SON'S RUG BURN DISAPPEAR BEFORE HE WALKS DOWN THE AISLE? WILL MAKE-UP COVER IT, IF NOT! Rug burn???? YOU ASK??? Yes. Rug burn ON HIS FACE. On Monday, Tyson asked if he could have some fruit loops. I said "no". Unbeknownst to me, he rubbed his forehead all the way down the hallway because he didn't like the answer that I gave him. Hours later, his forehead had two harsh abrasions. We spoke to him about how it happened and he told us. But we failed to realize, until a day later, that he is due to be in a wedding and we would like him to be FREE of blemishes on the only part of his entire body that will show flesh. AAAAAHHHHH! NOW WHAT? We are treating it with neosporin, but I doubt it's going to heal before the wedding. Praise God for good photo editing programs. Our family will certainly need some touch ups, but everyone does. "No one really looks as good as Matthew Mcconaughey, not even Matthew Mcconaughey himself." ~ Nick Shaffer.

Surprise Visit To The VA TECH Duck Pond!

God has blessed our day in so many ways today. One of those ways was gorgeous weather. I had to take a drive up to Blacksburg to try on my bridesmaids dress for Kaitlyn's wedding. As a sign of my appreciation for them coming along for the ride without grumbling, I decided to treat my kids to something special... the VA TECH duck pond. I told a friend yesterday, that I have been dreading the summer's arrival, a lot, but mostly out of fear that it will be tough to manage 3 kids alone and constantly with only a once a week break for 4 hours. HOWEVER, these last few days, while Ty has been on Spring Break, my anxieties and negativity and fears have vanished. I've noticed now that Lilah and Jax can walk and talk, it's really fun to take them places. Each of them have different personalities, different appreciations, different fears, and different ways of showing their excitement. It never gets dull.

Back to the point of this post...

Enjoy the pictures captured at the VA TECH duck pond today! There were many exciting things going on. A dog chasing ducks, ducks being fed, fish being caught, bicyclists everywhere, people sun bathing, a couple having a romantic picnic, and the sweet sound of laughter from my children's mouths. I hope to be more spontaneous like this again in the future. Maybe it's not so necessary to be so planned out after all. The only regretful thought that passed through my head, while there, was how I wish I could do College on that gorgeous campus all over again. I took that time in my life for granted. I didn't use it to the fullest (AND I'M NOT referring to partying, just an FYI).

PS. The dress I'm wearing in Kaitlyn's wedding is GORGEOUS!

The kids begin feeding the ducks!

It didn't last long because Lilah and Jax would throw WHOLE pieces of hot dog buns or bread into the water. Eventually, we had to rip the bread in pieces for them.

Ty finds a deserted cabin. He was a little afraid to go look at it after I pretended to be the witch from the movie, Hansel and Gretel, by saying, "Come here little boys. Let me show you my home!"

Jax followed Tyson around as if Tyson was the mamma duck and he was a duckling. He insisted on doing EVERYTHING his BIG BROTHER was doing. He braved much more than his over sensitive personality normally stands for. I'm not sure if you can see the sticks in their hands, but when Tyson picked up a large stick, Jax was SURE to find one of his own.

Lilah stuck to mommy like glue. She was fine being a girl! BUT then, spotted some dirt, and turned back into the small tom boy that she desires to be at times.

Tyson was so well behaved at the duck pond. I was so thankful.

Jax posing for a picture, but looks to be uncomfortable. There were a ton of LARGE, black ants on this tree and he was fearful they would bite him.

Sittin pretty for a picture.

I told Lilah and Jax to sit down and I explained to them how to have fun with these dandelions.

They thought this was so much fun! I love how children appreciate the simple things in life that we take for granted.

"She loves me, she loves me not!"

"He loves me, he loves me not!"

On the way to the van, I spotted this student, who caught a fish. Ty got to "pet" him.

This is the large carp fish that the VA TECH student caught.

Ecclesiastes 3:11 "He has made everything beautiful in its time."