Ashley & Andrew...

Hello all......well it has not been easy to get these pictures edited and up. I can't wait to share with you about this darling wedding.


I originally wrote, on this post, about what a wedding is like when God is not present. I wrote a lot. I was bold. And then God said..."not yet". So I deleted it all. You can probably imagine what you would see at this kind of wedding......and what you might want to yell out at the smiling couple. Things like "good luck with that" or "take luck and good care" always come to my mind. But mostly, I leave a godless wedding feeling empty and sad for the couple that has to endure their future with their own strength. They don't get to wake up with new mercies each morning...and it makes you sad.


For me, these are the worst weddings. Like truth...when you know it, then you are set free by it. All the other ways are just bondage.


I say all this because I need to set the stage for this latest wedding I had the privilege to attend. Not only was God FULLY, BOLDLY, FRAGRANTLY present, but He was constantly being glorified and honored by those that belonged to Him. And I have to say, that I left that weekend in Memphis completely exhausted but fully in love with the God that can change us, refine us and USE US GREATLY for HIS KINGDOM.


It was a true honor to be able to sit in the background and observe this great story God has been writing.


Meet my baby cousin, Ashley and her precious new husband, Andrew!



We drove to Memphis early Friday (dec 3). Ashely and Andrew were getting married Sunday morning so they had a Sat Rehearsal Luncheon downtown. It was a cold day and sooooo lovely! Here are a few pics....

The

R.Luncheon was at Felicia Suzanne...SO CUTE!!!




the inside was so beautiful!

yall...........the food was AMAZING!

here are some pics my mom took

Mother of the Bride, Aunt Greta and one of the bridesmaids






The Bride!!






and here is the food............oh my...i could eat it all again RIGHT NOW! Salad had a fried green tomato and the best bacon ever. YUM YUM



Steak with garlic butter that would make you slap your momma....



yes friends, that is peppermint ice cream next to a chocolate molten thing........oh my word......so could you could just die!



Aunt Greta and Uncle Ken...Parent's of the bride



Andrew's parents




This is their old College minster and his wife. They have been a huge part of Ashley's life and spiritual growth. I was glad to meet them. College minsters are really special people. They have a hard job keeping students interested in church and they have the joy of guiding those that are learning to make their faith their very own. My College ministers are a HUGE part of my story. So grateful for those that serve in that area!






some of her beautiful bridesmaids



me and dad...




They showed a precious video of baby pictures and then it was time for the special speeches......My Uncle Ken started things off. I was in tears almost instantly. He shared about how his own faith had grown as Ashley's faith grew. She had asked him some tough questions and realized it was time to step it up in his walk. I don't know about you, but I LOVE LOVE watching others become real disciples of Christ. Oh sure, some say that they believe but you never really see the fruit of their faith. I could care less about what you were once like....I just care that you are moving forward, seeking change. Our walk is about allowing Him to make us MORE and BETTER.

Uncle Ken read a scripture talking about splendor and then said that Andrew had not only brought splendor into their home but Andrew had come in like a fire and just really made them all better.

This is from the Father-in-law. Does that begin to tell you what kind of man Andrew is. My dad later talked about how interesting it is...this day and age....that Andrew is REALLY, REALLY the spiritual leader in this marriage. It's sad to think that we are shocked by that. But the reality is that there are a lot more women trying to carry the spiritual health of the family because the husband does not. Don't get me wrong, there are some really wonderful godly husbands. I know because I have seen them and know them. But there is a really fat number of men that do not lead.

After Uncle Ken talked, the floor was opened to anyone that wanted to share. This time was also a blessing to me. The girls and guys got up and just shared testimonies of watching both grow in the Lord and spoke of their love to serve others. They spoke about what an honorable man Andrew is and what a faithful friend Ashley is. I am just so thankful that I got to listen and be apart of that time.






The mighty Mississippi.....





ps..i totally got my hair cut like short -short. so short in the back (although you can't tell here) that using my straightening thing was hard. YIKES! good news- my hair grows fast and already much longer. ptl




That afternoon we headed over to the Nollner's house to watch the Auburn game..their son Braxton goes to Auburn so they are fans! Here are the guys watching in the living room...

while the girls watched in the kitchen! Carondelet was so fun to watch...here she is after a big touchdown!

As you all know, they are the dear friends that gave me their old computer!!!! Here we are just after Mike said he was giving it to me!!! i was sooo excited



They are so sweet to me! They are family to us, you know! They are joy/life givers...balcony people. They don't suck the joy out of you!

Then we headed back to Daddy Bob's house to rest up for the early wedding. I will post those later. Need to break them all up. I have one more day of school then vacation time!!! I could really use your prayers as I am trying to get everything done and packed. I slept so good last night. I have been up at all hours making lists earlier this week. My brain would not slow down. But last night i slept and woke up refreshed and joyful!!!!!!

One last thing before I post..... "There is NO wisdom, NO insight, NO plan that can succeed against the Lord" prov 21:30... i tweeted this early in the week. I have been claiming this verse over a million areas of my life. I am finding GREAT VICTORY in that claiming. I share it with you because scripture is our SWORD...and it can cut the enemy into tiny little pieces. Claim it over anything and everything you can. HE IS IN CONTROL!

love you friends! Talk with you soon! and not in a week soon....ha

oh..and MERRY CHRISTMAS... i love this time of year!