Projects – Page 4 – Skies of Parchment

May 6, 2013May 6, 2013

Hudson is One!

My son – our son – had his first birthday yesterday.

// Yes, he has killer blue eyes, just like his daddy. :) //

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I don’t know HOW it is possible for a year to go by so quickly, for a little person to become so intricately interwined in our lives, for our love to grow so deeply, for our hearts to swell with love for a new little person in our family…

I tried not to cry, but I kept swallowing tears all day. I don’t want my kids to remember me as the mom who always cried on birthdays!! I mean, seriously! But I guess I am that very person. I just try to do it in private instead of in front of everyone. :)

I remember his birth, the excitement of a new baby, the thrill of a BOY, the tiny bit of ohmygoodnessit’saboy, i don’t know anything about boys!

I had thought three girls would be perfect; now, I see that, for our little family, the order of two girls and then a boy is what is perfect. So very perfect.

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I never expected that Zoe and Olivia would be so thrilled with a brother. I thought it would be the parents who would be so excited about a new baby in the family; but it’s the girls who multiply the joy.

I never expected to love a little boy so much! It’s not more than my girls, but it’s a different kind of love. I can’t really explain it, other than I am hopelessly SMITTEN with him. He completely melts me.

I didn’t expect a boiy to be so sweet, so snuggly. He’s the kind that loves to play hard and make tractor noises, but he can also give the best kisses and loves some good snuggles. ♥

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Having a son has given me a bigger vision for godly manhood than I had before. Not that I can or will do this perfectly, but by God’s grace we want to raise a son for the glory of God. Not a pansy, not a man who always takes the easy route, but a man who follows God and obeys Him and loves Him no matter what, a man who is a leader in the Kingdom of God, however God should chose to use him and place him. Leaders are not always out-front kind of men, but leaders are always influencers of other people; sometimes quietly, sometimes more strongly.

I get excited about Hudson being taught by his daddy, about being a servant-leader as his daddy so clearly lives out, about respecting the women in his life and treating them with honor, about having a heart for the weak and helpless, about rescuing the defenseless…

I don’t know the plans that the Lord has for this little man, but his father and I will do our utmost to raise him in kingdom ways, in the fear of God, and then to release him to fly. That may be scary, we just talked about that a few days ago. The “safe” men are easier to raise, easier to release. It’s the daring ones, the adventurous men, the ones willing to take risks that are more challenging – as boys, as men. But what this world needs is real men! I have seen them, I am married to one, and I am excited about the plans of God for this little one!

We had a little party for Hudson, with emphasis on the little. :) A person turning one does not understand what is happening, and much money and time spent on that particular birthday will not necessarily go down in the annuls of ‘feeling loved by mommy and daddy.’ But, there are two big sisters around here who are wildly excited about birthdays and parties, so it was more for their sakes than for Hudson’s that we spent time preparing and crafting and baking and sewing [tie shirt and ‘1’ bib]. But, in the words of Zoe, “It sure is a lot of work getting ready for a party!” :)

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The Tomkat Studio is a more recent-found favorite go-to place for party ideas and such. It was a great save for this last-minute party planner! :) Hudson was a Cinco de Mayo baby, but I wasn’t really into the whole Latin theme party, so we went with a bit of mustache and color – something that was on his birth announcements and I’ve made shirts for him with mustaches and it just seems to fit him.

We crafted paper medallions, which were ever so much fun. I was going to do a tutorial on them, and then after we were finished I realized there are many other sites with super great tutorials and pictures, here and here, for instance.

Collage

The cake was going to be for Hudson to dive into, but for the sake of our dinner guests, we allowed him a cupcake to demolish instead. :) He loved it!

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Little Man, how we {{{ LOVE }}} you! I’m so glad I get to celebrate the gift of your life!

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April 16, 2013April 16, 2013

Bringing in Spring

I’m so honored to be guest posting over at the lovely Amelia’s blog today, from Amelia Marie Design!

The theme is bringing in spring, a few touches and color you can add to your home to welcome the season!

{sneak peek}

egg basket

oversized fork and spoon kitchen pinwheels kitchen daisies

dogwood and fern

Happy Spring Nesting!

~clarita

April 11, 2013April 12, 2013

Make a Pinwheel

For quite some time I have thought to myself,

“I have GOT to learn how to make those pinwheels! But they seem really hard…”

Pinwheels look so fun and festive and happy,
but they seemed very tricky to me.
I had no idea how they worked, until one day, not very long ago, I went online and researched all the pinwheel-making sites I could find.

And what do you know, but I thought to myself,
“That’s it?! I can make those!”

So I dug in the bottom of my old chest for scrapbooking paper (that has sat dormant for years) and whipped up a few. Was it ever fun! :)

And I was sooo excited that I thought someone else might like to make these too!

What follows is a little tutorial on
How to Make a Pinwheel.

Supplies Needed:
~ assorted paper (it’s pretty if it’s double-sided)
~ furniture nails or long pins with decorative ends or thumb tacks
~ scissors and/or cutter
~ ruler
~ pencil
~ dowel rods (I used the ones with the blue end from the hardware store, and cut them in thirds)
~ hammer

1. Select papers and colors of your choice, and cut them to the desired size. They must be square.

I used an assortment of sizes, anywhere from 3 inches to 12 inches, with most of them being around 5 inches.
Your finished width will be the largest diameter.

2. Fold squares into a triangle, open up, and fold the opposite corners. You want there to be a X crease in the center.

3. Take the scissors and cut along the X crease toward the center, leaving 1/3 uncut in the center.

4. Mark EVERY OTHER corner with a pencil dot.

5. Pull only the marked dotted corners toward the center, overlapping generously, and push a pin [or furniture nail or brad] through all four points and through the back.

6. The trickiest part: fastening it onto the dowel rod.

The sewing pins with a ball on the end worked best, in my opinion, and it also allows enough of room for the pinwheel to spin when blown. Otherwise, it’s fastened securely but cannot spin well and is merely ornamental, which is fine too. The option is yours.

The furniture pins look pretty because of the wide head; however, they are more tricky to mount onto the dowel rod. A larger nail than this will cause the rod to split and splinter.

Which ever way you choose, tap the head gently with a hammer while holding it secure, or push in firmly with your thumb. The key is to hold the dowel rod tight so it doesn’t roll.

Even my little kiddos have fun with this.

Ta-da! You’re done!
Average cost: no more than 25- 50 cents per wheel, depending on paper

Now the other fun part ~ using them to decorate, letting kids play with them… They look so festive!

You can use them to create a pathway in your lawn…

… or to add a bright touch in your children’s bedroom…

… or to create a happy centerpiece….

{it looks so pretty with a row of them in jars and bottles}

… or to have a photoshoot with your typewriter…

… or to place outside your door…

Other ideas:

~ Make tiny ones and use as cupcake toppers, using brads and striped straws instead of nails and dowel rods
~ Make large assorted sizes and use without the dowel rod to make a wall arrangement for a girls’ room
~ Give as party favors
~ Use glue instead of pins/nails
~ Use a pencil and use pin into the eraser
~ you give me ideas!

Create and enjoy!

~ Clarita

December 20, 2012March 5, 2013

A Cottage Christmas

Merry Christmas!

It’s the week before Christmas!
How did this happen, time going so fast?
A year ago we were just leaving Colorado,
seven months ago our first son was born;
this year ~ WHERE has it gone?
Is it having three children that makes time nearly a blur?

I don’t like a life that feels busy.
I like it full, in a positive sense of the word, but not busy.
I like time to sit, to enjoy, to rest, to refresh, to create.
Lately it seems that we’ve been on a race against time,
and that I do not like.

Today, however, we slowed.
Unfortunately, it was the two little ladies of the cottage who awoke with fevers.
Too bad it was that which made us slow, but slow we did.
Sitting on the sofa reading books, watching Little House movies.
Drinking tea and hot chocolate.
Cuddling precious little children, because I can.

I love to watch life through the eyes of my children.
And Christmas ~ that added sparkle in their eyes,
the laugh that easily bubbles from their mouths,
the innocence, the wonder, the enjoyment of living.
From the a.m.a.z.i.n.g. gingerbread house party my neighbor Lauren did for a bunch of kids,
to digging in the depths of boxes hauled from the attic,
to singing songs
to the excitement of the gifts…
There is that precious innocence,
that feeling that all is right with the world.
It’s how it should be.

[mailing cards is a family affair. ♥]

I love to see it, to be reminded of the innocence of children.
Because this year, more than ever before, I’m aware of how all is not right with the world.
There is so much hurt, so much pain, so much brokenness.

There is my friend Ruth, who is spending Christmas with Jesus for real this year, and every day hereafter.
For her, there is absolutely nothing better. But for her family, her husband, her children, even as friends, it’s a loss so deep.
To walk life without her? How do we do it?

There is the school shooting last week, the loss of so many innocent lives, so brutal.
And they were only children, still only babies.
I cry when I think of it, I cry reading the news.
Because I have a kindergartner. How absolutely unbearable to lose a child in such a way.

And even in my own little world, there is the reality of pain, of woundedness,
of how imperfect life is, how imperfect I am.

I still love to look at Christmas through the eyes of my children ~
remembering the magical feel of Christmas.

[the most beautiful gingerbread party ever, given by Lauren!]

[zoe and olivia’s houses]

But this year? Maybe I’m realizing more than ever WHY there needed to be a Christmas.
I see more of the world how it really is.
Jesus came not because of a magical feeling,
not because this was an innocent world,
not because there was no hurt or pain.

He came because there was pain,
because there needed to be healing,
because there needed to be forgiveness of sins.
He came because His Redemption was desperately needed in this world.
There was simply no other answer, but a Savior.

So maybe I’m not feeling the “magical Christmas” of a starry-eyed child.
But I do have a heart filled with gratitude to Jesus.
That He didn’t leave us alone in depravity, in pain, in sin.
But He came to rescue us, to help us, to enable us to truly live.
What a Jesus!

I read a quote soon before my friend died that I’ve thought of often since then.
It’s not just about how life feels: it’s about the bigger reality.

“Any alleged Christianity which fails to express itself in gaity,
at some point, is clearly spurious.
The Christian is joyful not because he is blind to the injustice and suffering,
but because he is convinced that these, in the light of Divine Sovereignty,
are never ultimate.
Though he can be sad, and is often perplexed, he is never really worried.
The well-known humor of a Christian is not a way of denying the tears,
but rather a way of affirming something which is deeper than the tears.”
[Elton Trueblood]

I LOVE THAT!

And I am strengthened in my God, even in the midst of a wounded world.
This is not the end of the story!

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We’ve brought a little of the outdoors inside again this year.
I have a box or two that I bring down from the attic when I want to decorate,
a few ornaments, bows, the nativity set.
But it’s mostly greenery that I love to put around.
It smells just divine, and it makes the house so cozy.
If it weren’t that the pine and cedar start shedding needles by January I’d never want to take them down!

So, if you like, welcome to the Cottage at Christmas.
It’s simple, it’s what we like.

The pictures are just kinda snapshot quality, I guess.
I was having terrible troubles with my lighting and camera combination! :)

The Kitchen.

pinecones with snow spray = i have snow in south georgia!! :)

twine-wrapped bottles = nothing new.
modge-podge doily bottle = inspiration hit :)

The Front Door and Dining Room.

The Restroom.

The Girls Room.

The Music Room.

The Master Bath.

The Master Bedroom.

The Living Room.

This room is not coming together for me like I would wish.
Red drapes or white ones?
White slip covers or the natural sofas?
Color pillows or neutral?

Oh well.
Today I sit and enjoy it as it is. :)

I needed wanted a big chalkboard for the living room, but didn’t have one, didn’t want to buy one.
A trip out to Husband’s shed, several coats of paint on very rough plywood and voila!

And I must be real.
Those pictures of everything in place? That’s true.
It does look like that sometimes.

And at the very same moment, we can have spots like this:

or this.

It’s real life! :)

To all of you who take the time to stop by this little corner of blogland ~
thank you for reading and your encouragement through this past year!
I have been blessed so many times by you!

Merry Christmas!

November 19, 2012April 22, 2013

Autumn at the Cottage.

“There is nothing mundane about your life.
I have come to pour my abundant love upon you lavishly.
Invite me into the corridors of your life, and let me show you how I can transform the everyday to the supernatural,
how I can give you more blessing than you can hope for,
how life in Me can be sweeter than you can ever imagine,
and how I’ve saved the best for last. ”
1 Cor 2:9 (GOD’S WORD translation)

[from a friend’s page this morning]

I had probably a thousand words written here, and erased them all.
They were reflective of the past four weeks,
and I think more suited for my journal than for the public eye.
Ruth will be missed, always missed. I will always treasure the sweet friendship we shared.
Sometimes I feel so much at a loss at how to go about life now.

But I’ve been given today.
With my husband, my children, my family, my friendship.
With those that are living.
Maybe not next year, or next week, and maybe not even tomorrow.
But I’ve been given this moment, today.
And I feel God breathing life into my soul and passion to live with all my heart.
Death puts into clear perspective what really matters.

And relationships are what matter.

With God.
With people.
Taking time for people.
Time with God, alone, just Him and me.
Forgiving.
Not holding onto a grudge.
Cherishing.
Writing a note.
Planning time for friendships.
Living a life that is poured out, not for self, but for others.

You know the line, “It’s the thought that counts” ?
Well, I would venture to say it’s not the thought that counts.
It’s the prayer that counts, it’s the word spoken that counts, it’s the time that counts.
A thought is just that – a thought with no action.
It’s the action that counts in relationship, not the mere thought.

Ann Voskamp, in her book “One Thousand Gifts” wrote,
“All beauty is only reflection.
And whether I am conscious of it or not, any created thing of which I am amazed,
it is the glimpse of His face to which I bow down.”

Beauty, and special little things, have always meant so much to me.
The last few weeks, they have been special still.
It may seem strange to notice them, and yet it causes me to worship the God behind them.
It brings me comfort to see God in even very small things.
They are just little things here at the Cottage, but I see God, and His beauty, in them.

On one hand it seems so shallow to go about daily life after going through such grief as the past month:
making baby gifts, working on My Faire Lady orders, blogging, making meals for our family and others.

And yet this is the life that I’ve been given.

And I feel a greater passion that ever before to live fully, to live alive.
This day is a gift I’ve been given – to live, to love, to enjoy, to bless God.

I do want to find God in my days,
even in simple beauty such a autumn fireplace mantels,
painted pumpkins on my front porch,
the autumn day…
I want to find little things like this and notice the preciousness of life,
the beauty that is there, and worship God.

To be still, and know that He is God…
and I love Him more than ever before.

I want to take time to smile into little eyes, to hug tightly, to live fully.

Death puts a new perspective on life, on what really matters.

Here are a few little things that make my heart swell with gratitude and thankfulness….

Fireplace mantel.

My mom sent me the link to make these flowers.
16 paper bags and about an hour later, I had made four of them.
They were super easy to make, and a fun project to work on!
I added the jute string in the middle.

The ‘give thanks’ I had written weeks ago…
and it’s a daily reminder of all the things I DO have to be grateful for.
There truly are so many things.

[white urn: thrifted
crystal candlesticks: thrifted
white pumpkins: spray painted :)
chalkboard: painted canvas]

Pillows from Burlap Coffee Sacks

I think this was a pinterest idea. My living room colors are neutral, so this fit in perfectly with the white/brown/neutral theme for autumn.
I already had these on hand, the first one was a sack I bought when I spent a few months in Guatemala, so it’s really and truly original.
I love these things that remind me of day by gone.

[number pillows: handmade
ruffle pillow: Target ]

Simple Dining Room tablescape.

Some pumpkins are real, some are plastic, some are painted white (since our little town hasn’t heard the memo about white pumpkins).
The spray paint worked quite well, and I was pleased…
…until little fingers tried to scratch it off… and off it comes. :)

Painted Pumpkins.

Several weeks ago my kids were saying,
“We never go aaaaaaanywhere!” and were begging for a funn activity.
Truth be told, we were staying home. A lot.
My sisters gave me the idea of painting pumpkins for fun.
Later I heard it’s all over blogland too? I’ve never seen them.

But one afternoon, when they were especially saying, “I want to go SOMEWHERE!”
we all loaded up in the car and made a trip to the local produce stand.
We bought pumpkins, little pumpkins and medium pumpkins, and I explained the project.
They were delighted.

I had entertained the thought of doing an online search for painted pumpkins to give them ideas of what to paint,
but then I realized it would only be for my sake. So they’d look okay.
The girls would have far more fun left to their own creativity than trying to follow a pattern, which would only lead to frustration.
It was a good choice to let them have fun.
They spent the better part of two hours working on their pumpkins, and it made for happy little girls.

Hunting with Daddy.

Ben took Zoe on her first hunting expedition.
It was bow & arrow season, and he scoped out a quiet, secluded spot.
“We saw their tails,” said Zoe when I asked if they saw deer. :)
It was a bonding father/daughter time, nonetheless.

Sewing 101.

Zoe had her first lesson on the sewing machine this week.
She’s shown interest in making things, so we chose a very basic thing: baby doll burp cloths.
[because, as we all know, baby dolls are ever so real, and have a great need of a burp cloth.]
I was very involved in the demonstration, but she was the one who pushed the foot pedal and guided the fabric.
She did a fabulous job, and I am very proud of her.

A Boy in the House.

I saw this hat and cap hanging on the dining room chair today,
and I smiled to myself.
There really IS a boy in the house.
And we cannot imagine life without him!
He is full of smiles and chubbers and brings so much delight to us.

First Riding Lessons.

Zoe has had an interest in horses since she could first talk.
We decided to let her take riding lessons for a time and see if it’s an infatuation or really something she loves.
Katy is from our church and is an excellent teacher.

Zoe was so adorable, so excited, and she chose her riding outfit.
I fell in love with her all over again!
The excitement of children just blesses my soul ~ they are so fully alive and uninhibited!

Olivia was dee-lighted to go along and watch.
And watch she did, perched 4 feet high on a hay bale,
FAR from the reach of all things frightful such as chickens and roosters.

Such are the precious moments in our lives.
They are there to cherish.

This little video clip made my heart burst with excitement and passion.
Our life on this earth is not the end of the story!
What a wondrous reality!

It is one of the best 5 minutes you’ll spend.
Thanks, Janelle, for the link!

aaaaaaand, this is my last week is my twenties!
*slight panic attack*

~ clarita

October 15, 2012March 5, 2013

It’s the Little Things

I’ve had my first Pumpkin Spice/White Chocolate latte,
and real pumpkins just started to be found around these parts.
The cardigans and boots and scarves and leggings are still hoping for a day cool enough
although all you northern folk sure make the layers sound alluring.

There is something so invigorating about the air this time of year.
Only 70* instead of in the hundreds?
Yes, please!
I declare as I stepped outside this morning,
that 70* (or somewhere there about) felt actually very crisp and cool!

Hello, Autumn.
I am so very happy you are near.

Weather such as this almost makes me feel giddy.
Just as a rainy day can put me in a mellow mood.
This time of year may very well be my favorite.
After the blistering heat of the summer,
being able to step out my door without breaking into a sweat.
Excitement about exercising without feeling like 200 degrees at the end of it.

It’s almost as perfect as it can be in this area.
We can’t boast of much natural beauty here, not many leaves that change colors other than brown.
No mountain peaks, although my girls consider the only overpass in town “a mountain.”
But this is perfect weather for visiting the ocean…
Be jealous, be very jealous. :)

For me, it’s often really the small things that bring so much happiness.
Not the huge events as much as precious, sweet everyday things.

So here’s my happy list right now…

… a few precious hours of quiet while Husband took the two girls with him.
I am grateful indeed. I can’t even express how grateful.

… tea parties mid-afternoon with two giggling girls.
They loved the little tea party.
They weren’t nearly so thrilled about the etiquette lessons I desired to teach them.
“But, I don’t wike being a wady.” – Olivia

… paint brushes are being pulled out often.
…re-doing little chairs.

… re-doing little footstools

… re-covering old chairs and pillows with happy fabric

… fiiiiinally stripping, sanding, sanding, sanding, scraping, sanding, and painting the old doors in the house.
yes, we’ve had them installed. yes, they’ve looked terrible for 2.5 years.
there is a reason we’ve procrastinated. :)
but what a good feeling to be getting them completed one by one.

… a laundry door painted a light aqua
[yes, the picture is intentionally on the side.
i really didn’t want to show the cat food, the overflowing shoe rack,
or the piles on top of the freezer.
i.e. in our limited-space cottage, it’s my messy room of the house!]

… coffee and biscotti for little girls on the front porch

… Zoe’ practicing cursive letters on the chalkboard

… a very rapid trip to Pennsylvania, the three kitties and I, with a friend ♥

… a fall-ish bouquet from my husband upon my return home from said trip

… mini-quiches, inspired by my friend Ruth, to freeze and pull out for quick breakfasts

… pumpkin roll! probably my most favorite autumn dessert.
wait, there’s also apple dumpling…

… first soup

… a fun little soap dispenser. who knew that a normal top fits in a coke bottle?
it was a happy moment of discovery.
and mrs. meyers. she makes me anticipate cleaning day.

… happy stripey straws amid glass vases

… Converse.
Why are little shoes so cute?!

… Daddy and his Little Man. ♥
Who ever knew you could be in love with two men?

… and who knew that being a mommy to these three would be the hardest and best thing I’ve ever done?
I am so so blessed.

Happy Monday!

~ clarita

August 28, 2012March 5, 2013

There Was Once a Garden Wedding….

And so it’s part two of the wedding, way back in June!
I am so excited to finally have the pictures uploaded and ready to show you!

It’s been something on my want-to-do list ever since the day after the wedding.
Three babies, a crazy summer, Zoe starting K-5, and numerous other things have almost brought blogging to stand-still for me.
But even if I never blog again,
I am determined to show pictures of one of the most beautiful weddings I’ve ever been to!

Let me introduce you to

The Wedding of Kenneth & Ervina
~ a garden reception ~

This wedding was so special. From the calmness of the bride the week of the wedding,
to the many people that helped set up the reception, to the fun bridal party ~ it was just beautiful in every way.

Ervina was a bride unlike almost any I’ve ever seen.
Her prayer was that her wedding and week of the wedding would not be a crazy and stressful time,
as weddings can often be, but that it would be a time of peace and joy.
And her prayer was answered.
Ervina was radiant, refreshed, and peaceful the whole week.
I’m her sister, and to say that I didn’t see her stressed for a moment is saying a lot.
Her peaceful spirit carried over into all areas of the wedding.

The morning of the wedding dawned clear, bright, and perfect as anyone could wish.
And really, the whole day was simply perfect.
The ceremony was like a worship experience,
and the sweet presence of Jesus was so clearly evident that day!

Because of how the day was planned with the photographer and everything else, it was such a relaxed morning.
The bride went running early in the morning, and returned for some quiet time with Jesus before the day began. ♥
Some of her friends brought her Starbucks coffee as she was getting ready,
and another brought souffles from Panera for the bridesmaids!
Goodness, it was fun.

Details
Shoes – purchased from Target.com
Embellished with flowers and feathers by yours truly

Dress Sash
Francesca’s provided part of the inspiration with the cream flowers,
and I filled in with the white, lace, and bird cage veil netting.

[goodness, not to draw attention to it or anything, but i’m rather in awe of her tiny waist!]

My grandmother helped me finish up the last stitches. These hands are precious…

Beautiful bride’s bouquet.

The Bridal Party went to a beautiful old train station for the pictures.
Most of the pictures I have from there are thanks to a friend of the bride who snapped a few for me.

Ervina had an assortment of flowers for the bridesmaids to make their own bouquets the morning of the wedding!
I thought it such a lovely idea. Each bouquet was so unique, and reflected the style and personality of each bridesmaid.

My sister Jana ended up making mine for me ~
in between helping the bride with hair, french manicure on her toes,
my two girls with curling irons for their hair and getting dressed, my own self to get ready, I didn’t have a moment to spare that morning!
I loved the bouquet she made for me. Peonies are one of my very favorite flowers, and I had several of them!

The bridesmaids were asked to wear lace, in shades of cream, ivory, or soft pink, and could make them any style.
Ervina’s dress was lace also, so the only thing she asked was that they be knee-length to set her own dress apart.
The dress I made from a sheet and a piece of lace from an antique shop turned out rather to my liking,
although making it in my two-week postpartum state for the wedding at 5 weeks postpartum was rather a challenge.
[can we say that crunches began in earnest two days after the baby’s birth, and other forms of exercise began much earlier than usual?]

The shoes were also our own choice.
Remember the shoe dilemma I posted about before the wedding? So many pretty shoes, and I can only pick one pair?
I went a bit more fun and choose the cream with polka dots. I’ve worn them quite a bit since, so I think it was a good choice.

So many darling shoes!

The Bride & Groom

The day of being a bride… it’s a day that is gloriously wonderful, a dream come true.
Ervina was radiant and gorgeous.
Kenny’s eyes said it all as he looked at her ~ this man adores his bride.

The Groom & Groomsmen

Bridesmaids

Bridal Party

This is the only picture I have of the whole bridal party, so forgive the blurry, not looking, etc. etc.

Bride & Sisters

These two are the best friends in the world.

A light-hearted moment.

Family

Father. Mother. Third Daughter. Third Son-in-law.
[except we don’t call them in-laws in our family. we just call them brothers.]

Mother. Daughter.

The Barkman siblings

Sister with Big Little Brothers.

Sisters again!
This may or may not be one of my very favorite sister pictures ever.

The Barkman Family, now with three married daughters!

Zoe

Olivia

[edit: HOW could I forget to add that this particular flower girl was found in the swimming pool by Rachel Beachy and husband,
during the reception?? Fully clothed in flower girl attire and all. Thank goodness for friends. :)]

Flower Girls and Program Attendent

The Yoder Family ~ Groom’s family

Again, the only picture I have of the whole family. Sorry you all!
[is it better to not show it at all or to show it with half the people hidden?]

Kenny and his four beautiful and sweet sisters.
I don’t know who is more lucky – Ervina, to have them for sisters-in-law, or they, to have Ervina for a sister-in-law.

The dashing Mr. & Mrs. Good

Kenny’s nieces

beautiful sisters~

Jillian, darling flower girl

The most darling little two-year old boy present [nephew of the groom]

The Reception was held on my parents’ beautiful property underneath a tent large enough to hold 350 people.
It was gorgeous, it was simple, it was breathtaking.
It had a feel of elegant and royalty, but with the ease and enjoyment of a garden party.

I think I especially enjoyed it because our very own wedding was set in this exact spot seven years ago.
A big white tent was set up in the meadow,
the grounds were meticulously prepared by mom and helpers for months before,
and it was just a magical feel about it ~ both our wedding, and Ervina & Kenny’s!
Being there in that place with a wedding brought back so many special memories!

Ervina & Co. (meaning friends, family, & relations) helped create an outdoor seating area.
It was Ervina’s brainchild, and we enjoyed helping far too much.
Part of my wedding gift was the ‘Mr.’ and ‘Mrs.’ and ‘happily ever after’ pillows I made for them, which they used at the seating area.

The sofas and chairs were picked up at yard sales and second-hand stores, with the exception of the white sofa.
This beautiful vintage sofa my mother found for free beside the road!
It was missing legs, but that was easily remedied for the occasion.
I gave my family strict instructions never to part with the sofa.
I will carry it upon my back, from Pennsylvania to Georgia, if need be,
before they are allowed to sell it! :)
That’s how much I love it.

The guest book signing area, complete with Claudia’s vintage record player
that was actually playing as guests walked through and signed.

My husband helped create a doorway going from the outdoor seating area to the tent reception,
from beautiful old doors from Kenny & Ervina’s actual house that they had bought and were remodeling.

The guestbook, ideas by Ervina, carried out by Jana.

During their nearly two years of dating, Kenny & Ervina wrote many letters to each other.
They chose to do this rather than emails, for the sake of old-fashioned communication,
the fun of getting real letters in the mailbox, and having the hand-written notes.
If you notice, the top letter went all the way to Cambodia,
and it was not the only one Kenny sent during Ervina’s 3 months there the summer of 2011.
There were a bundle of letters at the wedding, but securely tied with ribbon lest guests think they were free for the reading. :)

A chalkboard timeline of significant events of their relationship.

Refreshements before the meal included make-your-own yogurt parfaits,
and three kinds of drink: iced coffee, strawberry lemonade, and sweet tea.
I’m not sure if the drinks were the hot item or if the guests kept returning for refills or because of the adorable straws in blue vintage jars.

My husband Ben and daughter Olivia, with my brother James.

Table Arrangement Details

The guest tables were set up in long rows, with white tablecloths and linen runners placed on top of them.

The centerpieces were wildflowers and flowers from friends’ gardens,
snipped and set in glass vases of all kinds – Ervina found them all over at thrift stores and goodwills.
It created such a symmetry, and yet diversity, that was gorgeous!

Soon after Kenny & Ervina’s engagement in October, Ervina and Claudia began collecting plates and goblets for the wedding.
Not just for the bridal party, but for all 350 guests!
It created such an elegant atmosphere with the real china, and yet the uniqueness and diversity of the plates made it fun and relaxed.

As for favors, Ervina and some of her friends made strawberry jam and put it in small glass jars, embellished with lace and twine.

The Bridal Table was similar to the guest tables,
but with all white and green arrangements, chargers, selected plates & goblets, and cloth napkins.
There was a gentle beauty that was breathtaking about the day, and about the reception, and particularly this table.
It was such an honor to be seated there!

We made the lace hoops from lace Ervina collected throughout her engagement and from large embroidery hoops,
and hung them alternating with glass jars with candles.

kenny & ervina 1584

Our own little family. ♥

And thus concludes the day of loveliness…
May their marriage be even more beautiful.

To see more images, visit the photographer’s website here.
Tori captured some beautiful exquisite pictures of the day, and her style of photography is so natural and creative!
If that post receives 25 comments, Ervina will be enter a drawing for a big enlargement, so comment away on there! :)

~clarita