It's a Wedding!

Yesterday was Sam and Shanna's wedding. In the morning, all the bridesmaids, which included my mom and Aunt Mary, went to get their hair done. Mamaw came over along with my cousin, Hannah and Nora so she could do our hair, and the crazy day began.

After all the hair-doing, we gathered all of our stuff and headed over to the church where Shanna and one of the bridesmaids were already. Talk about beautiful. Gals, I'm not sure I've EVER seen a bride so gorgeous! Even before she put her beautiful dress on, she glowed and shined.

All of the ladies used the church's nursery as a dressing room, and boy could you tell it was for the ladies! Smells of perfume and make-up, dress bags all over, it was so fun!!

Nora and I got our dresses and heels on and headed upstairs to start our job at the guestbook.

People started arriving and so did the fun! After most of the guest arrived, we were permitted to go and find a seat. Thankfully we were able to find the perfect one on the second pew!

As the music started and the bridesmaids came down the isle, Nora and I looked at each other with joy. Then, Sam came from behind the stage with a single red rose in his hand. I think I melted for a second.

The wedding march started and everyone rose to see the amazingly stunning bride come down with her father. I watched Sam's face as the doors in the back opened, revealing his bride.

Not even on a starry night have I seen such shine. His face lit up and his eyes twinkled with awe as the rest of the auditorium ooh'd and aah'd.

Tears of pure joy filled my eyes as they said their vows and a beautiful song was sung. Not a dry eye was in the crowd as the pastor announced Mr and Mrs. Sam Parker.

And then, I really cried! It was so beautiful and perfect.

The wedding party departed to Sam's house to take photo's at the barn. The rest of the wedding went to the reception and the family and rest of the wedding party took pictures by the lake.

Everyone was hot and tired, but it was definitely worth it. The food was delicious and I even was able to catch the bouquet! But the most fun part hadn't even begun yet.

Most of Sam's brothers and a few of the older cousins, (yes including me:) headed outside to "decorate" Sam's truck. Two cans of shaving cream, window chalk and soda cans were all over his truck. Someone even put shaving cream all over his pedals!

When they left in their sabotaged yet clean truck, fireworks were let off for an awesome departure.

It certainly was an amazing wedding! May God richly bless this new couple and their family.

Jess

You Never Know

My mom read this true story to me out of a book she's been reading called Share Jesus Without Fear. This is an incredible story, so I thought I'd share it with you all.

I was flying back home one day in the fall of 2001. As soon as I had boarded the plane and found my seat, while everyone was starting to get settled in, I handed a gospel tract to one of the flight attendants as she happened by. "Why don't you read this while we're taking off?" I said.

Within a matter of minutes, she was back at my seat, obviously troubled and surprised. "Why did you give me this?" She asked, still holding the pamphlet in her hand. "You're the sixth person in two weeks who's handed me something like this!"

"Hmm," I said, waiting for more, wanting to see what the Spirit was doing.

Finally, she blurted out, "What does God want from me?" honestly wondering if I might know the answer.

"He wants your life," I said calmly.

As tears began coming to her eyes, I asked if we could step into the galley to talk. I shared the Scriptures with her, told her about the love of Christ, and she received him into her heart that very day.

Little did I know-little did she know- but thank God he knew-she would be serving passengers on the next day, September 11, on a flight from Newark bound for San Francisco...that would crash in a field south of Pittsburgh.

You see, we never know who's crossing our path at any given time, on any given day,. We may not know much, if anything about them. We may not have the foggiest notion what has thrown us together at this particular moment.

But God knows. He knows where they've been, where they are, where they're going. And in his loving grace, he has brought them passing by our way today, where he knows that his Word is already house in our hearts, tucked away and ready in our coat pockets, and withing inches from this one he's been drawing to himself over time.

Seriously, you don't have to force yourself on them. That's neither your job nor your obligation. All you have to do is just be there. Just be you. Just be his.

Don't be afraid.

Jess

Summer-Noun: Crazy

Crazy. Yes. That is our Summer said short! I don't even know where to begin!

At the beginning of June, I was able to spend a week with some good friends up in Bolivar. They own a lake-house and we had her birthday party with a few other girls there! I've not had so much fun in a long time. We spent most of our time swimming in the lake and one day canoeing. It was my first time canoeing so it made it all the better! When we weren't at the lake, we ti-dyed towels for a craft (which turned out really good!) and played "Court", a game where we would set up crimes and have a judge, prosecutor, defendant, prosecutors' witness, defender's witness and the accused. A smuggle, kidnapping, robbery and even one murder trial

were held. Although we could not hold our giggles! :)

A few weeks later, I joined a local youth Shakespearean Comedy Drama Workshop. Three one-act plays were performed by over

forty kids ages nine to nineteen in less than three weeks! It was definitely a TON of fun!

On the fourth week of June, my grandma took my mom, three girl cousins and I to Branson for two nights! It was so much of a blast! We got to stay in a hotel with an indoor and outdoor waterpark and also it had a regular five foot pool! We got to go to a pet show, eat out to Andy's Custard (THE

best!!) and visit the Dixie Stampede!!! I feel

like a broken record saying so, but it was SO much fun!!

This Saturday is my uncle's wedding. Nora and I are the guestbook attendants and our mom's are bridesmaids! Fun at the lake-house party

Hope you all are having a nice Summer!!

Till next time,

Jess