Trip to GA: Day 3

On Friday morning, Ruth and I joined James and Mark back at James's cabin to work on chopping the veggies for the Kabobs. Among the vegetables that needed to be done were about 12 large onions. Mark told us about a really neat trick to keep from crying while working with the onions. Can you guess from the pictures what it was? :)  

Yep. Matches! Place the wooden side of an unlit match in your mouth and the sulfur from the match will help reduce the tears. This worked quite well. But I'll admit that it did look a little funny... :)

After a late breakfast we drove about 3 hours to Tate City where the wedding would be held the next day. Ruth had told me that Tate City was small, but it still wasn't quite what I had expected. It was much smaller and more beautiful than I had pictured. I absolutely loved it.

Welcome to Tate City, GA

Tate City Mall: Anyone feel like shopping?

See Tate City :) 

Tate City Voting Precinct

Valley Community Church where the wedding would be held.
I thought the church and location were just beautiful. 

Inside of the church

View from the front porch

Side view of the church

Reception area at the back of the church

Rehearsing with the pastor

James  & Ruth during the rehearsal 

James & Ruth looking over the grill and reception area.

After rehearsing and taking a look around, the four of us started assembling the Shish Kabobs. This project took a little longer than we had planned, but I really enjoyed the time of fellowship we had while working together. We sang a lot of hymns together, and that was such a blessing and encouragement to me. 

Veggies for the Kabobs

Ruth & James :) 

Approximately 160 beef, pork & chicken kabobs.
Hungry anyone? :) 

About 9:00 we decided to call it a night and finish the rest of the Kabobs in the morning. :)

Trip to GA: Day 2

On Thursday morning, Ruth & I met up with James at his cabin and then went to a nearby lake with James and his dog, Bucha.

Bucha on the way to the lake

It was a beautiful and peaceful place. And it was also very special because it was where James had asked Ruth to marry him. :)

Ruth & James (and Bucha) at the place where they were engaged.
(This is one of my favorite pictures!)

The Lake

Walking back from the lake

After returning from the lake, we all started to work on cutting and marinating the meat (45lbs of it) for the Shish Kabobs.

Ruth peeling garlic cloves...lots of them! :)

10 lbs of pork

15 lbs of beef

Herb marinade for the chicken. :)

20 lbs of chicken! :)

Looks yummy, eh? :D

The marinade for the chicken smelled wonderful, ended up tasting wonderful, but it wasn't the most appealing one to look at! :)

With the meat all marinaded and ready for the Kabobs, we grabbed a quick smoothie for lunch before driving to the airport to pick up James's friend, Mark, who was flying in from Colorado. 

Enjoying a very delicious smoothie that James made for lunch.

Ruth & James :)

Yes, I realize that is a picture of traffic.  Everyday Atlanta traffic.
Please excuse this small town girl  for thinking this is picture worthy.   

That evening we all went out to dinner at the Blue Ridge Grill with James's family and the Warraks (close friends and mentors of James & Ruth).

James & Mark

Mark,  James, Ruth & I
at the Blue Ridge Grill

Tabea Warrak (Ruth's friend and mentor)  & I at dinner.
I'm not exactly sure  what we were laughing at,
but I sure enjoyed all my conversations with Tabea. :)

James & Ruth with his Dad and step-mom.

After we left the restaurant, the four of us headed back to James's cabin and enjoyed two hours of fellowship together through singing hymns and prayer for the weekend and everyone involved. That was my favorite part of the whole day! I always find true fellowship and worship with other believers to be refreshing. A little taste of heaven here in this present age!

I can only begin to imagine what it will be like to be in heaven, with that great multitude which no man can number of saints from all nations, peoples, tribes, tongues, praising the One who is worthy of all praise for all of eternity. What a day that will be!

And after these things I looked, and behold, 

a great multitude which no one could number, 

of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, 

standing before the throne and before the Lamb, 

clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands, 

and crying with a loud voice, saying, 

"Salvation belongs to our God, 

who sits on the throne, 

and to the Lamb!"

-Revelation 7:9-10 

Thankful for God's protection

Tonight I am thankful for God's protection on my brother, Nathanael.

Rosanna and I were running some errands this afternoon when we got a call from Andy telling us that there had been an accident involving Nate's eye and to come home right away to take him to the hospital.

Upon arriving home we learned that while playing together with their Airsoft guns this afternoon Andy accidentally shot Nate in the eye. They are usually extremely careful to ensure that they are wearing proper eye protection, and I am sure they will be even more careful after today.

Lesson Learned:
Don't mess with Andy!

The doctor says it is just a broken blood vessel and that it should heal in about two weeks. I am so thankful that it appears there will be no permanent damage to his vision. Praise the Lord!

God is good.

Trip to GA: Day 1 - Travel and Shopping

On Wednesday, April 4th, I flew from Maine to Georgia. I am always left in awe after viewing the vastness of God's creation from the air. Our God is an awesome God and He reigns and rules over all!

"Lord, You have been our dwelling place in all generations.

² 

Before the mountains were brought forth,

Or ever You had formed the earth and the world,

Even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God."

-Psalm 90:1-2

View from the window of my plane.

Ruth & James picked me up at the Atlanta airport (which is HUGE by the way) and took me to the neighborhood where James grew up. We enjoyed a nice walk in the warm weather and I had the chance to get to know James a little better. Ruth had told me a lot about him, but this was the first time we had met.  

James & Ruth

Enjoying time with my life-long friend and sister, Ruth.

Then we had supper together and discussed their plans for moving to Samoa next month. 

Doc Chey's Noodle House where I had supper with Ruth & James my first night

A parking space reserved for Dogs? Hmmm... :)

After supper we went to Trader Joe's to pick up supplies to make Shish Kabobs (200 of them) for the reception on Saturday. I really enjoyed the friendly atmosphere there! :)

A sign at Trader Joe's

Ruth & James choosing veggies

This sweet lady was our cashier and allowed me to take her picture.

When the cashier found out I was visiting from Canada,
she gave me this bag as a souvenir. :)  

She also gave Ruth a beautiful bouquet of flowers;
then rang a bell and announced the wedding to the whole store. :) 

James preparing to pay the bill. 

Now, that wasn't so bad! :)

Shopping done. Check. :) 

James & Ruth

Home from Atlanta

I have just arrived home from a wonderful trip to the Atlanta area to attend and help with the wedding of my life-long good friend, and sister, Ruth. I really enjoyed my time down there, and I plan to post lots of pictures in the next few days...but first things first; I need to get some sleep! :)

Joy vs. Happiness

These past two months have been challenging for our family. As you know, my cousin Andrew was killed suddenly in  a car accident the evening of January 20th. Andrew was the son of my Dad's brother and my Mom's sister so our entire family was affected by this. The day before he died we received the news that my Dad's sister, Debbie, had stage four cancer. She passed away from complications after a surgery on February 28th. Dad and Mom were able to fly down to Atlanta for her funeral.

Last Monday we received word that a dear family friend, Pastor Von Allen, had been given only a few days to live. He passed away the next day. Pastor Allen was my Dad's pastor as a teenager, he married Mom & Dad, preformed the funeral of three of my baby siblings, and preached at my eldest brother's graduation. We will miss him greatly. 


In the midst of these trials, the Lord has given us a peace and joy that the world cannot know. I read this thought today and decided to share it.

 “The difference between shallow happiness and a deep, sustaining joy is sorrow. Happiness lives where sorrow is not. When sorrow arrives, happiness dies. It can't stand pain. Joy, on the other hand, rises from sorrow and therefore can withstand all grief. Joy, by the grace of God, is the transfiguration of suffering into endurance, and of endurance into character, and of character into hope--and the hope that has become our joy does not (as happiness must for those who depend up on it) disappoint us.” ― Walter Wangerin Jr.