The Big Day has finally arrived!

 Jessica "Wittebols" left the house at 8:15 am for the last time.  She and Jennifer were taken downtown to the Courtyard Marriott Downtown to meet the rest of the bridesmaids to prepare for the wedding.  They were all pampered with pedicures and breakfast and hairstyles.

 The Invitation

 The Beautiful Dress!

 Karley and Jennifer getting their hair done

 The Mother of the Bride, Marsha and the Mother of the Groom, Barbara

 Time for make up!

 Our view from the hotel suite

 Carey, making sure everyone was taken care of; a very creative and talented young lady.  She was also Jess' former roomie for the last 3 years in Virginia.

 As you can see, the room was a hub of various activities!

Father of the Bride loving on Addison

 Jess getting her dress on

Both Moms trying to hook the dress.  It was hard to see, but Barbara found the right place.

Thanks Barbara!  

Beautiful bride and beautiful bridesmaids!

Ready for our limo ride to the church!

Here comes the radiant-looking bride!

Beautiful bride and beautiful Maid of Honor

 Beautiful Bridesmaids:  Jennifer, Carey, and Courtney

Father of the Groom and Father of the Bride

 MOB and MOG

 Bridesmaids bouquet

 Karley has the wedding band

Jess and Andy decided it would work out better if they had their first look before the wedding and have most of their photographs taken before the wedding as well.  That way, they wouldn't be so rushed after the wedding to get to the reception.  So, immediately after the wedding, the whole wedding party took a limo downtown to finish pictures there at various sites where they wanted them taken.

Wedding Rehearsal and Dinner ~ September 15, 2011

At last the long-awaited wedding weekend had arrived.  On Thursday evening, the wedding rehearsal took place at Calvary Baptist Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan.  Everyone was so pleased the way everything was very organized and in order.  Many thanks to Pastor Jeff Halsted and Jessica's wedding coordinator, Sarah Blocher!

Best Man #1, Ben and Maid of Honor, Karley

Little Addison, flower girl (Just turned 1 year old!)

Aw...here comes the bride!

Just practicing...giving her away...

 The Happy Couple

Following the rehearsal at church, Jim and Barbara Rogers hosted a wonderful dinner at Mangiamo! for family and friends of the wedding couple in East Grand Rapids.  The food was delicious and the fellowship was great as well.  The groomsmen gave their toasts to the bride and groom, as well as Father of the Groom and Father of the Bride, which provided some humor for the evening.  Father of the Bride had a special toast for Barbara Rogers.  He brought in Slurpees for his toast, as after her first visit to Grand Rapids in July, she experienced her first one.  She loved it!  He really surprised her with that.  : )

 Dining room (The Library Room) all ready for dinner guests to arrive

The lovely centerpieces that graced each table

 Mom, Keith, Ilene, Jim, Marsha, Dad

Jen, Ben, Veronica, Chad

Karley, Sam, Easton, Courtney

 Carey, Andy, Addison, Candice

Emmett, Jess, Andy

 Charlie, Denise

 Rich, Suzie

 Bill, Lori

 Jeff, Robin, Jim

Barbara, Chip, Sharon

 John, Taylor, Kirby

Barbara and Keith with their Slurpees

Less than one week....

With less than one week away, there are many feelings which we are experiencing as parents of the bride.  Of course, we are feeling happiness!  Happiness for Jessica and Andy.  Thankfulness.  Thankfulness to the Lord that He allowed them to meet and fall in love and decide they are meant to spend the rest of their lives together as husband and wife.

Yes, some tears.  Tears as we go back through old pictures and bring back memories of fun times together.  We remember those big blue eyes and long blonde pigtails blowing in the wind as she rides her bike down the sidewalk.  What a wonderful gift we have been blessed with the last years!  One like none other!  We aren't losing a daughter, but gaining a son!  She'll always be our daughter; just in a different way.

 As we look back at when Jessica was given to us from the Lord, she wasn't given to us permanently, but on loan for a time.  When she was little and school age, we did our best to raise her for the Lord.  We give Him all the glory for how she has turned out.  He gave us His wisdom and strength to do what we felt the best way to teach her about the things of the Lord.  As she marries Andy, he will now be her protector, provider, and life-time mate. Our prayer for them is they will also carry on and teach their children, should the Lord bless them, all about the things of the Lord; to grow up in the nurture of His love and care. 

To God Be the Glory Great Things He Has Done!

Working Vacation

Aunt Dianne and Uncle Bill, our hosts

 Keith and I spent the last five days up in Ludington.  The afternoon we arrived, we drove out to Hamlin Lake to enjoy a special time with extended family.  Uncle Bill and Aunt Dianne had invited my parents and us out for a supper at their cottage.  We were able to visit with Emin and Katie and their three children from the Washington, D.C. area, and also Aunt Merna from Ludington.  We had a wonderful time of food and fellowship together.  It's always nice to catch up with relatives you don't get to see very often. 

Aunt Merna and her great grand daughter

Back Row:  Keith, Me Katie,E, S, Emin and J Front Row: Dad, Mom, Aunt Merna

Katie and Emin and family

Keith and Me

 Most of the remainder of the time in Ludington, we spent doing yard work, trimming bushes, weeding the flower beds, digging, and spreading mulch.  It took us some time to get it all finished, but, to see the smile on Mom's face when it was finished, made it worth it all.  :)

Next year, we'll add some annuals.

 

While there we also got to enjoy a Chuck Wagon's Pizza!  It has been years since we've had that.  It was delicious!  We also got to enjoy Mom's wonderful home cooking as well!  Yum!

Along with her usual ailments, Mom was also suffering the whole time with a bum knee.  It had given out.  She went to her Orthopedic doctor to get a Cortisone shot, but he had to order the series and then this week he was going to be on vacation.  Instead of waiting, she decided to go to her Primary Care Doctor to get the shots.  Thankfully, he was able to begin those today, August 10.  It's a series of 5 shots, given one time per week.  Hopefully, these will really help her to be able to have full use of her leg again. 

Dad and Keith relaxing on the glider the day after the work was finished! (Their smiles say it all!)

These are two of my Mom's hydrangea plants.  They are the biggest blooms I have ever seen!  BEAUTIFUL!  The purple ones are at least dinner-plate sized. 

Happy 59th Anniversary, Mom and Dad!

August 9, 2011, Mom and Dad celebrated their 59th Anniversary.  We had planned to take them out for lunch at a nice place, but Mom wasn't feeling well.  So, we ended up postponing the lunch.  Mom and Dad, you are a blessing to us all.  We love you, dearly.