Spotting Spring in Seattle…

We had a glorious sunny weekend in the Seattle area. On Friday my son, DIL, and I stopped at Kerry Park on the way to the Sounders Soccer game to enjoy the views of Seattle with Flat Stanley. Have you had Flat Stanley visit you? Flat Stanley was very happy that the Sounders beat Houston 2-0!

On Friday morning I walked with a friend on the Sammamish River Trail for the first time this Spring.

We saw some lovely signs of Spring.

On Saturday I drove North to Blaine which is on the U.S/Canadian Border for a Mennonite Girl Can Cook event at the Blaine Library. After our time at the library we enjoyed a nice lunch at the Blackberry Cafe in Blaine. I was thankful for a nice sunny day for the drive.

Since the sun was shining again on Sunday I mowed the lawn for the first time since November. It was a great workout. Are you enjoying any signs of Spring in your neck of the woods?

I’m linking up with Mary at Little Red House for Mosaic Monday.

Searcher of Hearts, from Mine Erase ~ Hymn

Searcher of Hearts, from Mine Erase

Searcher of hearts, from mine erase
All thoughts that should not be,
And in its deep recesses trace
My gratitude to Thee.

Hearer of prayer, O guide aright
Each word and deed of mine;
Life’s battle teach me how to fight,
And be the vict’ry Thine.

Giver of all—for ev’ry good
In the Redeemer came—
For raiment, shelter, and for food,
I thank Thee in His name.

Father, and Son, and Holy Ghost,
Thou glorious Three in One,
Thou knowest best what I need most,
And let Thy will be done.

Words: George P. Morris, 1838.

Toasts!

There is a Russian saying stating: “Only problem drinkers don’t toast before drinking“.

For Katie and Andrew’s wedding we decided to toast with Martinelli’s Sparkling Cider since the Bride and Groom are not fond of Champagne.

My father carrying the toast glasses for himself and my mom.

The famous Russian phrase “Na zda-ró-vye!” (Russian: Hа здоровье!) is actually not a drinking toast at all. It is used as a reply to “Thank you!” when someone thanks for a meal or a drink. We also use this phrase after someone sneezes.

But the Russians do drink “To your health!“.
‘Health’ means ‘здоровье’ [zda-ró-vye] and ‘to’ means ‘за’ [za].

 Andrew thanked everyone for joining in their day. His Best man gave a wonderful toast for Katie and Andrew in his great southern drawl. Katie’s Maid of honor also gave a beautiful toast with some great memories of their friendship and her observations of Katie and Andrew’s relationship. We were very pleased.

Andrew’s father also gave a great toast. Andrew and Katie had special flutes that matched the pattern of bling on her dress.

Here are some more Russian toasts:

  1. To the newly-weds!
    За новобрачных! – [za na-va-brá-tchnyh]
  2. To the bride and groom!
    За жениха и невесту! –
    [za zhe-nee-há ee nee-vyé-stoo]
  3. To the beautiful bride!
    За красавицу невесту! –
    [za kra-sá-vee-tsoo nee-vyé-stoo]
  4. Let’s drink to love! Gorka!
    Выпьем за любовь! Горько! –
    [vý-pyim za lyoo-bóf. Gór-ka]
    The word “Горько!” is very typical for Russian weddings. It literally means “bitter”. In Russia the newly-weds have to kiss if someone calls “Горько!”
  5. Dear newly-weds, live your whole life as if you’ve just got married!
  6. May the happy star that brought you together shine on you for many, many years. Let us raise our glasses to the newly-weds and their happy future!
  7. There is a wisdom saying that the wife is the heart and the husband is the head of a good marriage. May you never suffer a heart attack or have a headache!
  8. Dear bride and groom, today you celebrate your first wedding. May it be your last one!

FFF ~ More From the Wedding…

It’s time to look back and share some favorites from our week with Susanne at Living to Tell the Story. I’m going back to Sunday March 11th. After helping Katie plan her wedding ceremony for almost a year it seems good to savor the actual event for longer than a week. I’ve been away from FFF for a few weeks because of the busyness of the final weeks leading up to the wedding. I’ve shared several posts and photos from the wedding already but just wanted to highlight some of my favorite things from the wedding.

1. It was great that both of Katie’s brothers were able to stand with Andrew along with Andrew’s best man at the wedding. Our son Daniel walked his grandmother and grandfather in to be seated.

2. Our son Josh walked me in…

3. This photo of Katie and her dad really catches their similar expression that makes me smile.

4. My brother Steve performed the wedding ceremony and did a fantastic job…

5. My father prayed a prayer of blessing over Katie and Andrew in Russian.

6. The Flower Girl and Ring Barrel my niece and grand nephew were charming. ( I’m cheating with 10 instead of 5 favorites)

7. The flowers and the table decor and the food were all fabulous!

8. The Cake Toppers that Katie painted…

9. Instead of throwing the bouquet and the garter Katie presented the bouquet to our good friend Lucy who is getting married in April and Andrew presented the garter to our nephew Levi who is getting married in May.

10. The Father Daughter Dance! Tear Jerker!

Thank you for putting up with my 10 favorites instead of 5 this week. I hope to get around soon and see what you all have been up to. We are having a nice dry day today that I hope lasts into the evening for the Sounders Soccer game.

I Feel Like Dancing…

Long before the dance floor was cleared and the music was playing the little ones were dancing.

And when the dance floor opened they were grooving with some great moves…

Hope you are experiencing some Spring where you are. We are getting some sunshine and I’m thinking I need to mow the lawn for the first time since November.

We Love These People!

We’ll shout it from the rooftops…we are blessed with lots of love and friendship from family and friends! My nieces and DIL with my parents and each other.

Our sons with one of their uncles and cousin!

Nieces, Nephew, Brother, SIL, Son and DIL!

Niece with her cousin Hope, nephew Jackson and Brother in Law.

Jackson, the Ring Barrel’s, mother and father.

My sister Kathy with her granddaughter Avery, husband, and her daughter Michelle’s family.

Our sons and most of our nephews. One of our nephews is in Istanbul studying.

My sister Vera with her husband Nick and my brother Tim with his wife Letty in the top photo.

Our dear friends, sisters of the Maid of Honor, with our girls…

Good friends since Dan and Jamie became friends in grade school.

Sisters…

Katie and our son Josh with the Ring Barrel.

Cousins

Two of Dear’s nieces (one is missing) with our Sister in law holding her first granddaughter Skylar. We were so happy to have them all with us in the Northwest.

People
People who need people
Are the luckiest people in the world.
There’s children needing other children
And yet letting our grown up pride
Hide all the need inside
Acting more like children, than children.

Lovers are very special people
They’re the luckiest people in the world
With one person, one very special person
A feeling deep in your soul
That said you were half and now you’re whole
No more hunger and thirst
But first be a person who needs people
People who need people
Are the luckiest people
In the world

So that’s a song that takes us way back but even further back are TRUE words from God’s book.

Above all, continue to love each other deeply, because love covers a multitude of sins.

I Peter 4:8.

Wedding Decor…

We were pleased with the flowers and how the table scapes turned out for the wedding.

One of the amazing things about Katie and Andrew’s wedding day was that we had sunshine and dry skies. We did not have one drop of rain fall on us all day and into the evening. God kissed our day with sunshine and we were surprised and grateful! The forecast was for a gloomy rainy day…

The head table had chargers with the the USMC Eagle Globe and Anchor symbol.

We chose to have the family service which meant everyone could sit and relax as the platters of food were served and passed around the tables.

There was enough food for everyone to try both the salmon and the steak. The venue donates the leftover food to a local shelter.

I mentioned before that Katie painted the cake toppers with the right ribbons and emblems on her Marine!

You might be seeing some repeats on photos the rest of the week as my sister Lana just sent me her photos from the wedding.

We had sunshine and a dry day here in the Seattle area on Monday. I zoomed around town to make some returns and to shop for a couple more weddings coming up for us. We have a wedding to attend in April here in Washington and in May we fly down to Southern California for my nephew’s wedding. I found a dress that will work for both weddings. I returned those beautiful silver blingy shoes to Nordstrom today because they killed my feet at Katie and Andrew’s wedding. OUCH! I love dealing with Nordstroms!

Hope your week is going well. OH and before I leave I posted my Dear’s amazing Tomato Rice Soup on Mennonite Girls Can Cook today.

I decided to link this post to Susan’s Tablescape Thursday.

Flower Girl & Ring Barrel

My niece Hope coined a new name for a Ring Bearer and we’re sticking with it. Here are some adorable photos of the children at Katie and Andrew’s wedding which include Hope, the flower girl and Jackson the “Ring Barrel” or Ring Bearer.

Practicing…with our Texas boots on.

Our third sweetheart is Jackson’s little sister Avery!

My parents with Hope their granddaughter and Jackson their Great Grandson.

Beside the flower girl and ring barrel the wedding party included Katy K. a friend since junior high, Katie’s brother Daniel, Katie’s lifelong friend Jamie (Maid of Honor), Katie and Andrew, Kristen a friend from church growing up, Katie’s brother Josh, and Andrew’s Best Man Schaub who flew in from North Carolina for the honors. The flower girl flew in from Texas and the Ring Barrel flew up from California.

Later I’ll be sharing the little ones dancing the night away. This is my 7th wedding post and there are many more to share.

I’m linking up with Mary for Mosaic Monday.

Battle Hymn of the Republic ~ Hymn

Battle Hymn of the Republic

Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord;
He is trampling out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored;
He hath loosed the fateful lightning of His terrible swift sword;
His truth is marching on.
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! His truth is marching on.

I have seen Him in the watch fires of a hundred circling camps
They have builded Him an altar in the evening dews and damps;
I can read His righteous sentence by the dim and flaring lamps;
His day is marching on.
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! His day is marching on.

I have read a fiery Gospel writ in burnished rows of steel;
As ye deal with My contemners, so with you My grace shall deal;
Let the Hero, born of woman, crush the serpent with His heel,
Since God is marching on.
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! Since God is marching on.

He has sounded forth the trumpet that shall never call retreat;
He is sifting out the hearts of men before His judgment seat;
Oh, be swift, my soul, to answer Him! be jubilant, my feet;
Our God is marching on.
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! Our God is marching on.

We sang at Katie and Andrew’s wedding. This song was Andrew’s choice and it really set our feet to tapping. Katie’s choice was “Come Thou Fount” . The third song we sang was one of our favorite songs in Russian. It was so much fun to have everyone singing at the reception.

Blessings on your Sunday!