Tasha + Hank's Wedding

Well, on October 4th, my dear friend Natasha finally tied the knot. What a privilege it has been to walk through this relationship with her, and support her along the way! The wedding was completely her and Hank. Short, simple, and sweet, with a 1950's flare.

The wedding rehearsal went great, and it was a perfect evening too! What a wonderful and sentimental venue they picked!!

Isn't that gorgeous?!

 Saturday morning, we got there early to set-up the rest of everything.... This little guy (Peter), was my buddy for the morning.

 It was so much fun to meet all the rest of Alex and Tasha's extended family, and there was definitely connections made. :) And of course, it was wonderful to see precious Aunt Liz again...though we sure missed you Grandma Barb!

All the sisters together once again.

I loved how Tasha used a blusher veil. So many people nowadays are shying away from using it, and well.... I just thought it was absolutely lovely!!

 I didn't get a photo of their first kiss, but is was short and sweet, ending in a secure hug.

What fun their reunion was!!!

Just had to put in this photo of my dapper best friend...

Though in some ways, he has lost his sister, he has gained a brother!

Only brothers... (with Hank's brother Austin)

Isn't this couple so adorable?!

 Of course, along with the rest of the reception came cake (and cupcakes, gluten and gluten-free!), and was their's a beaut!!! It was a heart-shaped pyramid with fresh violets sprinkled around, with a cake topper saying "Mr & Mrs Little".

If their cake exchange is any preview of their marriage, it looks to be sweet, caring, and genial. :)

 And, of course with the cake comes DANCING! Oh, what fun we had! Ballroom and swing are the most fun in the world....

I made coordinating outfits for Alex and I, and I loved being his little helper, sidekick, and back up video-photo-grapher. I am sooooo blessed.

Did I ever tell anyone that I have the BEST father in the world?! He's amazing and so wonderful and wise!!

Alex has a pretty great dad too... It was so fun seeing them together--all dressed up!

And Mama (who sacrificed me being at her birthday party the night before so I could be at the rehearsal), is as lovely as ever with our precious friend Pamela!!

All in all, it was a wonderful wedding, bringing back to remembrance the meaning and beauty of a marriage centered around Christ.

"Wherefore they are no more twain,  but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder."

~ Matthew 19:6 ~

Family Blessings

Well, with my last post finished, I feel much more apt to start blogging more regularly... :)
By the way, have you ever taken time to notice how many smiley and winky faces there are in the New Testament?! We've been going through John at church, and between John and the Apostles....wow, have I gotten some smiles!!

The first Sunday in August, our family escorted Daniel down to WSU where he'll be making his new home for the next 2 years, as he finishes up Pre-Med, before going to Med School to become an osteopath. I liked this picture so much, I just had to share it...

Friday, we had our Client Appreciation Banquet, and I wanted to share some photos from it....it was SO beautiful (albeit, windy!) outside!! Samuel and Rebekah sang 'Put Your Hand Over Your Heart' (Whitney Phipps), with Josiah bringing our flag down at the end, and me accompanying them... If you haven't heard the song, look it up. It is so impactful.

It was so windy, Esther had to hold my music for me!

I don't get to dress up very often, so this was a fun evening to be able to do so. Thanks to David for all the photos.

I realized I forgot to post our 'grand finale' family reunion photos in our my July post, so here they are now... I just love my family!!

Most of the Pinkerton Clan (minus my 2 aunts' families and a cousin)

Our last official family photo for a while

I am so grateful for my amazing family. The older I get and the farther I go, I realize more and more how very, very blessed I am to not only have the amazing, Spirit-filled parents I have, but also such close friendships with my siblings. That is we all hold very dear and want to nourish into the second generation as well.

"And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity."

~ 1 Corinthians 13:13 ~

A Higher Calling

I've had a lot to think about this week... A lot has happened, and God is good! We went to a memorial service for one of our church members yesterday....a precious older lady who has quietly spread God's light to all who have come in contact with her...

Looking back to even my early childhood days, I remember her little notes of encouragement she'd write, and wonder 'Why did she write me?', 'That's so sweet, but I don't even really know her!' ... but even just those little notes encouraged me...I didn't really know her, but she affected and blessed me, and made me want to be more of a courageous warrior for Christ because of her Godly example.
The question that kept coming back to me was: "What legacy will I leave behind when I die?"
"What do I want to be said at my memorial service?"

I love reading epitaphs....and some of them are pretty funny, but if you think about it, do you really want to just be remembered for being "Late for everything including his own funeral."??

No!! I want to press onto the higher calling and mark of Christ! And what is that?

In my Bible reading yesterday, Matthew 13:22-23 really hit me. Ponder this:

"He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the Word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulnss of riches, choke the Word, and he becometh unfruitful.

But he that receiveth seed into the good ground is he that heareth the Word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundred fold, some sixty, some thirty."

In our modern American world of technology and business, isn't it so easy to allow the cares of the world to start choking out Christ? I'm working on this right now--amidst my varied schedule, I'm trying to truly REST in the Saviour...treasure each moment, and use it wisely...

My great-aunt Lisa encouraged me last year to make each moment with those I come in contact with truly count--'Make them feel as if they're the only person in the world for those minutes.' Honestly, that is really hard for me!! I like people, but sometimes I accidentally think of them as 'in the way' to get the projects done... But when it's all said and done, what will have eternal value? The people we reach and touch for Christ, or the projects that we get done (be they of eternal value or not)...

I love this quote:

One of these days, I must go shopping.

I am completely out of generosity and I must get some more.

I also want to exchange the self-satisfaction I picked up the other day for some real humility,

which they say wears better.

I must look at some tolerance, and the samples of kindness, one can never have too much of that.

I'll try to match the patience I saw on a friend the other day, it looked quite becoming on her; I think it will look equally good on me.

While shopping, I'll try on that suit of charity on display.

I must remember to get my sense of humor mended and keep my eyes open for some inexpensive goodness.

It is surprising how quickly one's stock is depleted.

Yes, I must go shopping.

- Anonymous

Another thought-provoker:

"The most difficult t hing for us as Christians to take is the postponement of God's liberating us from our difficulties."

(Do I have an amen?)

"Mine eyes shall be upon the faithful of the land, that they may dwell with Me: he that walketh in a perfect way, he shall serve Me."

~ Psalms 101:6 ~

What is God showing you?

Belize Update

Dear Friends,

The chili feed and Polecat fundraiser was a great success. Not only was the performance lovely and fellowship delightful, we received a total of $2,256 for the building project and kitchen equipment, and have now received sufficient donations for the ministries planned!

It was wonderful seeing so many familiar faces there, and I thank each and everyone of you for your support and continued prayers. Please pray for us as we get closer to January--we still have lots of planning to do, and we need God's direction and guidance through each step.

"Therefore saith He unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that He would send forth laboureres into His harvest. 

Go your ways: behold, I send you forth as lambs among wolves."

~ Luke 10:2-3 ~

"For I have given unto them the words which Thou gavest me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out from Thee, and they have believed that Thou didst send me."

~ John 17:8 ~

Belize FundRaiser

Our church is hosting a Chili Feed and Benefit Concert to raise support for the Belize Mission Trip happening in January 2014. We still need at least $5,000 to be able to do all the building projects they need done.

When: Sunday, October 13, 2013
Time: 1 PM
At: Grace Bible Church

The concert begins at 2:00 PM, with the Panhandle Polecats providing the entertainment - definitely NOT something you're going to want to miss!!
This is a family affair. Come ready to enjoy a free meal, precious fellowship, and remember to bring your check books and cash!!

To find out more about what you're supporting, please Read Here.

2nd Semana sa Marbel

The Serisolas have a daily visitor, which doesn't seem to bother us inside the house, or the dogs, for that matter..however, they are still a bit pesky: Rats.

There is a collection of about 4 of them, living under a huge crate, and they come out in broad daylight to scrounge.I've tried before to get a picture of them, however, by the time I would go back inside to grab my camera, they got startled and hid. (Although, they would come out if we were just sitting out on the porch.)
We finally got one, and humanely disposed of it.. ;P

I had fun doing my hair like this a lot...my hair got a lot lighter while I was here....lots of natural blond and red highlights! (Probably from being in the hot sun so much.)

 I found this little guy in the sink when I went to wash breakfast dishes. (You see him?? He almost blends in--on the left-hand side.)

 One day, Nanay was preparing lunch, and we were all congregating on the porch, and poor Totoy 2 must have felt overwhelmed..so he retreated to the corner (under the cooking fire)

At Nanay's house...same lunch time. :)

Saturday, we butchered another baboy for the Church's Christmas/Thankgiving Celebration on Sunday:

SO cute...all the little boys discussing the matter with great interest!!

Tying it up

Washing it...

More Washing

Love this mommy chicken!!

Boiling the hair off...

This picture is just plain awesome!! I love the dissection of it (clean cut too!!)

Love these little boys just talking around..

Stripping the Intestines from the muscle and fat

This pig was smiling!! It new it had lived a happy life (of 9 months), and was fulfilling it's life purpose.

However, to keep the flies/rain off, we covered it...and boy is it cute!!!

Lola and I

Sunday, all of the little kids from our church sang the Christmas songs they had learned, and our choir sang 2 songs--Holy is He and I Then Shall Live. I was also asked to sing a special solo, for both services, and I chose "Great is His Faithfulness", encouraging the congregation to join in on the last verse--that was pretty special!!!

A few of us from the choir together.

After church, we had the huge feast and celebration (with ice cream of course!!) and spent all afternoon and evening there... What a wonderful time of fellowship!!!

A few of my 'extended family' :)

Praise the Lord...He is worthy to be praised!!