I Have a New Sister!

My brother, Isaiah, married Heather a week ago! I've seen lots of couples that seemed perfect for each other, but I'm not sure I've EVER seen a match made in heaven like this! Isaiah and Heather "finding" each other has reminded me over and over that God is SO GOOD and He makes all things beautiful in His time! Why would we ever doubt His Wisdom?!

The Five of Us, Soon to Be Four

The five of us sisters are the best of friends...
I don't know what we'll do when Jemima's gone!
L-R: Mary, Jemima, Liz, Ruth, Joanna
(taken Sept. 09 at Bakersville)

As most people are busily wrapping presents and stringing the last of the Christmas lights, our house is abuzz with activity, too... except it's more like the sewing machine humming over yards of midnight blue satin and dresses and sashes hanging everywhere. Seventy-five of the pies were baked last week and are in the freezer. The ribbon and tulle and candles are stacked in boxes in the bedrooms and we are busily checking off to-do lists daily. I know it won't all get done the way we want it to by the wedding day (January 2), but the point of the wedding is celebration of what God is doing in joining two lives. So, if everything's not perfect, it will be okay! Jemima keeps reminding us that she would much rather have her family and family-to-be happy on her wedding day, than everything be completely perfect and us stressed out and irritated with one another. I think it's a great goal. :)

People keep asking me how I'm handling losing Jemima. Honestly, reality hasn't hit yet that she's going to be gone forever. We talk about it and even as we help her pack up her things, it's hard to imagine her not coming back. It's really not very real yet that she will have another life and family ....that she will be more interested in her own new family than our cozy nest. We'll just have to have her visit often to keep ourselves from getting too depressed!

For now, I'm rejoicing in the things that God has given me. Josh and Jemima found a house... of all places, three blocks from my new office in Springfield!! I didn't even wishfully ask God to do that for me... but He did! I can walk over to her house for lunch in between prenatal visits or we can walk around the block on nice afternoons when I'm waiting for the next pregnant lady to show up. I can't say how excited I am about this fun surprise! :)

A Trip North, Part V: Goodbye Mr. & Mrs. Bjorlie!

The cousins see to it that each cousin is sent off with a properly decorated car and a memorable goodbye!


Liz and Nate are scrambling to finish wrapping the car in plastic wrap!


A wet, bubbly goodbye! At least the rain had stopped!

A Trip North, Part IV: Andrea's Wedding

JohnMark and Andrea planned an outdoor wedding... and as Hurricane Ike slammed into the Gulf Coast, rain poured down all day almost 2,000 miles north. JohnMark and Andrea didn't seem to mind the change of plans too much, as the umbrellas came out and the wedding moved into a huge picnic shelter. "After all," as Andrea said, "We're getting married, and that's about all that matters to me!"


The rain didn't keep the crowds away! Here sit the aunts and uncles and cousins, waiting anxiously for the first glimpse of the bride (tucked away in a trailer at the back of the picnic shelter)!


John Mark and Andrea wrote their own vows.

John Mark and Andrea's congregational wedding hymn couldn't have been more fitting.
Together we all sang “ How Good Is the God We Adore.”

How good is the God we adore,
Our faithful, unchangeable Friend;
Whose love is as great as His pow'r,
And knows neither measure nor end.

'Tis Jesus the First and the Last,
Whose Spirit shall guide us safe home:
We'll praise Him for all that is past,
And trust Him for all that's to come.
- Joseph Hart, 1712-1759





When two Norwegians get married, they just have to have a Norwegian wedding cake, right?! Thanks to Aunt Laila, they did!

A Trip North, Part II: Luis & Kelli's Wedding

And a few more Luis and Kelli photos...
The church they chose was a photographer's dream, and Ruth thoroughly enjoyed putting her camera to good use!

Year in Review, Part 27

Josh and Tyana's Wedding

Josh and Tyana, two young people from the church we go to on Wednesday nights, got married on New Year's Eve. We've known Josh's family for about 10 years and Tyana's family for a 7 or 8 years. Tyana and I have had several adventures, traveling to several out-of-state midwifery conferences together.
It's been a lot of fun to watch them fall in love with each other and get married... although, once again, it makes me feel really old as they are quite a few years younger than me! : )

The groom with his brothers - he has quite a few! ; )

At the reception - friends Becca and Joanna

Year in Review, Part 13

Memorable moments....

Josh and Anna had a darling baby girl, Rosalind!

I spent a couple of days in St. Louis, celebrating Shannon's birthday with a group of mutual friends.

Andy and Amy got married! They are expecting a baby next summer...
I can't believe it - people who I thought of as "little kids" years ago are now married, mothers, fathers.... it's all so weird! I feel out of place and old among people five years younger than me who are discussing the houses they are buying and the kids they have!!