Mom and Dad's 50th Wedding Anniversary...

On December 30th, we celebrated my parent's 50th Wedding Anniversary.  My sisters and I threw a party for them at their church.  There was almost 100 of their closest friends and family present.  I am so thankful to have such wonderful parents and for their example of love.  They have shown me what it means to love sacrificially, unconditionally, and wholeheartedly just like God calls us to.  It was such a special evening seeing people we grew up around and were close to, people who were positive influences in our lives, ones we grew up with in church, and of course our family.  It was a special night sharing wonderful memories, laughing together, celebrating together, and praising God for all His many blessings.  We did experience one scare during the evening.  My dad was giving a speech when we noticed our Uncle Sid was starting to have breathing issues and was not doing well.  My brother-in-law, Jeff, who is a cop dashed over to him and got him to the floor just in time because my uncle passed out.  Fortunately, we had a guest that was an EMT and another guest that was a nurse that came to help Jeff.  The three of them monitored my uncle until paramedics got there.  My uncle stopped breathing and had no pulse for about 20 seconds and we were really scared we might lose him.  It was very scary.  Jeff was about to start CPR when my uncle came to and starting breathing on his own again.  Praise the Lord!!!   My dad led us in prayer as we waited for the paramedics to arrive.  He was taken to the hospital and many tests were done.  All his tests were normal and the doctors said he had a vagal episode that caused his blood pressure to drop and he passed out.  They kept him overnight and released him the next day.  Since then, we have found out my uncle had a problem with his parasympathetic system and is now on medication for it and is doing very well.  My Aunt insisted we continue with the celebration after they left for the hospital.  My niece, Katie, song a beautiful song, "In This Very Room," which was very appropriate.  Here is just one verse that really spoke to me that night....

"In this very room there's quite enough love for all of us.  And in this very room there's quite enough joy for all of us.  And there's quite enough hope and quite enough power, to chase away any gloom.  Lord Jesus, Lord Jesus, is in this very room." 

After Katie sang this beautiful, moving song, my sisters and I gave a speech.  It was very hard to follow after Katie.  We gave a short speech (our parents were spared all our embarrasing comments due to time) and then we finished with a slideshow.  It was a wonderful evening!   

Here is the church fellowship hall all decorated.

This is the head table where my mom and dad, aunt and uncle, and my mom's bridesmaid, Evelyn, and husband, Gus, sat.

Here is the centerpieces we made for each table.

We made all the napkin holders and folded every napkin. 

Close up photos of the centerpieces and once the table was fully set.

This was the hors d'oeuvre table.

Mom and Dad greeting their guests. 

Mom and Katie (my niece) greeting our dear friends, the Lowman's.  The Lowman's lived in our neighborhood when we were little and were like family to us.  We traveled with them every year to the mountains and shared many special occasions with them.   

Mom with one of her best friends, Myra Lowman.

We have so many special memories with the Lowman's!

Mom and Dad with our dear friends, the Brown's.  The Brown's were another family we grew up with.  They attended the same church as my parents and were youth advisors with them.  We did a lot with their family and have a lot of special memories with the Brown's.  It was so good to see them again!

Uncle Sid and Aunt Betty.

 Talking with my Uncle Sid and Aunt Betty.

I am talking with my third grade teacher, Mrs. MacNary (to my left) and Mary Thurmond (who was the nurse that helped my uncle). Both of these ladies go to church with my parents and are dear friends to us.

I am introducing my girls to, Mr. Spencer, who was my youth advisor and also the Elder that taught me when I was going through the Communicants class to become a communing church member.  The Spencer's are another dear family to us and we have many memories with them too.  In this photo, Mr. Spencer is saying to my girls, "I remember when your mom was your age and this little."

Reece playing with her Uncle Jeff. 

My sister, Kim, welcoming the guests and introducing our friend, Mr. Barker, who opened us in prayer.

Dad giving a speech to mom and also thanking all their dear friends and family for being a part of their lives. 

Mom giving a speech to thank everyone for coming and introducing all their close friends and family that were from out of town.

Riley with Grandpa.

Riley and Reece loving on Grandpa.

A room full of special people!

Mom talking with Doug and Cook.

Cutting the cake yet again!

My sister's family with Mom and Dad. Jeff is not in this picture because he went to the hospital with Uncle Sid and Aunt Betty. Thank you Uncle Jeff for taking good care of Uncle Sid!

A photo with Mom and Dad. This photo was taken at the end of the night and

you can tell our kids were tired.

 

Our Family

Sisters

We love you Mom and Dad! Happy 50th Anniversary!!

And More Celebrating....

On Dec. 29th, we went to my parents and celebrated Christmas and we also celebrated my sister, Kim, and my brother-in-law, Jeff's, 20th Wedding Anniversary. 

Jeff and Kim looking at their wedding album.

Happy 20th Anniversary, Kim and Jeff!

Aunt Kate and Jonathon

Regan showing Grandpa her new BB gun.

Grandpa tries out the new BB gun.

Here is Regan's targets.  If you look closely you can see the cans on the right falling that Regan shot.

Grandpa and Riley playing computer games together. 

Uncle Jeff tickling Reece.

Jonathon loving on his Uncle Tony.  Jonathon was showing Uncle Tony his photo album.  Jonathon loves to carry around photos of his family.

 Loving on my precious nephew!

 Aunt Kate had the crazy idea to buy reindeer antlers and made us play a game with them while opening presents.  Each adult had to leave the room one at a time and come back with antlers on.  Aunt Kate wanted to see how long it took the kids to figure out what was going on.

 Jeff helping Jonathon open his present.

Regan is very excited about the books and giftcard to Barnes and Noble she got from Aunt Kim and Uncle Jeff.

 Reece showing off her new Rapunzel Doll she got from Aunt Kim and Uncle Jeff.  She LOVES this doll.   

Aunt Kate opening her running outfit from us.

 Grandma and Grandpa looking through the album we made for them.

 Aunt Kate got all the girls Australia jackets.  It makes them look like Australian Olympians.  They LOVE these jackets! 

 All the cousins with Aunt Kate.

Aunt Kate looking through the photos in her new album we made her.

 Tony played a joke on Kathryn and bought her beef jerky as a present from him.  Kathyrn is a vegetarian and Tony always gives her a hard time about it.

 Kathryn said she would give these to her dog friends.  Actually, she ended up just giving them back to Tony. 

 Playing a game with balls that Aunt Kate made up.

Aunt Kate opening the Perler Bead Ornaments from Riley and Reece.  Last summer, Aunt Kate bought them a Perler Bead book and told them she wanted some ornaments for Christmas.  The girls remembered this and made her some dog ornaments since she loves dogs.

The girls opening books that Aunt Kate got them.  They are books that talk about Christmas in Australia and include Australian Christmas songs.

More Celebrating in Georgia...

On Dec. 26th, we drove down to Georgia to celebrate Christmas with family and also to celebrate my parent's 50th Wedding Anniversary.  It was a very busy week preparing for the big celebration, seeing lots of people we have not seen in a while, and spending time with family.  We stayed at Mama Cook and Papa Doug's house for the week.  Mama Cook spoiled us with good cooking and taking good care of our kids (and my hubby) while I was busy with my sisters planning the anniversary celebration.   

Riley opening her present from Mama Cook and Papa Doug.  It is a set of Dog statues and she got a pretty box to store them in.

Reece opening her present from Mama Cook and Papa Doug.  She got two pretty shirts and a pretty box that she likes to store treasures in.

Regan opening her presents from Mama Cook and Papa Doug.  She got the game, "Bananagrams" and a book.  She also got a pretty box.

Dad F. opening his book from us and check out Reece's expression.  I guess she is thinking what I am thinking, "That book has A LOT of pages!"

Mom F. opening her Griddle from us.  We got to enjoy the results of this present....yummy pancakes and bacon!!!! :)

Tony opening his book from his parents.  We got a good laugh because Tony got his Dad a book, Joe got his Dad a book and Tony got a book from his dad.  The Fernandez's love to read!  And Tony and his Dad both purchased the books at Costco! :)

The girls playing, Bananagrams, with Mama Cook.  This is a fun game!

Reece got a new hairbrush for Christmas and she is trying it out on Mama Cook and Papa Doug.  She loves to play, "hairdresser."

Now, Papa Doug is being the good sport. 

What do you think?!

Papa Doug and Mama Cook showing off their new hairdos. :)

Regan loves to play Recorder while her Mama Cook plays the flute.  Riley has now joined in the "family band" with her new guitar. 

The "Fernandez Band" performing Chrismas songs for GG and GP. 

Regan and Riley showing GG their new erasers.  These erasers are like puzzles that you can take apart and put back together.

GG came up with a fun game for the girls.  The girls looked through GG's old greeting cards and picked some they liked.  Then, they made up a story based on the card's pictures.

Of course Riley's stories were all about dogs!