come, join us. we love you.

like our face-lift? thanks to my determined and uber-patient hubby!

anyhoo, we now have opened the comments to ALL our sweet friends and family. sorry we didn't do this sooner, but we were unsteady on our feet, blinking in the light of blogworld. now we know what we want, and we want more of YOU. now you can talk to us, if you want. :)

for those non-bloggers (especially moms and dads, etc), just click on "comment" below this post, and then choose "anonymous" and write something!

goin' to the chapel

CONGRATULATIONS JENNY AND NATE!!!

we are SO happy that you're gettin' hitched! you make a swell couple...just right.

we love you, and pray blessings on October 20th, and beyond!

summer doesn't get better than this

impromptu peach pie

in the busyness of packing for a wedding weekend to Portland, i stopped into New Leaf for basics. but i found there the most deliciously ripe peaches, and there was no quesiton about it: i had to make my favorite summer dessert.

i called mom and said it was tradition time. so off we went to mom and dad's house for a great bbq dinner, and a peach blueberry pie for dessert, still hot from the oven. mmm.

what a divine delight it is to live in God's world. He didn't have to make life so yummy, or so simple. obviously, peaches tickled His fancy. :)

goofin' with Ma

memorial

our dear, sweet Grandy passed away last week. a day or so before he died, mom noticed him laboring in his breath and asked if he was tired. he said, "more tired than you can know." and then, as perfectly and peacefully as anyone can, he left his weary body to be resurrected when Christ's glory is at last revealed. and Grandy is now experiencing real life, as it was always meant to be - in the presence of God, with myriads upon myriads of angels and heavenly hosts, and with every beloved soul He has cherished in His love.

the graveside service was attended by the military, as Grandy was in WWII. they saluted. they folded the flag. they played Taps. it was one the most beautiful things I have ever seen. and there was not a dry eye. we love Grandy, and were thankful to have such a service of honor performed for him.

we did indeed mourn. it makes our hearts sad to not have him present with us. but we also rejoiced, knowing that he is rejoicing as he has never before done. his body of sin has left him, and Grandy is able now to feel love and joy and comfort without the ugly weight. he is no longer a shadow, but more alive now that he ever was.

santa cruz memorial is exceptionally beautiful...at least for a surfer town. joe enjoyed the numerous photo opportunities, and thankfully captured the beautiful service as well. mom and i also got to place flowers on my grandma's grave, who passed away six years ago now.

after the service, we went to church and partied. we threw a party that Grandy would have wanted to come to. big band music, pimento cheese sandwhiches, chips and dips, canteloupe and ice cream, pinwheels. we all chipped in to make it special, and it was.

we love you, Grandy. we cannot wait to join your Party.

mom, joanna and jessica (my sweet sisters), and cousin amanda

bro's in law: sean (ahem...w/ jess's purse) and paul. yes, sean got teased...plenty.

uncle "bad" (we missed you, auntie bev!)

uncle brad with the officers

joanna (husband in background) w/ their second son, kris

dad with naval officer

we picked yellow roses, 'cuz Grandy married his "yellow rose of Texas"

folding the flag

"by order of the President of the United States, we present this flag..."

big italian wedding

joe and i recently had the honor of attending the wedding ceremony of an acquaintance of ours. my mom has a friend named Jane who has been her friend since Kindergarten. Jane's daughter is five years older than I am. her parents promised her that if she chose to never moved in with her boyfriend, they would give her the wedding of her dreams. so, they both kept their promise, and somehow we got on the invitation list to witness this grand event.

we sat in the best row.

there was a "grand poobah" of sorts sitting in front of us, a good Catholic Italian boy, who made sure everyone knew he was there. He wore fat rings on his fingers, and half the guests came to him with a hand shake and a kiss. We couldn't help but feel like the mafia was present. There was even a "little Chuckie" and a "Big Chuckie" there. Having the mafia there, combined with the Catholic Mass, chanting, responsorials, and priests, made it quite the Mickey Blue Eyes experience. The reception was held at the Palo Alto Golf and Country Club.

It was a sit down dinner, and the napkins were silk. Yah.