My Etsy Shop

I just listed items on Etsy.com!
I have seven dresses posted and three pairs of ballet slippers.
I still have more dresses to post, but I ran out of time.
I hope to add more this week, to get things on there before Christmas.

Finding Heaven

Each day I try to find "beauty" in my day....I usually find it as I am driving to work in the morning. I can find it in the vineyards, fog rolling over the hills, a hot-air balloon, a really cool car, cloud formations, the mountains...but I try to find something. Today as I was driving home from work, I saw some really cool cloud formations, as the sky was turning to rain...bright blue sky, sun blazing and there was a hole in the clouds with God's sun rays shining down through the billowy white. That is where I find heaven. I said out loud, "Hi Kathy!" Hello to my sister in heaven who left us going on 18 years! But, that is where I find her...in the opening of the clouds, through God's sun rays. This time when I said that, I did not get teary-eyed, I just smiled!

My Home Someday!

One of the Most Beautiful Places on Earth!

Jesse and Trevor's Wedding

Jesse on her wedding day
August 21, 2010

This is in the bridal room at Warren Woods where Jesse got ready to make that once in a lifetime trip down the aisle with her dad to marry the love of her life!
























About a year ago... we were in the midst of getting ready for Corey's wedding. During this time, I am sure I had a conversation or two with Jesse about her getting married. Little did I know that I would be planning another wedding 6 months after Corey's wedding! Jesse and I had a "heart to heart" talk in February while she was home from school for a bit. It was a serious conversation as, she told me that she and Trevor were wanting to get married and in August! I always knew that they would get married, but I had also asked her to give us time time to recuperate after Corey's wedding...was that too much to ask???

I guess my eyes were filled with $$$ signs and I felt there goes my retirement $$$. I probably should not have had those thoughts, but I did and I was a bit upset about it and not very positive or encouraging. Part of the reason I had those feelings was because of the timing...August is a very busy time of year for my work schedule and it was one more time that I had to take time off...I was just not feeling good about it. but she was not engaged yet...so....

I got over that hurdle and let it go for a bit....then in May Jesse called and left a message...that Trevor had proposed! Well, they indeed did pick August, as that was the only time they could get enough time off from school to have a wedding. So, again, I got through the news of the date....and we got right on to planning this wedding - as we only had a little over three months to get it all done! Corey really helped me out with a lot to get things going and we both got our fingers typing through websites....searching for locations and decorations and more!

One of the first things that Jesse did was search for her wedding dress. As her mom, I wanted to be with her when she tried them on...that is part of the Mother of the Bride tradition! Well, being that Jesse is in Utah and I am in California...it didn't quite work out that way. I got a phone call from Jesse telling me that she was at a bridal store with Trevor's sister Emily...and her intent was to just look. Well, the stores usually don't let you do that...of course...they want to sell you a dress! But, Jesse fell in love with a dress she tried on. My heart kind of sank as I wanted to be there for this historical moment (and yes, I got teary-eyed)....but when a bride-to- be finds "the one" you just have to let all those possessive feelings go and just say "yes" to the dress! So, I thank Emily for being there with and for Jesse and being her mom for the day.

In those three months we visited at least five locations (took loads of photos), found the photographer and DJ and hairdresser and started to put the guest list together. Jesse picked her colors, Trevor's mom was down for making the cake and Walt, Trevor's dad arranged for all the flowers. Kathy &Walt also agreed to put together the rehearsal dinner! We passed emails back and forth on ideas for decorations and all the other details. I took a trip to Utah in June to take all the info I had collected and Jesse and I did some shopping for things. Trevor, Jesse and I spent a lot of time talking about the details and they picked the location. Warren Woods in Sebastopol! A gorgeous place. I knew it had everything Jesse wanted in a location and they did the catering as well.

....getting though those months and to the wedding weekend....Trevor and Jesse arrived in California a few days before the wedding. We got the cars (3 of them) packed and headed to Bodega Bay and got ready for the rehearsal dinner. We headed for Warren Woods as the fog rolled in and all of Trevor's family and all of our family, special friends, bridesmaids, groomsmen, photographers and DJ all were treated to an amazing picnic with fantastic pies for dessert! We got the rehearsal going and then to end the evening we all enjoyed a slide-show of photos of the wedding couple from birth to present...ending with their engagement photos.

Wedding day morning was spent waking up and tip-toeing out into the kitchen of the Bodega Bay house finding the bride-to-be and her bridesmaids all cosy and huddled under their blankets in the living room! I made coffee and got breakfast together and then my hairdresser Michelle and her daughter arrived and the day began! It was a morning I will never forget having special conversations and moments with all the girls, my son Brian and daughters and husband. We all laughed and cried and just had a great time!

Then it was off to Warren Woods and the ceremony! We arrived at the site and we had to drop Jesse off...she had to hide in the bushes, as she did not want Trevor to see her before the wedding...so we had Trevor disappear and then Sarah and I walked Jesse in as she was hiding behind her wedding dress! The site was buzzing with excitement and lots of activity going on to prepare for the wedding and reception! Off the girls and I went to the bridal room to get Jesse dressed and all the girls ready and for photos. Jesse's Aunt Catherine was to be on hand to help her get into her dress and then we had Kathy, Trevor's mom come up to spend a few moments as well. From the bridal room we could watch and listen to all the guests arrive and then it was time for the ceremony......

...music began and off we all went down the aisle to a beautiful setting and so many smiling faces and happy tears! It all goes so fast, but the memories continue! One thing I need to say is that this wedding was truly a family affair where there were many hands helping to make Jesse &Trevor's wedding a spectacular event. My heart is not big enough to hold all the love that was there that day. It was a day of love and happiness and many happy, happy tears!