Wedding Day Prep

The day before Rebecca and Joseph's wedding was SO MUCH FUN!  Friends and family started arriving in town, and everything was suddenly REAL.

My friend Cathy picked up the buckets of wildflowers on her way into town and helped us arrange the beautiful bouquets.

We set up the reception, and the dance floor and chairs arrived:

We were still hoping for an outdoor ceremony at this time even though there was some rain in the forecast.  Rebecca was nervous and almost just moved things indoors, but I convinced her that it was not that much trouble to have chairs set up indoors as well so that we could move things if it came to that.  Praise the Lord it did not!  I had been praying about this for months - asking God in his lovingkindness to command the weather for us according to this passage:

"With moisture He loads the thick cloud; He disperses the clouds of His lightning.  And it changes direction, turning around by His guidance, that it may do whatever He commands it on the face of the inhabited earth, whether for correction, or for His world, or for lovingkindness.  " Job 37: 11-13

Then we had the rehearsal where everybody learned where to stand (and put golf tees in the ground to mark their spots), how to do their parts, and how to smile for the camera!

DIY Wedding Reception Buffet

I have always loved to cook and throw parties!  And our family is also famous for it's frugality (and by famous I mean there was once an article about our budgeting in the Johnson City Press).  So when it came time to plan Rebecca's wedding reception, I naturally turned to thoughts of doing it myself.  This was especially true because she and Joseph had decided on an afternoon wedding - which meant more "party food" than an actual meal (turns out that "party food" is actually a little more expensive than a meal, but I don't think knowing that would have made us change our minds).  Emily Post says afternoon weddings don't even have to have refreshments beyond cake and punch, but for me, nothing says "special occasion" like plenty of good food!

The bridge and groom also wanted cheesecake instead of wedding cake!  Turns out I had been working on my cheesecake skills, and Joseph's mom already made a wonderful classic cheesecake.  I could never have decorated a traditional wedding cake, but cheesecakes sounded really doable.

I had several experienced mothers-of the-bride (MOBs) tell me that I was nuts and that I wanted to truly be able to savor that day without cooking responsibilities.  I could see the wisdom in that, so I decided on a compromise.  I would cook the food (and accept any help that friends gave me), but I would hire kitchen help to serve it and clean up.  That worked really well for us.

I actually planned the wedding menu while my Dad was in hospice.  My sisters and I had lots of time on our hands while Dad would nap, and I had an audience to discuss ideas with.  I concentrated on things I knew I could do that would freeze well AND that would make good leftovers (because it's always hard to estimate who will eat what).  We made it more like Super Bowl Party food. We have quite a few celiacs on both sides of the family, so I decided to make everything gluten free.  The only exception was also the one thing I didn't make - chicken nuggets from Chic-Fil-A.   Here's the final menu. Of course, just like a restaurant you have to come up with some fancy names:

Buffet Menu

Fresh Fruit and Marshmallow Crème Dip

Assorted Veggies with Southwestern Dip

Southern Chicken Salad

Coronation Chicken Salad

Marinated Cheese

Assorted Crackers

Sweet and Spicy Smokies

Sausage Balls with Maple Syrup

Chicken Bites

with Honey Mustard BBQ, Hawaiian Sauce and Cuban Remoulade

Sante Fe Spinach

White Cheese Queso

Mexican Street Corn Dip

Cowboy Caviar

Peach Mango Salsa

Corn Chips

Coffee, Sweet Tea, Water and Strawberry Lemonade

I made a spreadsheet to keep up with ingredients to purchase, cost, serving dishes, and most importantly when to make the items.  I wanted to have as much done as possible BEFORE the week of the wedding.  

I started first with sausage balls.  I had experience using gluten free Bisquick to make them and knew that they are every bit as good as the ones with gluten.  My boys like sausage balls with maple syrup (sort of like a McGriddle), so we decided to serve them that way to make it a bit more fancy.  

Next up was spinach dip for 150:

And then I started in on the cheesecakes (another thing that freezes well).  I also tried out some simple decor and Rebecca worked on her cake toppers which she painted to look like a whimsical version of her and Joseph.  

Jeannie (Joseph's mom) also made a few cheesecakes as did my friend, Shauna.  Altogether we made and froze 11 classic cheesecakes and 6 chocolate ones.

I made some homemade sauces to go on the cheesecakes - ironically during the Royal Wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, which occurred the week before THE WEDDING.  Rebecca got up early to watch it live with me. Pictured here are raspberry royale and pecan praline sauce.  

I made chicken salad (two kinds) and Mexican Street Corn Dip just a few days prior to the wedding. Don't worry - I didn't serve it in Tupperware. We have some class. 

I also cut up a ton of carrots (because we're not fans of baby carrots), but I left all the other veggie and fruit prep to my wedding day kitchen help.  Here's a photo of my happy helpers - Emily and Joanna Peterson.  They did a great job and helped me pull off my vision!

 If I had to do it all over again, I would in a heartbeat!  But I don't have any more daughters!  A few things I would change: (1) I would have borrowed more serving pieces as that was an expense I probably could have avoided,  (2) I would have arranged to leave my van at the wedding site and have hired people pack up the leftovers and deliver them to my house, and (3) I would have made at least twice as much strawberry lemonade mix as the hot weather made that one of the most popular items!  

All in all, the reception food and drink (including serving dishes, set up, hired help, take-home cookie treats for guests, etc) cost $16.37 per person, which was a bargain for the amount of food we had!  

Anticipation

I  really enjoyed the season of anticipation of Rebecca's wedding.  I don't think she felt quite the same way - at time she was just anxious to get the wedding part over with and get on to the marriage (which is definitely the most important part).  She also doesn't like to be the center of attention.  Sort of comes with the territory when you're a bride, though.

However, I've loved being mother-of-the-bride.  I relished all the preparations, from shopping for dresses or matching neckties, to cooking, decorating, and  planning accommodations for extended family.  One special thing Terry did for Rebecca during this season was build a backdrop to her specifications.  Here she helps with the staining:

It turned out great as you can see here!

It was also sweet seeing all the dance practices that occurred in our kitchen.  I treasure these memories almost as much as the wedding itself.

Showers of Blessings

Just six days before the wedding, when we were running around with our to-do lists, we had a wonderful afternoon just to hang out with close friends and family who came together to wish Rebecca the best.  I was trying to be "in the moment" so I didn't take photos like I usually do.  But this one that a friend snapped turned out to be my favorite:

We took turns offering up prayers for Rebecca and Joseph and their future marriage.  We are blessed to have godly women in our lives, and Rebecca has always been one to actually listen to advice of those who are older and wiser (or "potentially wiser" anyway).

Her Aunt Ann went all out with food and decor.  Turns out her Uncle Scott did all the greenery arrangement!

My friend Melanie led us in some fun games (Rebecca loves games!), and Aunt Ann had an activity where we all shared our best marriage advice on little canvases.

It was such a fun and relaxing time together.  A shower of blessings, indeed!

Noah Graduates or The End of an Era

Noah has had "senioritis" for almost two years now, so it's with great pleasure that I announce that he has graduated!  This momentous occasion has been overshadowed by Rebecca's wedding later this month, but Noah has not complained (much).

He had a small ceremony with the homeschool support group from our church.  Most of these kids have known each other since early childhood.  It was a sweet time.  Keeping with our family theme of procrastination, Noah prepared his senior display on the day of graduation, finishing just an hour before commencement commenced.

He featured his NCFCA awards, one of his winning Lego designs, and lots of photos of friends.  

At the ceremony, Terry and I were able to present him with his diploma:

And then we partied and ate:

Next up for Noah is Lee University, where he received the Centennial Scholarship (full tuition), and plans to major in theater.  We are so excited for him!  He has worked hard on his communication skills and has turned into quite the entertainer.  Here I am with all of my graduates.  I am so proud of each one:

And just like that, I am done with homeschooling.  And so are several of my friends.  Here we are posing in a "retirement party" shot.

I honestly can't process it all right now.  I will have to wait and say more later when I can look back from a bit of a distance.  

The First Bird Leaves the Nest

This could be a sad post, but I will make it mostly a happy one.  I decided several years ago that I would not really complain when Rebecca moves out because I have had several "bonus years."  After graduating, Rebecca moved to Knoxville to join us (we had moved here while she was in college).  She had a fun job and a good church home and friends, but she decided that her family members were her best roommates!  I loved having another girl around after four years.

But now she's getting married!  Earlier this month, Terry and I had fun traveling with Rebecca, Joseph and Joseph's parents to Richmond, Virginia, where the newlyweds will set up housekeeping in a cute little honeymoon cottage.

After unpacking, we headed around the corner to the BrewPub for pizza:

Next morning we attended Remnant Church in downtown Richmond where they will be attending:

Excited for them to start their new life!

Farewell to NCFCA

For the last five years, Noah has competed in speech and debate with NCFCA.  It has been such a time of growth for him.  He's never been that into sports (though he likes ultimate frisbee and climbing!), so this has turned out to be his sport.  And like in all sports, you have to learn how to both win and lose with grace.  He has had opportunity to do both, and has had the privilege of competing at Nationals the last two years.

This year, his last, he decided to focus on just having fun (I think a lot of seniors ascribe to that plan).  He had fun, and it showed! He did an After Dinner Speech on procrastination that won 1st in Memphis, and he had an Original Interp on the Game of Life that won first place in Hattiesburg and at Regionals!  His Original was quite a hit with the moms - especially the scene where he gives birth - I kid you not!

Even though it's out of focus, I love this photo of Noah when he just found out he won first place at Hattiesburg:

Also in Hattieburg, Noah and his debate partner went all the way to semifinals.  This year's cases were on reforming the higher education system:

Noah won two slots to Nationals, but has declined to go this year.  This means that the Regional competition in Baton Rouge was his last.  I calculated we have spent around 20 days each year with these competitors and families from Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Arkansas.  That's a lot of togetherness!  We will both miss the friends we have made.  I will miss getting to see Noah in a suit.

Several of his NCFCA friends will be attending Lee University, so he'll be seeing them around.  I will have to make do with Facebook!