Hail Hail the Gangs all here

Here we are.

Our table shot.  

Some are happy to have a pic taken, some are saying not another pic!

The instructions on the table said we 'had' to do it! 

We obey all rules!

Life of Memories have begun

Mr. and Mrs. Nichols

July 2, 2011

Love Endures

Love endures

I've been wanting to do this picture for quite a few years.  

Of course I didn't come up with this idea myself.

imitation is the sincerest form of flattery

The tree.  There's something about that single tree....

I know I'm not the only one around that realizes this.

I do not know what compels one to think that a picture of a lonely tree is lovely,

 but who knows the answers to everything?

Bride Waiting

With her job well done spreading flowers down the aisle,

 she waited patiently for the bride to make her entrance.

~Adorable~

Oh! So pretty!

Yes you're lovely, with your smile so warm
And your cheeks so soft,
There is nothing for me but to love you,
And the way you look tonight.

                                                                   -Josh!

Grandmothers

To my Granddaughter

 On her Wedding Day
My heart is filled with memories

 Of times when you were small,

 Days filled with joy and sorrow—

 I’ve loved you through them all.
I remember watching you grow. 

I was filled with so much pride

 But the years have flown so quickly

 And now you are a bride.
As you begin this new life

 And become husband and wife

 I pray your lives will be filled with love 

And blessings sent from God above.
So many precious memories

 Of special times in your life,

 And now I add your wedding day—

 The day you become a wife.

                                           Denise Wiedema

I thought this was a fitting poem to celebrate a granddaughter's wedding day.

  I know this bride has been blessed by Grandmothers, Grandfathers, 

Uncles, Aunts,  and Cousins that were proud of her on her wedding day.

  The memories are vast and we look forward to many more in the years to come

Family Celebrations

Families are like fudge,  always sweet with a few nuts.

All you need is L-O-V-E

Faith - Hope - Love

....the greatest of these is L-O-V-E

Wedding 2011

Weddings bring out the best in people.

Love and Hope for the future are the leading thoughts of the day.

Nothing beats Love and Hope!

Brother and Sitser

My blessings.

Mr. and Mrs. Josh Nichols

A very quaint wedding brought together Ms Cortney and Mr Josh in a beautiful union.

The day couldn't be more perfect.

Library lure

Bryant Park Grille, NYC

Directly behind the New York City Public Library sits Bryant Park.  A quaint little escape in the middle of a bustling city.  Winter, Spring, Summer or Fall it's a relaxing spot to enjoy a little peace and quiet before heading back out into the sidewalk grind.  The Bryant Park Grille offers some nibbles before you take a stroll in the park or around the front and into the library which is it's own escape.

Forgiveness

Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger,

 and clamor, and evil speaking,

be put away from you, with all malice:  

And be ye kind one to another,

tenderhearted, forgiving one another,

even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.

(Ephesians 4: 31-32)

Forgiveness  is Hard.

Who do you need to forgive today over yesterday's issues?

The cross in today's post  stands in The Trinity Church across from The World Trade Center in New York City.  The Church that clearly has seen tragedy at it's worst.  

We all fret over little things from our past with one another but around the world so many deal with bigger problems than we could ever imagine.  How do you get through the big and small incidents in life where we feel offended, unloved, betrayed, and hurt?  We all do a variety of things that only prolongs the offenses, hate, lies and hurt.  If we give forgiveness a try it can begin to heal our issues with one another.  How?  I wish I had all the answers.  Kindness is a great place to start.  We don't always know what someone else is up against  in life when they lash out so give them a break and love them anyways.  I know I don't always do the right thing, say the right thing,  or act the right way with others but I hope I'm forgiven.  Forgiveness is a gift to yourself and not just another person.  Someone may not accept your forgiveness but once you give it move on and maybe just maybe someday the one who couldn't accept your gift will remember your one act of kindness and all will be well.  You may never know when that happens or if that happens but back when you forgave you also received that gift.  

The events of 9-11 were a tragedy and is a huge effort in testing our forgiveness as a country but start wherever you are today and either forgive someone or accept someone's forgiveness and make your world a better place.  

....I wonder if all those responsible for the events of 9-11 ever accepted forgiveness from someone?  Could we change our world by starting with one act of forgiveness?  

I'm going to keep trying.  Fail. Try.  Fail. Try.  Fail.  Try.  

   

It's all in the details

“When you look at a city, it's like reading the hopes, 

aspirations and pride of everyone who built it.”

-Hugh Newell Jacobsen

Spring Time In NYC

Beauty abounds in the city.

-Rockefeller Center gardens-

Knock Knock Knock

Lynchburg, VA

Lynchburg has found some clever ways to revamp old buildings into new diggs.  

It's recycling at it's best.

OASIS OF THE SEAS

What a memorable trip on the Oasis of the Seas from Feb 12 - 19, 2011.  

We booked and planned the cruise months ahead and now I'm blogging months after.

Why?

It makes the vacation seem so much longer than it actually was!

It's like getting multiple vacations and only paying for one!

I'm ready to start thinking of the next adventure we'd like to take.

Where in the world will be my next stop?

Oasis of the Seas -- Into the Sunset

Off into the Sunset we sailed.

Oasis of the Seas -- Katara

The Katara

Sailing out of St. Maarten we came across The Katara.  What a vessel.  A privately owned yacht on a worldly adventure.  It's hard to find out a lot of information on The Katara like whom does she belong to?  Where did she come from?  Where is she headed?  Regardless if I know the answer to these questions I can come to my own conclusions of where I would be going if I had the keys to this little vessel.  (Helicopter included!)

Oasis of the Seas -- St. Maarten Goodbye

Heading back to the ship gave us a great view of the Island.

Yeah Oasis of the Seas was large and elegant and terrific,

 but I think I could also spend a week on this tall ship!

Oh so sweeeeeet!

Good bye to St. Maarten.

A big salute to you.  

"I'll be baaaackkkk"

Oasis of the Seas -- St. Maarten and Samantha

Model Sam with Ship Central in the background

Two girls just hanging out

Oh, so proper!

Oasis of the Seas --Great Bay Beach

Boat ride anybody?

It got confusing.

Was I in the South pacific looking out at Bali Hai?

Bali Ha'i may call you,
Any night, any day,
In your heart, you'll hear it call you:
"Come away...Come away."

Bali Ha'i will whisper
In the wind of the sea:
"Here am I, your special island!
Come to me, come to me!"

Your own special hopes,
Your own special dreams,
Bloom on the hillside
And shine in the streams.
If you try, you'll find me
Where the sky meets the sea.
"Here am I your special island
Come to me, Come to me."

It's just a little ray of Sunshine!

GREAT BAY,

St. Maarten 

Oasis of the Seas -- Places of Worship

--The Cross--

Do all the good you can, 

in all the ways you can, 

to all the souls you can,

in every place you can,

at all the times you can,

with all the zeal you can,

as long as ever you can.

                            ---John Wesley

Being I attend a United Methodist Church other United Methodist Churches catch you eye

when you're away from home.  Nestled between the shops, the beach, the casinos

is a quaint little U.M. Church in Philipsburg, St. Maarten

Attend your local church and praise God for the blessings given to you!

Oasis of the Seas -- St. Maarten Colors

You can find high end shopping and then you can

 find trinkets and such right here at the market place.

Some local art work can be found here too!

Lemon Lime

Open the door, come on in, sit awhile and relax!

Where do all these doors lead?

Oasis of the Seas -- St. Maarten Along the Boardwalk

What would lunch be without a Coke and a Smile!

Groovin to the Beat.

Impromptu music along life's way makes life pop!

Don't know where to spend your money?

Does anyone have that problem?

Variety of ways to deposit your money to never be seen again!

Oasis of the Seas -- St. Maarten Shopping

Colorful Shopping Adventures

Effy:  Jewelery

Snazzy Tommy Hilfiger

Home of Guavaberry.

Walk in for a drink of several different varieties.

Visit at :  http://www.guavaberry.com/guavaberry.htm

In between shopping till you drop, make sure you drop in a comfy lounge chair at Great Bay just steps away from all the shopping.

So what is in this store?

New to St. Maarten is it's Boardwalk with added shopping, drinking,  and eating right on the beach.

Don't forget to  attend church and Praise God for all he has

provided to you.  You can always find a quaint worship place!