Today I’m excited to share the second installment of wedding pictures. Jesse and Anna were a radiant couple, their hearts centered on Jesus, as they made their vows before God and witnesses.
There is such anticipation which builds for a ceremony. It’s the beginning of a lifetime of joy and commitment.
Jesse and Anna planned special details such as both dads sharing, Anna’s mom and sisters doing music, friends also involved in music (and some from afar that pre-recorded it–very kind of them!), Jesse and Anna each spoke to their parents, sharing gratitude for how they raised them and all the investment.
Enjoy a peek into the ceremony and sendoff!
The groom ready!
In the back room before the ceremony.
Jesse talking with Dad and Mom
This is when it’s really feeling real!
Instead of unity candles, they chose sand, and it’s a beautiful picture of something that can’t be separated.
Jesse opened the ceremony, welcoming his guests and also sharing who was missing in the family.
Sweet dad/daughter time before walking down the aisle
Here she comes!
Pouring the sand together.
The radiant couple
Sharing to the parents
Praying together
Saying their vows
Their first kiss!
Mr. and Mrs. Jesse Maxwell!
Jesse and Anna dismissed by rows.
Waiting for the sendoff
Part 3 will share bride and groom pictures from the park and then the family good-byes!
“House and riches are the inheritance of fathers: and a prudent wife is from the LORD” (Proverbs 19:14).
Wow! Another month has flown by. The book is back from the copyeditor, and we’re in our final two weeks before going to press. I can’t wait to share more details with you next month!
Life stays busy here at the Maxwell home, and here is a peek at what’s been happening.
We enjoy seeing Christopher and Anna Marie’s family outside, so here Dad was spending some time with the little boys.
Birthday dinner with Betsy
Nathan’s crew has done some campaigning! How many of our blog readers have been helping out this fall?
Sunday family lunch: this crew included Joseph and John’s families
Axton and Kyle feeding Ellie treats. They like to use a little toy to give it to her.
I spent many hours on the back deck editing this August and September.
Right after my book went to the copyeditor, I watched Nathan and Melanie’s kiddos (except Debi), so they could have some time away. Isn’t this a cute capture?
Aunt Anna motivated Benji with a reward, and he met the goal!
Christopher and Anna Marie’s family picture
The illustrator works best off a picture, so here Betsy and I staged a picture. For those of you who get the book later, you’ll see how much changes from a photo to illustration. It’s a neat process to watch!
Doing school together.
Lunch helpers
Babysitting Axton and Elliott
Danny waiting for the mailman
This wasn’t staged.
Cousins Caleb and Debi
Tina giving Ellie a bath
Nathan and family made tons of applesauce.
Axton’s time with Grandma on Monday afternoons
Dad and Mom went to Joseph and Elissa’s to celebrate Calia’s birthday!
This girl is growing up!
John and Chelsy and boys came over for dinner and Bible time one evening
Mom and Dad have spent quite a bit of time doing Titus2 projects. Here Mom is packaging sticky tac, which goes in the Scheduling Kit for Managers of Their Homes.
Sunday lunch with Jesse and Anna: great times!
“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might” (Ephesians 6:10).
Hopefully, we are concluding our quest to learn more about a subject we never wanted to be knowledgeable about—bed bugs. There has been a lot of activity since our last post.
Here is my process, that included close inspection of each of these specific places and I believe covered every square inch of that room:
Beds stripped
Mattresses flipped
Dust covering torn off the underside of box springs
Dresser drawers emptied
Baseboards checked
Covers removed for light switches and power receptacles and then taped. (I will be applying a special dust inside them before I put the covers back on.)
HVAC registers removed and then sealed.
Meticulously vacuumed.
Everything that could be cycled through the dryer went for an hour on heat.
Things that weren’t needed were bagged and went to the attic.
Bedding was washed, dried, and stored in another room.
Finally used a heater to heat the room to 120 degrees for 3 hours.
In all my inspections, I did not find a single bed bug. I was happy not to, but then the question was: Where did the first one come from? They can live a long time between meals. Could it be possible that just one was carried in?
Still to have a high degree of confidence that some weren’t lurking somewhere in that room or elsewhere in the house, we employed a trained K-9 bed bug hunter to “sniff” the house. The little beagle was disappointed not to find any bed bugs since he gets treats when he does, but we were pleased that he didn’t.
Taking a rest after working real hard.
“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28
Sunday afternoon, we participated in our town’s life chain. It was a time to pray for the end of abortion and to show our love for the unborn.
May our hearts grieve for the state of our nation, where approximately 3000 babies die every day because of their mother’s “choice.”
I loved seeing the folks who came out with tender hearts for these little ones and to take a stand for life. It was a gorgeous autumn afternoon, and many people drove by, with quite a few giving their affirmation to life.
Here are some pictures from the afternoon.
Christopher and most of his crew
Nathan with his three youngest
Melanie and her girls
“And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these” (Mark 12:31).
Y’all this is a happy first day of autumn but about two weeks late post! I love autumn: the colorful leaves, cool temperatures, vivid blue skies, pumpkin treats, cozy evenings, and beautiful walks.
This pumpkin baked oatmeal recipe is easy, inexpensive, and delicious! Following the pictures, you’ll find the recipe.
Mix the dry ingredients first.
Then add the wet.
Whisk eggs.
Add pumpkin.
Chocolate chips are optional but not optional. They add a great touch!
Pumpkin Baked Oatmeal
Pumpkin Baked Oatmeal
3 cups rolled oats 3/4 c. brown sugar (packed) 1 tsp. salt 2 tsp. baking powder 1/2 tablespoon pumpkin pie spice (you can Google pumpkin pie spice recipe and it’s just a combination of some spices: you can also purchase it ready made in the spices section) 1 can (15 oz.) pumpkin 1/2 c. oil or butter (I often use oil) 2 cups milk 1 tsp. vanilla 2 eggs 1/2 – 3/4 cup chocolate chips (optional)
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine oats, brown sugar, salt, baking powder, and pumpkin pie spice. Then, add pumpkin, oil (or butter), milk, and vanilla. Whip the eggs just a bit in a small bowl, and then pour into the rest of the mixture. Chocolate chips add the perfect touch, but you don’t have to use them unless you like. If you do want to, add them here. Pour into a greased 9×13 pan and bake for about 25-30 minutes. If you’re using a glass pan, bake time will be longer. Enjoy!
“How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth!” (Psalm 119:103)
This was not what we wanted to have to deal with! Saturday night Anna was upstairs in our guest room comfortably reading on the bed when she saw a small bug crawling toward her. Normally, she would just squash the bug, but she was speculative of this one. She grabbed a tissue, and with some effort, killed it, and put it in a zippered plastic bag so it could be identified. Google soon answered the question, identifying it as a bed bug! Oh no!
When Steve went to his desk early Sunday morning for his Bible time, this is what he saw:
The music room is what we also call our guest room. We used to practice music there.
On Monday, Steve sent an enlarged photo of it to the local county extension office for confirmation. BED BUG. Our research reveals they are harder to eliminate than fleas, ants, or cockroaches. We are in this for the long haul, and we won’t be having guests for a very long time.
The good news we are praising God for is that there has been no other evidence of these insects anywhere else in the house.
For now the guest room is sealed off. Steve’s careful inspection of the mattress, box springs, and frame didn’t reveal any signs of bed bugs or bed bug infestation. He sealed the decorative pillows in black plastic bags, which will be in the attic waiting for the blazing Kansas summer heat which kills them. Would you believe they can live up to 400 days without feeding? He also sealed the bedding in black plastic trash bags waiting to be laundered. Thirty minutes in a hot dryer kills the nasty pests.
We will soon be putting some products down in there which should arrive by Saturday. Once they arrive, Steve will continue inspecting the rest of the furniture in the room and other places bed bugs hide. Not sure what he has planned after that.
Hopefully, none of you have any experience with them. However, if you have, share with us what worked for you and what didn’t.
“In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you” (1 Thessalonians 5:18).
The Maxwell family and ministry blog of Titus2.com.
