Our Vow Renewal

Steve and I renewed our vows for our 25th wedding anniversary. It was beautiful. There weren't as many people as we were expecting but it was just beautiful. Mike and his friend took video and he said they did such a great job. Filmed the whole ceremony and went around at the reception and had everyone say a little something into the camera and everything. Apparently, there is a final button you are supposed to push to finalize the recording and no one told him so none of it saved. I was so looking forward to having video of this since 25 years ago we didn't get to have the wedding recorded.

Still, I'm not gonna let that ruin it. It was a really special and wonderful day and the ceremony was so lovely. The kids all looked great all dressed up. Kristi wore a pretty sundress and high heeled sandals. Anthony and Michael were in khaki's, white dress shirts and blue blazers. Kristi walked down the aisle to the alter where Steve and the boys were waiting. I walked down with my brother, Joe to Steve. There were readings about marriage, blessings of the rings and of course, saying our vows to each other all over again. At the end of the ceremony, Deacon John gave us each a rosary that was actually blessed by Pope John Paul II during the Deacon's trip to the Vatican.

Afterwards, we went to the fellowship hall and watched the video. Everyone congratulated Michael on a great job and some even got a little teary.

Then we ate all that food that was prepared the day before, only I had a ton of food left over. And finally we cut the cake.....singing the traditional song only THIS time, I smashed the cake in HIS face. LOL He knew it was coming...after seeing the picture on the video of him smashing the cake in my face at the wedding, EVERYONE knew it was coming. LOL Michael got video of that on his camera.

This is our church. I live in the Bible Belt so this little church is the only Catholic church in the whole county.



Michael, Kristi and Anthony - don't adjust your monitor, her hair really is blue. LOL



Kristi just before walking down the aisle. She has the best smile!



Here are Steve and the boys waiting at the alter. Kristi has just walked down ahead of me.



My brother, Joe, and I walking down the aisle.



This is the best shot of the vows.



Here we are rededicating and blessing our rings.



We did it! We're married again!



Here's the fellowship hall. I think we did a pretty darn good job.



The head table.



The cake was an open book with our wedding picture on it. I think they did an awesome job!



Steve getting ready to show the video.



Kristi and I.



And finally the whole family.



Others in the church took pictures too, so I can't wait to see theirs.

And now after all the planning, it's over. But I will NEVER forget this day.

Here's to the next 25 years!!

25 Years and Counting

Michael made this video for our 25th wedding anniversary. Steve got choked up and I outright teared up. The song was our wedding song and the pics go way back.

Enjoy!

See ya next time! :o)

Our Anniversary Weekend

Last weekend we went on a weekend getaway for our 25th anniversary. It was SOOO great! We got to the cabin about 5:30 and was able to freshen up and change before heading out to dinner. Chateau Morrisette was sooooo beautiful!!
You could eat inside or outside. We ate inside but this was the view from the outside dining area. The sun was just about to set.
The food was wonderful and the service and atmosphere were terrific! They even treated us for dessert when they realized it was our anniversary. We found a new wine that we LOVE LOVE LOVE!!
We drank nearly the whole bottle with dinner. Had two glasses left for the next day. We brought a few bottles home with us, it was so good!

Saturday morning we went out for breakfast at Mabry Mill.
It's an old still working mill powered by a wooden aqueduct system and a water wheel that was built in 1910.
There is a small diner type restaurant there and the park with the old buildings from that time with a blacksmith shop and weaving shop with people working in them.
So cool to see this historical stuff.
Then we went into the two small towns and walked up and down their main streets where they were having a huge yard sale. We walked into all their little shops and antique stores and just had a great time looking and window shopping and had lunch at a small mom and pop type restaurant. That afternoon we went back to the winery for a tour and a tasting. First, the tour where they took us into the winery itself and told us all the steps, showing us the machines that took you from grapes all the way to the bottling and labeling process. Afterwards, we had a wine tasting where you get to taste 12 different wines and then keep your glass. This is the wine tasting room.
We decided that the wine we chose the night before was still our very favorite. That evening we went to a free concert under the stars of a local band and then had a late dinner at a Mexican restaurant. This is a random pic Steve took of me. LOL

Sunday, we had breakfast and washed the towels and sheets we used while at the cabin. Then we scouted more antique shops for roosters. The friend who owns the cabin collects roosters. Her whole kitchen is done in rustic rooster stuff. We found a few things and bought them to thank her for allowing us to use the cabin. It'll be a surprise to her when she goes up there next weekend. We left there in the afternoon and had dinner on the way home. Got home about 7:30 and relaxed.

It was really so wonderful and romantic and lovely.

Here's to the next 25!!!

See ya next time! :o)

Skater Boy

Here's Michael, skate fanatic!! Enjoy!

random compilation


See ya next time! :o)

Meeting Karen Kingsbury

I wrote this in September of 2008 and wanted to share here on Chaffy's World. I went to an Extraordinary Women Conference in Lynchburg, VA with my mom and wrote this when I got back. It was awesome!

I had SUCH a wonderful time!!!! The speakers were so uplifting and terrific. The music was beautiful and spiritual and rockin! I got to meet and hug Karen and tell her characters were so real that I have actually caught myself praying for them in church and I then remember that they aren't actual people! She laughed and when she did her speech she mentioned what I said to her! That she was so flattered by some of the compliments she gets and mentioned a few and one of them was MINE! And I got to tell her that my friends on the Pod loved her and asked if she would autograph and hold this sign that I made:



The singers included Charles Billingsly who was sooooo good and fun! I was online to have my picture taken with him but he ran out of time and had to get back on stage so I waited at the edge of the stage while he was getting up there and then called to him and said, "Strike a pose for me??" He said, "SURE!" LOL



Richie McDonald, who used to sing with Lone Star, sang too. I actually didn't think I knew any of his music because I'm not a big country music fan, but I knew "I'm Already There"



And Mandisa from American Idol sang and she was AWESOME!!!!!! Did a whole medley of old school soul, Aretha, Gladys Knight, Diana Ross, Whitney Houston, Tina Turner..we were ROCKIN out!! 8000 women standing and dancing and singing, "I'm Every Woman" "Respect" and all those great empowering songs by these great ladies. Just awesome!



And here's my souvenir. A Karen Kingsbury shirt...allow me to introduce, Chaffy Baxter!! Check it out, it even has a on it!!!!



It was a terrific two days and I'm exhausted but so happy!!!

See ya next time! :o)

Nine month NOPE-iversary!

I have been quit for 9 Months, 1 Day, 12 hours, 34 minutes and 53 seconds (277 days). I have saved $638.29 by not smoking 5,550 cigarettes. I have saved 2 Weeks, 5 Days, 6 hours and 30 minutes of my life. My Quit Date: 5/25/2008 7:00 AM

Oh yeah!!! Nine months smoke free!!! Look at all my pretty butterflies!!




See ya next time!! :o)