Wedding Bells Were Ringing......!

Last week I traveled to Orlando to be a part of a very special event in our family ~ the wedding of my brother's middle son, Mark....to Miss Dana Boswell! I wouldn't have missed it for the world and enjoyed the entire week as we visited Disney World (see photos below this posting), helped with wedding preparations, enjoyed a family lunch at Cracker Barrel the day after the wedding, and even visited Datona Beach before returning to snowy Denver! Now I present to you......MARK & DANA!

As we arrived to help with wedding preparations
we found Mark & Dana,
"the almost Newlyweds",
sitting at the gate waiting for us!
They will be living in a house near
his place of work - Lucas Nursery and Butterfly Reserve.

THE WEDDING DAY:

Lynda bestows her blessing
and one last kiss!

The Groom and The Dad getting ready!

The Guest favors - a lily to plant
to remember Mark & Dana
on this Special Day!

The Ceremony

Deacon (Melissa's son) as Ring Bearer



The Ceremony took place in the front yard
of Mark & Dana's home.


Mark & Dana planted a Magnolia Tree
to commemorate their vows.


The Prayer Circle
Noy had everyone join hands and pray for
the new couple at the end of the ceremony.


The Newlyweds and family.

The Cake




A "Dora" Pinata for the children!

Mark's Family:
Ann, Noy iii & Bella, Dawn & Maiza,
Noy & Lynda,
MARK & DANA SPARKS,
Jan & Rick Hellewell
(Lynda's parents),
Deacon, Maddie, Melissa, Jim & Sophia.

Noy's parents, Ruby & Leon Sparks,
were unable to travel from Texas to attend
...but sent their Best Wishes
and Prayers to the Newlyweds!



The Groom...and The Director!

The Three Musketeers!

Melissa & Mark

DANA'S FAMILY:

Aunt Renee (left) and Dana's
mother, Denise (right).

Dana's brother, Kevin, his wife, Piper,
and the Flower Girl, Calley.

Dana's father, Barry, and his wife, Kim.

Mark's wonderful boss and owner of Lucas Nursery,
Mrs. Lucas.

Stealing a Kiss!

It's OFFICIAL!!!
MR. & MRS. MARK ALLEN SPARKS

Following a Honeymoon in Key West
the couple will reside in Oviedo, Florida.

Spring Sprang

We have been enjoying such lovely weather here in Denver....70 degrees during the day...people in shorts & flip flops....and THEN we awoke to this sight outside our bedroom window this week:

That was yesterday....today is sunny and bright, but this afternoon---as the sun was shining---it started snowing again in huge, fluffy flakes!
Welcome to Denver!!! At least this is better than the flourescent yellow pollen that's covering all of Atlanta right now! Our snow will be melted by tomorrow (the streets were never affected)....but your pollen will......(cough, cough)........last.......(gag, sneeze)........for weeks and weeks!!!
Happy spring!

Disney with the Family~

I flew to Orlando to attend/assist with my nephew, Mark's, wedding....but we made it a family "vacation" by going to Disney World with my niece, Melissa, and nephew, Noy iii, and their families. Enjoy the sights.....and wedding pictures will come next!

Bella
(Noy & Dawn's youngest)

(just to prove that I was really there!)

Deacon
(Melissa's oldest)

Deacon & Maddie

Dawn & Bella

Jim, Melissa, Deacon, Maddie and
new baby, Sophia

(is that Ann as MiniMouse?)

At Dusk the castle turns pink!

Maiza
(Noy iii's oldest)

Sophia

Maddie
(Madeline Olivia)

(L-R) Deacon, Melissa, Sophia, Noy iii, Maiza,
Dawn & Bella

The Thank You Hall of Fame

Okay...it's past time for me to post the "thank you" list from our recent move. I've been in Denver a week and 2 days now....and just unpacked my suitcase tonight. (I had to dig thru boxes to find COAT HANGERS!) Tiffany's house is stuffed with all of our furniture, and the basement is a "maze" of boxes. The driveway and street are lined with cars (five in all), and the neighbors are wondering how long this "party" is going to last!

Let me begin with a big HUG and a "thank you" collectively to everyone who has been a part of this long prepartion for moving to Colorado. It started many months ago...in fact, it took five months to sell our house, one month to pack, and four days to get here! THANK YOU all for your prayers and elbow grease!

.....my "Birthday Gurlz" who have been my constant companions and encouragement for over 16 years! We have prayed together, wept together, and PARTIED TOGETHER making many, many memories that will last a lifetime! They gave me a wonderful "Going Away" surprise party! Gurlz, take a bow~



Next, I want to Thank my dear friend, Margo, for opening her home and letting me invade she and "Ilsa" (her dauchsund!) for an entire MONTH! What a brave and patient woman! Margo....are we still on speaking terms?? :) I know Ilsa still loves me!









BARBARA WELCH....you were the first to call and say, "I'm coming over to help you pack!" You didn't even ASK, you just announced! And how much I appreciated your help packing 18 BOXES of my china!!! Whew!...but the laughter made the hours fly by and it jump-started the whole moving process!
Barb is a writer (she's ready to publish her first book!) and has allowed me to read the first couple of chapters! I wonder if I'll ever be in one of her furture books?




Carol, Melissa, Amanda & Beth Ann....you were WONDERFUL to come and spend an entire Saturdy afternoon organizing and packing...and especially laughing at all the silly "keepsakes" I made you look at and vote on which ones to finally send to the garbage!




And last, but not least.....Linda Cochran and Pat Page....my crazy "sis-tahs"....who came time and again, never complaining....packing, watching "24", packing, and packing, and packing! I would NEVER have gotten it done without you!!!!!!!





Linda and her sons, Jamie and Joel, helped many, many times! THANK YOU GUYS!!!!




Thank you....ALL of you....
Especially those who called to say you were praying for us. (you know who you are!)
The Lord knows who you are and has a promise for you in His Word:

"For God is not unjust so as to forget your work and the love which you have shown toward His name, in having ministered and in still ministering to the saints."

I Love You All~