Wedding Planning

We have 25 days until we say “I do” and I can hardly wait.  I am going to marry a wonderful man and I know God will bless our life together and in turn, we hope to bless others.  We decided to go very low key with our wedding and I am so glad we made that decision.  When you are twenty-something and getting married for the first time, I understand why brides want to have their big day, but when you are thirty-something (or barely forty in my case), and you have been married before, it seems a little silly to have a big event and blow a lot of money unnecessarily. 

We will get married on October 20th at 6 in the evening at Jason’s parent’s home (backyard to be exact) in Salado, Texas.  Alex Alexander, a long-time friend of the Yearty family will marry us with our immediate families present.  We will celebrate after the ceremony with a delicious catered meal from Pok-e-Jos, yummy wedding cake,  and spending time with our incredible family.  We have a romantic honeymoon get-away planned at Lake Travis Resort for Saturday night after the festivities are over.  We laughed about what will happen Sunday and basically we will pick the kids up and head back to Flint to get ready for work and school the next day.  Now, that is real life!  However, our real honeymoon will take place next May when we join Kit & Betty and Jonathan & Bethany on a trip to Hawaii for 10 amazing days.  Once we get through the wedding, Thanksgiving and Christmas, we will really start focusing on this fabulous trip and all we will enjoy while we are there.

Hospice of East Texas Courtyard Dedication

I blogged a few months ago about a donation that was made by our Dad and Engineering, Procurement & Construction, Inc. to Hospice of East Texas in memory of his business partner, Charles’, late wife, Donna Lassiter.  Just yesterday, the family was finally all able to get together for the dedication of the courtyard.

We gathered around 1 p.m., a couple of Hospice staff spoke some words about the generosity of the donation and the enjoyment of the courtyard and fountain by many staff, visitors and residents of the facility.  We enjoyed a visit to the courtyard, a prayer by the chaplain, some refreshments, and visiting with family and old friends.

Dad and Charles

Donna’s (and Charles’) family under the pergola in the Courtyard (hence all the shadows all over everyone!)

The plaque and fountain

Mama and Daddy in the Courtyard

Kim (one of Donna’s daughters) and her mother-in-law

Charles with his newest grandson

Belinda (Donna’s other daughter) and her “baby” boy

After the dedication, Mama, Daddy and I enjoyed some time visiting with Maureen, one of the residents at Hospice, and her sweet family.  She is a friend of my parents, and her oldest son also works at EPC.  She is a beautiful woman inside and out and she is surrounded by her family and friends in her last days at “home” at Hospice.  What an incredible facility this is and how it touches so many, including Donna’s family and now Maureen’s family.  I am so glad I got to know Maureen, and be blessed by her sweet spirit, even if for just a short time.  I learned yesterday (and enjoyed pictures too) that Maureen has 35 family members in her immediate family (6 children who all have families, and even 2 great grandchildren) and her legacy will live on in them.

Birthday Weekend

Jane E stole one of my blogs this weekend so I thought I would steal one of hers right back!

Happy Birthday Brent Blog

Love

I love the way The Message (MSG) translates some verses in the Bible.  Here is some of the “Love” chapter from 1 Corinthians 13.  When I read this, I also realized that the first three verses are spoken (not in the lyrics but actually spoken in the song) in For King and Country’s top Christian hit, “The Proof of Your Love”.

The Way of Love

If I speak with human eloquence and angelic ecstasy but don’t love, I’m nothing but the creaking of a rusty gate.

If I speak God’s Word with power, revealing all his mysteries and making everything plain as day, and if I have faith that says to a mountain, “Jump,” and it jumps, but I don’t love, I’m nothing.

If I give everything I own to the poor and even go to the stake to be burned as a martyr, but I don’t love, I’ve gotten nowhere. So, no matter what I say, what I believe, and what I do, I’m bankrupt without love.

Love never gives up.
Love cares more for others than for self.
Love doesn’t want what it doesn’t have.
Love doesn’t strut,
Doesn’t have a swelled head,
Doesn’t force itself on others,
Isn’t always “me first,”
Doesn’t fly off the handle,
Doesn’t keep score of the sins of others,
Doesn’t revel when others grovel,
Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth,
Puts up with anything,
Trusts God always,
Always looks for the best,
Never looks back,
But keeps going to the end.

Wow!  What a wonderful message of how we should love one another.  Just had to share.

Race Memories

It is always fun to look at where you have been and how far you have come.  Jane E and I have our next race coming up on October 7th in Tyler – back where it all began – at the Tyler Rose Half Marathon.  We started doing these crazy half marathons (and other races) regularly about 3 years ago, when Hutch was only 4 months old and we haven’t stopped yet (and have no plans to stop any time soon).

First Half, Tyler Rose (at UTT), October 2009

First (and Only, So Far) Full, Livestrong Austin, February 2010

Before the Race

Finishing 26.2 Miles Together (5 hours and 18 minutes later)

Tyler Rose (Downtown), October 2010

White Rock Dallas, December 2010

Austin Livestrong Half, February 2011

Moe’s Better Half, San Marcos, March 2011

Post Race, Moes’ Better Half with New Friend, Lolly

Zooma Half Marathon, April 2011

Bruno’s Pre-Party, Tyler Rose, October 2011

Tyler Rose (Rose Garden), October 2011

Austin Livestrong Half, February 2012

Tyler Azalea 10k, March 2012

Five and Dime 10-miler, Dallas, May 2012

We will be joined for the half this time by Kit (Jason’s Dad) and a couple of friends who will be running the 5k and the half.  A basketball conflict has knocked Jason out of his full marathon race, which may be a blessing in disguise.  He has been having foot problems and since he is now a Division III and Division II official (congratulations babe!) he needs to let his foot rest and heal and needs to focus on the upcoming basketball season.

Bring on another half marathon – we are ready (sort of!)  Well, we are at least ready for another pizza/pasta party, time with friends and family, and burning 1,500+ calories so we can eat some more!  We will definitely finish, get a medal, and hopefully no one will get sick this year (the stomach bug hit Tyler Rose 2011 and it was not pretty).

Birthday Sibs

Brent and Jane E both have birthdays in September.  As Mama tells the story, she and Brent came home from the hospital on Jane E’s second birthday (obviously hospital stays have decreased for babies’ births since that time since they kick you out after barely hitting 24 hours!) and she had to share her birthday with a new little brother.  I don't think she was too happy to have to do that way back then, but I don't think she minds so much now.  What a blessing both of my siblings have been to our family and many others.

The Jasper clan will all be together this weekend (minus Les due to golf tournament preparations) to celebrate birthdays.  We had a few family birthdays after mine in August (Kit 8/9, Jason 8/11, Dad 8/17, Cody 8/28) and now Brent and Jane E will celebrate #36 and #38 respectively in the next day/week.  Since we will all be together, it is highly doubtful that I will have much time to blog, so I am wishing them both happy birthday on my blog today and then we will celebrate all weekend and I will report on the activities with more blogging and pictures.

Happy birthday to the best brother and sister EVER!  Love you both!

Jane E – best friend, running buddy, multi-tasker, wonderful Mommy, loving friend, caring, compassionate, heart of gold, dog-lover, hilarious, and always keeping it interesting

Brent – disciplined, hard-worker, beer connoisseur, freckle-faced, Uncle six flags, super organized, great cook, loyal friend, and always makes us laugh with his dry wit

Wedding Plans

Jason and I were originally planning on getting married in a small family ceremony at his parent’s home in Salado in December, but after much thought and prayer, we have officially moved our wedding date up to October 20th.  We are so excited about getting married and feel very prepared and ready for this chapter in our lives.  We just have a lot to do between now and then to get ready – even for a small family ceremony.

Of course, I have my handy spreadsheet (don’t laugh, Jason) and thankfully we have wonderful families that are going to be helping, so let’s get busy and let the countdown to October 20th begin!

36 days and counting…and very happy!

Rhode Island

Did you know Rhode Island is the smallest of the 50 states?  Did you know the capital is Providence?  Did you know the state flower is the blue violet, the state bird is the red chicken, and the state tree is the red maple?  Neither did I until this past weekend when Ashley worked on her state project/presentation for class.  She has been so excited all week for Thursday to arrive so she could present her project to her class.  She was beaming this morning as she walked into school with her poster that she (I mean we) worked on with such interest and enthusiasm this weekend.  I can’t believe she was excited about getting up in front of the close to talk about Rhode Island – funny girl!  She loved it, couldn’t wait to do her presentation again for after-school, and aced it with a 100!

School Days

I enjoyed Jane E’s first day of school blog so much that I went looking for pictures of Ashley’s “first days” and enjoyed the trip down memory lane.  I thought I would copy and do my own.  Here it goes!

Pre-K, Mrs. Moon, Princeton Elementary

The backpack was as big as she was!

Kindergarten, Mrs. Saucier, T.L. Rodes Elementary

She wanted to ride the big yellow bus (sniff, sniff)…

1st Grade, Miss Kendrick, Providence Classical Academy

1st Grade, Mrs. Crawford, Grace Community School (switched schools in January 2012). She was so excited because “no more uniforms”!

Ashley Ryann, class of 2023.  2nd grade, Mrs. Brandt, GCS.  She is growing up way too fast!