Wedding Bells

Welcome to the family Alex Corder!  

So, when Alex posted on FaceBook or Instagram "Jamaica with my beautiful wife." or something along those lines, it kind of threw me for a loop!  Oh wow, he is married too!  (Weddings are mostly about the brides, right?)

Then, the other day my mom sent a group text "How is your husband?"  I automatically thought about mine.  Then I realized "Hey, we BOTH have husbands now."  It has been great thinking about it all!

The pictures are in no particular order because I have copied them from others who have taken the pictures! I have a bunch more that I need to go through and will post more soon.  Hopefully.

It was a rainy day and it was an outdoor wedding.  But, very wisely, my sister made the decision to have the reception inside.  But, still wanted to get married outside.  We braved the drizzle and it was beautiful and so special. I actually felt it made it more intimate.

The preacher did an awesome job in reminding me that marriage isn't about ourselves but about our spouses. And most importantly about Jesus.  It was a really great reminder for me.  And an awesome beginning to marriage.

The photographer was phenomenal.  Hubby was wondering if she would hang off a tree just to be able to get the picture exactly right!

I think this First Look is kind of new.  And, of course, it takes me awhile to get with change.  But, after watching them, although I am not sure we were suppose to, I get it.  So sweet to enjoy each others company before the ceremony.  Who said the groom can't see the bride before the wedding anyway??

Birthday girl!  Nature Girl is fourteen and so, so sweet to share her day with her favorite aunt!  Sissy did a great job in making sure she wasn't over looked.  She was sang to twice.  Once in the dressing room and then once at the reception.  A great birthday cupcake.

I loved getting all dressed up.  Hubby had the option to wear a suit instead of a tux but I insisted on the tux. He hasn't worn one since our wedding! We had a great time!

Mr. and Mrs. Corder!  Such a handsome couple! Love them to pieces.

Yay!!  Love their smiles!

My hubby had the honor of walking her down the aisle and giving her away.  Two of my favorite peeps!

Had to have a family photo with us all looking so good.  Hubby gave Sissy away, I was a bridesmaid, big girls Junior Bridesmaids, EG flower girl and Boop ring bearer.  I loved that we could all be a part of her big day.

Rehearsal dinner the night before.  

Crazy that it was too weeks ago. . . 

Homemade Laundry Detergent

There have been a lot of really great things going on in our house this past month.  Celebrating Easter and the marriage of my sister.  And I will get to all those great things but I just had to post about my homemade laundry detergent because I love it! And it is a short post!

About two years ago I got a wild hair to make my own detergent.  I heard it was good and super easy to make and really, really cheap.  I got the ingredients and put it all together.  We were all a little skeptical because I am a big Tide fan and I am fanatical about laundry.

It worked like a charm.  The only downside was that if there is a navy or dark colored cotton t-shirt (Boop and Daddy) and greasy hands get wiped on them, it had to be pretreated with a little bit of Dawn dish soap.  No biggie.  With high efficiency washers this detergent is perfect because there are very few suds.

Well, these past few months we have been so busy that when we ran out of our homemade detergent (lasted like 7 mos for roughly $10.00) we (meaning Little Mama) just didn't have time to make more.  So, one of my goals when we weren't doing school was to make more detergent.  This time I have added lemon and Thieves essential oils.  And I am soooo glad we have it back!  The clothes aren't musty smelling and the savings is fabulous!

Score one for happy homemaking . . .

Week Three and Four (and Five)

If there has been a resounding theme for weeks three, four and now five it has definitely been relationships, relationships, relationships.  There is nothing more important than my relationship with Jesus, my relationships with my husband and my family and my relationships with friends and acquaintances.

Our life doesn't always reflect that.  In fact, we spend a lot of time just checking boxes.  Trying to get things done.  I think one of the things that I know I definitely need to change is to slow down and really experience each day to its fullest.  No matter what that day looks like.

One thing I am going to try to do at night is write down my activities for the next day.  And then take time to pray over them during my morning quiet time.  Remembering that God can send my way something totally not on my to-do list.  That no matter what is going on, right at that moment, that is exactly where God wants me to be.  Whether it is struggling through a Math lesson and making the thousandth peanut butter and jelly sandwich.

When there is choice between Math and a relationship, the relationship needs to win out.  At the end of the day, life isn't about Math, Science, History etc. (although they are important parts) but it is about people.  Loving people, serving people, sharing the love of Christ with people.  That is what is truly important. . .

"But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteous, and all these things shall be added to you."  Matthew 6:33