You are invited!

The wedding invitations are in! Rebekka and Roy did a wonderful job of designing them and picking out the colors and all! I just love them! We do have a bit of work to do to complete all the information for you (the inserts like maps to the church and reception, accommodations, etc), and complete all the addressing, but rest assured that yours will be arriving on time! We do have just under 3 months now, so we have got to kick into a higher gear.

Bekka [my Bekka Jaye, not to be confused with Becca, Roy's sister(that's Bekka's Roy Anthony, not Roy, Roy Anthony's father)boy, it's a good thing that Roy and Rebekka found each other because otherwise, we never would have had a chance to talk about this extraordinary coincidence, AND they are both LEFT-HANDED, TOO!], anyway, Bekka, Mindee, and myself hit the pavement hard today, running errands, getting a few more things checked off the "TO-DO" list. I don't think I could even give you a list of the places we went, there were so many, but we did have the pleasure of starting off at Celebrations with Mammaw (my Mom), for her fitting for her dress for the wedding. It's really beautiful on her! It will really be a memorable evening for all of us!

So, as we proceeded to complete our mission, Mindee laughed every time I would say "CHECK," meaning that's another thing off the list. It really just saves something from needing to be done at the last minute...

I am sure that there will be last minute things, but as our wedding coordinator at church reminded me last Sunday, "Karon, don't worry, if one little thing doesn't get done, no one will know." And she's right.

It's just the big things that I think about.

You Never Have to Have An Excuse to go Shopping!

With October 23rd getting ever so close, Bekka and I know that we must work on completing her trousseau. So, that qualifies as a HUGE reason to go shopping, don't you think?

So, with help from her MOH (and sister), Mindee Rae, we headed off to the Creekside Center and Gruene, looking for a "going away" outfit and a few other items for the honeymoon and the engagement period. Just so much to plan for, clotheswise, that is.

We were so fortunate to have some good instinctive turns during our shopping that took us to the right spot to find the perfect ensembles. Now, just to accessorize!

Let's PAR-TAY!!!!

What a thrill--and what a great party at Roy's Godparents' Val and Mary Garza's home on Saturday, July 3rd. There were people everywhere, great food everywhere, great decorations everywhere, and one of the best cakes I have ever eaten there, too! Val was really busy grilling the most tender ka-bobs I have tasted in quite a while, and Mary had set the sides to feed royalty!

All of the guests were meeting and greeting each other...it seemed like the two clans just melded into one! It's amazing how quickly our families have come together! We just love each other! I think that we have so much alike. We have always had big family gatherings, well maybe not 700, but we are very close and usually have a crowd for most meals, and holidays are big, which I am sure are for the Guzmans also.

Mary and Val's home is beautiful and their yard is perfect for entertaining! AND THE WEATHER WAS PERFECT!!! That was incredible, considering the weeks before had been quite wet with very unpredicatble conditions everyday. We were all concerned for Roy/Tony.

Praise the Lord for a dry day, and a wonderful party. Thank you to all who came. So many came from a long distance to share the time, and we thank you ever so much. The happy couple will not forget this wonderful time with everyone and the wonderful hosts.

3 MONTHS, 3 WEEKS, 3 DAYS TO GO!!!

Can it be that we are only 3 months, 3 weeks, 3 days away from the BIG DAY???? My, time's fun when you're having flies!!! At least, that's what I always used to say!

It is a good thing that Bekka and I went shopping yesterday! Of course, we use any excurse (no, that's not a misspelled word, according to Weldon) to go shopping. We had to continue to work on her trousseau. We had already found some wonderful pieces, but still needed some very important items, so off we went.

We had shopped the day before with Roy, when our happy couple registered at KOHLS, and they really found some wonderful things, so don't forget that when you start shopping! When we were there, Bekka found a coupla cute dresses, so we scooped them up on a great deal. Roy liked them, so it was neat that they were together. Roy even found a great shirt that he liked, so everyone went away happy. Weldon would be glad that I didn't buy anything for myself, but just you wait...

Then on Monday, Bekka and I hit the Forum, mainly to see what Old Navy had that might work for Disney World. We did find some really cute things and Bekka was really happy.

Then on to Rolling Oaks, and to Dillards for some great outfits. Shoes were definitely on the list. Now, Bekka shops for shoes by circling and circling. I just can't do that. Finally, when I had an idea of what she even wanted, I grabbed a coupla pairs of what I thought she wanted, sat her down, and asked the sales lady to bring her size in these two sandals or anything resembling them. Meanwhile, I was watching a cute little older lady shop in exactly the opposite way Bekka was. She sat down, and the clerk just brought shoes to her. Notice in the picture...there are twenty or more boxes of shoes around her!

I was getting slower and slower, so we knew that the trip was getting to the end. We did find a coupla pair of shoes for Bekka and then headed down stairs, and there was VS, Victoria's Secret, on the LAST day of their Semi-annual Sale! Bekka found some unmentionable things, and we were elated with the prices!

Now, one more errand and we'll be done...to Hallmark, and we're outta here, which is perfect timing, because there is Roy on the phone...and I drop Bekka off to meet him at their Monday night at the Piano Bar (Chris is there on Monday nights). Whew...that's really getting things done with 3 MONTHS, 3 WEEKS, AND 3 DAYS to go!!!

Roy and Bekka's Cherub

Just in case you don't know the story of how Roy and Rebekka met, I would like to let you hear how precious it is...

Adriana and Jim Conn, are our neighbors on Guada Coma, and moved there when Adriana was pregnant with Sophia. Our families became entwined when Pappaw and Pepper on their daily walks would stop and visit with Jim and Sophia. As we all met, and grew closer, our families just became so close. We shared holidays and birthdays together. Jim's family was up north, so we sort of became a surrogate family to him. It has been wonderful, and we still enjoy a beautiful relationship today.

Well, Adriana and Jim have shared Sophia's childhood with us, and we have watched a super intelligent, gorgeous little girl grow up so fast. And then came the news, when she was 8 years old, that she was going to be a big sister! Yes! We were all shocked, but excited! Sophia was guided carefully though the pregnancy so that she would be accepting and happy with the new arrival, and then when she found out that she was going to have a baby sister, oh wow!

We just had to have a shower (couples) for Adriana, and as the due date quickly approached, we found ourselves hurrying to set the date. So, Bekka, Mindee, Sherry, and myself got to go to the Party Store, and shop for a cradle. Arrangements for the huge crowd had to be changed to Natural Bridge Caverns just to accommodate the numbers. But, we felt this would be perfect. It's just such a nice place to have a party.

Adriana gave us the guest list and the party was held with a huge turnout...a great success! Adriana, who really needed everything, since Sophia was 8, and here she was having a brand new baby, so she was really blessed with beautiful gifts, and everything she needed.

While the party was going on, we were busy serving cake, punch, helping with the gifts, etc, etc, etc, and where was Bekka? No one could find her! Well, she was sitting at a table there in the visitors center talking with ROY! Roy had been invited to the party because he and Adriana had been in college together at Incarnate Word. And they talked incessantly for hours during the shower!

The next week, Roy called Adriana and asked, "Do you think Bekka would be interested in going out?" Adriana said she thought that Bekka would really enjoy his company, knowing Roy from his college years, and having kept in close touch with him ever since. He had moved to New Braunfels in 2002 and worked in business, loving the city, and becoming involved in church and service to the community.

So, in essence, Charli is the whole reason that the two of them met. She brought Bekka and Roy together. Her life had meaning before it even began, as God had a purpose for her even as she moved in her mother's womb. What a blessed child! We all love her so much!

And now we will have Charli come down the aisle as a little cherub and then we will enjoy a big party at Natural Bridge Caverns together after the wedding! It's perfect!

Flying South to Pleasanton

Monday, the 7th of June, Roy took off at noon and grabbed his bride, his future mother-in-law (does that sound scary?), and Mammaw (that NEVER sounds scary), and heads with these three women in the car (for him, that may be very scary, even though he would never say so) south to Pleasanton, his home town. His Mom, Terri, is taking us SHOPPING!

Actually, the bride and groom are going to register at Nest Feathers and Sisters, two stores that are absolutely wonderful, just like our old China and Things and Denson and Dedeke's. These stores have the things that you just can't find anywhere else, the treasures that you will love having in your home. And that's just it, these are the items, that make your house a home!

First off, Terri prepared a delicious meal for us in their lovely home (my first time there, although Mom (Mammaw) had been there, and of course, Bekka had been there many times). Roy (her Roy) had to go to work that afternoon, so he did not go shopping with us, but Roy (Bekka's Roy) was more than happy to go. And I can see why!!! The first shop, Nest Feathers, was just so cute! We spent forever there, and the kids had so much fun!!! They kept adding things to their list over and over until they were sure they had it all. And Mammaw had fun shopping there, too!

Then, across the street to Sisters, which is equally stocked with unusual items and specialties that you just don't find anywhere. And again, the kids were like in a candy store all over again! Roy was really having fun!!! And Bekka, too. Terri, Mammaw and I would just buzz around them and look at things, making a few suggestions at times. So, we could get excited, too, if we found something they liked!

The shopkeeppers teasingly turned the lights out on us and locked the doors behind us as we left, as we shopped til the last minute!!! They were very kind and gracious, wanting to help the kids find everything, and set up their "spot" with their engagement picture and all their selections. So neat! (See picture)

After supper together at Roy's aunt's restaurant (delicious!!!), we hurried back to Terri's right before a thunderstorm, and waited it out there, looking at wonderful family photos, before returning home at about 8:30. So, we filled up a whole day just since noon, but it was a FABULOUS day!

The Jog to Hobby Lobby

When the time comes that a bride must make decisions about her wedding reception, she MUST either have a designer wedding consultant to handle it all, or have a group of family and friends that is eager(?) to help her, thus save a ton of money (that would be us).

So, off WE go to Hobby Lobby, after talking about how many tables, what size, etc., etc., etc. WE, is Bekka (the bride), Mom (the MOB), Mindee (the MOH or SOB as I call her), and Paige (who is our official unofficial free wedding consultant/ coordinator and generally wonderful person.

We start shopping for the table decorations, and looked at vines, willows, flowers, vases, candles, and I can't say what all we found!!! It was so much fun !! Watch for the results at the reception...