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Saturday, May 3

2 pm

At the Upper Room on Queen Road

Gordonville, PA

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This was a new location for me – and about 45 minutes away – so I was glad for this sign when I arrived at the location, which was in a multi building business complex.

Then I went up an elevator and found another welcome sign.

This bridal shower was for our soon-to-be granddaughter-in-law, Nicole. This unique sign was from Ian’s mom Kristen.

The rooms in the Upper Room were beautifully decorated by Nicole, her bridal attendants, her family and Ian’s mom and sister.

There were several games, a box for recipes and another for helpful ideas.

There was a paper for us to guess the age of Nicole in a variety of pictures.

Gifts of candy for each guest.

A pretty set up.

Nicole’s Grandma Myer opened the program with a short message of encouragement. I was especially blessed when she reminded Nicole about the time she met Ian in an online connection.

I was impressed that Nicole went to her Grandpa and Grandma Myer to ask them for their advice and prayers concerning meeting Ian in person. They found him on Facebook and discovered that Ian was part of our family. They told her to go for it!

We have known Dave and Carolyn Myer for a long time but rarely see them anymore. We stay in touch on Facebook. Dave is a minister and grew up in our church congregation. I have known him since he was a baby.

I remember praying for Nicole when I was teaching a Bible study for Carolyn many years ago. Carolyn and I think it was when Nicole was born.

We are pleased that Nicole was raised in a loving Christian family.

Listening to Carolyn

Yeira (who is marrying Ian’s brother Jared), Jana (Ian’s sister) and our daughter Deb in the foreground. There are aunts and cousins of Nicole in the background.

Carolyn closed by playing a light-hearted love song.

I was next, and thanked Carolyn for being a vital part of Nicole’s life and that I was honored to be sharing grandchildren with her and Dave.

My subject was, Always Take Out the Garbage.

I love the day our garbage truck comes to get our trash, but if they are going to take our garbage away, we have to take it to the end of our driveway. Trash collectors do not force their way into our house. If we don’t get rid of the garbage our house will soon stink and become infested with disease and bad odors

It is like that in life and marriage.

If we want the garbage removed from our life and marriage, we have to be willing to get rid of it and follow God’s plan for our lives.

God loves helping us get rid of selfish, angry garbage. However, if we don’t give our garbage to Him, our lives and marriage will soon stink and become infested with sinful, stinky habits.

Garbage in your life is things like anger, complaining, and selfishness. All the kind of things that eventually stink.

That is the reason God gave us this primary commandment that leaves no room for garbage in our lives. Love the Lord your God with all your heart with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the greatest and most important command.

The second is like it: Love your husband as yourself. Oh, I may have misquoted that slightly, but your husband is and will be the closest neighbor you ever have.

Following my challenge, I was asked to pray a blessing on the meal and over Nicole and Ian. I invited the mothers and Carolyn to place hands on Nicole and for the rest of the people to get in a semi-circle around her. Then prayed this blessing:

Lord, bless and keep Ian and Nicole. Smile down on them – show your kindness – answer prayers – give them peace. Give them courage, grace, healing, protection, patience victory, increase, and wisdom. Flood them with light to understand the incredible greatness of God’s power.

Give them personal revelations of Your reality and presence in their life – times when You make Yourself real to them.

In Jesus’ name, Amen

When I finished, I reminded Nicole, that our prayer of blessing is not going to prevent her and Ian from having problems. But I pray that your family’s continuing prayers will give them God’s strength and courage to deal with anything that comes their way.

Then it was time to eat from the beautiful delicacies that were spread out on a table in the next room.

Our table, Yeira, Jana and Deb

Nicole and a bridal attendant

We were filling out this “He Said, She Said” when Ian “crashed” the party with flowers for Nicole – to everyone’s delight, giggles, oohs and aahs. 🙂

Nicole was the most pleased.

We teased him that he had to present the flowers on his knees.

He was just in time for the “He Said, She Said” game. They had to answer quotes by putting his shoe or her shoe in the air. It looks like they agreed on this comment.

The comments were like this:

I said, “I love you” first.

I initiated the first kiss

I met the in-laws first

I am the funny one

It looks like the didn’t agree on this comment. Not sure what it was. I just took pictures. 🙂

I am the better cook

I am more patient

I am more organized

I take longer to get ready.

I am more romantic.

I was the first to bring up marriage

I am the better dancer

I wake up earlier

I am the bigger spender

I am more likely to be late

I will cry on the big day

Siblings: Jana and Ian

Time for presents

She read every card out loud.

Ian assisted by cutting the ribbon when it was too complicated to open.

Then it was time for a few posed pictures. Nicole with her grandma and mom.

Me, Ian, and Nicole

With Ian’s grandma and mom.

With the grandmas

The mothers and grandmothers

Nicole’s wedding attendants

The attendants plus a friend.

It was a delightful party.