Lovely Love

Love. What it is, where it is to be found, how we love, who we love, when we love, celebrating love . . . love has been the hot topic of conversation around our home for the last few months. With an adoption, many new friendships and cherished older ones, a courtship which has now matured into an engagement, Daniel and Kendra's third anniversary, and Mom and Dad's twenty-fifth all happening this year, God's Word, in all of it's wisdom, has become more and more precious as we endeavor to learn how to truly love each other as families, couples, sibilings, or friends.



"Time is:
Too slow for those who wait
Too swift for those who fear
Too long for those who grieve
Too short for those who rejoice
But for those who love,
Time is not."

~Henry Van Dyke


And now . . . for the post about last weekends festivities!


Jacob starts the weekend with a horseback ride. A boy after my own heart. :-)


Jenny and Max decide to start theirs with a little music. (Max is sitting at the piano in this picture) Another great way to start off the weekend.


Daniel, Kendra, Jaelynn, and Olivia arrived Friday night to spend Mom and Dad's anniversary weekend with us. Olivia was soon claimed by Grampa who, like the rest of us, was charmed by her every coo. Aunt Jayni and Uncle Jacob enjoyed her smiles also.

Saturday morning, Simon and I took off early to meet some puppy customers at the bottom of the grapevine. One showed up, one didn't, due to miscommunication. After completing the 'adoption services', we headed for home. Upon arriving home, eating some delicious veggie soup, I received a call from another puppy customer, received them in a few hours, sold the pup, then hurried to get ready for the evening! Simon, pictured above, was our chauffeur, as we all packed into the van. Dad and Mom treated us to fine dining at the Vintage Press in Visalia. Fine conversation complemented the fine dining, as we all questioned Mom and Dad about life, marriage, and love. It was an encouraging, enriching time together as we celebrated the love that has matured into full bloom through twenty-five years.



No more bucket seats for this couple!

Over the hill and through the groves we go!



The Vintage Press

Our WHOLE family!! (Well, almost) ;-)


The honored couple



Ordering is always a challenge. Which delicious dish to choose?

Jayni was all smiles


My handsome brother and his adorable baby. She was a perfect angel the entire evening. What a joy to be all together!





After dinner, we all zoomed home for another celebration. Max's birthday! Thanks to Jenny's expert baking skills and Max's generosity in sharing, we enjoyed a festive, scrumptious dessert. Fresh apple pie and Breyer's vanilla ice cream! Whoa . . . a little too much heat for the ice cream going here eh Max?


Woosh! Happy 22nd Max!


There were happy couples everywhere you looked!




Carefully made cards from the Littles,

And presents! With lots of help to open them. :-)


Enjoying some great family time.


Ha! Can anyone guess what this is? Or what it is a result of?



I love you Mom and Dad! Happy, happy 25th!







As soon as the wrapping paper was somewhat cleared away, and dessert eaten, Dad led Mom up to the front of the room and in the sight of all renewed his vows to cherish, love, and protect her the rest of their married life. It was an tear-filled, memory making, precious evening.

Carmel, California! One of the most enchanting places to visit in the Southern part of the state. This is where Mom and Dad spent their 25th anniversary together.



With the proposal and anniversaries we've been celebrating, the beach seems to be the romantic place of choice for the Parish clan this year. :-)