50 years...

this past Easter weekend was definitely an eventful one.

Easter is always memorable.

first and foremost, that our Lord and Saviour gave His life & received the punishment meant for us,  AND that He rose from the dead so the we might have life eternal!
we remember this all year, but this season, it's our central focus in worship & celebration.

second, i think of 'new life' in the changing of the season...spring~YAY!
we hear the bird's (& frogs~quite loudly i might add) singing their chorus.
we see the flowers coming up in the gardens & lawns becoming green again.
we smell the sweet spring air.
we feel the warmth of the sun on the earth, revitalizing the trees and encouraging the buds & leaves to burst forth, so soon we can taste the fruits they bear!
from year to year our God is faithful!

but this Easter weekend we celebrated God's faithfulness in yet another way!!
my in~law's were blessed with 50 years of marriage!

the day...April 18, 1964.
they were to be married before the field work began and the gardens to be planted!

very early, on Good Friday, my b-i-l & s-i-l put this sign on their front lawn.
my in~law's live right next door to church, so everyone coming for worship that morning would see the sign!

the school gym hall was rented, so we need to decorate!

thursday night was set~up.

we put up curtains & lights...

 checked the piano for sound...

 we were interrupted by the fire fighters who were using the parking lot for a training session...

friday night was finishing details...

  counted the dishes for the 80+ people for the dinner...

put up the gazillion pictures on the giant #50 on the back wall...
                                 

 & then more pictures...

 tested the sound system...

 brainstorming last minute details....

the day of the big party...
saturday afternoon.

since everyone all but one was here, it only made sense for family photos to mark this special day...

{thank you elma! check out her blog in the side bar or click on her name here}

the gorgeous hydrangea blooms..
thankfully we had extras to swap out the wilting ones from the day before!

the dinner...

socializing...
it was so nice to see soooo many people!
family & friends from church & school community came from near & far to share in the celebration!

the entertainers...

the grand kids made a skit of their memories of opa & oma  in their growing up years...

it became a bit of a 'roast' for my m~i~l...it's a good thing she's easy going with a great sense of humor!

 another memory told by my s.i.l...

we sang as a family for them...

then we had food.
a lot more food.

i made this pallet art for them, on behalf of the family.
my first attempt at a hand painted sign...i would normally do vinyl lettering instead of painted.
but by painting it i could also distress it to my liking.

the bottom board is their wedding text

all in all, the day was a joyful occasion, despite a few glitches in the 11th hour and all who attended said they were happy to share in this special event.
we praise & thank God for the 50 years He has graciously given them and the blessing they have been to us, their children.

congratulations dad & mom and may God grant you many more happy years together!