Merry Christmas from The Farmers

Well, here we are at Christmas again. 

How did that happen? I see that I haven't written since July. My hope was to write every three months, I have been writing just not here. :) A good friend, Michele Bruxvoot, and I have joined together on a new blog page. Getting that going has kept most of my attention since the wedding. I think you will like it, so please take some time to visit when you have a chance. Mandy and Michele Just Keeping it Together! If you like what you see, click on that little blue bar on the bottom of the page and sign up for the weekly newsletter that will keep you in the know about what's happening on the blog.

OK, so ... What has been going on with you this year? 

Michael and I seem to spend most of the time visiting doctors. Oh! The joys of retirement. You retire and suddenly you are sick all the time. ugh! We've managed to get my pain under "control" or at least into some kind of new normal. The R.A. is in remission and the fibromyalgia is bearable as long as I don't go doing too much. We head down to Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville 3 or 4 times a year to get injections in my neck. My C1-C2 joint is deteriorated because of the R.A. Michael has been fighting various illnesses this year. We seem to be jumping from one thing to another. He had some melanoma removed, then he has "too much blood" so he goes and has some removed every 6 weeks or so.

Michael has been supplying at Savannah Harvest Church twice a month since the senior pastor got promoted to heaven. It was sad to lose Pastor Jim but the extra income has been a blessing for us. We are amazed at how God continues to provide our every need, month after month.

Wedding Bells

The biggest news and excitement for the Farmers this year was the beautiful wedding of our Mikaela to Ethan Grimes. This was "the other royal wedding". Married on the same day as Prince Harry and Meghan, Pastor Jim said that this marriage was indeed a royal wedding as both Mikaela and Ethan are children of the King of Kings.

Tina&Daniel, MikenMandy,Ethan&Mikaela, Brett, Brian

Mikaela's brothers were all, in their own special way, deeply involved in the ceremony. Nephew Austin and brother Brett were "Bride's Dudes". A little unorthodox but they are indeed her best friends so it was very appropriate. Brett did a lot of behind the scenes running, you know a go-pher. He didn't want to be running the sound so he made sure everything was in order for another to do it.

Brian helped with the ceremony and sang during the Rope Ceremony. I had never seen a rope ceremony but it was beautiful. It is based on the scripture "a cord of three strands is not easily broken". Ethan and Mikaela braided the three cords representing themselves and God this was instead of the traditional candle lighting. Awesome.

Speaking of the ropes, Daniel made a gorgeous plaque to hold the braid. It was displayed for the ceremony and is now in Ethan & Mikaela's home. Daniel and Tina have a little side business making some amazing wood furniture and walking sticks. So nice. Tina did her part for the wedding too. She was the wedding planner! Couldn't have made it all happen without her! Also, Tina has found two wonderful products that she is now selling online, Norwex (wonderful cleaning products) and Magnabilities (customizable jewelry).

Daniel is still "running things" over at Mock Plumbing where he designs and heads up the plumbing plans for institutional buildings. Recently, he has been helping with the new hospital going in here in Pooler... and many other things, even over in South Carolina. Daniel acquired food poisoning in October which brought attention to his high blood pressure. This was investigated and it was found that he had a kidney stone the size of a half dollar piece. The kidney was not really working at all so the decision was made to remove the entire kidney. That happened last week. He is resting at home now. Lots of pain but doing well and should be back to work soon after the holidays.

Our grandson, Austin (20) is still in MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) & Kickboxing. When not at the dojo, he can be found at the gym. He feels led to pursue a career in Physical Therapy. Currently, he is brushing up with some online classes before enrolling in college.

After the wedding, Brian moved to Minneapolis to consider a new line of work. He has friends there that put him up until this month when he found his own little place. For now, until he gets established he is doing quite well driving for Uber and delivering for Amazon. He's really loving it ..even the cold.

Brett has been promoted to store manager at a local sports shop. He's enjoying the change from Chick-Fil-A. And now hoping to move closer to town. The drive in is taking its toll on his car. (2 accidents this fall alone.)

He's also running the sound at church. Something he really enjoys doing.








Mikaela is still working at the bread shop around the corner from our house. That's nice because occasionally she drops in after work with a loaf of bread! Ethan keeps getting moved up at Fed Ex. He is impressing their socks off over there and they keep asking if he wants to make a career there. He is also working on his ordination as a youth pastor. He received his district license this summer a week or so after returning from their honeymoon in Gatlinburg. If you want to know more about their wedding and see more pictures, just click on this link.

That's about it for excitement here. Hope your holidays are joyous and the new year full of great expectations.

Mandy, Michael, and the gang

Remember to go by and check out Mandy's new blog at www.mandyandmichele.com/blog

Great-Grandblessings!

Oh, now we know that we are WAY TOO YOUNG to be great-grandparents but we do have a few that we claim through marriage. Daniel's Tina has two children from a previous marriage. They are adults and this year they gave us #5 and #6 great-grandblessings! Check these cuties out!

Cody & Lizz
with Lacie, Caiden, Livie,

Layla

Loran&Justin with Cooper

Sawyer born Nov 2018

The Wedding Day May 19,2018

At last! The day had finally arrived. May 19, 2018

He had been waiting for this day for some time now. Ethan, the young groom stood at the altar with his best man awaiting the arrival of his bride, our daughter, Mikaela. Tears of joy were already pooling in his eyes at just the thought because he loves her so.

The sanctuary was filled 

with friends and family from as far away as Nebraska, Kansas, and Texas. Some had driven over 5 hours that morning to be at this special event.

Best Friends

Ethan invited four of his best friends from High and College. Mikaela had asked her friends, as well, to come and stand with her. Though a very traditional girl, she had also asked her brother, Brett and her nephew, Austin to stand up for her because they were indeed her closest friends. Unfortunately, Austin became ill that morning and was not able to attend.

Grandparents and Mothers all had taken their seats and the bride and groom's wedding party was now in place. 

Music from Tangled, the Disney movie, began to play and his sister, Ericka, sweetly began to sing...

All those days watching from the windows

All those years outside looking in

All that time never even knowing

Just how blind I've been

Now I'm here blinking in the starlight

Now I'm here suddenly I see

Standing here it's all so clear

I'm where I'm meant to be

.

All at once, everything looks different

Now that I see you...

Ethan bowed his head and closed his eyes. He didn't want to see even a glimpse of his beautiful bride until she was standing in the doorway. We waited as the music continued. 

As one of the groomsmen, Mitch, sang out the second verse, the congregation stood and turned. Ethan lifted his head and opened his eyes.

Now she's here shining in the starlight

Now she's here suddenly I know

If she's here it's crystal clear

I'm where I'm meant to go

And at last, I see the light...

And there she was pretty as a picture standing at the threshold of their new life together. She wore a gown of antique satin and Chantilly lace from the same dress her mother and grandmother had worn many years earlier. Around her neck hung a necklace worn by her Daddy's mother.

Tears of joy could no longer stay back as he gazed at his treasured bride. Her Daddy stepped to her side and they walked down the aisle together. Daddy was also in tears. Just the thought of giving away his little girl brought so many emotions to the surface. Both pairs of parents had prayed for this day when each would meet God's mate for life.

A Royal Wedding 

They turned and faced the minister who made mention of the Royal wedding which had taken place that same day “across the pond”. He noted that this, too, was a royal wedding because the bride and groom are children of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

Her brother, Pastor Brian, delivered a marriage message speaking of the gift of marriage and what it meant to give oneself to each other. He spoke of other gifts as well. The gift of love, commitment, themselves, and more.

Brian stepped aside, and both Dads approached the couple. Since both are ministers, they led the couple in the repeating of their vows. How precious that each father could lead their own child in these most sacred promises. You could hear their voices quiver.

And then, the exchanging of rings.

“With the ring, I thee wed..”

The groom placed his grandmother’s wedding rings onto her finger.

“.. And give to you, my life”

Mikaela placed a ring of wood and fiery opal on Ethan’s finger. Opal is her birthstone. [No comment as to whether "fiery" has any indications.] It could mean he has her wrapped around his finger. But more likely, She has him wrapped around her finger!

Bonded Together Forever

The couple then moved to the side for the unity ceremony.  They lifted a veil to reveal a beautifully stained board with a cross and three cords. Her brother, Daniel, had created this unity board for this day and this moment was the first glimpse they had of the board. 

Mikaela & Ethan began to braid the three cords representing God, Ethan, and Mikaela together.

And her brother, Brian sweetly sang as they spent a few treasured moments together.

“Today you're giving your all
You've never trusted like this before.

Now tears of joy fall like rain

They seem to wash away every fear

You feel God's presence so very near."

Yes, tears fell and Ethan took a handkerchief from his pocket to wipe her tears. What an endearing few moments to watch how much he loves his bride.

And a brand new life is waiting for you

Starting here, starting now

From this moment on

From here to forever

He will carry you

Safe inside His love

The couple returned to the arbor where Pastor Eric,

Ethan’s dad pronounced them man and wife.

“Ethan, You may kiss your bride.”

The kiss was as passionate as their love.

Thunderous applause and cheers rose up from the sanctuary nearly drowning out the pastor’s introduction of the new couple.

“May I introduce to you, 
Mr. and Mrs. Ethan Grimes”

Hallelujah!

Applause rose up again. The joyful strains of the Handel’s Hallelujah Chorus could hardly be heard as the couple stepped out hand in hand.

The moment had finally arrived. 

They were now bonded together. 

Forever.

-------

Thank you to all those who helped make this day a beautiful day. We couldn't have done it without you!

Need to see more pictures? Click here

Photos provided by Lynn's Photography

Celebrations in Spring 2018

We are still getting used to a new way to celebrate the holidays. We have been so accustomed to planning an uplifting resurrection celebration, but now we learn to be participants. It's good but not the same since retirement. Anyway, I took the opportunity to get a few snapshots of the family while we were "all dressed up."

You can see who is still in charge.
Doesn't it look like he's preaching to us?

The tall guy is Ethan Grimes, Mikaela's fiance'

Ethan

Brett          Brian

Daniel

Speaking of Celebrating

Mikaela and Ethan will tie the knot on May 19! Find out a little about them and more info on the wedding at their wedding website. It is getting real now that they have found an apartment and the invitations have gone out.

Mikaela had my (and my mother's) gown re-styled. It is so beautiful. Can't show you a picture just yet.  :) Looking forward to seeing some of you at the wedding!

www.ethanandmikaela.com 

Other Things Going On in the Family

Brett has been promoted to store manager at Thompson's Sports in Savannah. Michael's sister reports that the boss pulled her aside the other day at church to say that hiring Brett was the best business decision he has ever made. He said Brett can do anything.

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Brian is in Savannah temporarily, re-connecting with the family, getting to know his future brother, Ethan, and preparing for his move to Minneapolis. While he's here, he's driving for Uber and Lyft, and enjoying it even more than he anticipated. He's been able to see the Savannah area from all directions and has met people from around the world. 

He is gaining quite a repertoire of stories to share. He shared this one with us recently.

His first week on the job, he dropped off a pair of passengers out on Tybee Island, which was crowded with tourists that afternoon. Upon picking up his next passengers, he discovered that the people he'd dropped off a couple of minutes before had lost their keys in the front seat of his car. The family he was picking up graciously agreed to wait while he attempted to return the keys. As he got out of his car, he wondered how he was going to find two 

 two men he'd dropped off several minutes before in the sea of humanity on the island. Amazingly, upon closing the driver's side door and turning around, he saw the men standing on the sidewalk directly in front of him, and promptly waved them down and returned the keys. The Lord works in amazing ways.

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Daniel & Tina are starting a family business carving, making & restoring furniture, making brittle, anything we can do we are doing. Daniel & Austin have been working on something very special for Mikaela and Ethan's wedding. (Can't show you til the wedding.) Even learning new things. Back to gardening. Austin is working some and will go full time soon at Mock where his dad works. Their grandkids, Cody and Lizz, just got new pigs. :)

And Tina's daughter, Loran just announced they are expecting baby #2  in November! 

Tina's children and grandchildren

This will be the last you hear from me until after the wedding sometime. Hope that you have a wonderful springtime!

With Love,

Mandy, et al