Photoshop Fun

A few weeks ago, we went to a 50th Wedding Anniversary Party for my aunt and uncle. While there, I took a "few" pictures. I am going to be seeing several of my aunts and uncles next weekend and thought it was time for me to get all the photos done so they can have them. As I was going through them, for the umpteenth time, I noticed something on this photo. I was taking a picture of some of the decorating/setup things I had done and noticed that there was a person in the mirror. This is my uncle's brother. He is an Archbishop in the Catholic church and was at the party to take part in the mass they had before the reception. It certainly was an accident, but I thought it was such an awesome shot with the candles, flowers, etc. A little photoshopping and viola' - here it is with lots of changes. I cropped the photo, took out the wallpaper on the wall, removed the placecards, additional pictures in the photo and other people and things in the mirror, softened the edges, adjusted the color....... I hope they like it.

Here We Go Again

OK - First, this picture has nothing to do with my post today, but I thought is was cheerful and we can all use a little cheer in our lives and I don't like to post without a picture.

Well they say God only gives you what you can handle...... But, I think I'm at my limit. As all of you know last Monday was a very stressful, scary day. Lorin had his reaction to the anesthesia/meds and Heather had surgery on her tonsils/adenoids. Good News - Lorin is back to normal. Heather, on the other hand, has been struggling. The first few days weren't too bad. She had pain, but she kept drinking, getting rest and meds were keeping it under control. By last Friday, the pain had continued and she was not doing well at all. The weekend brought a lot of pain, discomfort...... and tears. She really wasn't sure it was worth it to have then removed. When she called the doctor they said day 3 through 8 are always the worst and there really isn't anything they can do other than tough it out. By Monday and Tuesday she started feeling a little better again. Wednesday she was feeling pretty good so we went to Grandma/Grandpas house for lunch. She had Aubree's kindergarten orientation that evening. While there she noticed blood in her mouth. Long story short - Morgan took her to emergency here in Medford. They took her by ambulance to Wausau and she was back in surgery. They had to re-cauterize her throat. (A spot came off and it was right where a blood vessel was and every time her heart would beat it would pulse blood.) They also pumped her stomach - which had lots of blood in it, gave her lots of IV fluids - and about midnight we were all back home. She is resting here today and they said it will be a spike in pain again, but it shouldn't set her back that far. So any extra prayers you have are always appreciated. I really don't want to ask "What next?" I'm afraid of the answer.

Wedding Weekend

This past weekend we had a wedding I was involved in - I think that is number 8 - 9 - 10.... Not sure, I lost count. Anyway all the weddings are beautiful and this was no exception. The bride, the weather, the location...... the list goes on and on. Here are a few photos I took at the wedding. I didn't get to take as many as I usually do as I was working throughout the entire wedding. I think I only took 450 pictures. That's not that many is it? Do I have an addiction????
I love this photo I took of the bride and groom. The ceremony was at a beautiful site at a pond that her grandfather dug. It was spectacular. The bride had on an absoultely gorgeous gown and was stunning. She is such a beautiful girl and so sweet to work with. It sure made my job easier.


The guests were brought to the ceremony site by horse drawn wagon.


After the bride and groom said their vows they released butterflies. One of the butterflies decided the brides bouquet was the best place to be. Here you can see him waiting in the flowers. It was in there for a long time.






This photo is of one of the bridesmaids. Each of them came out of a tent and was escorted down the aisle by a groomsmen.













Secret service guarding the tent??? No - the ushers. Each of them had remote headsets to be able to communicate with the people in the parking area. They looked so official.


Ring bearer and flower girl...... He was such a little gentleman.


One of my favorite photos of the wedding. Coy was playing with the flower girl and they were inside the bridesmaids tent. Before the ceremony started he and the flower girl were peeking out from under the tent to see if we were ready yet. Too cute!

The reception was at Munson Bridge Winery. What an awesome place for a wedding. Here is a photo of the barn that was used for the dinner. We decorated with crisp white, teal and chocolate brown and in the rustic barn it was beautiful. The remaining portion of the reception was under a large tent, patio and grounds around the winery.

A beautiful wedding and such a nice couple. Best of everything to both of them.

Sorry for the absence!

So sorry I haven't been blogging lately. Life has gotten in the way. I promise I will post every day.....or so..... The last couple of days have been.... well.... awful.

Heather has been battling sore throats for the past several years. As a child she never had trouble, pretty healthy overall. Kindof a clutz - broken leg, broken arm, etc. but not sick. Well the doctor told her that she had to have her tonsils out. Actually that was about a year ago. After a bad bout with strep a couple of weeks ago, she decided it was time. So Monday, she had them taken out (actually they burn them out now). They look disgusting, but she is doing quite well. They say that day 3 is the worst - that is tomorrow, so please say a prayer for her. Good thing our family, Heather included, likes ice cream. Although, ice cream for the next two weeks will definitely get old.

To make things even more interesting.... Lorin had a routine test on Monday (same day and time as Heather). He passed with flying colors, but gave us all a big scare. After we left the hospital, he had a terrible reaction to the anesthesia/meds. He began going into shock, blood pressure and heart rate almost non-existent, etc., etc. It is a much too long story for my blog, although it reads like a horror story. He spent the next 10 hours in the ER having several tests, and more cords/monitors hooked up than I knew existed. Finally after pumping nearly 6 liters of fluids in him, lots of different meds..... lots of tests... he was sent home - almost as if nothing happened - he is fine. I spent the day praying, trying not to cry, praying, calling the kids and moms, praying..... and oh did I mention I spent a lot of time praying. Thank God it ended with me thanking God for getting him through this. You don't really realize how short life is and just how quickly it can change until something like this happens. To those of you who knew what was going on - thanks for your prayers. We are thankful for everyone of them.

Fair Day

We just got home from the fair. Another fun day. Lots of games, rides and fair food. (It was really good this year.)
Shortly after we got to the fair Aubree saw a friend. Kylee was there with her dad and they got to spend some time on rides and looking at animals. Here are some of the highlights.

Good Bye to a Dear Man

Yesterday Lorin and I went to Milwaukee to a funeral. His uncle Orland passed away. Although we know he is in a much better place and it is only a matter of time before we will all see him again - God willing - he will be missed. It was wonderful to see his family and "catch up" with them. We really don't do that often enough. As Tim said to me yesterday it seems that sometimes "Life gets in the way".

God Bless You All. We love you lots and you all are in our prayers.

(I took this photo on the way home - there was such a beautiful golden glow to everything as we were traveling through this area.)

Over the Hump

For the past several days Aubree has been fighting a nasty bug. It started last week when she woke up Thursday morning with a fever. Thursday and Friday were spent at Nana's (H and M were off having a garage sale in our garage) so Aubree spent most of the day on the couch watching TV, coloring, etc. There was some throwing up, headache, etc. Saturday brought a party that H & M were supposed to go to. She said she was feeling better and although she had a fever, she seemed to be doing better sooooo...... Off to the party and CJ babysat. (I think Aubree was so excited to have CJ come and spend the time with her that she would have faked feeling better just to have her come.)

Well right after dinner H got a call that Aubree was throwing up and was worse. So back home they go..... then to the ER.

"Must be a virus - bad case of the flu" was the conclusion. Clear liquids for the next couple of days. Sunday was much of the same, however, when we looked in her throat - lots of spots. (They - the ER doctor - never looked in her throat on Saturday????) Back to the pediatrician on Monday. Lots of poking, blood, swabs, etc. Everything negative. Virus????
Monday was spent at Nana's - Here she is - Not so good.

And...... Here she is on Tuesday - Still not so good.

Back on Wednesday. Still a bit of a fever but don't you think she looks better. I think she is over the hump.

Cute story -- When Heather told her on Thursday she must have a "bug". Aubree decided that must be what it was. She said when she was playing outside the day before a bug flew up and hit her in the forehead so that must have been it.

It is so good to see her feeling better. I hate when kids get sick.

(Aubree just saw the post and said "That's what I look like when I am sleeping - Owugh!)