Cel-e-brate Good Times, Come On!

And there have been many. Good times, that is.

Starting with a weekend away with my staff team. We went up to beautiful, pine-tree-laden, cool-breeze-filled Pinetop for some much-needed R & R before the end of the semester craziness. We did puzzles, played street football (I even caught the ball!!! TWICE!!! This is a huge achievement for me. Unfortunately, my team still lost. But I count it as victory.), went stargazing, rapped, made and ate good food, watched Casino Royale 1.5 times, got good extended time with Jesus, and just enjoyed each other's company. I wish I had taken some pictures of the weekend. Alas, I didn't. I was having too much fun relaxing.

We got back from the weekend and jumped into a full week of ministry and wedding preparation. Yes, wedding preparation. No, not Dustin and Lori's wedding preparation - let's not be hasty now. Do you remember Hannah, my sweet friend who was on staff last year? Well, last year I chronicled a few things about her relationship with Steve Yeakley right here on Genuine, and I'm pleased to say as of Saturday evening, they are now joined in Holy Matrimony. If there was a way for me to play triumphant music and make streamers fall from your ceiling right above your computer, I would do that now.

I had the privilege and the pleasure to help Hannah with the decorating and beverages for the wedding, so the days leading up to it were pretty busy. Plus, my sister, Lacie, and my friend, Karma, came into town for the wedding and stayed with me, so I was focused on a lot of things which didn't include taking pictures. Fortunately, Karma didn't let that slide, and took a few good ones on my camera. Unfortunately, I didn't get any of the actual wedding ceremony, nor of the decorations I did. My bad. But, here are some fun ones:

DJ Dustin and the Strudel ladies (minus his true love - she was in the wedding party, and was taking her own pictures)

Three studly fellas: James, Steven and Tim

Me and Lori

Me and the beautiful bride. I can't even explain how gorgeous she was. She looked absolutely elegant - the epitome of feminine beauty. Yet, slightly distracted by something to my right in this picture. Hmmm.

The wedding was incredibly beautiful, glorifying to God and an awesome time of celebration. We danced for a couple hours and sent the newlyweds off under a tunnel of their dear friends' linked arms. It was so fun!

The next day I was pretty wiped (we had a late night of clean-up after a long day of set-up), but it was Lacie's birthday, so we drove up to Gilbert to celebrate that special occasion with the whole family. The times when all of my siblings are in the same place together are getting more and more rare, so my mom decided she wanted to get a lot of pictures of her five children. This is what happens when you set us loose.

And, my personal favorite...
The goofiness doesn't stop there, however.
Could it be that when I get around my family, I enter a state of comfort which allows me to let go of inhibitions and let loose a side of me all at once silly and dramatic?