Something To Look Forward To ...

what's pulling me through

a not terribly cold winter

because i think winter is totally

yuck

is that my son Matt

is getting married on april the 7th

here in maryland

YAY!

matt and connie

they've been living and teaching near seoul, s. korea

for 2 years

then on to thailand

finishing up their graduate degrees

there and in Maryland

ready for Spring and Summer....

and a happy Mom

"A man ain't nothing but a man. But a son? Well, now, that's somebody" Toni Morrison "Beloved" Chapter 2, pg. 23

and I have two wonderful men for sons. Jenn

My Grandmother told me the day Matt's brother Todd

boarded the bus for kindergarten "That's his first day

away from you. You blink your eyes and they grow up."

so very true

 

California Getaway! Wedding Wishes and Family Fun!

My cousin Melissa and her fiance planned a fabulous wedding in California and we weren't disappointed.  2 days touring San Fransciso with all my cousins....

the painted ladies (remember "Full House"?)

sauteed in butter and garlic - heaven!

found this on Diners, Drive-ins and Dives!

We did it all!

We ate it all!

Muir Woods Overlook along the coast

heading towards Napa Valley

Muir Woods

Sausalito

Glorious wine county

to Dawn Ranch Lodge along the Russian River

cousins in the wedding, cousins at the wedding

cousins staying in the sweet little cabins,

a lovely wedding amongst the towering trees,

a cocktail hour following the ceremony

a lantern lit reception in the apple orchard,

a family barbecue the following day by the pool

 provided by the bride and groom, walks,

cocktails, dancing, laughter, stories, hugs, kisses

we came from everywhere - NJ, MD,

the bride and groom currently live in Japan

back to San Francisco and home with happy memories

Melissa and James off to a honeymoon in Mexico

WEDDING reception glam!!!

LIGHTS!

BRIGHTS!

GLEEM!

GLAM!

EXCITING!

THE DECOR WAS FAB!

children's wedding favors

CAMBODIAN STYLE

The Bride's Mom Can Sew!

Ravy.... Sidavay Tan

now Van Valkenburgh

**************

*********************************

• 
  
  Ravy and her sister...

**************

**************

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It is customary in Cambodian

weddings for the bride and other

relatives to change their clothes

multiple times during the 3 days of

ceremonies. Ravy changed 3 times

throughout the day and all of the gowns

were sent from Cambodia and hand sewn

by her Mom. Her sister's gown and many other family members also wore gowns

made by Ravy's mother and they were stunning. I hope to include other photos in the

future of guests and the Tea Ceremony, it was just beautiful. When the

measurements were sent for my son's traditional shirt for the tea ceremony -

because of his size.... they questioned over and over whether the measurements were

correct because Cambodian men are small in stature and weight.

Todd is NOT. He is 6' 2".... The shirt arrived, it fit perfectly, as did the gowns 3 days before the wedding.

It's called "Cambodian Time" in our family and my son just goes with the flow.

**********************************

The wedding day.........

Todd and Mom

Ravy and Todd

December 5, 2009

Annapolis, Maryland

May all your dreams come true.

God's gentle ways....

It snowed on my son's wedding day. People came from Toronto, California, Cambodia, Minnesota, Florida, New Jersey, Seattle and we all attended the festivities of a 9 am tea ceremony, a 2 pm church wedding and a 6 pm reception. Not one glitch.

Some people had never seen snow.

I do believe in Miracles, I do, I do!

December 5th Some Wedding Memories...

a gift sent from Cambodia from the bride's

mother to me.........

traditional wedding guest

attire

a reading at the church....

Marriage
You were born together, and together you shall be forevermore.
You shall be together when white wings of death scatter your days.
Aye, you shall be together even in the silent memory of God.
But let there be spaces in your togetherness,
And let the winds of the heavens dance between you.
Love one another but make not a bond of love:
Let it rather be a moving sea between the shores of your souls.
Fill each other's cup but drink not from one cup.
Give one another of your bread but eat not from the same loaf.
Sing and dance together and be joyous, but let each one of you be alone,
Even as the strings of a lute are alone though they quiver with the same music.
Give your hearts, but not into each other's keeping.
For only the hand of Life can contain your hearts.
And stand together, yet not too near together:
For the pillars of the temple stand apart,
And the oak tree and the cypress grow not in each other's shadow.

Kahil Gibran beginnings......

The Story of My Life!

wedding plan blues

Best laid plans! That's me! My son's wedding is this Saturday. Yup, I was way ahead of the game. Organized to a T capital T. Purchased my 2 dresses 2 months ago. Two dresses? Yes, 1 for the morning Tea Ceremony (This is an American - Cambodian Wedding) 1 for the church wedding and reception). Put on my dresses for a second look see on Saturday . TOO BIG! That would normally be good news - NOT right before the wedding! NOT with a family dinner to prepare for on Thursday evening, a rehearsal dinner on Friday, the tea ceremony at 9 am with a brunch to follow, the church wedding at 2 and a reception to follow at 6. 120 guests from NJ, California, Canada, Florida, Australia and Cambodia. Oh, and my younger son and his girlfriend depart the next day for a year in Seoul, Korea where they will be teaching English to kindergartners in a private school.

Well, here's the drill - God is Good. I shopped 'til I dropped yesterday and found two dresses, jewelry for one outfit -

What I need to do today:

1. work until 3
2. pearl earrings
3. pearl bracelet
4. pearl necklace
5. silver shoes
6. drink H2O
7. say a prayer of thanks
8. silver bag
9. hose
10. black bra
11. breathe
12. slip
13. pick up dry cleaning
14. chiropractor (tense neck)
15. relax
16. drink H2O
17. make hubby dinner
18. remember this is all going to be ok
19. shower
20. close my eyes and try to get rid of the dark circles

Thank goodness I tried on the dresses this Saturday!

We're almost there....December the 5th!

TODD & RAVY

The plans are made, the date is set, the church is picked, the flowers are chosen, the shower was held, the airline tickets were purchased, the house was bought, they have moved in, directions were text, emails were sent, more information was texted, phone calls were made, hotels were booked, minister was spoken too, ceremony was planned, food was sampled, cake was chosen, wedding gowns were tried on, friends helped, family joined in - from Canada, California, New Jersey and Cambodia! From Shingles to Chicken Pox. A house being purchased and moving in. Buddhist Monks blessing the house. Traditions. Acceptance. Religions. Illness. Finances. Families. Understanding. Humor. Exhaustion. Travel. More humor!

Thanksgiving. So what's on our plates for now - get through Thanksgiving and enjoy it! Possibly write thank you notes for the bridal shower gifts. Saturday - a going away party for my younger son Matt and his girlfriend Connie who are moving to Korea for a year the day after the wedding to teach English near Seoul. More to follow in my life as it rolls. Momma Hey

P.S. DID I MENTION RAVY IS GOING FROM THE MAIDEN NAME OF 'tan' to 'van valkenburgh'!!!!