Blog Friends are BEST Friends

Betsy and Sally---Special Friends FOREVER

Since we started blogging,  George and I have been blessed to have met some wonderful new friends.   On our recent trip out west,  we met two wonderful couples.  The first couple whom we met in Colorado was Jim and Sally Wessely,

Sally's blog is HERE.   Please check it out... As a retired English teacher,  Sally has the gift of writing.... Her blog posts are always so interesting to read.  She lost an adult child to suicide a couple of years ago --and the blog has been a way for Sally to express herself --which has helped with the healing.

Anyhow--we found that the four of us (all former educators) have alot in common.  We met for lunch at a fabulous little restaurant near Colorado Springs ---and were able to eat outside along a little creek (with TINY waterfall--just for us of course)... ha   (No  NEAL,  we didn't count that waterfall in our total number for the trip... ha ha )

After lots of talk and a delicious lunch,  Sally and Jim took us to the GARDEN OF THE GODS (near Colorado Springs, Colorado).... Wow---what a fabulous place.    We really enjoyed our afternoon together ---and they even took us by their new home (which they have just purchased)...  We felt privileged to be among the first to see the new home.  CONGRATS,  Sally and Jim.

Today,  I will share our time together with wonderful friends, Sally and Jim Wessely.  Be sure and click on the photos to see enlargements.

Bill and Sally Wessely

Let me introduce my friends,  Jim and Sally.  This was taken during our lunch.  You can see the little creek behind our table.  What a gorgeous place ---and the Buffalo Burgers were delicious also.

Where is our lunch?????  We are HUNGRY.... ha

There was lots of conversation --as you can imagine--around the lunch table.  When one meets blog friends,  he/she feels as if she has known them all of her life... It's a very unique and special relationship for sure!!!

Four Special Friends

 We asked our waiter to take a picture of the four of us.... Didn't he do a good job???

At Garden of the Gods

This was taken at Garden of the Gods... I couldn't get over the beauty of that place...  AND---since Sally's new home is near there,  she'll be able to visit there often.... Wow---I'm envious!!!!

Sally and Jim at the Garden of the Gods

Here is a great picture of Sally and Jim,  taken during our visit to the Garden of the Gods... You HAVE to see this place in person in order to take in all of the beauty.

More from Garden of the Gods

I will do a post on Friday showing more from Garden of the Gods,  but here is one more photo for you to enjoy today.  We were there on a perfect day ---with that beautiful blue sky.

Sally and Jim at Balanced Rock

Finally,  here is one more photo of Sally and Jim  taken at Balanced Rock  (at Garden of the Gods). There were people all around that rock ---so I had to ZAP them out of the picture!!!!!  Isn't that rock interesting????  Reminded me of a similar rock at the ARCHES in Utah.

Sally and Jim,  thanks to you both for showing us such a great time in your area.  We loved meeting you and truly enjoyed our day...  Hope you come to Tennessee someday --so that we can show you OUR area.   Thanks also for the wine and for the delicious HUGE cinnamon rolls..... We enjoyed them throughout our trip (except for the wine --which came home with us)...

Anyone who has not met your blog friends yet MUST find ways to meet them... Blogging is terrific, but meeting them in person is AWESOME...

Have a great Wednesday --and thanks for all of your kind thoughts about my son's wedding.  It was a beautiful weekend --and I still am on Cloud Nine!!!!! ha

Hugs,
Betsy

Jeff and Dawn's Wedding

"Me thinks there is going to be a wedding here."

Mr. and Mrs. Jeffrey B. Wilhite (my youngest son) got married on October 6, 2012 at the Central Church of Christ,  Dalton, GA.  The wedding was fabulous from beginning to end --and this Mama just smiled all weekend!!!!!  I am so happy for these young adults --and am so blessed to have Dawn as a member of our family..

Here are some pictures for you to enjoy.  Be sure to click on them to see enlargements.

Rehearsal Dinner

First came the rehearsal dinner (for about 35) in the Fellowship Hall of the church.  Dawn and Jeff's colors were blue/navy and yellow.  Dawn's favorite flower is the Sunflower --so you will see many of them throughout these photos.

The groom's family (George and I, Mel--Jeff's father, and wife Sally) were in charge of the dinner.  Sally furnished the gorgeous table decorations;  Mel prepared some home-made lasagna,  some bread, drink and salad;  George and I furnished fruit trays, veggie trays,  and cupcakes for dessert.  We all --including son, Mark, from Texas set-up for the wedding and then cleaned it all up...  Everyone seemed to have a good time ---including all of Jeff's family.  The bride and groom look so happy,  don't they?

The Wedding Book

Jeff and Dawn had a great wedding book --which they will continue to add to as the years go by... All of the guests were asked to sign the book (anywhere they wanted to).

The Wedding Party

Here is a picture of the entire wedding party.  Jeff's son Landon (to his left) was his Dad's best man.  Mel (Jeff's Dad) is to Landon's left.   Jeff's daughter, Avery,  is on the right side of Dawn,  and my son Mark (Jeff's brother) is to Avery's right.  As you can imagine,  the tiny one (Cameron) stole the show!!!!!

Dawn and the 'Girls'

Here are some cute pictures of Dawn and her 'girls'.. My favorite is the bottom right --where Dawn is seated with the little ones!!!!!   BUT--isn't Cameron just precious?

The PARENTS

Here is where it all BEGAN!!!!!  These are the parents.   To the left are George and I.  Top right  are Dawn's Mom and Dad,  Robert and Shirley.  And the bottom right are Jeff's Dad,  Mel, and wife, Sally.

I want to add here that the wedding service was excellent.  Jeff and Dawn used sand to combine the two families as ONE.  That was a nice change to me from the candles that we used to light to unite the families.

ALSO---Jeff and Dawn had an area in a separate room set aside for the memory of loved ones who have died.   Included here were my parents:  Edith and Simon Banks.  Doing that meant so much to me.  (Thanks, Dawn and Jeff.)

Betsy's Sons and Grandchildren

I'll add a personal collage here..  On the top left is a picture of my two youngest sons, Jeff and Mark.  Our oldest son (Bert) couldn't be here --but we all missed him very much.  To the right at the top is George and I with Jeff.  On the bottom left is a happy Mom with her son, Mark (from Texas).  AND---to the right are two of my precious grandchildren (Jeff's children):  Landon (age 17) and Avery (age 14).  Avery is my youngest grand --and she's growing up so fast and getting prettier every single day.  Landon is a amazing young man --and I am a very proud Grammy!

RECEPTION

Next came the reception,  held nearby at a place called Stages 123.   It was also decorated fabulously --thanks to many of Dawn's friends in Dalton.  There was plenty of food for the 100+ people who attended...  The pictures to the right are the bride's and groom's cakes.  There were two groom's cakes (Carrot and Red Velvet).  The bride's cake was a white cake with white icing --surrounded by --what else, but sunflowers!!!!

First Dance --and a Toast

Here was the first dance between husband and wife ---and a toast to everyone for attending and also for good luck.

It's CAKE TIME

Here are some photos of the bride and groom feeding each other cake...  I loved the wedding cake --so wanted you to see a closer view...  Gorgeous,  isn't it?

Mom and Son Dance

Here's the groom's dance with Mom.  We danced to  "Wind Beneath Your Wings" sung by Bette Midler.  I am so proud of Jeff ---and expressed that to him while we were dancing.

Garter and Bouquet Time!!!

Now it's time to throw the garter (Jeff) and the bouquet (Dawn)....  We won't tell anyone that Jeff first tried to snap the garter --and it went the WRONG direction... Tee Hee....

Bride and Groom Leaving

WELL---the party's over and the bride and groom are leaving.  We all formed two lines and waved streamers as they left....  (That is so much better than throwing rice I think.)

Mr. and Mrs. Jeffrey Bruce Wilhite

Finally,  here's one last picture of the Beautiful Bride and her Gorgeous Groom.  As I write this the day AFTER the wedding,  I hope that these two are enjoying a few days of R&R on the beach...

We did have a great time --and the wedding was PERFECT from every respect...Congrats to this wonderful couple!!!!

Hope you ALL had a great a weekend as we had!

Hugs,
Betsy
NOTE: Any family member or friend who wants any of these photos, please email me at betsyadams@mac.com.