The Lucas Lowdown: So, I'm a month late...

We just spent a long weekend with my parents in Kentucky [UPDATE: that is if "just" means "3 weeks ago"] and though we were there for the purpose of celebrating their 45 years of ministry together, we also got in a few days of visiting and memory making too!

It started with some smiles with Grandma:

And included a healthy dose of vintage puzzle-working:

Some great reading time (especially Frances books!):

And even some manual labor:

Even though the garden produce is pretty much wrapped up, there are still lots of things to look at:

Watching carefully as Granddaddy weeds the strawberry patch:

There were a few firsts for Jack as well! First time at Granddaddy and Grandma's house and first time meeting Sandy!:

There may or may not have been some playdough-making as well. This girl is lucky with playdough-making grandparents!

I think I mentioned the puzzles? She could sit and work puzzles all day.:

Now for the real reason for our visit...Honoring my mom and dad for their 45 years in the ministry. This celebration was actually many months in the making cause we started talking details at the beginning of the year but when we all finally got our schedules to match up it went from being scheduled in May, to August, definitely August, maybe September, definitely October. And with each date decision came the scouring of Georgetown venues. And there was not. one. available...ever. Evidently people like to get their party on in Georgetown. And they like to book places waaaaaaay in advance. Ugh. Kara stumbled upon a Louisville possibility and it really ended up being the perfect place to celebrate.

It was a church lobby called the Atrium, with lots of natural light, plenty of space to spread out, and even a little pit in the middle for the kids to play in. Karma brought some games to keep them occupied so with that and a table spread with paper and crayons (oh, and an unsupervised table full of sugar) they were good to go! I think this was her first cookie. Though it may have been her 2nd, 3rd, 4th...

Hanging out:

Like I said, unsupervised sweets. I think our kids thought we'd gone crazy...and they were okay with that. Here's Marci scoping things out:

When our plans were still in the summer months we'd settled on an old fashioned ice cream social setting (my dad loves ice cream, popcorn, peanuts, etc.) but as we inched toward the fall we had to rethink that and decided on fall desserts and beverages. We loaded the table full of pumpkin, apple, and chocolate treats, sparkling apple cider punch and of course coffee (another of dad's faves).

I made the little chalkboard labels from some craft wood and chalkboard spray paint. Then I wrote on them with what are called "bistro chalk pens" like a chalk paint pen. Turns out they write beautifully but are semi permanent and do not wash off well. Boo. I thought I was onto something. Now that the labels are made they can be used and used again. Love that.

All the baking and goody-making was done by the three of us plus our favorite family event helpers and life-long friends, Sandy, Debbie, Aunt Syl, and Grandma

At the front were some welcome tables where people could put their name on our "guest board" or pin up notes and cards.

It was fun to see people and catch up. Some we hadn't seen for 25 years. Here Kara chats with a fellow former youth group member from Maple Grove and her family:

Above, Mom talks with Thelma, Dad's secretary from Great Crossing, and her son, David.

And I love this pic of Sandy with friends, Wes and Terri Greenert from Maple Grove.

And here's Sandy with the Director of Missions from Elkhorn Baptist Association:

While we know many people who wanted to be there couldn't make it, it was still amazing to see support of our parents and family come from as far as North Carolina to be with us for the afternoon. Like the Treadway family:

And here's Marci sitting with Uncle Rick, Aunt Syl and Grandma at the kids' table. You don't know how appropriate that is (wink):

Another dear one from Great Crossing, Camille Singer. She and Mom also taught together for a bit.

The sweet little wreaths with candles on the cafe tables are actually from Ryan's and my rehearsal dinner. His mom made them back then and had the leftover materials to whip up a few more for us.

Above: dear friends from Great Crossing

It's amazing how most of these people I didn't even know (except through stories and conversation of my family) past the age of 5 but seeing them, and hearing them talk even, brought floods of memories back to me.

Keith and Margaret survey the goods:

Our family observing our children and their antics:

I didn't get this part on film (actually, Ryan manned the camera, not me. Thanks for the pics, babe.) but we also had a short program which Karma wrote around our theme verse. Plus a song that Kara wrote to the "Facts of Life" theme song.