Archives for September 2015

The Mother of the Bride’s Right-Hand Woman

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Mother of the Bride, every MOB needs one—a right-hand woman. Someone you can call on at any time during your MOB journey. Someone who can offer advice as well as a listening ear. Someone who rides shotgun on your MOB shopping adventures and also helps with any task you may throw her way. Yes, MOB, you need a right-hand woman.

My right-hand woman for both of my daughters’ weddings was my dear friend Teri (pictured with me above as the reception wound down after Kelli’s wedding.) One of your BFFs, MOB, could serve as your right-hand woman, too, but many others could fill the role as well—a sister or sister-in-law, your mom or aunt, a cousin, or even one of your other daughters. As a matter of fact, my daughter Kristin ended up being another right-hand woman for me when Kelli got married.

And MOB, if you’re lucky like I was, your right-hand woman will offer all kinds of support. She’ll have skills in areas where you lack them. She’ll take joy in helping make your darling daughter’s day the best that it can be. She’ll give you honest but gentle feedback and laugh with you at just the right moments. When you’re overwhelmed, she’ll let you be a mess and love you anyway. She’ll be ever-ready to help and always keep you in her prayers. She’ll be your right-hand woman.

So MOB, look around and identify that helper of all helpers, that friend of all friends on your wedding-planning journey. Cherish her. Lean on her. And every now and then, thank her in a special way. If it involves chocolate for both of you, so much the better!

*Thanks, Teri, for being my right-hand woman when my girls got married!

*You might also like to read Make the Mother of the Groom Part of the Team and A Planning Journal for Your Mother of the Bride Notes.

*Photo by Will Flowers

Miracles All Around

IMG_3145Some things just beg to be expressed through poetry. Miracles are among those things. Be blessed today, friends, through the poetic. Be blessed through the miraculous!

Miracles All Around

Some people say we don’t see
many miracles anymore.
But I see them every day
and all around
when I take the time
to turn a glance into a gaze
or bring a fleeting thought into focus.

I see miracles in perfect tiny infant lips,
in precious fingers and toes,
in pink ribbons across the evening sky
and petals dotted with morning dew.
The miraculous unfolds before my eyes
as leaves turn from green to gold,
as snowflakes waltz to winter’s song,
as the call of a cardinal captures attention.

Miracles greet me in a friend’s hearty laugh
and surprise me in the written word,
they meet me in a chance encounter
they show up in answers to prayer.
The miraculous happens when forgiveness is given
when a kind deed changes a day,
miracles shine when the lost are found
when hearts are forever changed.

Yes, I see miracles all around
I see God’s handiwork every day.

“Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; worship the LORD in the splendor of his holiness.” Psalm 29:2

*What miracles have you seen recently?

*My photo

Groom’s Cake Idea: A Chessboard!

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Mother of the Bride, even though the main wedding cake is pretty much the star of the reception, the groom’s cake can come in a close second. Just tell your future son-in-law to get creative and come up with his dream groom’s cake idea, and you’ll find a baker who can pull it off when it comes time to find the cake designer/baker for the wedding.

One idea that might fit his personality is a chessboard. Doesn’t the chessboard groom’s cake above look sharp? Even the chess pieces can be part of the allure. The pieces here are made of white and dark chocolate. Now that’s the kind of chess game I’d like to play!

If your daughter’s honey is not a chess player, maybe he likes to play cards or checkers or some other board game. Maybe video games are his thing. If so, a good designer can come up with a cake inspired by just about any kind of game.

MOB, share this idea with the groom-to-be and see if it strikes a gaming-chord with him or perhaps inspires another idea. Encourage him to make his groom’s cake choice fun—and if he wants chocolate to play a part, you won’t complain, will you?!

*You might also like to read Groom’s Cake Idea: Law Books (or any other books!), Groom’s Cake Idea for the Wrestling Fan, Groom’s Cake Toppers for the Hunter, Groom’s Cake Idea: His Favorite Set of Wheels, and Groom’s Cake Idea: Alma Mater Pride.

*Flickr photo by jessica.hanrahan, Creative Commons License

Midweek Morsel: One Quality Gives Rise to Another

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“Love and faithfulness meet together; righteousness and peace kiss each other.” Psalm 85:10

Some things just go together, don’t they? Peanut butter and jelly, green eggs and ham, cake and ice cream. The list goes on—and includes much beyond the realm of food, by the way.

As I read the verse above not long ago, I noticed some qualities that were joined together, partnered like perfect pairs. Love and faithfulness, righteousness and peace. One giving rise to the other.

Where love reigns, we’ll also find faithfulness. When righteousness shines forth, peace will be nearby. Isn’t it wonderful how other blessings will be ours when we love and live rightly as the Lord instructs? May we each one see these perfect pairs shining in our lives!

“. . . shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life . . . “ Philippians 2:15b-16a

*Can you think of other qualities where one gives rise to the other?

*Flickr photo by menteblu61, Creative Commons License

A Prayer for the Newlyweds

4813708804_b236e8f1a1_zMother of the Bride, here is a prayer you can tuck away for the days and months following the Big Day—a prayer for your sweet newlywed couple. Prayer is one priceless yet simple way you can continue to gift your darling daughter and her new husband after they are married. Hope this prayer gives voice to the beat of your heart!

A Gift of Prayer for the Newlyweds

Thank you, Lord, for joining the lives
of this couple so dear to me,
this man, this woman, so deeply in love
pledging themselves to total union.
Lord, give them wisdom to model their love
after your very own,
may love and forgiveness flow without limit,
may kindness be their guide.
Bless them, Lord, beyond their dreams
grant them memories that make them smile,
give them vision to make a difference
to serve loved ones and strangers alike.
Gift them, Father, with many years
living life side by side,
growing even more deeply in love—
this man, this woman, united.

Give the gift of prayer, MOB. It’s a gift that will make a difference.

*You might also like to read Mothers of the Bride Need Prayer.

Copyright © Cheryl Barker

*If you read this piece publicly or print it out, please give attribution by saying it’s by Cheryl Barker, author of Mother of the Bride. Thanks!

*For info about my book Mother of the Bride and also my Wedding Inspiration cards, check out my Books/My Work page.

*The next issue of Life Notes, my quarterly inspirational newsletter with a giveaway in every regularly scheduled issue, will come out in early November. Sign-up is FREE and to the right! (If you’re on a mobile device, scroll to the bottom of the screen and click View Full Site to find it.)

*Flickr photo by Villa Amor in Sayulita, Creative Commons License