Well Folks,

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I am now a married man, a very blessed and very happy married man. 

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The wedding went very well. There were, of course, some last minute things, but God was faithful, and everything came together beautifully. Thank you all who prayed for us!

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I hope you enjoy the pictures. Rebekah and I thoroughly enjoyed going through our wedding pics ... over and over and over again ;-).

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Thank you so much Brian for making sure we could bring the pictures with us.

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So, as I sit here in our room up in Vermont, I think over God's faithfulness. I have been given an amazing gift. The gift of Rebekah's heart. I know I don't deserve it. In some ways it reminds me of the gift of life I received through my parents, or of Jesus's gift of his life to us. Somehow, I've been given a gift. All I can do right now is say, "Thank you God!" Life is amazing.

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As always,

Love in Christ Jesus,

Michael & (now) Rebekah Thomas

Webmaster for the Grand Adventure III

Prep at the guys house

"The fat piece goes around the skinny piece ..." 

Taking a moment to lighten things up

Things look peaceful enough

Matthew gives me a last minute touch up ... wait ... do guys actually DO that?

All frivolity aside, we take a moment for prayer.

And we are off ...

Adjusting things ...

Meanwhile ...

Meanwhile, cameras are reporting live from the Bride's house, where we have a the ability to see more unique behind-the-scenes footage you've come to expect from the Grand Adventure blog

The artist approaches her "canvas" ... no two faces are the same

"... his bride has made herself ready. 

 Fine linen, bright and clean, 

      was given her to wear."

Sisters are made ready

Art

Nothing like playing one's instrument to calm one's nerves

Fingers dance

All is ready

"... Michael ... yeah I just wanted to make sure you had all the ties."

In which we arrive

My bride arrives at the church

I do hope the minister is not having second thoughts about this ...

My devoted brother-in-law AKA Hunko Jordo

Unfortunately, it is my duty to let you all  know that roses do NOT stand up to 470 people hugging you in a receiving line. Please take this into consideration for ALL future weddings and choose a more durable product. 

So we are here at the church ready to do the group formals (an idea I questioned at first, but it turned out to be probably the most relaxed way to do it especially with our very limited time afterwards) any way, as I was saying, we are ready to roll, everyone is getting into position and we realize, WHERE'S THE PHOTOGRAPHER ... everyone just breathe and try not to panic ...

While they wait 

One proud father.

Picture time

"Ok folks, let's pull this thing together ..."

Our dedicated photographer

Mothers

Now THAT is one amazing wedding party. I am, without the slightest shade of doubt, a very VERY blessed man.

The Wedding Party Sits

The girls 

"Robert, don't don't you think she should be sitting at a 43 degree angle?"

Or perhaps we'll just shift the camera ...

Things we do to get the baby to smile ...

"Sorry sir, we are out of red shirts"

The arrival of more relatives

Vive Le Brooks Management

I'll not let you go ...

Portrait

And you thought this was wedding. In reality, it's all a convenient cover up for the most secret cover up in history. Of course, if it was a secret, I wouldn't be telling you ... or would I?

Lobby shots

Vivacity

Cutesy

In less then an hour, she won't have to blow me a kiss any more ...

Peril ... or perhaps, just the appearance of peril

Either she's really strong ... or .... well, let's just go with she's really strong ;-)

At least my guys are with it ...

Art

Art

Wide angle portrait

Behind the scenes of the final moments ...

My grandfather and father who have paved the way.

Final moments

Portrait

A final word of prayer

One stunning wedding party!

In a moment, all shall be changed ...

Heading towards the door.

Meanwhile, I stand with my men and Robert

Chris loosens me up with a "manly" back rub ;-)

The wedding procession ... or WAY TO MANY BRIDESMAIDS!

Grandparents are escorted in

... John & Nanna Flynn

The honored position of unrolling the runner

"Let your father and your mother be glad, 
      And let her who bore you rejoice."

Preparing the way for the bride

But first we have Abbey

... and Dillon ...

... and Emma ...

... and Melanie (ok, these girls are all great and I love each of them, but where is REBEKAH!?!) ...

... and pregers, I mean, Melissa (by the way, congratulations sis!!!) ...

... and Anna (but WHERE, oh WHERE is my beloved) ...

.... and Lydia ... 

... and Amanda ...

At last ...

Yes the bridesmaids are pretty, but NOW comes my bride ...

Step, by step she ascends towards the alter.

"You have stolen my heart, my sister, my bride; 

       you have stolen my heart ... "

"Jeff and Wendy, do you willingly give your daughter to Michael ..."

Thankfully, the answer was "Yes", so together we face the alter

Art

In my hands ...

With my bride's hand in mine, we listen to Robert explain the "terms" of the marriage covenant

Tears

Are we ready?

Absolutely

"As the music at the banquet ..."

"... so are you to me ..."

"As the ruby in the setting ... so are you to me"

"Do you, Michael, take Rebekah ..."

"Do you, Rebekah, take Michael ..."

The rings ... man & wife

"For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh." 

Jeff & Wendy giving a up a very precious jewel ...

Are there any rings?

"With this ring ... "

"... I take you ..." 

The prayer

Art

Such stunning contrast

Final moments ... I can only wonder at what she might be thinking

"I know pronounce you man and wife ..."

Post wedding formals

After the ceremony, we snuck off with the photographer for some post wedding formals

Sweetness itself

Art

Art2

Art3

First dance

"Ladies and gentleman, please join me as we welcome the bride and groom"

Our grand entrance

"So she dances ..."

"She's spinning between constellations and dreams, her rhythm is my beating heart ..."

"... calling me silently"

"I am my beloved's and my beloved is mine"

Cake

Ah that looks to good to eat ... 

A delicate touch

I return the favor.

Red ... black ... and white ... such vibrant colors

Farewell ...

And so the time came ...

... to bid everyone a very fond farewell. Thank you all so much for all you've done! We love you all.

Then, as rumor would have it, they decided to have fun ... WITHOUT US! Can you believe it? Well ...

Y'all come again, ya hear?

For all those who weren't there .... a sneak preview

I LOVE YOU REBEKAH!

Hello World, 

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This is very likely my last post as a single man. I may post some rehearsal dinner pics, but I'm not sure. Anyway, as I was saying, this is very likely my last post as a single man. I don't know what the future may hold and how marriage shall mix with blogging. However, I'm still determined that the Art of every day life must live on. Perhaps this blog too shall live on ... we shall see. 

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Saturday is the big day ... a day I have waited my whole life for. "Who can find a virtuous wife? For her worth is far above rubies".  Rebekah is already worth more then rubies to me! A life together is about to begin. I do, of course, covet your prayers that the household we establish we be a Godly one, a joyful one and a loving one. 

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Until next time then ...

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As always,

Love in Christ Jesus,

Michael Thomas

Changing times

"My, oh my
Look how the time flies
Look how the world changes 
in the blink of an eye"

One of Grandma's favorite pastimes

... interrupted by well wishers on her big day.

... where were we?

Happy Birthday Grandma!

Shall we introduce Grandma to our great tradition?

Aleutian cake art

Allow me a short history ...

My great grandfather, a poser was he

Whether drinking water, brew or even tea

Little could he have known he started a trend so big ...

Grand Adventure III thanks him and the early camera rig

Memories last for perpetuity 

Dreams of the home land across the sea

And that's that, the blog goes all the way back to my Great Great Grandfather who came from the mother country so that his Great Great Grandson could have a blog. Well, maybe that's not exactly how the story goes, but I think if he'd of know ... perhaps he'd of started the first "Grand Adventure"

Will we every finish our book?

Packing

A sense of finality

I will say, I'm really looking forward to not dealing with "bunk bureaus" ... or for a while at least ;-)

That satisfying feeling when you reach the much disliked article of clothing you can finally ditch

And so ... the drawer stands barren and empty

The closet must be emptied ...

Meanwhile ...

The perfect last bit ...

If I didn't know any better, I'd say that looked POSED!

Rehersal dinner prep

The latest in fashion

Dance practice ...

Ok ... since I've been rather tight lipped about any "actual wedding plans", I'm going to keep the tradition and maintain the suspense. Stay tuned ...

Oops ... pause, there's a camera present

Committee meetings ...

Things turn personal

Glad we weren't in on that one ;-)

Our final meal as couples

Fine Dining meets Fine Company

A very special key

Thank you Mrs. Waitress

Peaceful & happy 

Moral of the story, if you wait for the "fine dining" until AFTER the wedding details are planned and in motion, you will be much more relaxed (as we are THIS day) to just enjoy the meal

"Michael and Rebekah won't out do US!"

Art

Science & art ... it's all around us

Shall we enter the laboratory

A weird sort of "Art" emerges from the frozen depths

So long! Remember, ART ... it's all around us. 

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Y'all come again, ya hear?

Hello One ... Hello All 

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Time is flying by like a runaway train. I almost can't believe I only have one more Saturday between now and the one I shall marry the love of my life. 

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God has blessed us amazingly through all the friends and folks we know. 

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Thank you all for your prayers. Please continue. So much more to do!

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As always, 

Love in Christ Jesus,

Michael Thomas

Webmaster for the Grand Adventure III

Dance lessons

Dance lessons ... no, really!

Ok mister. Now that's goin' to far!

"Righhht here"

What are YOU looking at?

"Think 'up', 'high', 'graceful'" ... let's just say, I tried thinkin' it.

Practice

Hmm ... I think  mom switched our gifts

The sword of the spirit

Don't you just love the new leather smell?

An old treasure is uncovered

Another old treasure ... what a work of art

Veiled

Un-veiled ... sucess

Trying my brother's hoodies on. Your vote?

"She sets about her work vigorously; 

       her arms are strong for her tasks." Proverbs 31

Cleps

Honing his skills

Sharpening his mind

Someday, he will be a warrior CLEP Taker. 

Hmm ... must of been a good book

"Be warned, my son, of anything in addition to them. 

      Of making many books there is no end, and much study wearies the body." Ecclesiastes

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Sometimes, much study requires a little break

So ... How is your Kung Fu?

Thing One & Thing Two Engaged in an Epic Battle for Domininance

Sidekick makes his entrance

Sidekick steps out of the way as the warriors clash. Sidekick proceeds to take pictures

In the end ...

... who has won?  Who knows ... back to the Saxon Math boys ... 

Random & preparation

Remember "one of those days" ... turned out, I was wrong! It was one of those weeks ;-)

Wedding ceremony prep! (Chris ... Chris! Let's focus here)

"The flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of birds is come ..."

Art

Sneak previews!

Debut of the up and coming band "Hobo" (Matthew 8:20). Our corporate sponsor is Brooks Management. Booking performances at Gillete Stadium in 2015. Tickets available for a discount.

How much anguish has this one error caused teens all across the country?

Entrepreneurship

Leaders take a stand

"A wise man hears and increases knowledge"

Our edumacation

A dutiful audience

Chief Logistics Officer

A family vision ignites

Ignition point

Still focused

Art

Dave share's his work experience, "So I was sold on this idea that the company was right on the growth curve of the elbow on this hockey stick. Problem was, once I was hired ... the hockey stick broke"

So ... the question is, "What are YOU waiting for?"

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Got entrepreneur?

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See ya! Y'all come again, ya hear?

Folks,

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Can you believe it, LESS THEN THREE WEEKS!

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This Saturday was the "Jack and Jill shower". Talk about an amazing blessing. We received so many great gifts that I started thinking, perhaps the best economic stimulus plan would be to encourage more weddings. The economy would just turn right around. (can some email that to President Obama for me?)

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Anyway, thank you a million times over to everyone who helped and gave so generously. 

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Please continue to keep us in prayer. 

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As always,

Love in Christ Jesus,

Michael Thomas

Webmaster for the Grand Adventure III

Leaky times

One of those days turns into one of those weeks ;-)

Ok, well SOMEBODY didn't bury this thing nearly deep enough!

I hope that's mostly just frozen shower water.

Ice

Such beauty ... yet such destruction

Clean up for the shower

I bet THAT was real effective

Hard to believe ... soon their will be LOTS of people

A dedicated crew

"... Give us this day our daily bread ..."

A minute of laughter and Godly advice

The shower - yes, I guess all the guy viewers out their might want to run. But hey ... I lived through it, so I DARE YOU to look at the pics.

No hesitation with the paparazzi here

"mingling" (actually I pretty much passed off my camera for this event)

Jeff opens things up ...

Someone's portrait #1

Someone's portrait #2 (hi Mark!)

Gosh, and this isn't even my wedding!

Exhausted!

Presents ... oh boy! Oh BOY (I just LOVED opening gifts in front of 250 people! ;-)

That can't be FIVE CROCK POTS! Who needs FIVE crock pots? Chili anyone? (slightly exaggerated)

"Hello _____ family, we are about to open YOUR gift! Are you paying attention?"

From my sister and hunko Jordo

Artsy Help

Cups! Now, AT LAST, I can drink water.

"Mom, what is he DOING?"

Secretaries

Art

Thanks Amanda (and Melanie, and Lydia .... and of course ALL  the folks who gave us so many gifts so that they could even need to help us) 

Are we really seeing this?

Merlot?

Jolly John

Crazy crowds

A genuine hobbit baby

The "Not-so-newly wed game" 

All the guys troop off

The crowd listens in amusement to the women's answers

In the other room, we entertain ourselves to pass the time

Good answer, probably not the right one, judging by the amused faces, but still ... good answer

Ok, I'll be perfectly honest, Rebekah and I did not stand a chance at this game! I think it was slightly unfair that all the other couples actually LIVE with each other. 

Yup ... tied for last

What famous woman does your wife remind you of?

A victory! (at this point Rebekah and I were no longer "tied" for last. We were just plain LAST)

Matthew & Becky score a victory!

One of the highlights for me was a song Rebekah's cousin wrote for her. It just blew me away!

Bravo!

Hugs all around

Well folks, that's all for now. Y'all come again, ya hear? 

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Again THANK YOU EVERYONE!