Tonya and Bud's Wedding Pictures and Reception

I had to get some of these pictures off of Jonathan's phone, and I was gone yesterday with him part of the day, working together and having a picnic by a stream, for our anniversary.)

The wedding party

Tonya's family

Parents

The bride and groom

They were content with just a few pictures, and then I already posted about Bud giving Tonya her first ride as a wife in the "Budget Limo"!

Now here they are ready to cut the cake.

I loved the cowboy hat, lasso, and horseshoe.

There were other big cakes for the guests, but this little one was for bride and groom.

The wedding cakes were swirls of blue and white--

like a combination of the joys and trials that they would face in life.

 This man sang a very cute "Peanut Butter and Jelly Love Song" which I was able to find online.

It included these words:

"I'm Peanut Butter and you are Jelly,
we're so happy on our little piece of bread.
I remember, the first time that I saw you,
sitting across the cupboard, with all your jelly friends.

And you're so sweet, and I am chunky.
You're low fat, well I'm working on that,
cuz I'm Peanut Butter and you are Jelly,
and we're so happy on our little piece of bread...

"But you're still sweet and I am chunky.
You're low fat, well I'm working on that,
cuz I'm peanut butter and you are jelly,
and we're so happy on our little piece of bread. "

"I'm so glad, that I discovered, you in the cupboard,
I hope that you're glad too. From now on we're stuck together

but what could be better than being stuck with you."

Loved the tractor decor.

Tables decked with burlap and sunflowers, with chocolate kisses.

After the cake was cut and song sung, side doors of this barn were opened and we welcomed the fresh air.

Cornfields behind the vase of sunflowers.

A few more pictures are coming, of our tour of the farm.

I don't think I've ever enjoyed a wedding quite as much as this one.

Just loved it!

God bless you, Tonya and Bud and family!

Tonya and Bud's "Budget Limo"

I heard that Bud's sons didn't know for sure if Tonya the Bride would actually ride in this thing, 

but here they stand, like the mischievous fellows they are, 

with folded hands and broad grins on their faces--

waiting with this "Budget Limo"!

Sure enough, Tonya did what a versatile new farmer's bride would do--

she laughed heartily and plunked herself right down in this wheelbarrow,

and off her groom went, 

a huge smile on his face!

The sons and grandchildren followed in merry pursuit,

blowing whistles and truck horns!

Thanks to Tonya's gracious sense of humor,

it was one of the funniest, most hilarious things we ever saw!

I don't know what all those guests thought who were already enjoying the shredded pork sandwiches, potato salad, baked beans, pickles, and potato chips...

but who cares?

This was between the bride and groom and family and wedding party
and unconventional bystanders like me

and we were having loads of fun!

Sometimes we miss out on having a lot of fun because we have too big an ego to make room for humor,

or we worry too much about what people will think.

Tonya and Bud didn't seem to worry. 

While they made their way to the food table, people around visited and had a good time.

Here Sis. Gault is holding Sis. Rosemary Stratton's newest grandbaby.

Sis. Stratton, (far left in the bright pink blouse) has been fighting cancer and been through chemo.

Her hair is starting to grow back in.

A dear Christian lady. May God bless and be with her and her family, all of whom are serving the Lord, at least four of the five, and maybe all five, in full time ministry as far as I know.

Gifts were piled on hay bales.

I had sewed a clothespin apron for the new farmer's wife,
"budget gifts," if you please.
Because the prairie rancher's wife has to have a budget, too,
and if my work at home doesn't earn money,
I can at the very least save money for my hard-working husband
by schooling my children at home,
altering goodwill clothes for our college daughter, and
working with my own hands to make wedding gifts.

Rose gave a dishcloth and scrubbies she'd knitted.

Loved this "Budget Gift Bag" we got at Dollar Tree!

Inside were these "New Farmer's Wife's Grocery Sacks" that one of the girls had made.

The "Budget Limo" was parked by the gifts, probably to take the gifts to their final resting place later!

Bud and Tonya just found a spot to sit with Bud's grandchildren.

They did not have a special table for the wedding party, and I had to admit I admired that. 

Maybe there was no special reason behind this choice, but I just thought it was mighty nice of them to just sit down with the rest of us instead of having a special table.  

Sometimes when people do differently than others,

it makes you think a little bit--

that is, if you are thoughtful enough to think

instead of just scorn or criticize something because it's different than what you expect.

It is probably easier to go into a marriage when you've been simple, humble and economical in regard to your wedding, than to try to have all the bells and whistles and be somebody big for a day, and then have to meet the hard realities of life within a few hours or a few days. 

So I could really appreciate Bud's and Tonya's simplicity and humility in this wedding.

How they weren't riding high horses, expensive limosines, or even fancy tractors.

I mean, a wheelbarrow of all things!

It brought tears to my eyes, later, thinking how Christ humbled Himself to mingle with men.

Sam climbed up the stairs around this silo later as we waited around with others to watch the milking (more pictures on that later). 

Sam loved being up there high in the sky, as high as he could go, looking all over the farm.

But then he started down.

His poor mother watched as he stuck first his feet and then his long legs over the edge and onto that first step up there.

And did the Heavenly Father watch perhaps a little anxiously

(if Divinity could experience anxiety)

as His Son stepped over the threshold of heaven and began the descent to earth?

 As He was born in a stable, of all places.

As He just came down and down and down,

walking where humanity walked,

among the least and lowliest, 

the farmers and the carpenters and the poor,

feeding the hungry and taking the children in His arms,

feeding His lambs,

seeking the lost,

rescuing the sinners

and shepherding His sheep.

Bud and Tonya's unique wedding was a little picture of Him Who left the glories of heaven

to become a man...
,

to suffer and submit even unto death,

so that we could gain eternal life!
(And more pictures coming later!)

Delightfully Unconventional Barn Wedding--Tonya Sickler and Bud Poe

We had no idea what we were getting into when we decided to attend our dear friend Tonya Sickler's wedding to Bud Poe, (actually William, son of Oscar Poe, and cousin of Winfield).

I just looked forward to it with all my heart and was so thankful the Lord allowed us the privilege.

I had talked to Tonya a few months ago when Crystal at Penn View first heard the news that Tonya was engaged.

Tonya told me the story of how two friends who knew both Tonya and Bud talked to them about each other.

Bud's first wife had died of cancer a few years ago.

He was quite a lot older than Tonya, but when Tonya is already--woops!--well, she is not exactly a spring chick, either!

But it is quite different than a younger person considering the same situation.

(This is the barn!)

Tonya approached their getting acquainted cautiously, slowly, and prayerfully, but it wasn't long before they knew they were for each other.

I was thrilled for them both.

I knew Tonya had wished so much to get married, and she had waited a very long time.

God was just saving her for this very special man!

My heart goes out so to someone who has lost a spouse, and I am so thankful Tonya and Bud found each other!

It is especially good when they are found in the fear of God,

and when both sides of the families are okay with the marriage as they were in Tonya's case.

That is such a blessing!

Tonya's (and our) friend Joy Gault was guest book attendant...

beside a bale of hay that held a basket for cards.

Fern Lefever, Sis. Gault, and Naomi French all traveled over from Colorado Springs, too.

The old pews were decorated with tulle, bows of burlap with teal ribbon, and clip-on sunflowers Tonya said they got at Big Lots!

It was a very laid back wedding with only the basic formalities, 

and here Tonya's sister is quickly sweeping sawdust off the carpet in the front before the wedding procession.

Loved the simple stump decorated with teal kerchief and bouquet of sunflowers.

 The guests gather in the pews while the keyboard is played on the platform behind the hay bales.

The groomsmen were Bud's own older sons--what a blessing that they were so agreeable and made their father's wedding to Tonya so smooth and fun.

They are to be greatly commended for all they did to make it a happy occasion.

The maid of honor was Tonya's sister.

The other bridesmaid was Bud's youngest daughter.

This was truly a family wedding.

I loved the western shirts these farmers all wore. 

The officiating ministers were Tonya's father and Bro. Ken Thompson (who told Tonya about Bud). 

Bud's grandchildren were flower girl and Bible bearer.

"Here Comes the Bride!"

Never thought of a bridal procession "down the sawdust trail," did you?

So the wedding ceremony begins.

All Bud's grandchildren sing "Gentle Shepherd."

Bud and Tonya watching them, and all of us asking the Shepherd to guide this new marriage and bless it with His love and peace.

The wedding prayer offered by Ken Thompson.

His vows to her, holding her hand in both his.

Her vows to him, holding his hand in both hers.

I just missed the kiss!

Aww.

Three of Bud's children sing "We Are a Household of Faith."

Very well done.

Presenting the new Mr. and Mrs.

Waiting our turn to go back and greet them.

Carrie has the wedding ceremony in her lap--with the sawdust floor in the background.

Going through the line!

And I will have lots more pictures later of the reception, etc.

Bud's youngest son and Tonya's brother were the ushers.

All congratulating the Iowa farmer and his new wife.

This wedding was delightfully unconventional--something that the slightly unconventional part of me could really admire and enjoy. 

To our surprise, an "Old-Time Barn Meeting" was being planned in the same barn the very next week. 

The evangelist would be our own much loved Harry Plank with his own unconventional but highly appealing sense of humor. 

Here is the announcement tacked to the wall. 

And I ponder.

This wedding was unconventional by choice.

By happy choice.

A farmer and his bride planned this brief, sacred, and happy wedding in somewhat their own turf--

farm grounds--fragrances and all!

What if God--or my husband, horrors!-- would want me to do something unconventional?
Would I respond with a prompt and unyielding "No,"
and turn up my nose--
and miss out on a lot of special blessings?
Or would I respond with willingness to look beyond conventionalities,
and envision a wedding in a barn,
 
an anniversary on a Mission Helps trip,
a vacation at a rustic mountain campsite,
or a mission field in our own neighborhood or city or state,
or a prospect in the gloomiest and most negative situation,
or a redeemed soul in that person we can't abide?
Beauty from ashes is unconventional.
Home schooling is unconventional.

A large family is unconventional.
A stay-at-home mother, when a second income could make a big difference, is unconventional.
Having your last baby at age 43 is unconventional.

Dressing yourself--and your big and little daughters modestly--is unconventional.
Keeping at the job year after year after year regardless of what others think of me is unconventional.
Am I willing to be unconventional
for the sake of my Heavenly Bridegroom?