Mr. & Mrs. Ethan Hammond

Well, they gone and done it! They done got hitched!

Ethan and Grace tied the knot 

at 6:00 pm on September 28th, 2019. 

Their special day was held at the Hunter Barn in Waynesville, GA.

The wedding was held outside, behind the barn, with the reception held inside the barn. The two of them wanted a short but sweet ceremony, which Dad was able to officiate. While the guests starting munching on the delicious variety of hors d'oeuvres that Grace's family had made, the family and bridal party were outside getting wedding pictures taken. Once back inside, Ethan and Grace cut the cake (which Grace's family also made).

After cutting the cake, the two shared a tenderly, slow dance together, followed up by a dance between Grace and her daddy.

Sweet friends, Amber and Brittany Gullickson, traveled in to help out with whatever needed doing for the wedding, including cutting up 150 Jalapeno peppers! Unfortunately, Mom and Amber didn't wear gloves while cutting up the peppers and ended up with "Jalepeno hands" for a full 12 hours! They both spent rehearsal day with their hands in a bowl of ice water! 

Greta, Amber, Grace, Ethan, Griff, and Brittany

Mom and Savannah all dressed up!

 Saying a quick prayer before starting.

The evening ended with some dancing and then a fire sparkler send off complete with a quick firework display. It was a lovely day.

The couple is now enjoying their 2 week honeymoon!

Congratulations Ethan and Grace! May the Lord bless your marriage immensely!

And welcome to the family Grace!

Oh Baby!

Since this is the season for announcing...

1 + 1 = 5 !

Our little family is growing! We are excited to announce that Baby #3 is coming mid January!

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you."

Jeremiah 1:5a

(July 4th, 2019)

I feel great with this pregnancy; it's been my best one yet. A lot of people think that this means it might be a girl; I'm just hoping it means my body knows what it's doing by the third time around! LOL! 

 These two little fellas are ready to be big brothers. They just got bunk beds which they are thrilled about. They have been asking everyone who comes to our house if they want to see their bunk beds!

They grow up all too fast. Slow down, my little loves.

Matthew and I recently hiked to the top of Mount Mitchell (highest point east of the Mississippi). It wasn't that long of a hike, but he took it slow for me. We had a great time doing it and the 360 degree view was amazing!

(August 19th, 2019)

Praising the Lord for His sweet blessings!

Once Upon An Engagement

Yup...you heard that right. 

Ethan and Grace are now engaged! 

Okay, so I'm a little late in posting this. Ethan asked Grace to marry him on July 20.

(We were on a trip when it happened and my computer crashed on that trip, so I'm finally getting around to sharing the news.)

The lovely ring he picked out for her.

A happy couple.

 They are currently in the thick of wedding plans and house hunting, so keep them in your prayers as things are lining up.  The date for the wedding is September 28th.

"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails."

1 Corinthians 13:4-8a

A couple of official engagement photos for your viewing pleasure!

It's A GIRL!!!!

I thought this title would catch everyone's attention, but I bet it's not the sort of announcement you were all expecting!!!

Ethan is courting!

This special young lady's name is Grace Elizabeth Adams and the two of them seem to be having a grand time getting to know each other.

Ethan and Grace met through the Florida Shindig that we all attended this past January. After several emails back and forth, the two families decided they should meet. Grace's family lives in Georgia, a little over 3 hours away, so they drove up to Aiken to spend the day with my family, as pictured below. Everyone hit it off really well and Ethan decided to pursue a relationship with Grace. She agreed and they began an official courtship.

 

Below is a picture of Ethan and Grace with Greta and Griffin (Grace's brother and sister).

It's funny to see Ethan actually interested in a girl. For a couple of years now, I've been watching him when we are at different functions to see if he ever takes interest in a particular girl or if he treats any of the young ladies special. But he has always treated them all the same way and gave no inclination to liking any certain girl. I began to wonder when my little brother would ever take interest in a girl! (rolling eyes) 

So it's been sweet to see him treat Grace in an extra special way. He later told me that he just "knew how to be discreet".  Discreet indeed!!!

~ ~ ~ 

This picture was taken right after they started courting. 

With Grace being a Georgia girl, she has a thick southern accent. But the funny thing is she says Ethan is the one with an accent. Dad, being silly, likes to do his best to try to imitate their accent with the corniest Southern phrases he can come up with.

At a dance they recently attended.

I think Savannah and Greta have both been enjoying being sister chaperones. 

We are thankful for this sweet time in both Ethan and Grace's lives. As we've mentioned in both Jordan & Caleb's courtship as well as mine and Matthew's, courtship is a time for a couple to get to know each other better, with the purpose of marriage in mind, to see if that is the way the Lord is leading. Courtship is also done in the context of having chaperones around for accountability's sake. If, through courtship, two people find out that they are not the ones that the Lord has for each other, then no courtship is a failure, because it has done what it was designed to do.

Proverbs 3:5-6

"Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths."

I'm sure both Grace and Ethan would appreciate your prayers as they take this time to get to know each other and to discern the Lord's will for their future.