The Celebration Continues

The past 25 years have been exciting, but thank God, they have not been the drug induced craziness of the Eagles song. It has been more of....

The Celebration Continues

The Celebration continues

The Celebration continues...

This song says most of what I feel about our 25 years of marriage and family....Oh, the adventure...

...If I gave you my hand would you take it
And make me the happiest man in the world
If I told you my heart couldn't beat one more minute without you, girl
Would you accompany me to the edge of the sea
Help me tie up the ends of a dream
I gotta know, would you go with me
I love you so, so would you go with me...

The Celebration continues...

I have always loved this song by Bryan Adams, it expresses the passion I have for Shelley. This version is from a concert in Spain.


To really love a woman
To understand her - you gotta know her deep inside
Hear every thought - see every dream
N' give her wings - when she wants to fly
Then when you find yourself lyin' helpless in her arms
Ya know ya really love a woman

When you love a woman you tell her that she's really wanted
When you love a woman you tell her that she's the one
Cuz she needs somebody to tell her that it's gonna last forever
So tell me have you ever really - really really ever loved a woman?

To really love a woman
Let her hold you - til ya know how she needs to be touched
You've gotta breathe her - really taste her
Til you can feel her in your blood
N' when you can see your unborn children in her eyes
Ya know ya really love a woman

When you love a woman you tell her that she's really wanted
When you love a woman you tell her that she's the one
Cuz she needs somebody to tell her that you'll always be together
So tell me have you ever really - really really ever loved a woman?

You got to give her some faith - hold her tight
A little tenderness - gotta treat her right
She will be there for you, takin' good care of you
Ya really gotta love your woman...


Here is a version by Il Divo in Spanish, actually one of my favorites...

DO NOT spend tens of thousands of $$$$ on a wedding...it's foolish.

I perform weddings on a regular basis. It is part of being a pastor I enjoy most. I enjoy helping a nervous couple through what is a simple process of becoming legally, "man and wife", helping them be at ease from the rehearsal through the formal part of the service. I enjoy most the weddings of folks I know.

Yesterday, I officiated the wedding of Hannah Gwaltney to Eric Piper. Eric is a computer geek from Grants Pass Oregon while Hannah calls Durham home. Hannah is the oldest daughter of dear family friends Will and Carrie Gwaltney. Will and Carrie have a great family and we are truly blessed to have them in our family life.

It always brings me great joy when a couple decides not to break the bank of family and friends to hold a wedding celebration. You do NOT have to spend tens of thousands of dollars to produce a beautiful wedding. After twenty years of officiating, let me tell you this one wedding truth; the larger and more expensive a wedding, the more stress that will be piled on bride, brides' mother, groom and family. My many wedding experiences have borne this out. With a large expensive wedding: there are a few folks that experience great joy on the wedding day, the florist, the photographer, the cake baker, the caterer, the dress makers, the formal wear rental agent, the party rental salesman, the limo company and the banker that gave daddy an equity loan. They leave the wedding with pockets full of $$$$$, whats not to be happy about;-)

Eric and Hannah were far too wise and much too frugal to go with Brides Magazine and the multi-billion dollar industry standard. They listened to the advice of Will and Carrie and carefully looked at the assets they had. Will and Carrie, Eric and Hannah looked for a facility that could handle about fifty to seventy-five guests that could also double as the banquet area. They found a local eatery in down town Raleigh that turned out to be a great choice.

Eric and Hannah had their wedding celebration at The Red Room. The Red Room is a tapas lounge on S. Gregson St along a trendy section of the capital city. Hanna had shown me pictures a few weeks ago, but when I got there Saturday morning, I saw they had made a great decision. The RR staff had set up what could be called a small "sanctuary" on one side of the eatery, while tables and preparations were going on on the other side. A center aisle with seating on both sides gave the effect of a small chapel in Europe with the dark, rich colors of the interior. A glass wall was on one side looking out on the activity of Raleigh, but as the wedding was at 11am, the streets were virtually empty until after the ceremony and photos had taken place.

We had a quick rehearsal and the ladies went off to change clothes. Eric and his groomsmen looked sharp in matching suits and ties, which by the way, they will be able to use at a later date for job interviews. Hannah's father and brothers were also dressed in business suits and were the vision of proper wedding attire. As we waited for guests to arrive and the ladies to change clothes, folks were able to visit. The RR staff was busy, cooking food and making preparation for a party. They had ample wait staff, bar staff and at least two managers directing the operation.

At 11am the guests had arrived and all was ready. The music for the processional began, being played over the lounges sound system and directed by the brides' brother. All the ladies were wearing spring colors and all the dresses, save the brides, will easily be used again in the future. The beauty of the simple bouquets was only eclipsed by the beauty of the brides' mother Carrie;) Hannah looked great in her white gown and all went off well. The guests were asked to step outside while photos were made and the eatery went from chapel to banquet hall.

The photos were handled by a family friend who is VERY good with a camera and will be a tiny fraction of the cost of a big-name-professional. Before 12 noon the photos were made and the party began. The Red Room did an awesome job with food and wait staff. The food was served on the bar in front of the open kitchen and the smells of Spain were in the air as all feasted on great food. Check out the menus on line, they served us everything on the tapas menu, plus all three of the paellas. In my humble opinion, The Red Room would be a great choice for anyone who wants folks to remember the party after a wedding instead of the color of the bridesmaids' dresses.

Will and Carrie, Eric and Hannah spent the money where it really matters, in throwing a great party AFTER what is in reality a 10 minute ceremony. Six months after a BIG EXPENSIVE wedding, 95% of the folks in attendance will NOT remember the color of the dresses, the flowers, the music, etc... They will remember great food, great music, great wine(if you like) and a great party. Spend your money on the party, all the rest really does not matter. The other 5% percent that will remember, they have been brain washed by a multi-billion dollar wedding industry that desires to separate you from your money. Don't fall into the trap and damn the social section of your local news paper.

May God bless Eric and Hannah Piper as they form a new family to bless this planet with more of God's life!

Monday update: Carrie weighs in with her view as the brides' mom.

The Celebration Continues...a side note.

Smooching honeybees....nothing like a little kiss from the one you love.

Here in the Chalmers family, not only do we love each other, but we really LOVE the honeybees...

The Celebration continues...

Some of you could be new readers to Woodshavings. My wife and I are celebrating 25 years of marriage in 2008. January one is actually our anniversary, but 25 years is such a milestone, I wanted to celebrate the entire year. Each month I am posting a video of a song that communicates my love for my wife and my joy in the 25 years we have shared together.

Some twenty years ago, Shelley and I decided to have children. We were both working and the money was excellent. After many conversations and prayer we decided we were going to become a one income family. That decision has cost us much in monetary accumulation, but the pay off in our family and the beauty of our children has been 100% pure gold. We may not have much "stuff", but after 25 years I am very comfortable owning mostly blues jeans, used cars, used furniture and a rented house. We take great joy in each other and our family.

25 Year Celebration Continues

Hey, sweet heart, I hope you don't mind...

At the same time that Shelley and I are celebrating 25 years of marriage, we are concerned about the state of marriage and families in the family of Jesus. The past few months have brought yet more news of friends and acquaintances giving up on a marriage and family. We ache for spouses and children who must walk a long and dark road to "normalcy". George Barna has just released new research on the state of marriage in the church and outside of faith in Jesus. Oh, may God's grace and mercy flow through the marriages and families of this nation. May the passionate love of Jesus be poured out on homes and communities and may divorce attorneys need seek new employment.

25 year celebration continues

After 25 years of marriage, I still love her with a great and abiding passion...




Here is a live version of the song by Sting...

25 year celebration continues.

Shelley and I have been married 25 years. We are celebrating the entire year of 2008.

This is just the way I feel about her....



Here is another version by the Fendertones...

Happy Anniversary to us!!

Twenty-five years ago today I married my high school sweetheart. We were kids, struggling to love each other and navigate into adulthood. We had times of great joy and the stumbling steps of mistakes and words carelessly spoken. In all, we were committed to love each other and build a family together. God's grace was always present, filling in the valleys of each of our lives with His love and patience.

Do not look to me as a model of Godly manhood. You will be disappointed. I love Him and desire to serve Him ,but daily I am reminded that this man has feet of clay and many times a head of stone. The 25 years I have lived with and loved my wife are more a testament to God's grace than my great spirituality.

Do not look to Shelley as your model of the Proverbs 31 woman. Early in our marriage she came to the conclusion that Proverbs 31 is a spiritual fantasy of a poetic mind. The woman she is and wife she has become has more to do with God's grace than any "magic" passage memorized. She would prefer to be known as a Titus 2 woman, but she does like the part about having servants from Proverbs 31.

We love each other. What more needs to be said. I could fill these pages with the sicky sweet words of the poet, but those thoughts and feelings are not for all to see. They belong to my wife and her only.

We have decided to celebrate our 25 years of marriage for an entire year. All of 2008 will be a celebration of our marriage and family. Come and join us. Come join us for a meal or cup of coffee or even an email card. We do have a little experience...25 years at least. And we are more than glad to share our lives and our family with all takers.

Shelley,
I love you! It has been one unbelievable ride. I thank God for the life we have and the family we have built. I hope all the rest are jealous!!


Life Is A Highway Lyrics


Whooo umm yeah...
Life's like a road that you travel on
When there's one day here and the next day gone
Sometimes you bend, sometimes you stand
Sometimes you turn your back to the wind
There's a world outside ev'ry darkened door
Where blues won't haunt you anymore
Where brave are free and lovers soar
Come ride with me to the distant shore
We won't hesitate
To break down the garden gate
There's not much time left today

[Chorus:]
Life is a highway
I wanna ride it all night long
If you're going my way
I wanna drive it all night long

Through all these cities and all these towns
It's in my blood and it's all around
I love you now like I loved you then
This is the road and these are the hands
From Mozambique to those Memphis nights
The Khyber Pass to Vancouver's lights

Knock me down get back up again
You're in my blood
I'm not a lonely man
There's no load I can't hold
Road so rough this I know
I'll be there when the light comes in
Just tell 'em we're survivors

[Chorus]

Gimme gimme gimme gimme yeah

[Chorus]

There was a distance between you and I (between you and I)
A misunderstanding once
But now we look it in the eye

Ooooo...Yeah!

There ain't no load that I can't hold
Road so rough this I know
I'll be there when the light comes in
Just tell 'em we're survivors

[Chorus: (x3)]
Life is a highway
I wanna ride it all night long
If you're going my way
I wanna drive it all night long

Gimme gimme gimme gimme yeah


Here is the Cars version of the video...just for my daughters.