Happy 1st Birthday Fiona!

Posted by joyinthelittlethings in Family Life, Fiona, Special Occassions October 15, 2011

Fiona the day she was born!

The Lord brought our dear daughter, Fiona, into the world on this day last year. The past year has been full of fun “firsts” with Fiona: first outing; first car ride; first airplane trip; first smile; first bath; first time rolling over from her tummy to her back; first hockey game (she watched!); first tournament watching Daddy play table tennis; first word, “Dadada”; first time crawling; first swim; first food… The Lord has blessed Fiona with very good health in her first year- she hardly had a sniffle! She is such a blessing to Samson and me. Our home has much joy and laughter because of her smiling face.

We celebrated her birthday today with both sides of the family gathering at our house… about 25 people! Fiona was a little overwhelmed, but she enjoyed herself and is taking a long nap now after such an exciting day.

Showing her how to blow out her candle

Happy Fiona!

Getting a "grasp" of how to eat a cupcake- she loved it!

Seeing how her new baby doll can "suck" its' thumb

Cupcakes I decorated

Fiona's fancy cupcake

One year ago…

Posted by joyinthelittlethings in Family Life, Special Occassions January 9, 2011

January 9, 2010

One year ago today, my beloved husband and I exchanged wedding vows. I thought I loved Samson on our wedding day (which I did, very much!), but our love for each other has grown and blossomed in so many ways during the past year! There are so many ways in which he shows his love for me; he washes me with the Word of God, makes me laugh, leaves little notes around the house, encourages me after a long day, loves our daughter and works hard coaching and playing in tournaments to provide for our family. I am so honored to be his wife and to share life with him. He is my Prince Charming and was worth waiting for! Happy Anniversary, my dearly beloved!

1st Anniversary!

: Fiona wanted to taste our wedding cake that we saved!

Then the LORD God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone; I will make him a helper suitable for him.” Genesis 2:18

Welcome Fiona Marie!!!

Posted by joyinthelittlethings in Family Life, Special Occassions November 12, 2010

Our sweet little girl, Fiona Marie!

On October 15th in the wee morning hours (12:41 am), our precious daughter, Fiona Marie, was born! She weighed 8 pounds, 3 1/2 ounces and was 22 inches long! The Lord provided me with His strength for the labor and delivery, for which I am so very thankful. I was very blessed with an excellent support team in Samson and my mother who coached me, along with the midwife and hospital staff. We arrived home from the hospital the following day and have been adjusting to life with a little daughter very well. We are so honored by the Lord to be parents to such a sweet blessing!

Our chubby little girl!

Fiona (three days old) and her proud papa!

Blessed momma with Fiona (one week old)

2 weeks old

First Sunday at church wearing a dress I wore as a baby!

Wedding Day, Part 3…

Posted by joyinthelittlethings in Family Life, Special Occassions June 25, 2010

I have a spare minute, so I am going to share a few more pictures from our wedding day! On July 9th we will be married for six months- a wonderful six months!! Our love for each other has deepend with each passing day, and my admiration of my husband’s steadfast character continues to grow. I am so thankful to the Lord for bringing him into my life in His perfect timing!

Enjoy the photos!

Joseph & Timothy, ring-bearers, look up to their new brother-in-law

Emarie, our sweet flower-girl, not quite sure if she wants to smile for the camera!

Trying to get a little smile from her...

The ceremony begins…

Lighting of the candles by our parents

The men waiting for the ceremony to begin...

Preparing the way for the bride!

Exchanging a tender glance before walking down the aisle

Giving of the bride, with a charge by my father to both of us

Neat aisle view

Both our families gathered around us to pray over our marriage

Exchanging our vows

Exchange of rings

First kiss- yea!

Lighting of unity candle

"Introducing Mr. & Mrs. Samson Dubina!"

Floating on clouds... the happily married couple!

Gazing into each other's eyes...

Proud parents encircling the newly married couple

Heather's side of the family

Samson's side of the family

Our wedding party

Yes, we were a bit goofy!!

Artistic effect

Entering reception, "Mr. & Mrs. Samson Dubina!"

Listening to a toast by Rachel, my maid of honor

Cutting of the cake, made by our loving pastor's wife

The receiving line with many happy friends and relatives

Getting ready to leave for our honeymoon

Leaving the wedding... heading to Florida for our honeymoon!

Wedding Day… Part 2

Posted by joyinthelittlethings in Family Life, Special Occassions May 12, 2010

And the pictures continue…

My beloved groom, waiting for me...

Me with my lovely attendants! Marissa, Melody, Rachel, Me, Audre, Amanda and flower girl Emarie

Samson with his sharp lookin' groomsmen! Josh, Sam, Ring-bearer Timothy, Samson, Ring-bearer Joseph, Josiah, Stephen and Calvin

Special moment with my parents

Samson with his loving parents

I thought this picture was beautiful with the bouquets on the hem of my dress!

My Dad giving Samson some last minute advice

My brothers Calvin and Nathan filled the church with melodious prelude music

My brothers Nathan and Jonathan pulling out the aisle runner

Our Wedding Day… Part 1

Posted by joyinthelittlethings in Family Life, Special Occassions May 12, 2010

Our wedding day… January 9th dawned a perfect day, despite the weather forecast predicting more snow on top of the 8 or so inches that had already fallen! I had hoped that our wedding day would be snowy, but not snowing when people would be traveling. God answered our prayers, and right before the wedding started, the sun came out, casting its rays over the afternoon! The photographer captured several pictures before the wedding started of the guys and ladies seperately.

My amazing and wonderful Mom placing my veil in my hair

My Mom is amazing in so many different ways… not only has she home educated all of her children (and continues to home educate those still in school), she also sewed my wedding dress, nearly all the bridesmaids dresses and the flower girl dress. My Mom was a resident seamstress for the three months before our wedding, for which I am so grateful! We saved quite a bit of money and were able to make modest, lovely dresses for all the ladies involved. Thank you, Mom, for your hours and hours of labor on my behalf! I love you so very much!!

~Mother and daughter~

Samson and his Mom enjoying a special moment before the wedding

The excited bride- amazed that THE day has finally arrived!

Samson and his best-man- his Dad and best friend!

Me with my maid of honor, my sweet sister and best friend, Rachel!

We’re Married!!

Posted by joyinthelittlethings in Family Life, Special Occassions April 2, 2010

Mr. & Mrs. Samson Dubina, January 9, 2010

You may be wondering if I’ve fallen off the face of the earth after getting married January 9, 2010?!! I am alive and well; enjoying being married to the best man on earth!

We are settling into our new home well, and I delight in making our home a safe haven for Samson and others who visit us. We have also been traveling quite a bit on the weekends for Samson’s table tennis tournaments. In the midst of setting up our home and traveling, we also found out a few weeks ago that a little one will be joining our household around October 20th! We are thrilled that the LORD has seen fit to bless us with a child!!! So on top of being a homemaker, I have also been more tired lately with the pregnancy, thus the long delay in posting anything on my blog recently. I hope to post a more lengthy post with pictures from the wedding soon.

One Month from Today…

Posted by joyinthelittlethings in Special Occassions December 9, 2009

One month from today Samson and I will be united in holy matrimony!

Our engagement has been filled with joy as we have continued to fall more in love with each other each day. Samson’s evidences of his love for me through his notes and our conversations have made me all the more eager to become his wife and stand by his side until “death do we part”. His love for Christ and his desire to make Him the center of his life and our marriage continues to spur me on to holy living. I am honored to be stepping toward marriage to such a godly man!