Casual Wedding Reception in America...

There is something to be said about details. Little details. Some people would say that is "the small stuff". But when it comes to event planning, those little details can be what sets it apart. July 21 we held a reception for Clint and Linli Boyd who had just returned to America after a wedding May 20 in Hangzhou, China. We had such a great time visiting with everyone. We wanted everything to be simple, fun and relaxed...just a good time to visit with friends and family and a time to introduce Linli to everyone that she had not met here. The Lord has blessed us with so many wonderful people in our lives that we had help coming from all directions! Thanks to everyone that helped. It means the world to us!

Our gang...Clint, Linli, me, Kirsten, Terry, Julie, Bailey and Chris

The Wedding Day is Finally Here!

The wedding day started early morning with lots of folks in the honeymoon suite for pictures.

Linli's makeup artist and a team of photographers kept everyone busy.

We had a traditional Chinese tea ceremony.

This is a way for the bride and groom to show respect to their parents.

The wedding party was all there.

We met some of the sweetest people that day!

 

Told you there were lots of photographers! They followed our every move.

Precious Sunny is in the far right of the background. She hung with me and Terry all day.

I love this girl! She was right there translating for us and helping us understand what was going on!

Thank you sweet Sunny for everything! I want you to come to America to meet the rest of our family!

Clint & Linli with her parents. Wonderful people!

Wish we could have spent even more time getting to know them better.

  

On the balcony of the honeymoon suite. The view was spectacular!

Do we look like we have been drizzled rain on?

 The beautiful bride (and our new daughter-in-law), Linli outside at West Lake

Clint and Jacob Walling. Jacob's grandfather, Darrell Walling, was one of the elders at Westwood Church of Christ before his passing. Jacob lives in Chattanooga, TN and is in China teaching English.

Clint and Jacob actually MET in China! It was wonderful to get to spend time with Jacob and

get to know him. He was a big help to us that day! We appreciate you Jacob!

 Linli and Clint...

 With the bridesmaids...

 Jacob took a photo of me and Terry (told you he was a big help to us)!

The guy on the boat was taking a photo of us while we were taking a photo of him! Too funny!!

This archway was beautiful. My photo doesn't do it justice..

 Some things were actually in English for us tourists!

 More of the bride and groom...

Looks like he's thanking God for sending him Linli! Love this photo!

Kissing balls of beautiful roses before they were placed down the aisle...

A couple of the sweet bridesmaids at the guest register prior to the ceremony. 

The register was a beautiful tree that each guest put his fingerprint on and

then wrote his name on the fingerprint! A beautiful keepsake for the bride and groom.

It drizzled rain most of the day and it was unseasonably cool. Really a blessing!

Much better than being wet with sweat all day.

Notice the girls had put on shirts over their beautiful dresses to keep warm.

 Cupcakes, fruit, soft drinks and juices were served outside immediately after the ceremony.

Just enough to tide everyone over until the big reception.

 Love the sweet paper cones filled with babies breath

This cute little girl is indulging in a cupcake before the ceremony.

 Scriptures were etched on the windows in both English and Chinese.

I love how they used the trunks with the American flag as a way to

bring both countries together.

 Clint waiting on Linli's father to escort his beautiful bride to him...

 Here comes the bride! 

Linli changed into a second wedding gown for the actual ceremony.

The Gospel was presented to everyone.

The ceremony was done in both Chinese and English.

It was absolutely beautiful! A big thank you to Josh Davis for doing the English translations!

 Exchanging rings...

You may kiss your bride!

The wedding party...

 

 John and Jennifer Hardin are doing mission work in China. The are from Henderson, Tennessee.

What a sweet family! Clint and Linli study with them.

Linli's parents Xu Liangqi and Sun Lvyi, Bev McGee (from Murfreesboro, TN)

the happy couple and me and Terry

I suppose that is enough for now. I don't want to wear out my welcome.

I'll finish off the wedding post next time with some random shots and reception photos!

It was an absolutely beautiful wedding of two people that God truly has put together!

Oh yes, it rained showers of blessings after the ceremony! God is so very, very good!

Blessings,

Patty

Let the reception decor begin!

I haven't finished all of my posts about the wedding in China,

but I just wanted to share my burlap wreath with ya.

It's one of the decorations for Clint and Linli's reception.

It will have a twin very soon.

Our China Story Continues...

Love the fruit markets! Especially the fruit that is in the very front of the picture.

I can't remember the name of it but it was delicious!

 Not sure if the bicycle is bringing produce to the market or

delivering it to someone from the market. Either way, I love the bike!

These are very common means of delivery.

Just inside the guard gates of Hangzhou Normal University,

where Clint attends school. His dorm room is just beyond these tall buildings.
Did I mention that his room is on the 6th floor with NO elevator?
I wish I had counted all of the steps during our entire trip. If I could count that far.

We walked past a small grocery store on campus and went inside to look around.

All of the clerks knew him and were so friendly. We met one of his professors and she was so sweet.

I love the flowers in the photo. These were all in separate pots.

Hum...who would have ever thought of that?

Notice I have a pink umbrella in my hand. You know what they say -- "when in Rome".
Well when in China it's ok to use an umbrella to shield yourself from the sun.
Smart idea if you ask me. So if you see me walking around town with my umbrella
in the sunshine, don't think anything about it. I tend to like that practice. ;-)

Clint and Dad on campus. We were very impressed with the school.

After we visited the university we walked a block or so to a KFC a had some lunch.

It was almost just like in America. We enjoyed our lunch and then went to visit a couple

from Knoxville, Tennessee that are in Hangzhou teaching English and doing mission work

through Laurel Church of Christ in Knoxville. Such a sweet couple.

Clint and Linli and others meet there to study Bible and spread the Gospel with the Chinese 

people that want to learn English. 

Meet Ron and Marti...

Did I mention that they live in a 4th floor (or was it 5th floor) apartment with no elevator?

They are troopers. See how tired I look? I sat down to rest on a rock wall while Clint went

in a store to get us a bottle of water on the way to Ron and Marti's. Something stung my backside!

I never did figure out what it was but it gave me cold chills for a while.Scared me just a bit.

But by the time we arrived at Ron and Marti's I was fine. Exhausted but fine. 

Marti and Ron's apartment was small and sparsely furnished. Just enough to get by.

Ron and Marti were leaving to return to Knoxville the day after we visited.

Ron is a retired dentist and they own an antique shop on Campbell Station Road in Knoxville.

I hope we can visit with them next time we are in Knoxville.

Street Scenes

Bikes and scooters and cars, oh my!

Notice the fancy buildings and huge digital billboard in the background.

Hangzhou is a beautiful city with lots of trees.

It's a huge city but all the trees make it feel very much like home.

 Not sure if I could ever drive there. The cars go basically wherever they want to.

If they decide they need to go the other direction, watch out, there will be a U turn!

Didn't see one wreck the entire trip though.

And gas stations - only saw one the

entire time we were in Hangzhou.I should have taken a picture of it.

You know I would notice that since we own one in America. ha

Normal traffic...no it wasn't a wreck. Just normal.

 Bikes and scooters have their own lane. Better watch out if you're walking though.
You have to watch every step you take or you could get run over. Not a fun thought.

Ladies doing aerobic exercise in the park in town...

More again later...