Hey guys...the DJ for the wedding has a page just for Mary and I on his website. Both of the videos for our Love Story and our First dance are on there...here is the link:
Love Story and First Dance Video
Monday, December 22, 2008
Friday, December 12, 2008
Great News!
On Tuesday of this past week, a school called me back after an interview I had with them last Wednesday and offered me a job as their technology teacher and support specialist. What a great way to start your week off! This was a nice little surprise because Mary and I did not know when I was going to get a job.
This has been a hard little phase for us because this came up unexpectedly, and we have never talked about how we would handle if one of us lost our jobs emotionally, financially and spiritually. But we know now of how we handled this situation, and what we need to do next time something like this comes about. We both knew that I would eventually get a job, it is how we did not know of the other implications and stresses that come along with it.
Here is a little more about the job. I am going to be mainly a technology support specialist for the whole elementary school. My jobs would include being responsible for the school website, correcting any technological problems that teachers have, teaching students the basics of computer software, hardware and internet capabilities in respect to what they are learning in the classroom and helping teachers maximize their use of the technology in their classrooms. This is a great opportunity because it gives me a break from some of the stressful portions of a job that I needed a break from, but I am still interacting with children and working closely with the teachers. I get more excited as I think of all the possibilities toward improving this school.
In addition to more good news, so far I have been cleared to begin a study that has great potential to help me with my disease. As some of you guys know I suffer from Ulcerative Colitis. It is a disease of the large intestine. I have been taking a couple different sets of medicine, including 12 pills a day of disodium balsazide to help with the symptoms of the disease. The disease may or may not be genetic and it is caused by an overactive immune system. The drug study right now is hopefully in a couple years to move me from taking 12 pills a day to one shot every two weeks. Mary and I are excited because the 12 pills a day doesn't really control the symptoms and we can't wait until I can go one full year and not have any symptoms of the is disease. I was diagnosed with the disease for 2 years now, but I have been suffering from its symptoms for about 4 years. All of the drug study is paid for and I get paid to be in it! One of the downfalls to this drug study is the effect on my immune system. Since I have an overactive immune system the drug will try to reduce its activity therefore making me very susceptable to infections. So cleaniness is of the utmost importance for the next couple years. In this study though it is proven that the body adapts and I am able to better fight off infections after taking the medicine for a long period of time.
Well if you have any more questions feel free to drop a line on the comment line. If you received this through the email, please pass it forward to friends and family!
This has been a hard little phase for us because this came up unexpectedly, and we have never talked about how we would handle if one of us lost our jobs emotionally, financially and spiritually. But we know now of how we handled this situation, and what we need to do next time something like this comes about. We both knew that I would eventually get a job, it is how we did not know of the other implications and stresses that come along with it.
Here is a little more about the job. I am going to be mainly a technology support specialist for the whole elementary school. My jobs would include being responsible for the school website, correcting any technological problems that teachers have, teaching students the basics of computer software, hardware and internet capabilities in respect to what they are learning in the classroom and helping teachers maximize their use of the technology in their classrooms. This is a great opportunity because it gives me a break from some of the stressful portions of a job that I needed a break from, but I am still interacting with children and working closely with the teachers. I get more excited as I think of all the possibilities toward improving this school.
In addition to more good news, so far I have been cleared to begin a study that has great potential to help me with my disease. As some of you guys know I suffer from Ulcerative Colitis. It is a disease of the large intestine. I have been taking a couple different sets of medicine, including 12 pills a day of disodium balsazide to help with the symptoms of the disease. The disease may or may not be genetic and it is caused by an overactive immune system. The drug study right now is hopefully in a couple years to move me from taking 12 pills a day to one shot every two weeks. Mary and I are excited because the 12 pills a day doesn't really control the symptoms and we can't wait until I can go one full year and not have any symptoms of the is disease. I was diagnosed with the disease for 2 years now, but I have been suffering from its symptoms for about 4 years. All of the drug study is paid for and I get paid to be in it! One of the downfalls to this drug study is the effect on my immune system. Since I have an overactive immune system the drug will try to reduce its activity therefore making me very susceptable to infections. So cleaniness is of the utmost importance for the next couple years. In this study though it is proven that the body adapts and I am able to better fight off infections after taking the medicine for a long period of time.
Well if you have any more questions feel free to drop a line on the comment line. If you received this through the email, please pass it forward to friends and family!
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Its a Hard Knock Life...
No, its not a musical review or a Jaz-Z album critique, its the greatest in knowing Who is in control! Before Mary and I got married we came up with a nice plan of shedding off debt and looking towards moving Mary into the home as fast as possible. Without even considering if this is what God wanted us to do, we thought it would honor Him. Our ideas and our actions were most of the time the focus and our life was striving toward making our life together make sense for us. We came up with a financial plan that would make sense if Mary and I continued with our job situations.
It is always good in reducing your debt and working towards a goal that you most likely think that it would glorify and praise your Creator. And then there are times, when your plans are not God's plans. Living a life of faith is knowing that the God who created you has promises and provisions for His children, walking and growing in knowledge and discernment of who He is and how there is hope in Him.
God most instantly showed Himself in our marriage in the early stages, by laying me off from my job. It was a great way of showing His love for us by taking our own plans and then revealing His current plan for us!
In Paul's letter to the Philippians Mary and I are reminded how we are supposed to be praying and what we are supposed to be praying for. To give a little history of the Church of Philippi, they were a transient city. Many people were coming in an out of that city from all over the place. A booming type of city with many different religions, but under they were under Roman control. The Roman government had no problem with religion and how it was practiced, just as long as you hold the Roman government higher than the God you worshipped. In Acts 16 Paul goes to Phillipi because it is one the main districts in Macedonia and God appeared in a dream to Paul telling him where he should be going.
The people in Philippi that believed in the Lord, were oppressed hard, but knew that their love for the Lord was growing every day. So Paul teaches us and the church of Philippi how to pray and what to pray for:
1:9-11
And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more,
in real knowledge and all discernment,
so that you may approve the things that are excellent in order to be sincere and blamless until the day of Christ,
having been filled with the fruit of righteeiousness which comes through Jesus Christ,
to the glory and praise of God.
Now this is a long prayer and Paul prays for firstly that love that we have for each other and others is abounding more and more. This is a united spirit, one that will show unity in like mindedness, that for those who put their faith in Jesus Christ and submit to Him as Lord, they come together knowing this Truth, walk in it daily and show the love that Father gave to them within the those that are called by the Father.
Our prayer for you that you would be united in Christ with us and in submission to His plan and His will for your life and to be together unity under Him. For there we find real joy, away from living for this world, instead living for the One who has full control. The easiest thing is to do is to give in to what the world would prescribe as "truth", but Mary and I guarantee that that "truth" will only be the truth for a short time and you will again be back to the drawing board.
Pray for us in our unity as a couple. For it becomes hard when it seems like our breaks are few and are far in between. We don't want to be like sails in the wind as Paul would put it. We would like to be stead firm in our walk with our Father and display our love and how it abounds to one another more and more each day.
It is always good in reducing your debt and working towards a goal that you most likely think that it would glorify and praise your Creator. And then there are times, when your plans are not God's plans. Living a life of faith is knowing that the God who created you has promises and provisions for His children, walking and growing in knowledge and discernment of who He is and how there is hope in Him.
God most instantly showed Himself in our marriage in the early stages, by laying me off from my job. It was a great way of showing His love for us by taking our own plans and then revealing His current plan for us!
In Paul's letter to the Philippians Mary and I are reminded how we are supposed to be praying and what we are supposed to be praying for. To give a little history of the Church of Philippi, they were a transient city. Many people were coming in an out of that city from all over the place. A booming type of city with many different religions, but under they were under Roman control. The Roman government had no problem with religion and how it was practiced, just as long as you hold the Roman government higher than the God you worshipped. In Acts 16 Paul goes to Phillipi because it is one the main districts in Macedonia and God appeared in a dream to Paul telling him where he should be going.
The people in Philippi that believed in the Lord, were oppressed hard, but knew that their love for the Lord was growing every day. So Paul teaches us and the church of Philippi how to pray and what to pray for:
1:9-11
And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more,
in real knowledge and all discernment,
so that you may approve the things that are excellent in order to be sincere and blamless until the day of Christ,
having been filled with the fruit of righteeiousness which comes through Jesus Christ,
to the glory and praise of God.
Now this is a long prayer and Paul prays for firstly that love that we have for each other and others is abounding more and more. This is a united spirit, one that will show unity in like mindedness, that for those who put their faith in Jesus Christ and submit to Him as Lord, they come together knowing this Truth, walk in it daily and show the love that Father gave to them within the those that are called by the Father.
Our prayer for you that you would be united in Christ with us and in submission to His plan and His will for your life and to be together unity under Him. For there we find real joy, away from living for this world, instead living for the One who has full control. The easiest thing is to do is to give in to what the world would prescribe as "truth", but Mary and I guarantee that that "truth" will only be the truth for a short time and you will again be back to the drawing board.
Pray for us in our unity as a couple. For it becomes hard when it seems like our breaks are few and are far in between. We don't want to be like sails in the wind as Paul would put it. We would like to be stead firm in our walk with our Father and display our love and how it abounds to one another more and more each day.
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Wedding Day
On October 5, the most beautiful bride walked down the aisle with her arm around her courageous Father, Ben Wolcott, and a new season of life was just ready to begin!
This was just one portion of our weekend that continually reminded us on how important this step was for both families joining together as one. Both of the families were giving away for the first time one of their children into marriage and it was high emotionally.
The weekend was great beginning on a Friday and lasting all the way through Sunday evening where people were still hanging out and having a great time with one another.
Friday night consisted of bachelor and bride-to-be parties. The girls threw an 80's themed party and some of those pictures will be available soon! The men played cards, smoked cigars and ate great food. Not to mention the wiffle-ball homerun derby at 2:00 am!
Saturday was the rehearsal and what a rehearsal it was! The food was delicious, and the setting was impeccable . After we were done eating, Mary Ann, Mary V's Mom, presented to everybody an amazing slideshow that we are trying to put online also. Our toasts from our friends and families carried so much joy, excitement and constant cheering of God and what He has done in our lives and what He will continue to do! All left knowing that He will be Glorified through this marriage!
Sunday was an amazing time of preparation. Mary and I had some quiet time on the beach praying and praising God for what He has done! The rest of the day was enjoying the people that we were around! The girls took all day getting ready and doing all the girly things. And the boys hung out on the beach and watched the Eagles and Phillies play! It was a great beginning to wonderful wedding day.
Sunday afternoon was packed with pictures, fun and a deep affection from both families joining together. Much interaction was taking place and everybody was enjoying each others company. The Wedding was perfect with scripture being read about what marriage is and how it is a great picture of Christ and those who have faith in Him. We had a couple friends sing some great songs that we chose and it concluded with the most ultimate of kisses. For a side note, Mike and Mary had not kissed the whole time that they were dating and their first kiss came after their "I do's." Awesome huh?
The reception was filled with great, great food provided by Skopelo's on the Bay. Also the place where the wedding was held. Skopelo's did a great job handling all items on the ticket and were absolutely phenomenal with timing, organization and taste.
Mike and Mary both had a wedding story constructed together by Eric Herod with ERock Entertainment. His website and services were unbelievable! And soon to come the most rockin' first wedding dance you will ever see!
We had a great time dancing, eating, sitting and meeting with all people!
Our next stop was outside Durango, Colorado and we had a great time! Visiting Mesa Verde National Park, going a train ride to a little town called Silverton, visiting our local Spa for a relaxing massage and most importantly, just spending time with one another!
What a wonderful event and we can't wait to post up more pictures of our honeymoon, first dance, Mary Ann's slideshow and more!
Please check out some of pictures of our wedding to the right! More will be posted as we get time to do so!
Love you all,
Now, Mike and Mary Gifford
This was just one portion of our weekend that continually reminded us on how important this step was for both families joining together as one. Both of the families were giving away for the first time one of their children into marriage and it was high emotionally.
The weekend was great beginning on a Friday and lasting all the way through Sunday evening where people were still hanging out and having a great time with one another.
Friday night consisted of bachelor and bride-to-be parties. The girls threw an 80's themed party and some of those pictures will be available soon! The men played cards, smoked cigars and ate great food. Not to mention the wiffle-ball homerun derby at 2:00 am!
Saturday was the rehearsal and what a rehearsal it was! The food was delicious, and the setting was impeccable . After we were done eating, Mary Ann, Mary V's Mom, presented to everybody an amazing slideshow that we are trying to put online also. Our toasts from our friends and families carried so much joy, excitement and constant cheering of God and what He has done in our lives and what He will continue to do! All left knowing that He will be Glorified through this marriage!
Sunday was an amazing time of preparation. Mary and I had some quiet time on the beach praying and praising God for what He has done! The rest of the day was enjoying the people that we were around! The girls took all day getting ready and doing all the girly things. And the boys hung out on the beach and watched the Eagles and Phillies play! It was a great beginning to wonderful wedding day.
Sunday afternoon was packed with pictures, fun and a deep affection from both families joining together. Much interaction was taking place and everybody was enjoying each others company. The Wedding was perfect with scripture being read about what marriage is and how it is a great picture of Christ and those who have faith in Him. We had a couple friends sing some great songs that we chose and it concluded with the most ultimate of kisses. For a side note, Mike and Mary had not kissed the whole time that they were dating and their first kiss came after their "I do's." Awesome huh?
The reception was filled with great, great food provided by Skopelo's on the Bay. Also the place where the wedding was held. Skopelo's did a great job handling all items on the ticket and were absolutely phenomenal with timing, organization and taste.
Mike and Mary both had a wedding story constructed together by Eric Herod with ERock Entertainment. His website and services were unbelievable! And soon to come the most rockin' first wedding dance you will ever see!
We had a great time dancing, eating, sitting and meeting with all people!
Our next stop was outside Durango, Colorado and we had a great time! Visiting Mesa Verde National Park, going a train ride to a little town called Silverton, visiting our local Spa for a relaxing massage and most importantly, just spending time with one another!
What a wonderful event and we can't wait to post up more pictures of our honeymoon, first dance, Mary Ann's slideshow and more!
Please check out some of pictures of our wedding to the right! More will be posted as we get time to do so!
Love you all,
Now, Mike and Mary Gifford
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Back from Philly
Whew! This weekend was probably the fastest weekend that Mary and I have ever spent with one another. We spent time quality time with my Mike Sr., Barbara, Garry, Ryan, Natalie and Grams. Even more exciting Mike's family and friends were able to join in the celebration at Pica's restaurant. We had a great time. Mary and I were absolutely tired and received a good taste at what our ceremony is going to be like!
I want to take this time to thank all my family and friends that are not able to make the wedding down in Pensacola. I know that all of you have analyzed your budgets and calendars and just couldn't find a way. Mary and I want to let you know that we appreciate your effort and we thank you for making Pica's a wonderful experience for us. I love getting together with my family and friends and celebrating and telling stories. If it wasn't for my father, Mike Sr. and my Aunt Rose and Uncle Lou this wouldn't have been able to happen.
So now Mary and I are on to the next stop, Pensacola! What a wonderful place to get married! We have been hard at work! We have made a mock itinerary for the weekend and we are editing it now. Our ceremony is now written and needs to be edited and put on the web. Tonight, Mary and I are focusing on writing our vows. Mary told me today that she just doesn't know where to start. We have faith that God will show us, through His word, how to begin expressing the understanding of our commitment to one another. We also know that this married life experience will not be an easy one, but one that makes us more like our heavenly Father's example, Christ.
In addition to those who are going to the wedding in Florida make sure you bring your video camera, because Mary and I will definitely have an interesting first dance.
Please check out the hunting pictures brought forth from Mr. Ben Wolcott. Our condolences go out to him since he is not able to attend his hunting trip this September. We hope he gets to out to his cabin sooner than later!
Finally, if there are any family members that have photographs and are willing to share them with Mary and I, email us at mikeandmarygifford@gmail.com and we can post them on this blog. Again, if you have not RVSP'd for the wedding please do so as soon as possible. Thanks guys!
I want to take this time to thank all my family and friends that are not able to make the wedding down in Pensacola. I know that all of you have analyzed your budgets and calendars and just couldn't find a way. Mary and I want to let you know that we appreciate your effort and we thank you for making Pica's a wonderful experience for us. I love getting together with my family and friends and celebrating and telling stories. If it wasn't for my father, Mike Sr. and my Aunt Rose and Uncle Lou this wouldn't have been able to happen.
So now Mary and I are on to the next stop, Pensacola! What a wonderful place to get married! We have been hard at work! We have made a mock itinerary for the weekend and we are editing it now. Our ceremony is now written and needs to be edited and put on the web. Tonight, Mary and I are focusing on writing our vows. Mary told me today that she just doesn't know where to start. We have faith that God will show us, through His word, how to begin expressing the understanding of our commitment to one another. We also know that this married life experience will not be an easy one, but one that makes us more like our heavenly Father's example, Christ.
In addition to those who are going to the wedding in Florida make sure you bring your video camera, because Mary and I will definitely have an interesting first dance.
Please check out the hunting pictures brought forth from Mr. Ben Wolcott. Our condolences go out to him since he is not able to attend his hunting trip this September. We hope he gets to out to his cabin sooner than later!
Finally, if there are any family members that have photographs and are willing to share them with Mary and I, email us at mikeandmarygifford@gmail.com and we can post them on this blog. Again, if you have not RVSP'd for the wedding please do so as soon as possible. Thanks guys!
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
September 7 in Philly
We are soon approaching the day of our reception or engagement party in Philadelphia. Mary and I are extremely excited about spending so much time with my friends and family. Unfortunately, the engagement party is during the season opener of the Philadelphia Eagles. We are going to have a good time. The party is planned out as of the following:
1:50 pm- Arrive at Pica's in Upper Darby here is the link for more information
2:00 pm- Pica's celebration begins-Welcome
2:30 pm- Prayer for the food and Eating time
2:30-3:00- Eating time and toasts from family members
3:00-5:30- Dancing
5:30-6:00- Cutting of the Cake
6:00-6:30- Departing Pica's because Mike and Mary need to be at the airport at 7:30
My Aunt Rose and Uncle Louie have put together all invitations, called all the right people and found an awesome cake and we can't wait to see how it all turns out. My uncle says, "When I am in charge of something, I do it right!" My Dad has been piecing this Engagement Party together for a long time and has hired a DJ for the Night.
Thankfully my brother did not choose the music for the night, but my cousin did! Mary and I are so excited to have a good time with the family in celebrating our future marriage. At the time of the reception we will be less than 28 days from being married!
We can't wait!
If you guys have any questions or have any comments you can either forward them to mikeandmarygifford@gmail.com or post one here at the blog!
1:50 pm- Arrive at Pica's in Upper Darby here is the link for more information
2:00 pm- Pica's celebration begins-Welcome
2:30 pm- Prayer for the food and Eating time
2:30-3:00- Eating time and toasts from family members
3:00-5:30- Dancing
5:30-6:00- Cutting of the Cake
6:00-6:30- Departing Pica's because Mike and Mary need to be at the airport at 7:30
My Aunt Rose and Uncle Louie have put together all invitations, called all the right people and found an awesome cake and we can't wait to see how it all turns out. My uncle says, "When I am in charge of something, I do it right!" My Dad has been piecing this Engagement Party together for a long time and has hired a DJ for the Night.
Thankfully my brother did not choose the music for the night, but my cousin did! Mary and I are so excited to have a good time with the family in celebrating our future marriage. At the time of the reception we will be less than 28 days from being married!
We can't wait!
If you guys have any questions or have any comments you can either forward them to mikeandmarygifford@gmail.com or post one here at the blog!
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