Celebration for Jessica

May 20th 2011 marked a great milestone for our family. We hosted 100 guests for a feast and English country dancing at our home to celebrate our oldest daughter, Jessica's 16th birthday.

We made a big purchase of a party tent for our very own (renting was ridiculous), then decorated it with twinkly lights, arranged bouquets of flowers, laid the tables with many dishes of food and added all of our friends and wow what a night! The blessing of having whole families join us to mark this occasion was incredible. We are very thankful for the abundance of friendships we have been blessed with in this place we now call home, here is where the great milestone is marked. Praise God!

Some other details to mention. We had one of the most perfect days of beautiful weather, before the date and after there have been too many storms to mention!

Another item of beauty to mention was the fun in dressing up for the occasion. Thanks again to Sense and Sensibility's patterns, Jessica and Brigi wore styles from the Romantic period and Charlotte was in something from Colonial times. I pulled out my already done Regency dress. AND Clanc was dressed in his kilt! So handsome.

The last thing to mention is that we taught most of our guests to dance. Over a period of 2 months our family learned the dances and then we had some practice dances at a few church fellowship meals. The desire to learn the dances, especially with the youth, was crazy! Even the boys got it and figured out how to ask for a dance.

It was indeed a wonderful party, hopefully to be done again and again.....