Cheryl Barker's Blog, page 36

Elegant Mini Cakes Wedding Cake Idea

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Mother of the Bride, everyone tends to get excited when it’s time to talk wedding cakes. Whether they’re on the team planning the wedding or just one of the guests on the big day itself, everyone looks forward to seeing—and eating—the cake. After all, it’s the crowning touch at the party so I hope you and your daughter have tons of fun considering all the options—and tasting a few too!

One wedding cake option that presents a slight twist on the popular cupcake wedding cake is the mini cakes...

Listen Acrostic: More on My 2018 Theme Word

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Since a third of the year will soon be gone, I wanted to give more thought to my 2018 theme word listen. For me, the creative exercise of writing acrostics is an excellent way to go deeper in my consideration of certain words. Doing so helps me think of different aspects of the word.

So as I remind myself of and reflect on listen, I pray you are blessed and inspired to listen more carefully as well. And not only that, but if you chose a theme word of your own this year, maybe reading this cr...

Preprinted Labels For Use At Bridal Fairs

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Mother of the Bride, today I have a tip to pass along to your darling daughter turned bride-to-be. And the sooner you pass it along the better. Why? She needs this tip before attending bridal fairs during the early stages of planning.

When your daughter goes to bridal fairs and wedding expos—and hopefully you’ll get to go with her—she’ll be asked to write down her contact info time and again. Vendors will be offering giveaways and special offers and she will need to list her contact info to...

Guest Blogger Jane M. Tucker: Praise Ye the Lord! In Celebration of Hymns

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When I spend my daily time with the Lord, I like to incorporate sacred music in my worship. Sometimes I look up a current-day worship song on YouTube, but I find the very act of picking up my phone distracts me from my purpose. More often, I turn to an old hymnal for inspiration.

Many hymns, such as “Great is Thy Faithfulness” and “Be Thou My Vision”, anchor my faith in its deep childhood roots. I sing these hymns, and I’m once again standing with the congregation while organ music swells ar...

Wedding Planning Tip: Post-Wedding Inventory

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Mother of the Bride, one of the smartest things you can do in the days following your daughter’s wedding is to take inventory of all the décor and supplies you have left. If you are planning to save items for another daughter’s wedding or for friends or family members’ use, a list of available items will be a lifesaver.

If you make a detailed list, you won’t have to waste time looking for things and unpacking them in order to get a count. When it comes time for your next daughter’s wedding o...

Wedding Flowers: Baby’s Breath Boutonnieres

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Mother of the Bride, have you started talking wedding flowers with your girl yet? If not, don’t put it off too long because lots of decisions await concerning the flowers. Altar flowers, reception flowers, bride’s and bridesmaids’ bouquets, boutonnieres and corsages all around, flower girl petals, etc. The list goes on.

Today let’s focus on a simple and inexpensive boutonniere idea—baby’s breath! The number of boutonnieres needed can add up quickly so expense might be a very important factor...

Absent Without Leave: Body Parts and the Body of Christ

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My voice went AWOL on me one spring a few years ago. Blame it on seasonal allergies (which I usually don’t have) or just a nasty spring cold, but I spent the better part of a week trying to communicate with anything from a hoarse whisper to a croaking, cough-infused version of my former speaking voice. And forget the singing voice. It stayed AWOL even longer.

What a difference one little part of our bodies can make. Having next to no voice made it difficult and at times impossible to do cert...

7 April Stress Busters

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Spring is undeniably here. So as we spring into April with its legendary showers, allow me to shower you with another set of month-appropriate stress busters. We’re over halfway through my year-long Stress Buster blog series and I hope you’ve been blessed by each installment. I’ve had fun—and been challenged as well—writing them.

Now in the spirit of spring and all things fresh and new and full of life, may you be refreshed and revitalized by the following April stress busters. Be blessed, f...

Wedding Photo Ideas Roundup That Star the Groom

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Mother of the Bride, as you help plan your daughter’s wedding, I imagine you’re spending lots of time focusing on her needs and desires, but don’t forget to give attention to the groom as well. After all, he’s the other half of the main-event couple in the upcoming celebration of a lifetime. Give thought to how you can make him feel special too.

One way to shine a light on the groom is to ask the photographer to make sure he is the star in some of the wedding photos. It’s only natural that t...

Easter Acrostic: From Sorrow to Joy

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Easter—the holiday that takes us from the depths of sorrow to the heights of joy in the span of only two and a half days.

We remember the Last Supper our Lord had with his disciples and feel the pain of his betrayal. We recall his prayerful agony in the Garden of Gethsemane and then relive the horror of his arrest and crucifixion. We feel the grief his loved ones and followers felt.

But then the joy comes. We remember and rejoice in the fact that death did not win. God raised Jesus from the...