Hello from Jon and Beth

Jon in Austria with the son of our Missionary family.

A Comment from Jon and Beth:
We loved the video!!! What fun memories. Stephen, thank you for putting that together.

We are having a wonderful time in Europe. Today we went to Bratislava, Slovakia. What a day! Tomorrow we are heading to Salzburg. On Wednesday evening we enjoyed a ballet of Romeo and Juliet at the Vienna State Opera. That was amazing.

Have a wonderful day. Thanks for posting pictures.
Love,
Jon and Beth

Thank You!

The Serven Clan. Photo December 2008.

In thinking back over the crazy whir of wedding preparations, the wedding itself, and the subsequent days, we've been contemplating the many, many blessings the Lord gave to us through our kind, kind friends.

We felt so incredibly loved.

Sure, there is the excitement of the wedding, but all us here at home have felt so supported, blessed, and honored by your care for the Serven Clan.

There is no way we can recount all the ways that you blessed us by your service. We are so honored by your graciousness to us.

• Sweet e-mails, notes, letters, phone-calls.
• Prayers.
• Bringing meals, cooking at our home, cooking for the rehearsal dinner, cooking for the wedding reception.
• Stuffing envelopes, stamping, folding, tying ribbons.
• Cutting fabric, ripping seams, sewing buttons, listening to a ranting seamstress. : ) [You know who you are!]
• Answering e-mails at 2 in the morning.
• Hugs, back-rubs, drying tears, listening.
• Set-up, tear-down, taking days off work.
• Lighting candles, stringing lights, washing jars.
• Testing batteries.
• Making a big box of a room into something exquisitely beautiful.
• Washing mountains of dishes.
• Landscaping, driving a tractor, digging ditches, planting flowers.
• Taking pictures and capturing the emotions of the event.
• Staying up half the night touching up the pictures so they are ready to post at 6 in the morning.
• Sending photos of ideas on how to do wedding hair.
• Waiting tables, serving drinks.
  
• Capturing the event on video, camera, and then sharing on your blog.
  
• Traveling 7 hours to dry-wall Jon and Beth's house.
• Renting tables and chairs, returning them after the wedding so we didn't have to even think about it.
• Opening your home to host out of town guests, some of which you didn't even know were staying with you till the next morning when they came to breakfast!
  
• Following diagrams, organizing work teams, leading, managing, coordinating.
• Being personal assistants to the Mother of the Bride.
• Encouraging us along as we got in the wedding-planning Slough of Despond.
  
• Helping with websites, organizing dances, running sound, running a live-stream.
• Purchasing gifts to bless Jon and Beth.
• Arranging flowers, baking cakes.
• Traveling countless hours by plane and car to be at the wedding and make it special with your presence.
  
• Wrapping silverware, counting silverware, sticking knives back into the silverware thing-ys.
  
• Doing hair, doing make-up, doing special girl things.
• Running errands, researching things, making decisions so we didn't have to.
  
• Practicing, practicing, practicing, then performing and making the environment so festive and beautiful.
• Chopping Potatoes and Carrots.
• Purchasing Fireworks.
• Purchasing Pepsi and things to decorate the get-away car.
• Sharing your wisdom, thoughts, and prayers at numerous events.
  
• Organizing, hosting, attending bridal showers and events.
• Eating soup for a whole week, when you don't like it, and not complaining once.
• Cleaning bathrooms, vacuuming, dusting.
• Cleaning out our refrigerator, cleaning out our dishwasher.
  
• Singing goofy songs when we were on the verge of tears.
• Answering questions and e-mails right away so we didn't have to worry about things.
• Offering to help.
• Telling us that you want to be there for us.
• Being there for us when we needed you.

Thank you for your sacrifice of love. We are blessed by the Lord to have you as friends. Thank you for letting the Lord love us through you.

With much love in Christ,
The Serven Clan

Reception Video

We received a wonderful gift today! A friend from church put together some highlights of Jon and Beth's Reception into a little video today.

It encapsulates various aspects that we haven't even had a chance to show you yet: live period music, candle-light setting, cake cutting, mini-concert by Nathan Clark George, ice cream shenanigans, English Country Dancing, Pepsi Cans, and fire-works.

What a kind, kind gift. : ) Thank you Stephen Littmann!!! He was gracious enough for us to share it with all of you. Enjoy!


Click here to watch Jon and Beth Ten Dolle's Reception Video.

P. S. If any one has any footage of the speaking time with all the different men sharing wisdom for Jon and Beth, please let us know!

Viewing the Wedding from Remote Location

The Bryant Family tuning in from Kansas.

We've had many sweet notes from friends telling us how much they enjoyed Jon and Beth's wedding. What an honor for us to inadvertently bless people this way! : }

Though the wedding website will be coming down, you can still watch the permanent link of the wedding video here. Yes, our family has watched, and re-watched, and re-watched . . . : )

Also, Jon and Beth sent hellos from their honeymoon via Skype and e-mail. They are doing well, and having plenty of adventures. It was good to hear their voices.


Saying hi via Skype: though we still couldn't see them, at least we could hear!

How to Defeat a Yellow Sippy Cup

Dear Blog Readers,

This is a post I wrote about a year ago, but never got around to posting. It's not exactly about the wedding, but on the lighter side of life. Hope you enjoy!

Benjamin

I wanted to tell about something funny that happened to me the other day.

It's my job to wash the dishes after breakfast, so after breakfast I promptly started washing them. I placed a few washed dishes on one side of the sink and started to rinse them off. I got to the bottom of the pile, but a little yellow sippy cup had been pushed down into the garbage disposal!

"Houston, we have a problem!" OK. It's not quite that bad, but completely in the realm of "difficult to deal with".

I flipped out my handy dandy Leatherman tool and waded into the fray. I informed Mom of the goings on (after about five minutes of trying to get this thing out) and she got another pair of pliers out.

Fifteen to twenty minutes later (probably it wasn't really that long), Mom had to go and help one of my siblings with something else; this left me frantically trying to get the cup out.

I decided to cut the sides of the cup so that there would be more grabbing room. At this point I had two pairs of pliers inside the garbage disposal when all of a sudden—POP!!!

The cup shot out, missed my face by a few inches, and sprayed me with the few drops of water left in the cup.

Such are the adventures of a home-educated young man.

At the Reception

Ice Cream Servers, bow ties and all.


Clinking cups alert!


Leading the Grand March for English Country Dancing.


Raining Birdseed.


Sparklers.


Off they go to a new life together!

Off to the Reception

One last picture in front of the church.


Escorted to a Jaguar.


Dodging Raindrops.


Not too mussed up!


This is pretty amazing.


Rest in the Lord's provision.

After the Ceremony Pictures

A laughing Jr. Bridesmaid.


A sleepy flower-girl.


Resting after the ceremony.


A happy bride and groom.


Holding hands.

The Wedding Ceremony

Mother and Groom.


Father of and the Bride. : )


Cousin Hannah, sweet flower girl.


Mother of the Groom.


Exchanging a pledge of their love: a ring.


Fixing the veil, announcing the couple.


Their very first kiss.


Mr. and Mrs. Jonathan Ten Dolle.

Formal Poses Before the Wedding

The Bride in White Raiment.


Parents of the Bride.


Sweet Flower-Girls.


The Bridesmaids.


The Serven Clan children growing up.

Adorning the Bride

Jon and Beth are Married!

Jonathan and Elizabeth Ten Dolle.


The Ring Bearer and Honor Guard.

Jon and Beth's Wedding - Did you miss it? Watch the replay!

Welcome to our nearly 200 several hundred national and international viewers!

Did you miss it? Don't despair, click now to watch it again!

Free TV : Ustream
Please tune in at 12:00 noon, Central Time.

For technical support, visit the official wedding video website.


Walking into a new season of life.

New Family History Unfolds

Jon and Beth.

Don't forget to watch the wedding Saturday, April 18, 2009!

Eastern Time: 1:00 p.m.
Central Time: 12:00 noon.
Mountain Time: 11:00 a.m.
Pacific Time: 10:00 a.m.

Errands with the Photographer in Tow : )

Showing the church.


Notifying the civil authorities of their covenant.


Officially ready.


Lunch.


Walking the streets of St. Charles, engagement location.


Recreating the proposal.


Trying to find the exact spot.


I think this was it!


Memories.


Laughter.


Special times.


The bench.

Open House

Twists and turns.

Thursday we hosted an open house for our out of town guests. Fellowship, feasting, dancing were all the order of the day. What a wonderful afternoon!


Almost brothers in law!


Sweet Julie.


The head cook for the weekend.


Our amazing kitchen help: the Roach ladies, and friends.


Showing projects and getting re-aquainted.


Cousin Joe.


Master Eli.


Posing.


Smiles.


Niece, Aunt, and dear friend.


Sullenger's Round.


Calling the dances.


Circle to the right.


Circle to the left.


Bride and Groom.


Ruger looking on.


Waiting for the next dance.


Animal lover.


Brother of the groom, Josh.


Drewster.


Uncle Fun capturing the festivities.


Two hand turn.


Pin-wheel.


Laughing.


Courtesy Turn, mother and son.


Chatting with Grandma B.


Florida and Tennessee.


Pogo Sticking.


Virginia Reel.


Aunt and Uncle of the Groom.


A crowd of on-lookers.


Jonathan.


What a precious face. Aww.


Fellowship.


Brother of the groom, Jordan.


Visiting with the Erbers and Roaches.


Lyddy Bug.

A Special Gift

Explaining.


Uncovering.


Exclaiming.


Unwrapping.


Opening a blessing.

Prayer Meeting for Jon

The Man of the Hour.


Fellowship with men from our church.


Another P.S. : )


The happy and honored groom.


Prayer for God's blessing.


The whole group.

Volleyball with the Ten Dolles

Full Court.

The bridal party is continuing to arrive! The Ten Dolles stopped by to say hello when they arrived in the area. Jon is staying here for a few days before the wedding. Volleyball was enjoyed by a good group of people, and it goes almost without saying, mostly by Jon and Beth. : )

First Serve

Getting Ready for the Big Day

Talking to Jon.


On the way to the Bridal Photo Shoot.


Meanwhile, faithful workers around the house.

The Woman of the Hour

Talking to Jon. Julie Keulen, a bridesmaid, looks on.

Tuesday Project #1: The Ditch

Turning our spring into a ditch.


Lots of wonderful help--thank you guys!


Cousins Joe and Ruger.


Foreman of the operation.


Breaking down the um, sand-castles of the other afternoon. : )


Working men.


Uncle and nephew digging away.


The whole scene.


Drew jumps in to help.


Laying landscape cloth.


Cousin Nate working strong.

Younger Girls Sewing

Lyddy Bug cross-stitching.


Cousin Hannah wants to be just like the big girls! She was quite industrious and completely ready to sew. With Rebecca's, Sarah's, and Lydia's help, she was able to make first a blanket, then pillow, then purse for her doll. : )

Lunch

Lunch preparations.


"Hey Rebecca, look up!"

Break Time

Ben and Josh.


Dogs and boy on break.


Tractor work done for the day.


Perhaps a fossil?

Tuesday Project #2: The Driveway

Delivery time.


The truck.


Ruger, our trusty watch-dog.


Spreading out the rock.


Receipts.


Checking on the driveway progress.


Josh Brabo, you're on the blog [inside joke].

Our Favorite Photographer

The man behind the camera, and all these wonderful pictures! Thank you so much Peter!!!

Photos

Beth shows the two Julies pictures of her new home.


"Hey girls, smile for the camera!"

Reception Planning

Sarah draws a diagram of the table decorations.


Ok. So, those aren't the real napkins. : )

The Week OF the Wedding Sewing Update: Part 7

The wedding day is approaching quickly!

Well folks, excepting a small amount of hand sewing left, I think all of the sewing is complete. Praise the Lord!

- Rebecca for the Serven ladies

Many Hands Make Light Work

The little children are an immense help with programs and silverware assembly.


Measure twice, cut once.

Photographers Preview of the Ceremony Location

Checking out the church.


Birds Eye view.


Lighting check.


Stopped for coffee.

Cogitatio Cinema Goodbyes

The last full Cogitatio Reunion, for a while.

The Zes ladies have been very dear friends to us. Several years ago, we started a sort of a 'club' if you will called Cogitatio Cinema [Editor's Note: Roughly translated, it means, 'The Thinking Moive'. We had to come up with a more sophisticated term than 'Movie Night']. We would get together every month or two and watch and discuss a movie.

Sometimes we'll have other activities, such as Cogitatio Conundrum [game-night], Cogitatio Cooking [obvious], Cogitatio Concerts [symphony, etc], and, umm, Cogitatio Chickflicks [girls movie night] . . . which could be an oxymoron. : )

Slowly, some of our members have been absent more often than not because of travel, jobs, etc. And now, we have the first member covenanting in marriage. We are all very happy for Beth, but we will miss her in so many ways.


Sweet goodbyes.


Treasured friendships.


See you at the wedding!

Grins and Goofiness

Brothers. : )

The Week OF the Wedding Sewing Update: Part 6

My sewing machine has been down this week, but Mom's trusty Kenmore has come through with flying colors. : )

Finished the gift attendant's skirt! Still more to do . . .

- Rebecca

Resurrection Sunday

Easter morning breakfast.


Cream Puffs (which are hollow) represent the empty tomb, whipped cream the grave clothes.


Gathered round the family table.


Cousins.


Dishing up.


Traditions.


Ambiance, courtesy of Sarah.


Laughing.


Joe, our cousin who loves animals.


Ready for church.


After worship, coordinating reception plans for next week.


Nathan.


"You know, this is your last Sunday as an unmarried woman!"


Last Sunday drive with Beth.


Dusk.


Katie, the faithful doormat watchdog.


Can I take a picture?


Singing downstairs.


Lots of cameras.


Gathered round to sing.


Hannah takes a turn as pianist.


Bodhran demonstrations.


Brothers.


The bride to be, but not for much longer!

Spruce Up the Yard Saturday

Spring time in Missouri.


Peter's home!!


Off for errands to pick up supplies.


Howdy Pardner.


Color for the yard. Our dear mother thinks of everything.


Drew boy.


Loading our choices.


Needed supplies.


Meanwhile, back at the work site . . .


Foreman Nate taking a break. : )


Ben checking the mower.


We discovered a, umm, small spring on our property! The plan is to diverting the water so it doesn't make our yard a permanent soggy spot. Hey! You never know, perhaps after the wedding we can start taking dominion over the water supply and using it ourselves! : ) Maybe not.


Digging away. Several families from our church came and blessed us with their labors. Thank you so much Bringes and Brabos!!!


Lunch break.


The worlds greatest hamburgers: grass fed beef, whole wheat bread crumbs, raw milk, minced garlic, salt and pepper . . . served on a white bun. : )


Mmm, mmm, good.


Ready with all the fixings.


Dessert coming up next.


Ice cream . . .


. . . and root beer . . .


. . . make root beer floats!


Refreshment on a working day.


Dinner: Uncle Matt's Chili (named for him probably 20 years ago, since it was his favorite Chili recipe).


The new chefs have fun in the kitchen late at night making Resurrection Day Cream-Puffs.

It's Spruce up the Yard and House Day!!

The Week Before the Wedding Week Sewing Update: Part 5

Four other sisters, not so dissimilar to us. :)

Bridesmaids dress complete!

- Sarah

P. S. from Rebecca: One Jr. Bridesmaid's dress almost done. One Gift Attendant skirt almost done—the bodice still needs a bit of work. First company arrives tonight [N and P!!!!!!], next batch comes in tomorrow night [Uncle Fun and the Cousins!!]. Busy, busy times. : )

Wedding Preparations Around the House

A friend brought spring Daffodils to brighten our work day! How sweet.


Personal Assistant and Master Scheduler at work. Ben has been an invaluable resource in helping, and Mom, well, there are not words to describe the sacrifice in which Mom has labored to bless Jon and Beth.


Almost finished with Gorilla Hunters.


The Children listening to the last chapter. Bittersweet.


More ribbons yet to tie.


Yesterday, cleaned the fridge. Today, cleaned the oven. Tomorrow, still more cleaning. : )


People have been so generous! Plenty of new boxes to go to Wisconsin.


Sarah's Bridesmaid bodice measured for buttons.


Mr. Muscles moves potatoes for the reception. Somehow, this seems familiar. :)

Jon and Beth's House

The outside of the house. [Photo taken last fall from the top of a silo!]


Future relations posing in Jon and Beth's house remodel. [Photo taken a month ago—currently walls being closed up!!].

Little Tait

For your consideration—some acquaintances of ours.

Sewing, Sewing, Sewing.

Mom working on Lydia's bridesmaid dress.


Rebecca working on [shhh!!!] the wedding dress. : )

Wedding Program Assembly Line

Andrew the Ribbon Measure-er.


Assembly line with friends and family.


The Finished Product. [Many thanks to Peter J. Serven Graphic Design Services!]

The Week Before the Wedding Week Sewing Update: Part 4

Wedding late 1800's style.

Maid of Honor dress complete!

- Rebecca

The Week Before the Wedding Week Sewing Update: Part 3

A bride of another era.

At long last, [I think] the wedding dress is finished!

- Rebecca

The Week Before the Wedding Week Sewing Update: Part 2

Happily, I don't have this many dresses to sew. : )

Much good progress made yesterday and this morning!

Nothing finished per se, but things are nearly finished:
Maid of Honor dress, still needs buttons and buttonholes.

This morning's work:
The Wedding Dress

Found the answer to my question here.

- Rebecca

Wedding Shower

Our dear Covenant Family Church ladies gave our sister Beth a wedding shower!


A precious gaggle of little girls.


A new Ten Dolle family coming soon!


The luscious desserts.


A group shot at the lovely Grand Vandalia Hotel.

The Week Before the Wedding Week Sewing Update: Part 1

Not this style. Sorry! No sneak peeks. : )

Wedding veil complete!

- Rebecca

The Blessings of Technology

Dearest Blog Readers,

We are very pleased to make an important announcement regarding Jon and Beth's upcoming wedding.

Firstly, as so many people have been curious to know, the wedding is exactly 15 days away; April 18th, to be precise.

Secondly, we thought you might enjoy exploring their wedding website, www.jonathanandelizabeth2009.com . . . but wait!!! Before you click the link, we have one more very exciting piece of news—

We are very pleased to announce, through the kind assistance of a gracious technical expert, we are happy to report that there will be a live-feed of the wedding ceremony!!

This means you will be able to watch the wedding as it is happening, all from the comfort of your own glowing computer screen. : )

We were sorry we couldn't invite each of you to the wedding, but are happy to be able to share our special day with you via live stream.

Please visit the wedding website on Saturday, April 18th, at 12:00 noon Central Time, to view a live video of the wedding ceremony.

www.jonathanandelizabeth2009.com

P. S. Wedding Preparation Report:
We are working full steam ahead on a myriad of wedding details. Printing programs, sewing bridesmaids dresses, planning reception layouts, sprucing up the yard, etc, etc. Lots of things yet to do! We'd appreciate your prayers that the Lord would gives us peaceful hearts in the midst of these busy and exciting times.

Choosing Wedding Rings

Hmm. What about this one?


Trying it on for size.


All smiles.