BeautyRevealed | The Blog of Melissa J. Dillon

“I see nothing in space as promising as the view from a Ferris wheel.”

- E. B. White

One of my favorite summertime activities is our County Fair. We always go as a family to enjoy the sights, the smells, the sounds and atmosphere of our small-town fair.

We went first to check out the Home Activities building and to look at this years entries and blue ribbon winners. Mostly because Mom entered her Cranberry Orange Scones and won a blue ribbon!! Congratulations, Mom!

So if you still haven’t made these scones, maybe now you will! Find the recipe here. You’ll love them!

Next stop was to see all the animals. Mine and Dad’s favorite is the horses. Unfortunately we missed the barrel racing and horse showing contest this year… we were a little too late. We did get to see plenty in the barns, though, so that was fun. Then to the cows. I really like cows for some reason… I think they’re cute.

My friend, Melinda, has 2 adorable Jack Russell Terriers, and these guys reminded me of Molly and Major.

This rooster was the loud-mouth of the group! He just kept crowing over and over. He did quiet down a little after I snapped this picture, so maybe he just needed a little attention.

It was just getting dark when we entered the fairway… I think this is the most fun. Even though I don’t ride the rides anymore (I can’t stomach most of the rides any longer), I still love the atmosphere of all the kids laughing and screaming, and the music and smells of mini-donuts and caramel apples. I guess because the fair only comes once a year, it all feels so nostalgic each time I go.

One of our favorite things to do is to watch the itty-bitty kids on the kiddy rides. Some are just all smiles and squeals, and some get a little frightened and melt into tears. I’m very excited to have a six-month old with us next year… maybe his/her Daddy will bring him/her on the Merry-go-round or something slow.

Mark’s highlight of the Fair is always the foot long hotdogs. I think he could’ve eaten two this year!

Would it even be the Fair without the Gravitron?? Remember this ride, Alison? We were both a little ill after trying this one. That was the last time I ever went on the Gravitron!

Sometimes just watching some of these rides can make me sick! … Especially while pregnant.

I used to get the cotton candy every year… but in the last few years I’ve finally graduated to a caramel apple. Yes, I’m growing up… sigh.

I can’t wait to have children, though, who love to eat cotton candy.

Every year at the wonderful County Fair.

Good-bye dear Fair… until next year, my friend!

This picture was taken 3 weeks ago before the wedding… now, my garden is completely out of control. Everything is HUGE and running amuck in my little garden plot. One reason is that we’ve been so busy this summer. But the main reason is that I can’t stomach food very well in the past month. Nothing sounds good to me, and I feel ill after eating anything. So nothing is being picked from my garden, and it just grows and grows. And it’s going a little wild at the moment. At least I know that it is a great spot for a garden… it gets lots of sun there. I pulled up an onion today ~ it’s amazing how fragrant it is compared to the ones I buy in the grocery store. Gardening is in my blood now… loving the process of watching it all grow. Now I just need to learn how to can so it won’t all spoil!! Anyone else have luck with their gardens?

* Check out Shyla’s work at shylaphotography.com.

Just returned from the wedding last night at about 1:00 am. What a week! The wedding was gorgeous, and although it was quite humid outside and warm in the church, the day went without a hitch. Such an honor for our family to witness Jamie marrying his bride. I didn’t get many good pictures since I was in the wedding, but I got a few before and a few at the reception.

The guys looked so handsome in their tuxes… I know they were hot, but it was worth it to be so dashing for the day. I was so proud of Jamie this week… he worked so hard to make it the most special day for Angela. He went without much sleep so he could complete every detail. I will always remember the way he put her first in everything he did. Such a shining example of a man who truly loves a woman.

Mom and Dad looked amazing. I wish I had gotten a better picture of them together, but hopefully the photographer got a few.

The happy couple at their reception.

Jamie took Angela to the Grand Hotel in St. Paul for two nights before they headed up to the North Shore for a week. At the gift opening on Sunday, Angela said that their room was absolutely beautiful and that she felt like a queen. I hope they are a having a wonderful time on their honeymoon… resting a lot, I’m sure, after such a busy wedding season!

Mark and Jodie taking a breather. These guys worked so hard… I was so proud of them. They made sure to do whatever it took to make the day run smoothly. From setting up, decorating, running errands, cleaning, hauling gifts and tearing down until midnight, they were there. I don’t think Mark knew what he was signing up for when he married into this family , but he never complains.

In all it was a gorgeous day. The Lord’s presence was truly there during the ceremony… many people said that. We wish Jamie and Angela a lifetime of happiness and joy together! Bless you both!

“For this child we prayed.”

I know they are blurry and hard to see, but these are the first pictures of little Baby D! I had my second Doctor’s appointment today and got to see the little heartbeat ~ healthy and strong. Such a precious moment for Mark and I, watching our little one with his or her little legs elevated and crossed at the ankles… kickin’ back and relaxing in the womb. I’m taking that to mean our child has a laid-back disposition. I know, I sure jump to conclusions.

We finally got a due date as well. February 23rd. We’re shooting for the 25th, though, which is my brother’s birthday. We’ll see how we do!

And as far as I’ve been feeling, I have good days and bad days. I’ve only thrown up a couple of times, but for the most part it is just some queasiness at certain times of the day. Jodie fitted me with some groovy sea-sickness wrist bands which seem to be helping… and I look really cool, too! Ha! This week a headache was added to the mix, turning into a severe migraine on Sunday. I have a sweet and loving husband, though, who takes good care of me while “I’m baking his muffin” as he calls it. He’s already an amazing and protective father, and I keep falling in love with him all over again as I watch him love our unborn child.

We’re excited to find out whether it’s a boy or a girl, but it will still be a couple of months yet. I’m almost 3 months along, and we need to wait until about 20 weeks (5 months). Then we can start really working on the nursery and preparations.

Our Doctor is a such a wonderful Christian man, and he prays with us during each visit. He asks the Lord to fill us with His peace all along this journey, and for protection and wisdom. I couldn’t have asked for a better doctor to deliver this baby!

Thank you all for the sweet comments and emails, and for sharing in our joy with us. There have been so many questions, so I’m relieved to finally have some definite answers for you. I’m almost done with my first trimester and I look forward to more energy and less queasiness coming up around the bend. Please continue to pray for health and protection! We are so blessed to have such wonderful friends and family in our lives to share in this precious time with us.

We leave Wednesday for the wedding… yippee! So we’ll be gone until Sunday night, but I’ll post pics of the beautiful day when I get back. Blessings and love to you all!

~ Melissa Joy (and the little muffin, too!)