A great blessing; this past weekend was so special to my heart. Two beautiful weddings … hundreds of miles apart would leave tears of joy in my eyes. My heart is full!

Classmates in kindergarten at Valley Home School with a wonderful teacher, Mrs. Vargas, she not only educated her students, she would teach them to be respectful, kind and courteous for the rest of their lives. She did a great job!

Tayler Denman and Austin Dickens started kindergarten together in 2001 at Valley Home School. As with all their classmates in Mrs. Vargas’s kindergarten class they would become great friends! Over the years, there were fun times spent on the creek bank at Jenna’s house, there were fun game nights at Mary Beth’s, wonderful times spent watching Giants games, having fun at Garrett’s house, always great times with buddy Luke, there were wonderful times in Valley Home 4H; there was always fun to be had if you lived in Valley Home!

Valley Home has been known, as in the words of Caleb Cooper, as a place you make friends for life! Austin and Tayler would grow up to be great friends, and would be surrounded by their Valley Home friends … there would be Nik, Jose D, Tyler, Austin, Hunter, Marcus, Amanda, Rachel, Kim, Celina, Jasmine, the list just goes on and on … too many to name here! A most wonderful group of friends that would remain forever friends! Mrs. Vargas and their future teachers at Valley Home School had taught them well. Over the years times would change for both Austin and Tayler but those Valley Home friendships would always remain. A few years later a new friend would move into Valley Home. Jordan McCain would come into their lives and he became an important part of the Valley Home gang! Later Tayler would move to the great state of Texas. Tayler’s bond with her Valley Home friends would always remain strong! While in kindergarten Tayler and classmate Jenna Heaton had become the very best of friends; that would not change over the years! Growing up Tayler and Jenna would visit every summer; when Tayler came to Valley Home it would be visits and special dinners with Valley Home friends, trips to the beach, baseball games and fun times together. When Jenna would go to Texas, it was college football games, Dallas Stars hockey games … the girls even went to a George Strait concert and had the time of their lives. I love each of our Valley Home kids and to this day I have the most fun with every one of our Valley Home kids!

This past Saturday, May 27, Jenna Heaton would stand with Tayler Denman as her Maid of Honor in Denison, Texas. It was a beautiful day in Texas; a bright blue sky, wispy white clouds overhead, as our beautiful bride Tayler and her forever friend Jenna, strolled together into the lovely Landon winery. Within just a few minutes our sweet Tayler would become the beautiful bride of Mr. Taylor Rice.

Tayler is the daughter of Debbee and Russell Denman and sister to Bubba (James) Denman. Her husband Taylor is the son of Kimberly and Jack Rice. Taylor’s brother Trevor was his best man. Taylor’s dad Jack, married Tayler and Taylor in a most beautiful wedding ceremony! Tayler is the County extension officer for nine counties in Oklahoma; her groom Taylor is a mechanical engineer. After a honeymoon in West Virginia, the newlyweds will reside in Leonard, Texas. Congratulations Mr. and Mrs. Rice!

I am sure for many of you reading this you probably have wonderful and very precious memories of your own time growing up or living in Valley Home. It is a special place!

Austin Dickens was a true country boy growing up in Valley Home. He was a best friend to each of his Valley Home buddies over the years! Many years later on his wedding day, one of his best Valley Home buddies would be the man that would officiate Austin and his beautiful bride Maegan’s wedding ceremony! During his early childhood days Austin also enjoyed spending time along the creek banks and ditches. He even liked snakes; that part of Austin l never ever understood! Growing up Austin loved to hunt and he loved to play baseball! He was a great ball player; he was a tremendous athlete in high school! Austin had the great privilege of playing in a tournament named for his beloved uncle Mark Dickens while he was at Oakdale High School. When Austin met his beautiful Maegan, his heart was immediately hers! Maegan and Austin met at the beautiful Dardanelle Resort, high up in the Sierra Mountains. Maegan has a heart of gold, she is an amazing woman; kind, caring and is such a gracious woman, she is beautiful inside and out. Austin’s dad Kevin was the first person that Austin would call to share his feelings for his beautiful Maegan. For Austin’s mother Vicki it was love at first sight, she immediately knew that Maegan was the perfect girl for the son she loved so much.

Austin is employed at Knudsen’s Nursery here in Valley Home. His beautiful bride Maegan is a school teacher at Great Valley Academy in Salida.

Maegan is the daughter of Donnie and Jennifer DeGraff. Austin is the son of Kevin Dickens, son of Vicki Dickens and is the stepson of Lisa Dickens.

Maegan and Austin were married this past Saturday, May 27 in the most beautiful wedding ceremony in Jamestown, California. Their wedding took place under oak trees on a lush green lawn. A pond with a sparking waterfall completed the rustic and beautiful wedding area!

Victoria Traub was her sister Maegan’s Maid of Honor. Bridesmaids were Meghan Christel, Jenny Guzman, McKaela Golding, Morgan Killian, Courtney Dickens, and Nicole Dickens.

Austin’s Best Man was his cousin Eriksen Dickens. His groomsmen were Soren Dickens, Nik Garza, Austin Traub, and Eric DeGraff.

Austin’s childhood friend and good buddy, Jordan McCain, officiated at Austin and Maegan’s beautiful wedding ceremony. Congratulations Mr. and Mrs. Dickens!

May God look over and bless always these two very special young couples. I love you all so very much!