It's done!

The wedding that has occupied conversation since dirt was new (not really) is over. Well…at least my part of that is over. Just in case you did not know, my oldest Elizabeth got married last Saturday in Rome, GA. It was tiring, stressful and delightful all at the same time. Locating facilities and supplies, decorating, keeping schedules can wear you out in a short order. Not to mention…people…people can make you crazy. Even when you are crazy people can make you crazy and logistics. Getting stuff and people to the right location at the right time is a difficult task. Made more so by lack of attention to directions on their part and forces beyond any ones control. But it happened and is done.

The whole weekend I was continually surprised by friends and family who came and helped and enjoyed. At the Chapel before the ceremony some unexpected faces, people I have not seen in decades. You know keeping up on facebook and the like but not in-the-same-room-seeing-their-face-listening-to-their-voice kind of contact. That is different and better than facebook or skype or Google hangouts. It is way more delightful. Nothing surpassed our surprise for Elizabeth.

What Lizzy did not know was that my Father was coming. Since he came home from the hospital under hospice care it did not look good for him to be able to go or maybe even survive to the date. As time approached we began to think it was possible but did not want to get her hopes up. Then he spiked a fever, ugh. However, that was short lived and he was bound and determined to go and dance with his oldest granddaughter on her wedding day. Nevertheless he did we did not tell her at all. We thought we would surprise her at the wedding rehearsal but they arrived too late. So they went on to the rehearsal dinner spot and waited for us there. That is where she was surprised. Oh what a surprise. Not many dry eyes at that moment.

The wedding was lovely and the reception was indeed too short to get to and speak with our guests old and new. Many who came from some distance to be with us. That amazed me and still does. My Dad got up and danced with my daughter on her wedding day. It was spectacularly delightful.  

Sunday we ate breakfast with three families. It was after the meal Barbara and I realized those three families represented three phases of our married life. Mark and Mary from our high school years and early marriage. Danny and Lisa from middle Tennessee and the birth of Elizabeth and then Keith and Sheryl from 1992 on when we moved to Bloomingdale. God has blessed us with people and places as we have followed his lead to serve him. It was once again proof of God at work in our lives.  

“Give away your life; you’ll find life given back, but not merely given back—given back with bonus and blessing. Giving, not getting, is the way. Generosity begets generosity.” Luke 6:38 The Message            

Bro G