The Wedding -continued-

Jamie came to our hotel room at 3:00 to do my make up. David had showered and put on the basic parts of his tux before she got there, since we had to be at the church at 4:00. She did a really good job with my makeup, and she wanted me to go with her to Alicia's room after. Jamie was hanging out with Alicia until time to go to the wedding. Anyway, I did, and Alicia approved, and I met most of my family out in the hall. It was good to see them, but I did not have time to visit. All of my aunts and uncles came, which I knew, but I did not know that my cousin Pam and her husband Tally and that my cousin Chris and his wife Lisa and their two boys were coming. It was such a nice surprise.

David and I finished dressing, and when we stepped onto the elevator, we saw Dana who said that it was pouring out. Because of that, I went out front so that David could pick me up under the covered drive instead of exiting out the back to the car like we had been doing. We ended up right behind the shuttle as it was leaving the hotel with the grooms persons.

When we got to the church, the rain had let up considerably. The rest of the time until the service, I just sort of hung out. I got a few pictures before the service, and I especially enjoyed being with the grooms persons as they were waiting to be called for pictures. There was a piano in the room in which they were waiting, and they sang everything from "Blessed Assurance" to "Freebird."

Then I got to my appointed place (the back pew) at 6:50, just as Ron had instructed me to. I had requested that Russell escort me to my seat, and he did. That meant more to me than I can express. The ceremony was really nice. I liked the fact that it was not long and drawn out with a lot of extra music, readers, and so on. Kevin and Juli were scheduled to sing "Make me a Channel of Thy Peace," but Kevin had just finished the first week of band camp and had lost his voice, like he usually does. So Warren filled in, and all three of them ended up singing, Kevin chiming in when he could. It really meant a lot me that Warren sang, since David and I really feel like we had a hand in raising him. I can't believe he is a junior this year!

Callie looked absolutely beautiful, and Russell was so happy and in love. David beamed throughout the ceremony; you could tell that he loved being best man. I guess one of the best parts of the service was little Martha. She came down the aisle with her little flower ring in her hair and carrying her flower ball with her pretty smocked dress on, and she was barefoot. You could hear a ripple go through the congregation as people realized it when she walked by. She pretty much stole the show. I hate that I did not get a picture of that.

The string quartet played "The Ashokan Farewell," and then it was over! David escorted me out, and then we had to stick around for some pictures. Russell and Callie rode over with us to the reception, with a brief stop at the hotel for something Russell needed for going away; I think it was some luggage or something.

I really can't name one thing above any of the rest that I liked; the whole service was really moving and special. I liked that Chris charged all of the families to support the couple. I liked the fact that the music was lovely and moving without being too much of it. I liked Martha the bare-footed flower girl. I liked the fact that my son escorted me to my seat and that my husband escorted me out. I'll always treasure that memory.

I'll pick up with the reception later.