Ups and Downs - It Doesn't Get More Extreme Than This

You might have read my blog yesterday about waking up at 3-something am.

Well, there was no more sleep to be had until sometime after 11pm.

In between was non-stop action and emotion.

First up for the day was meeting with our little Burma refugee friends.

I took another young lady who wants to help with me.

We had a delightfully crazy time with our four girls.

Funny, because we have only ever had three before but the little

three year old sister was there and very involved.

After dropping our friend back at her car

Chelsea and I headed to Isaac's for lunch before shopping for everything 

we needed for Michael and Emily's Rehearsal dinner.

On the way I got a phone call about plans for Tommy Musser's 

memorial service so when we arrived at Isaac's parking lot

I was still on the phone and stayed there to talk.

As I talked I heard another call beep in....but with the

serious nature of the call I simply decided to get back 

to whoever it was when I was done.

A few minutes later I pushed send to see who it was who

had called and it was the Pastor in charge of the Burma Ministry.

We had discussed having lunch to go over things but I hadn't heard back 

from her to finalize so thought it wasn't going to happen.

Well, the pastor and two others were at Panera Bread waiting for us.

Thankfully we hadn't made it into Isaac's and just headed across town to 

meet up with these lovely people.

Once they found out that we were dealing with a wedding and a funeral 

all in one day they kept our part of the meeting "rather brief"

 and sent us on our way.

So then we were on to Costco to grab many items for the 

rehearsal dinner.

I am so thankful that Emily and Michael are so casual.

They love the out of doors and wanted a picnic for their

special night.

The menu was:

Turkey wraps

Croissant Sandwiches

Stuffed potato salad

Fruit Salad

Chips

Six Layer Dip

Cheescake

Cookie Tray

Lemonade

So...after shopping we took all of the refrigerated items 

to our church fridge to wait for us to be ready for them.

They wouldn't fit in coolers.

Then Chelsea and I headed home where she made the 

most adorable fruit salad.
I wish I had gotten photos of it.

But everyone loved it both to look at and eat.

As Warren said, it had all the good fruit in it...not fillers.

While she did that I nailed down the final details

on a location and time for Tommy's service and 

drafted a blog post for Susanna's blog to pass on information 

they wanted to share.

I can tell you that the rehearsal dinner would have looked much 

different if Chelsea had not been available to help me 

so much yesterday.

She is such a darling daughter and sister.

And she loves her brother and soon to be sister 

very, very much!

Warren came home and we ran to the church to 

gather our food and some serving bowls that coordinated 

with our theme.

We froze as we drove the 45 minutes to the 

location because we ran the air conditioner at full blast to 

keep the cold stuff cold.

Warren and I were frozen so I can't imagine

how Chelsea felt. 

She always gets cold while we are still  sweating.

We arrived at the park, found an open pavilion and set up.

Pretty white tablecovers, flowers and food.

That was what we had to offer.

It all worked out pretty well.

I freaked in the beginning because it didn't look like

much food on the tables and I worried that I had not gotten enough.

However, we have leftovers...galore...and so 

I am glad I didn't get more.

We wanted some special touches of color so 

I went with the wedding colors of red and yellow.

Everyone seemed to have a good time and enjoyed each other's company.

The wedding party is sweet. 

Jonathan had to work...so we were bummed about that.

He and Michael are on different shifts.

Michael had more to learn about this day than Jonathan...so.....

As the wedding party gathered

The Eicher Arts Center....where the reception will be held.

The wedding ceremony will be in the yard behind this building.

 My friend, Belinda, the beautiful mother of the bride.

I am so grateful that she will be the other mom in my son's life.

I couldn't ask for a better family for him to marry into.

We have loved these people for years!

Oh - I had to share the photo because of the man beside her.

He is the caretaker and manager of this property.

I think many couples would get married here because of him...

even if they hated the 

property!

He becomes an integral part of the process and you love him for it!!

By the way....he once taught Tom Cruise.

So then you become famous by association.

Just another perk. 

Ha.

Rehearsal begins.

The ball roughly marks the center aisle.

 

I love the three very different personalities displayed in these bridesmaids.

They are so fun!

The guys had that discussion about where they should put their hands.

Behind the back was the final decision after "some" silliness.

The large and beautiful deck where the swing dancing will take place

during the reception.

Mikey will probably bust some crazy moves of his own.

He is quite the dancer...but not so much when it comes to 

formal dances.

We are looking forward to the wedding in just 19 days.

But first we have a funeral.

The cycle of life....

It is real.