Wedding Preparations

It seems like we have been driving up and down the highway between Kansas City and Oklahoma since we arrived in May. This is our fourth trip into Oklahoma during the last month. For this 6-hour trip we have a passenger. We're transporting our oldest son's dog back to Oklahoma for the weekend. At 85 pounds, he fills up our entire back seat, but he's a great traveler.

But the real reason we're making this trip is for a very important occasion. Our youngest son, Blake, is getting married to his fiance Claire!

We left the motor home near Kansas City, as we are blessed that Denisa's sisters welcome us into their homes when we visit Oklahoma City. Thanks to Connie and Joe for making us feel so welcome, even with our crazy wedding preparation schedule. We broke curfew more than once! We made the trip to Oklahoma City 5 days early, giving us time to help around the house, and get ready for the big celebration. Mark did several projects, including working on the bridal couple's clothes dryer. He looks particularly handsome, huddled behind the dryer while working on the vent. We're guessing that this big appliance wasn't even invented at the time this house was built almost 100 years ago. He also did vent cleaning, bed frame construction, and helped with moving Blake into the house. He's pretty handy to have around.

As parents of the groom, we are responsible for the meal after the rehearsal. The bride and groom wanted to host it at the home they will share after the wedding, so we had wall-to-wall tables in their living room. Thanks to Denisa's sister and mother, who helped with last minute meal details.

The outdoor ceremony will be at an Oklahoma City park, so we met there for a morning wedding rehearsal. Like the rest of the midwest, Oklahoma has had unusually hot temperatures this month. So we were glad to be meeting at 9:00 in the morning before the park heated up.

Among the huge trees in the park, the shade felt good this morning.

We had some extra guests about the time the rehearsal was finished. Mom and Dad brought their adolescent goslings to the wedding site. Even though they are cute today, we're hoping they won't show up to goose the bride and groom tomorrow.

We had a great brunch back at the house, with lots of time for the entire wedding party to get to know each other. Then there were details like manicures and pedicures for the girls. Even though Denisa is used to hanging out with the boys, it was fun to be included in activities with the girls.

The last project of the day was introducing Denisa's Mother to her newest great-grandchild. We took a picture with the four generations out by the pool. Isn't it fun how our granddaughter just happens to show up in every blog now?

Our road trip passenger (aka their dog) is getting lessons on pool etiquette. He enjoys the shallow steps, but he isn't interested in jumping into the deep end.

We've been shopping and cooking for the last few days. Now that we're finished with the rehearsal brunch, it feels like some of the stress is over for us. But the big day is tomorrow, when we'll be back to the park for the wedding. Prayers have been answered, because a cool-front blew in this evening. We are looking forward to a beautiful wedding day!