I don't know where to start when describing the "wedding" and the celebration. It was fabulous! We don't have any wedding pics yet, but will be hearing from our photographer within a week or so. When we do get some pictures, I will blog them. Also, the ceremony was video taped, so you can watch it when you're here visiting.

The day was perfect. The kids had all arrived the night before, for the rehearsal. We had pizza and salad after rehearsal at the church. The 25th was sunny and not so humid for Indiana. We all assembled at the church by 4:30 for pictures. At 4:00, I met Deke at the altar so we could have some time together to reflect on the day and to see each other in our attire. The professional pictures were all taken by 5:30 so we all gathered in the breakroom where the church women had prepared a feast for us.

By 7:00, all was in place. The 1812 Overture began (the one with the Boston Pops with the fireworks exploding and church bells ringing) in all its glory and the grandkids marched down the aisle ringing old-fashioned school bells. When the tune hit its crescendo, the couples came in two by two carrying the babies in their arms (two teenage attendants retrieved the babies at the altar and took them to the nursery). Deke and I followed and arrived at the altar as the song ended. The people said they wanted to cheer!

There were 3 surprises: Before our vows were repeated, unknown to me, Deke had memorized some endearing words for me and repeated them. In addition, I had written a letter for him to be read by Erin because I knew I wouldn't be able to get through it without blubbering all over the place. About a quarter of the way through that one page letter, Deke took it from Erin and asked me to read the rest to him. Of course I got through it but it was with much blubbering. After the vows were repeated, we all 8 stepped to the top platform where Deke and I knelt at a two-person altar to take communion. Our pastor served all 8 of us and we gathered together to pray. After the communion, we thought the pastor would pronounce the "Husband and Wife" thing, but he said the kids wanted to say something to us. What resulted was the kids gave Deke and me a "blessing" just as we had done for them at their weddings. They each took the microphone and said to us some amazing words of love and affirmation. We were just "got" and it was no doubt the highlight of the whole ceremony. After the pronouncement, the grandkids once again rang us out of the church with their bells as the finale of the 1812 Overture thundered overhead.

We formed a receiving line in the reception room that took at least an hour for the people to pass through. Afterward, we cut the cake and mingled with the crowd. We had set up 4 centers around the room, each depicting a decade of our marriage. For instance in the 70's display, I had my original wedding dress all decked out on a mannequin along with a tri-fold black foam board with 8x10 and 12x17 pictures on display. We had cake and punch and a candy "bar" where people filled little organza bags full of assorted candies displayed in large glass containers. It was such a fun evening.

The next morning, we all took off for Michigan where we had rented a log home on Lake Brevort, a small lake just 10 miles northwest after crossing the bridge. It was a long haul getting there and back but it was great seeing Michigan again and feeling the cool, crisp air of summer. We froze the first two days but the rest of the week was much better. Wish it had been a tad warmer for the kids to swim comfortably in front of the house, but it was really too cool for them most days. Too bad, too, as the water was very shallow for at least a hundred feet and they could have swum without fear of dropping off in the depths. We played euchre, swam, drank coffee, played ladder ball, fished, sat around the firepit every night eating smores, celebrated a birthday, sailed, paddled a canoe, kayak and rowboat, swam in Lake Michigan and enjoyed being together. The big kids made all the meals all week, which was a tremendous gift to me.

What a celebration! So happy we did it and so happy and grateful for these wonderful 40 years together. Deke and I have 3 of the most wonderful kids in the world and 6 of the best and brightest and most beautiful grandkids ever born into a family. We are eternally grateful to the Lord for His grace and blessing over us. Thank you Lord!