We arrived back at the Lantz's Thursday, June 17 and set up camp in their drive way again. It feels like we're home.
Friday is the day of preparation for the wedding. The wedding is at the Church and the reception is a a beautiful atrium at Northwest Community College. The image of having a reception at a community college does not meet the reality of this place. It was a perfect location.
Everyone worked hard all day. There is no wedding planner or someone to do the work. Anne (Dawn's sister) has taken on the enormous task of securing all the necessary decorations as well as planning and coordinating - and she's doing it as a hobby. It's hard to believe that she doesn't do this all the time. "I just like doing it!"
Cole has bought arbors, which the family has painted, but moving them in the trailer proves to be challenging - especially for Cole. He got stuck in the front.
Friday night is the rehearsal. To me it seemed mass confusion, but everyone seemed to understand their roles. After rehearsal, we went to a restaurant for a rehearsal dinner - lots of fun and great food. A big day.
Today is my 66th birthday. I have tried to keep it quiet - and think I've gotten by until all of a sudden at birthday cake (ice cream cake) shows up - WITH 67 on it. Clara made a mistake - thank goodness.
Clara and I have been honored to be a part of Cole's wedding. We are treated like family - and friends. It really is humbling to be included in one of this wonderful family's major life events.
Saturday morning, Cole invites me to go "out with the men" for breakfast. Just Cole, Dylan, Wendell and I. Again, very humbling to be included.
The wedding is beautiful and goes off without any glitches. All the wedding party meets at 11 A.M. and for the next 2 hours it's picture taking - every conceivable combination and pose. It's nice to see a professional at work with a camera. Amy has asked that I take pictures, which I gladly do. I think I ended up with around 500 for the day.
The wedding ceremony is beautiful. The preacher, Jesse, does a magnificent job of personalizing the entire event.
From the wedding we go to the reception. I think about 180 people attended. The atrium is beautiful and the afternoon seems to pass too quickly. All the kids end up dancing a lot and having fun.
After cleaning up, everyone collapses back at the Lantz's for a little reflection on the day.
Sunday, June 20
Sunday, we get the RV ready to leave, then go to Church with the family. Cole and Amy come to the house and go the church with the family. Then lunch for everyone and Cole and Amy open their presents.
We leave about 3 PM headed back to Spruce Pine. We figure we'll spend the night at a Wal Mart, but I started looking around for campsites because it's warm and I know we'll need air conditioning and I don't want to have to run the generator all night.
I started looking for Kentucky State Parks and find one near I-75 - Big Bone Lick State Park. It's only about 8 or 10 miles from the Interstate so we decide that will be a lot better. It ends up to be a beautiful drive to the park and then turns out to be one of the nicer places we've stayed. Before sunset we walk around and can see a herd of deer eating a field next to the campground.
Monday, June 21
A long dead-heading drive back to Spruce Pine. We won't do that again. We arrive in time for a beautiful sunset. We've covered a lot of ground, but nothing was a pretty as the view from the mountain house.
Friday is the day of preparation for the wedding. The wedding is at the Church and the reception is a a beautiful atrium at Northwest Community College. The image of having a reception at a community college does not meet the reality of this place. It was a perfect location.
Everyone worked hard all day. There is no wedding planner or someone to do the work. Anne (Dawn's sister) has taken on the enormous task of securing all the necessary decorations as well as planning and coordinating - and she's doing it as a hobby. It's hard to believe that she doesn't do this all the time. "I just like doing it!"
Cole has bought arbors, which the family has painted, but moving them in the trailer proves to be challenging - especially for Cole. He got stuck in the front.
Friday night is the rehearsal. To me it seemed mass confusion, but everyone seemed to understand their roles. After rehearsal, we went to a restaurant for a rehearsal dinner - lots of fun and great food. A big day.
Today is my 66th birthday. I have tried to keep it quiet - and think I've gotten by until all of a sudden at birthday cake (ice cream cake) shows up - WITH 67 on it. Clara made a mistake - thank goodness.
Clara and I have been honored to be a part of Cole's wedding. We are treated like family - and friends. It really is humbling to be included in one of this wonderful family's major life events.
Saturday morning, Cole invites me to go "out with the men" for breakfast. Just Cole, Dylan, Wendell and I. Again, very humbling to be included.
The wedding is beautiful and goes off without any glitches. All the wedding party meets at 11 A.M. and for the next 2 hours it's picture taking - every conceivable combination and pose. It's nice to see a professional at work with a camera. Amy has asked that I take pictures, which I gladly do. I think I ended up with around 500 for the day.
The wedding ceremony is beautiful. The preacher, Jesse, does a magnificent job of personalizing the entire event.
From the wedding we go to the reception. I think about 180 people attended. The atrium is beautiful and the afternoon seems to pass too quickly. All the kids end up dancing a lot and having fun.
After cleaning up, everyone collapses back at the Lantz's for a little reflection on the day.
Sunday, June 20
Sunday, we get the RV ready to leave, then go to Church with the family. Cole and Amy come to the house and go the church with the family. Then lunch for everyone and Cole and Amy open their presents.
We leave about 3 PM headed back to Spruce Pine. We figure we'll spend the night at a Wal Mart, but I started looking around for campsites because it's warm and I know we'll need air conditioning and I don't want to have to run the generator all night.
I started looking for Kentucky State Parks and find one near I-75 - Big Bone Lick State Park. It's only about 8 or 10 miles from the Interstate so we decide that will be a lot better. It ends up to be a beautiful drive to the park and then turns out to be one of the nicer places we've stayed. Before sunset we walk around and can see a herd of deer eating a field next to the campground.
Monday, June 21
A long dead-heading drive back to Spruce Pine. We won't do that again. We arrive in time for a beautiful sunset. We've covered a lot of ground, but nothing was a pretty as the view from the mountain house.
