First Comes Love, Then Comes Marriage

Blue Bird Hill was transformed Saturday, October 13, 2012.  Carol Keys and Clay Gledhill got married on the lawn in front of the creek.  Low humidity, great music, happy families, and a whole lot of love was felt as they exchanged their vows.  Gosh, it was so, so nice.  Carol's sister-in-law, Peggy, commanded her crew of helpers as she transformed our home into a wonderland.  It was so nice; family and friends of the couple came together, shared their talents, and made the venue into a paradise.

Those of you that know me understand that I'll hang a picture where I FIND a nail.  I don't arrange.  I just do.  I am a good helper though.  The entire experience reminded me of being responsible for prom-- but it was at my house.  Thankfully, these people have vision...they  told me what to do and I did it.

One of the highlights of the entire experience was getting to mow with Bill's little tractor.  Now, I can pull weeds, I can run the weed eater, the leaf blower and I are on a first name basis....but I have never been allowed to drive the tractor.  We were really trying to get the grounds looking good for Carol.  GUESS WHAT?   I'm good at mowing (large, vast spaces).  Bill gave me some lessons and critiqued my work.  He has also imposed some harsh rules:  1.  I am not to go near the road.  2.  I am not to mow hills.  3.  I should not mow rocks.  I think I am progressing nicely.  But back to the wedding....

The wedding was wonderful and the reception was something else.  After the ceremony, there was a cocktail hour.  Next we moved to the barn for dinner and dancing.  It was a feast -- Kudzo Katering is amazing.  Carol and Clay had picked a Southern Sophisticated Menu....one of Carol's cousins wrote food review for their newspaper in Starkville, Mississippi.  I am going to gush about the cake...it was phenomenal-- it was shaped to look like three baskets sitting on top of each other.  Each layer was delicious.  I had part of a pound cake layer and part of the spice cake layer.  No, I didn't eat the cheesecakes-- too full.

At about 8 p.m., Bill, Molly, Mary Michael and I walked back to the house through the tunnel of teaky torches.  Molly and Brad's second child is due in about a week and Mary Michael had given me permission to give her a bath in the big bathtub.  Once the girls were asleep Bill and sat on the porch and listened to the music from the band.  The band stopped at 10 and we saw a brightly lit balloon rise over the barn-- it was a bright orange Chinese lantern.  Fire makes the balloon rise and immediately I thought, "Gee, I hope we don't burn down the trees."  The balloon kept rising and floating high in the sky.  It was a magical way to end a magical weekend.

Mr. Biggles, one of the two cats that came with the house, attended the wedding.  He strolled through the crowd.  Jumped up and sat with both sides of the family during the wedding and then he casually attended communion.  He also went to the reception.  The night before he had attended the rehearsal dinner and really wanted some of the barbecue.

Carol was an absolutely gorgeous bride.  I'm prejudiced but she looked radiant.  It was fun getting ready the event, it was fun attending it, and it's fun that it is over.  I can't wait to relive the wedding when all the pictures are gathered together.

Corinthians 13:13 And now these three remain:  faith, hope, and love.  But the greatest of these is love.