Yeah

It is gorgeous out today. The forcast for Saturday is sunny and 74. Thank you Lord for granting even the vain and selfish things we ask for. Looks like the wedding will be outside after all. Tables will be set up outside. Flowers will decorate the scene. Wonderful food will be served, making for a contented group of family and friends. We anticipe the day with great joy.

Rick and Amy spent the last couple days loading all her "struff" (including a baby grand piano) on a truck and spucing up the Albany condo. The carpets are clean, the cupboards washed, and all the paint freshened. It is ready for Paul & Dianna to move in.

Everyone spent last night here, but had so much on their minds that they didn't sleep well. Rick, Amy and Preston were on the road by 7:30 this morning. The timeline for unloading and turning in the truck was tight. Rick has to be back at work tomarrow.

Amy will come back here on Wednesday to take care of final wedding plans. Rick and his boys will come down on Thursday evening. Not long now. We all look forward to the wedding. We all look forward to getting beyond it. Everyone involved is going to need some down time.

The bride and groom will spend 10 days in Hawaii before rebuilding their new life together. Shelley and Eric have already placed their boat in mooring and intend to spend time on the lake. They also are expecting their first grandchild. Dianna and Paul will move into their own place for the first time in well over 3 years, giving Richard and I back exclusive occupancy of our house. All positive changes.

All of us will benefit by having our own space. What can I say? There is no question that none of us would hesitate to do all we can for those we love. But keep in mind that we are at different places in our lives. We need a degree of seperation so we can function. Thank God for this large, diverse bunch of people we call family and thank God we are not together all the time. We would go out of our minds. But we are also greatful for the ability to congregate and to celebrate each other. It is at times like this (a family celebration) that absent members are sorely missed. Some because they have passed on, some because circumstances have prevented their attendance. But all are held close in our hearts.

So here is to Saturday. It is this day that we have worked for, prayed about for several months. It is finally happening. Our family will increase, our stress will decrease, our dreams will manifest themselves in celebration.