We had invited all of our guests to meet us at a local diner for a "Celebration Dinner." We decided against a traditional Rehearsal dinner since the wedding was out of town and so many guests had traveled a long distance to celebrate with us. We wanted to spend all the time we could with each of them.
The restaurant was prepared for our group of 50 at 5:45. I dont think the people in attendance at rehearsal got there until 6:15. We arrived to a room already full of guests waiting for us. Special friends from all over who traveled to celebrate with us.
Sweet friends, Linda Talley, Renee and Evan Flores flew up from Houston. Linda and her husband Lynn were among my first visitors in the hospital after being born. Renee was a constant babysitter for the boys and I growing up in Alvin. I have so many precious memories of them from my past and it was absolutely amazing they were able to make the trip. Ryan, Patrick, Mom and I all loved getting to see them again!
Precious friends from Amarillo also drove up to celebrate with us and attend Friday nights dinner... Curly and Polly Sumrow held court in the corner with his contagious smile and laughter. Nancy and Steve Farren waited patiently to greet us and welcomed all guests to join them in their celebration of our marriage, no one is ever left out when Nancy is around! Lane's Mom and Dad, Mike and Leah made the trip. Mike is full of joy and Leah is so fun we were so honored they came. A friend of Mom's from high school who has become a precious friend to her since she moved back, Barbara Wise and her husband Gary were there. Barbara had been so excited for the wedding and kept Mom on a recurring pedicure/manicure schedule to get her ready.
My second mom through highschool, Beverly and her husband Scott drove from Abilene to attend the wedding. I can remember many many nights crying on Beverly's shoulder about life, and many nights sitting on the couch watching movies with her and Whitney. Beverly has always been one to embrace life's struggles with a huge smile and laugh at it. Her being at the wedding meant so much to me!
I was blessed to have so many of my family members make the trip up, many of whom were waiting at the restaurant for those in the wedding party to arrive. Pat, Paula, Rebecca, Taylor, Stetson and baby Stella all drove in Wednesday to Amarillo and treked up to Santa Fe with us. My Aunt Cindy and Tenell flew in earlier in the day Friday and Uncle Mike came in late Friday night. Erich and Nicholas came in Friday as well as Uncle Steve.
Drew had the majority of his family in for the wedding as well. For our Friday night dinner his sister Carrie, her kids Blaine and Kennedy, Drew's step mom Susie, his Grandma, his brother Denton and his girlfriend Starla and their daughter Aspen were all at the rehearsal and came to our celebration dinner with us.
I remember looking around the restaurant at all of the people who mean so much to Drew and I. Our Family, our closest friends, people whose presence in our lives have shaped who we are. I was overcome with joy and filled with elation to be surrounded by so many wonderful people. I will probably never be in a room with all them at one time again but the feeling will last with me forever!
No comments:
Post a Comment