Home and Hitched!

It’s Sunday evening, and we were married yesterday afternoon here in our Minnesota home, surrounded by my aunt and uncle and three close friends.  Yes, it was a very, very special day…like a fairy tale in many ways, informal, yet so very intimate with just a few people here.  Our dog, Baby, joined in the reception later in the evening…it was such a comfortable day filled with lots of love, laughter, good conversation, food, and, of course, drink! 

 

My aunt and uncle who live in Hibbing (actually right down the street) were here.  They found this place for me/us before I moved to MN last June and were the ones who turned me on to cycling so many years ago when I was a kid.  My Mom wasn’t able to travel from Texas; however, when the minister asked who gave me in marriage, my friend Jim replied, "Her mother and I" so she was here in spirit.  She had sent a beautiful set of necklace and earrings which completed my dress…it was as if she had actually seen the dress and picked out the matching jewelry.  My aunt loaned me a bracelet (my something borrowed)…one which my uncle had found once when they were out cycling.  That seemed appropriate to me.

 

Gail, my dear friend of nearly 30 years, arrived from Pennsylvania last Tuesday; we continued her Reiki training, she helped in so many ways getting me ready to be a bride, and we got in a great visit.  She and Dave hit it off; how could two such wonderful people not like each other?

 

Jim, a good friend and cycling buddy from Texas, arrived Friday evening to give me away on Saturday.  Dave and Jim had met previously in Texas this past October, and further cemented their friendship Friday evening during Dave’s "stag night."  Yep, the lads came home feeling pretty darn good…    Dave commented that one more shot of brandy and he might actually have been tipsy….yeah….ahem….giggle.  They spent most of their time out on the town in the pub owned by the minister who performed our wedding ceremony….fitting, eh?

 

Flowers arrived yesterday morning from Dave’s Uncle Tam in Kirkcaldy.  Quite a surprise for us and so very, very touching that he would make the effort to do this.  We are so grateful to him for such a beautiful arrangement and for the sentiments expressed in the accompanying card. 

 

Pamela and Jim called from Scotland in the evening.  It was so, so good to hear "Scots talk" again and to talk with both of these good friends again.  It was my first phone call as "Mrs. Barnes" !!  Teehee!

 

So many memories, good conversation, laughter, sharing memories, making memories….we not only felt the warmth and love of those sharing the day with us here in Hibbing, but the love and support of all our friends and relatives around the globe who were thinking of us as we began life as husband and wife.

 

On a different note…many folks have asked if I intend to continue this journal and have been encouraging me to do so.  I’ll see…there’s so much going on right now…getting back to work, developing my Reiki practice, my annual medical exams this month….it’s hard to find quiet time to gather my thoughts and put them here in some coherent fashion.  Stay tuned, though; I might surprise you!

 

I hope you enjoy the photos!

 

Cheerio for tonight!