My most PERFECT celebration!!!!

Gosh, I hardly know where to begin.  It was a lot of work with very little sleep, but oh my...Saturday evening...well, it just takes my breath away everytime I think of it. Originally I was gonna go to the farm on Thursday, but Mike, being much calmer & sounder than me, convinced me to stay home & not get to the farm until Saturday morning.  I knew I married him for a good reason! LOL I had 4 cakes to make & 80 deviled eggs, not to mention packing up all the "stuff" needed to decorate, etc.  Matt, my son & right-hand go-to guy was AMAZING!!!  My brain & his brawn made for a terrific team. Mishap #1:  I stayed up litterally all night Thursday, making & decorating the horseshoe cake.  It was to be chocolate cake with chocolate pudding filling & brown icing.  The cake & filling turned out great...the icing....oh boy!  I started with a tub of Wilton's frosting...one of those great big suckers.  White.  I had bought 2 large jars of brown coloring, so I slowly added the coloring from one jar.  The color was very pale, even after putting in the WHOLE jar.  So enter jar #2.  Even after that whole jar it still wasn't the color I wanted.  I wanted that pretty deep brown color.  Then I got the idea to add just a touch of black.  Now, would someone please tell me how white, brown & black can make the most hideous GREEN????  I mean nasty, ugly, horrendous green!  Soooo, toss that batch.  I decided to just go with white & not worry about it.  Having never taken a cake decorating class ever, I played around with a couple of tips I have.  When it was all done, it was sooooo beautiful.  I decided to decorate it to look exactly like the horseshoes I made to give to our guests as gifts.  You can see that on my profile in the photos section.  And now, the unspeakable happens.  MATT DROPPED THE CAKE!!!!!  The one I stayed up all night working on...a crumbled, terribly looking mess in the box!  He was just devestated...nearly in tears & he's a grown man!  I will post the before & after pictures in a few.  Once we both recovered from the initial shock of it all, I got right back to work & created another masterpiece. I got a couple of hours sleep then went right back to cake making.  Managed to finish off the other 3 & they were even prettier than the first one, if I do say so myself.  I did cheat a bit though.  Instead of making my own edible roses, I opted to just use silk flowers & leaves.  Still, they looked very elegant & I was pleased. Mishap #2...the weather.  Wouldn't you know it??  On OUR special day, Mother Nature decided to make it freaking AFRICA hot...105!!!!  Swealtering!!!!  Melted the glue I used on the horseshoe gifts!!!   As if the heat wasn't bad enough, then torrential RAIN!!  Blowing sideways!!!! Mishap #3:  The best man LOST MY WEDDING RINGS!!!  I didn't find out about that until AFTER he found them again...lol!  He had them on his pinkie finger & of course they fell off.  He & his girlfriend searched, frantically.  He said he knew he would be a deadman if he didn't find them, & he was right!  As he said, there's too much firepower (guns) & other things on the farm that could do horrible bodily harm to him & he knew I'd use 'em! LOL!!!!  Right again! Because of the rain, there was no dancing to be had.  Too much lightening & rain.  Didn't want our DJ electrocuted just so we could dance. Now, in spite of the small mishaps...it was picture perfect.  First of all, I FIT INTO MY DRESS!!!!!  Ya'll know how I was stressing about that one.  My hairdresser did a lovely job on my hair.  And Mike....oh my.  He looked soooo handsome....he took my breath away.  The rain was actually a Godsend on two scores.  One, it made that stifling heat go away, & two, the farm fields needed the watering for a second cut of hay (we buy our hay from Dennis).  I still got to arrive by horse-drawn carriage, & I still got to see Mike & Dennis ride over the dam.  The carriage ride was soothing & relaxing...gave me a moment to just let all the stress of the past few days slide away, as I enjoyed the beauty of the setting.  Green, lush, freshly washed rolling hills, riding along the banks of Denni's 50-acre lake, with my best friend of 21 years, Mickie, beside me.  I took a silent special moment to "speak" to Amy...Dennis beautiful wife who was taken from us just last year at the age of 32 & whom I miss more than words could say.  That's why Mike & I chose to celebrate at the lake.  It was Amy's lake...the place I see every weekend & where I feel her presence most.  I know she was with us. At last we arrived at the tent.  Dennis helped Mickie down from the carriage & escorted her to the "pulpit" where Mike & Cliff, our officiant, were waiting.  Lynn, my surrogate Dad, assisted me off the carriage & we stood there together, gazing at the gathering of all our friends & relatives & listening to the final strains of a recording of my sister, Cyndi, singing her beautiful opera-rendition of O Mio Bambbino Caro.  Then came the Bridal Chorus & Lynn gently guided me to my place beside Mike.  Our eyes met & my heart melted...just like it did 23 years ago when we met for the first time...just like it did when we stood before each other 20 years ago.  And so the ceremony began.  Cliff has this lovely barritone voice that can carry far & as he spoke, rejoicing in our union, & bringing God into our renewal of vows, tears started to well up in my eyes.  Then Cliff did the unexpected.  He asked us all to bow our heads in prayer, & when we did he began to SING the Lord's Prayer!!!  I have known this man for over 12 years & had no idea that he could sing like that.  Our vows.  A mixture of new & old, but all the more meaningful.  As we spoke our vows, one to the other, nothing else existed but this man standing before me.  Twenty years of memories, good & bad, began to swirl around in my head & an overwhelming sense of pride, accomplishment, but most of all love completely filled me.  Then came the Sand Ceremony.  Our sons, Matt & Chris, joined us up front & brought forth a table.  On the table were 4 small crystal vases, each with a different colored sand.  In the center, a large empty crystal vase.  As Cliff explained to our gathering, we each picked up our small vases & began to pour them into the big one, creating a kaleidascope of colors, symbolizing the blending of two families.  Not that there was ever any doubt of our committment to each other...Chris has always been my son, even though I did not birth him, & Mike has been the only father Matt has ever known.  But we just wanted to do something special, for them, to let them know in a special way how much we love them.  The boys went back to their seats, Cliff spoke another short prayer, & then we were pronounced husband & wife AGAIN.  The kiss.  Oh my goodness!!!  That kiss went on & on & on.  Cliff introduced us to the gathering & Mike layed on yet another wonderous kiss!!  Daaaang...that cowboy of mine can kiss like nobody's business...LOL! Because of the rain, we moved the ceremony so that it was under the tent & it was a good thing because the rain came back.  But not before all of our friends lined up for hugs & kisses & congratulations while the Bridal March played in the background.  They all looked so cute in their western attire & big smiles.  Everyone then headed for the food tables & the rain actually held off until everyone's plates were filled.  Then the 2nd downpour hit.  You know what though?  Other than the DJ, nobody minded!  A bunch of the guys got together &  pulled the food tables in under the tent while our poor DJ scurried to get all his equipment under tarps.  We had no music for the rest of the night...no first dance...no boogie the night away...but no one seemed to be the least bit disappointed.  We all snuggled in together under the tent & enjoyed the soft glow of the oil lamps on each of the tables & marvelled at God's fireworks show.  There was laughing & talking & terrific fellowship & that's just what we wanted. We did manage to have our toasts.  Dennis spoke very kindly of his trooper, Mike, & glasses were held high in our honor.  Mickie gave a sweet toast that again brought tears to not just my eyes, but a few of our friends too.  Mike & I both told all of them how much it meant to us that they were all there with us...that each person under that tent was there for a reason...each of them are important in our lives & in our hearts.  They are all our "family by choice" & we love them so very much.  We cut the cake.  At our original wedding Mike dropped a piece down the front of my dress & went in after it...LOL.  This time, with the help of our friends egging him on, he smooshed just a little bit of it on my nose...silly, I know, but it was fun.  All the while a gentle rain fell & nobody cared...we just enjoyed it. At the end of the evening, when all of our guests had departed, Mike & I headed to our horse trailer, exhausted.  He had worked his hiney off getting the site prepped & setting up tables & all of that "work" stuff that he did in the oppressive heat.  We lay side by side, recounting the events of the day, what our favorite parts were, what this person & that person had to say.  We spoke of how it felt to be married all these 20 years & of how blessed we felt to have each other.  Then we cuddled up & fell to sleep...a much needed & peaceful sleep. Soooo, that's how it was.  I hope I haven't bored ya'll with all my ramblings, but I have come to feel close to so many of you here & wished you could have been with us.  Maybe by reading this you can visualize it & feel a little like you were.  I haven't seen any of the pictures yet, but I know we're gonna have a ton of 'em.  There were cameras & video cameras all over the place.  So, as soon I get some I'll post them in my profile.  Until then, thanks for allowing me to share.

Oh Ann! You made me cry!! What a wonderful time you had. As I read your story, I saw the images in my mind--the cake ,the lake, the smile on your face.I'm soooo happy for you. Thanks for sharing!

Thank you, Jen.  I have left out so much of what went on, but I figured I better stick with the condensed version...lol.  I'm really anxious to see the photos now.  I just hope I looked as good as I felt.  The way Mike kept looking at me...I never felt so beautiful as I did that day. The next day, Sunday, was really terrific too.  Matt went home after the party to take care of our animals & to get some much needed rest.  But we started Sunday with breakfast at our favorite diner with our other son, Chris, his girlfriend, Amanda, & Mike's brother, Ed & Ed's wife, Sally.  Ed & Sally drove all the way up from Florida just to be with us.  Ordinarily Dennis & Tina & Lynnie & Alain would have been with us, but they went off to Manassas to pick up some much needed gun powder & caps for our upcoming civil war events.  Breakfast was delicious, as usual.  Chris &  Amanda left us because they had other stuff they had to do that day.  Me, Mike, Ed & Sally went back to the farm & cleaned up the mess!!!!  It sure was a lot easier tearing it all down than it was putting it all up...LOL  Then we just sat around, under the tent, waiting for Cliff to arrive to pick up the stuff he'd loaned us (chafing dishes & coolers).  We yakked about all sorts of stuff & just plain getting reacquainted.  With the long distances between us, & Mike's family not as "close" as mine, we had a lot of catching up to do.  Anymore the only time his side of the family gets together is when somebody dies! We 4 went off to get some lunch & when we got back to the farm, the rest of the gang was back & setting up the shooting range.  Mike got to try out his brand new acquisition...a gift from Dennis & Alain...a shotgun!  Dennis, who is a born teacher, actually managed to teach Sally how to shoot a pistol.  This is a huge accomplishment cuz Sally WAS deathly afraid of any kind of weapon.  Girlfriend stepped up & with Dennis' coaching, she got a terrific steady pattern to include 2 bulls eyes!!!!!  This lady went from cringing & trembling when Dennis put an empty gun in her hand to "Oh man!  We gotta get us one of these!!!!"  The boys got up a skeet shooting competition & lo & behold....ED came out the winner!!!  Who knew????!!!!!  LOL After the shooting, it was time to go check on the cows so Dennis loaded up me, Mike, Ed & Sally in the Kobota while Lynnie, Tina & Alain hopped on the 4-wheelers & off we went to feed the herds scooby snacks.  Nothing like having your fingers cleaned by a full grown beef cow!! By 8 pm it was time to bid Ed & Sally good bye so they could continue on with their vacation & we needed to head home so Mike could make it in to work this morning.  But hey...we get to start all over again this Friday!!!! Go**** doesn't take me long to get going on another writing tangent, does it? LOL.  Sorry.  Anyways, I'm glad you enjoyed "being there" with us.

Ann- You can "read" the love of the day. I'm so glad that it was what you'd hoped and dreamed of. What a blessing!

Thank you so much Christina.  It truly was & IS a blessing!!  Now if only my checkbook can recover from the wringing out it got! LOL

 

Ann, it sound like your day turned out to be so perfect. I am happy thing turned out well. Mo

Thank you, Mo.  I was sooo proud of Mickie.  As she put it..."That carriage was the ONLY way you gonna get this black girl near a horse!!!!!"  Once she settled down & realized that Mustard wasn't gonna go racing off over the hills, she actually enjoyed the ride very much.  Right up until I suggested that Lynn crawl in back next to Mickie & I would drive for awhile!  Then it was "Oh hhhhhhelllllllllll nooooooo!  I'll jump out right here first!!!"  Imagine that...she didn't trust me!!  LOL

How absolutely beautiful.  I can see it all in my head.  Sounds like you had an absolutely perfect day despite the little mishaps.  It just makes me tingle and get a bit impatient for my own day. 

Oh honey...you're day's coming real soon!!!!  How's the plans coming???  Do you need any help??  Need any ideas?   Suggestions???  Extra hands?  All you gotta do is say so, sweetie!!! Pssst...I got some red, white, & blue decorations I can sell ya real cheap!!!!

Ann, I cry at everybody's wedding and yours is no exception!  As I sat here reading this (and thank you it was what my husband would call a "two tissue wedding") I feel as though I was a part.  I know exactly how you feel - it is like family around here.  Thanks so much for sharing!   You and Mike sound like a perfect match - and in spite of the mishaps - it's clear that it was a day that was filled with love and all things wonderful!  All the best as you begin your lives together.  Can't wait to see the pictures!  Wishing you both a wonderful "Happily Ever After!" Hugs, Chele