Blessings

The blessings have been given, Kari and Eric are off to Australia, the Philippines and more, the relatives and friends have returned home, and fond memories fill our lives.  Kari and Eric are so happy and their joy permeated both the church and the reception venue.  There are no pictures of the wedding as I did not carry my camera, but vivid images fill my mind of the many heartfelt events in the last week.

The wedding was beautiful.  The rain stopped and the clouds parted as people begin to fill the church.  Then, on exiting the church, all were able to gather on the steps for a group picture. K, E and the wedding party boarded their cars, then the boat, to meet us at the reception site, Foss Waterway Seaport.

The dress arrives via brother Ben.

The moms press and deliver to the bride

The youngins, so excited for Kari

The hard work and creativity of friends and family was evident as we filled the cavernous warehouse for the celebration.  Kari, standing on the bow with the 8 p.m. sun reflecting off her dress, looked radiant as the boat docked at the Seaport.   Interaction with friends and relatives dominated the evening but eats, some heartfelt toasts, and a bit of dancing punctuated the importance of the event.

More than 50 Aune and Thompson family began to gather at our home the next morning around 10.  Gordon and Carol and Terry and Nelda (friends and neighbors) had arrived early to cook, organize, and help set up tables and chairs.  The sun broke through the clouds and we were able to gather as family, basking in the warmth of being together.  Kari and Eric stopped by for some time on their way to their home to pack for the extensive honeymoon.

Dear friends with servant hearts. Gordon, Terry, Nelda, Carol

gathering at table

some of the group

my sibs, cousins Diane, Kathy, Karen, Heidi and Torgeir

Heidi presenting gift from Norway

Ben and Penny flew out at midnight and the next morning more than 10 of the wedding party gathered at the Seaport to take down the decorations and transport everything to our house.  (The spare garage is full again.)  We were finished by noon and I picked up Torgeir and Heidi (cousins from Norway) and Kathy (cousin from CA) and checked them in to our home.

part of clean up crew

Tuesday we visited the Space Needle, the Market, and some other favorite spots in Seattle.  Wednesday broke beautiful and we visited Mt Rainier in blue skies and sunshine..  Each evening we gathered on our patio, grilling and eating, but mainly sharing stories of family both here in the US and Norway.  What a special time we had.  We have gathered with Kathy several times over the last few years.  I had met Torgeir only in 1973 for a few hours at his father's home in Trondheim.  We had not met Heidi.  They are delightful people and we could not have asked for more engaging visitors to our home.  Heidi, a preschool administrator, shared her delight of children with stories, songs and attention to our grandchildren.  Torgeir, well read and very knowledgeable, has that unique blend of sharing interesting stories and insights while showing an interest in our experiences as well.  Their was no lack of engaging conversations in their 3 days with us.

Heidi, explaining to Jensen, items in the painting of Auneland in Selbu Norway.  The painting was done by cousin Karen.

Barb, Heidi, Kathy, Torgeir, Jensen, Jane

Thursday morning we transported Kathy to the airport for a noon departure.  We took Torgeir and Heidi to our favorite restaurant, Salty's on Alki, which has a phenomenal view of the Seattle skyline from across the bay.   We dropped them off at 2 p.m for their long flight home.

Whew.  What a week.  We marry off our daughter, welcome the extended family to our home, and entertain out of state and international guests.  FUN

We gathered Thursday eve at Nathan and Cailyn's home to celebrate Grayson's first birthday.  We brought all 3 grandchildren home with us that evening filling, one more day, our home and yard with activity and sharing.  FUN.

We returned the gkids Friday eve and Barb and I returned to an empty home with no "to do" lists.  We fell to sleep early and I awake this morn at 5:30 with all these warm thoughts going through my head.  I don't think I will leave my "get it done" mode until I adequately document many of the wonderful things that have gone on this week.  God moves me to share, to document, to recognize.  And sometimes, like this morning, it appears to flow out my fingertips to appear on this screen.     FUN

THE MARCH IS ALMOST OVER

Just one more day until I walk Kari up the aisle.  All appears to be going well and Kari looks like she has everything together.  She does share, however, that she is operating on about 3 hours of sleep a night.
Ben and Penny arrived Wed at midnight and by 9 a.m. Thursday they joined the throng at the reception site. Some of the wedding party, Patty (Eric's mom), Nathan and Cailyn,  Vicki, Barb's sister, and Ed were there as well.  Within 8 hours they had transformed a warehouse into a reception hall.   I mainly watched the worker bees do their tasks.  Creativity reigned supreme.

At 1 p.m I made an airport run and picked up my second cousins from Norway, Torgeir and Heidi, and my cousin Kathy from Sacramento.   In the evening we gathered at our home, our family and the Vollsets, for some grilled salmon.

I had some problems sleeping last night.  Watching my children, their spouses, their friends, our family, work throughout the day yesterday touched my heart deeply.  I am so blessed by these dear, talented, hardworking people.

finishing up the veil

loading items for reception venue

unloading in reception hall

Barb working on flower pots outside venue

The brain trust (bridemaids) coordinate strategy.

give Kari a break

roll in the wine barrels (they are empty)

The doughnuts are here!  I am checking over the bills.

Ed folding napkins

Penny and Nathan hang lights and drape

Vicki and Barb

Kirsten and AnnaBelle folding napkins late into the evening

The March Continues, Oh What Fun

Laurie, Allison and Patty at the  Golf buddies shower

Baby sitting day.  Terrie and Nelda help with projects.

Projects progress - Jane, Donna, Terrie. Kay, Patty, Nelda

The hard task....tasting to find the fine wine

The Ya Ya's shower at Terrie's

Kari's third grade teacher and our Pastor's wife.

Gather for prayer.  Holly in the lead.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch, the first strawberry ripens.

The March Continues, Oh What Fun

The reception venue is selected.

The church is booked.

The dress is a fit.  2 bridesmaids and Patty, Eric's mom.

This cake is delicious.

There have been showers.

Some decorations are done.

Jane enjoys helping.

The tuxes are fitted.

And Barb in her prewedding mode of relaxation.

Ben

Ben played a benefit for the Girls and Boys Club last weekend.  Ben is the skinny guy on our left.  Interestingly, Ben looks fairly muscular around our family.  Ben's words:

I played golf and rode in the cart with Jerome Bettis yesterday. He's a great guy, very sharp and the best putter I've ever seen. He is sponsored by Nike and has his own logo ball, how awesome is that? The other big guy in the picture is Tim Lester who played the NFL for 8-9 years and blocked for the likes of Jerome Bettis and Emmit Smith.