A Break

July 4 broke bright and beautiful and we had no big plans for the day.  So we headed to Safeco Field to see our Mariners in a day game.  Barb had only been to one game so far this season.  I have not been to any.  The team has been struggling, losing most of its games, with adequate pitching and no hitting.  As a result attendance is down so there were reduced priced tickets available from scalpers on the street.  We arrived early, as we so enjoy doing, and walked around the cavernous stadium and watched the players work out and warm up.   With only a third of the seats filled, we moved about the stadium during the game, viewing the game from various seats.   Another loss with adequate pitching and few hits.

But we so enjoy the venue and the feel of baseball.  We did stop to check on Barb's brick in the lower concourse.   Barb taught Mariner Math (she came up with that term on her own) and for her birthday in 1998, the kids bought her a brick for the then new stadium.     Fun

Heritage

One of the many things that I so enjoy about my children is that they do not hesitate to give me advice.  Ben, Kari, and Nathan, at times, take me aside to offer council.  Early in the year, soon after Kari and Eric’s engagement, I met Nathan for lunch.  “Nate,” I said, “this is going to be a big wedding.  I don’t want to make it some garish show.”

“Just make it a memory, Dad.”   What a wise response from someone so dear.  That phrase was my guide throughout this whole wedding event.

I have spent considerable time since my retirement researching family history.  The more research I did, the more I came to realize that the generations now passed on made considerable commitment to faith, sacrifices and hard work.   I feel called to not allow the legacy of my great grandparents, my grandparents, and my parents to be forgotten.  Kari is named after my grandmother Kari Aune who immigrated with my grandfather Gunder and my then infant father to the U.S. in 1903.  It was important to me to make the celebration of Kari and Eric’s wedding a family event.

I never dreamed that day that the family element would play such a huge role in Kari’s wedding.  I knew that Vicki (Barb’s sister) and Ed would be. They are always there to help.   Kathy, Barb’s sister in law was there as well.  I hoped that my siblings would be there.  They all were, most traveling far from eastern Washington.  Many of our nieces, nephews and their children were there as well.

The first draft guest list was so large that we had to limit it to fit into the church.  Barb’s and my cousins (we have many) were not invitees with four exceptions.  Three Aune cousins, Diane, Karen, and Kathy had shown great interest in Kari and in the family heritage.  I lobbied for their inclusion on the guest list.  The other cousin invited (second cousin) was my frequent contact in Norway.   I advised Kari to send them a “save the date card”  and she did.  Imagine my surprise and delight when I emailed Torgeir to explain the American custom of “save the date” and his response was that they wanted to come.

About that time I took on the task of digitizing my old slides. It had nothing to do the wedding plans but it ended up having a huge role.   I took the 1600 or so slides from the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s, narrowed them down to 600 select ones, and had them scanned to compact discs.

A few months before the wedding, I received an email from cousin Karen asking of the colors of Kari and Eric’s home.  She wanted to paint them a picture.  Karen is an accomplished artist.  I emailed the colors to her and asked if she would be interested in painting a picture of Auneland.    I am not sure it is on any map, but when Barb and I visited Norway in 1973, specifically my ancestral village of Selbu, we were invited to the Aune home where my father and several previous generations had been born.  They called the area “Auneland”.  It was such a beautiful day and I hiked up the hill to take a picture of the area.  As I looked at the slide this spring, I noted the beauty of the area and asked of myself as to why I had never made a print copy for mounting on our wall.

Karen was very interested in the photo and I quickly emailed it to her.  Her quick response was, “Please, may I paint this?”

And so a painting of Auneland was accomplished.  I encouraged Karen to present it to Kari and Eric during the reception.   And Heidi and Torgeir, Heidi in her traditional dress, were there to explain the details of the painting.

It is about family, present, past and future.

Original photo

Karen's painting

A few more pictures

The only picture I have of Kari on her wedding day.

My sibs, L to R front -  Ann, Corinne (Hope), Phyllis,  Norm, Bud, John, Gene

Ben,  cousin Evin, Kassie, and Penny catch up in our backyard.

My cousins Karen and Kathy

Big brother Ben checking on the bride and groom Sunday morning.

Kassie and Evin playing pickleball

Ben and Grayson Benjamin

Opening gifts Sunday eve with Patty and Bill, Eric's parents

Torgeir, Heidi, Kathy, Norm on a drippy Tuesday in Seattle

Heidi, Kathy, Barb and Torgeir on a brilliant Wednesday at Mt. Rainier

Grayson turns 1

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.