The wedding

It has arrived... the day where my baby girl will take another name and become one in Christ with the love of her life... JOSH JOHNSON!
Ann has stayed overnight at her sister Suzanne's - thus freeing up her Friday night bed for Chris, JaciAnna and Conner Dallas. Lila has stayed overnight at her sister Ann's - thus freeing up her room for Emily Jo, Jordyn Noel and Taylor (their friend who came to help with the kids). Upstairs is Lacey, K and Nola Jean. Lindsey slept in the family room on the blow up bed. Dad and I in our room - everyone had settled in for a short winters night. Yes, I said WINTER! It had started snowing on Friday night about 10:00pm and there was a beautiful covering on the ground and trees. I believe it was probably so beautiful as you know in April the snow won't be staying around to long!
7:30 am - people are up and showering already. I start to put hot rollers in JaciAnna's hair, she isn't crazy about it but we get them in. Then come's Emi's hair, a set of hot rollers in that thick beautiful hair. By 9:30 they are ready to rumble and hit the streets to the United Methodist Church. I leave for the church about 10:30am. My hair is done with just some touch ups needed. The fellowship rooms are filled with girls, girls and more girls. Veronica, the hairdresser and her friend have the bykota room filled with things for fixing hair and putting make-up on. There is: Emily, JaciAnna, Lacey, Anna, Liz, Starla, Veronica, her friend, myself and then most importantly LINDSEY KAY!! They are preparing for the wedding and it is beautiful to see all those girls together laughing! Liz is looking for a drill?
11:45am - the rest of the wedding party and some of their friends arrive in the fellowship room and Starla goes to get the sub sandwiches. We set them out along with chips, dips, pickles, and most importantly CHOCOLATE!! Josh is here now, along with his groomsmen, Matt, Mike, and Moon. Chris and Conner arrive and everyone dishes in and starts eating. It is a relaxed wonderful atmosphere... as Liz is again running for something - this time it is a hammer.
1:00pm - it is time to start taking pictures. Josh's family is now here and they all get their family pictures. The groomsmen are next, then the bridesmaids and of course our family. I really appreciate how hard it is to get a big family together. I never thought of my family as big until this moment. Dad, myself, Emily Jo, Chris, JaciAnna, Conner Dallas, Jordyn Noel, Lindsey, Josh, Lacey, K, Nola Jean, Gramma Dorius and Jeff! ZOWIE!! We have grown to 14 people soaking wet!
2:30 - pictures are done and people are starting to arrive. Justin Rierson is here also to sing "Butterfly Kisses" as Lindsey walks in. We are so proud of him for coming as he only knows me through work and agreed at the last minuet to do the song for her.It is the same song that Emily walked down to 8 years ago on May 8th!.
3:00 - everyone is being seated and things are getting ready. I have been busy praying through out the whole church for this day, for the people here and for the couple to be married! Jeffrey Allan walks mom and I into the church and we take our seats. Jan Meyer's is playing organ and comes over to the side of the church to play the keyboard for the Praise Team. The song they sing is "We all Bow Down" - it was for the gathering and the harmony that they sang was beautiful! Next Andrew starts the slide show and Chris sings "Cinderella" as the pictures of Josh and Lindsey's young life move before us on the big screen. It is now a little after three and the music changes as Jan starts to play butterfly kisses and the couples walk up to the front of the church. As Justin gets to the verse "she changes her name today"... Lindsey Kay comes walking down the church isle with her arm hooked on her dads...
It is breathtaking...
I will forever hold this moment in my mind...
3:30 - the wedding vows have started and they will light their unity candles. The unity candle set was a gift from Laura Pioske and the candle holder set was a gift from Starla... it is indeed beautiful as they go to take the two single candles and light the big one. The Praise Team is singing "The Power of Your Love" and the Holy Spirit is dancing through out the church.
4:00 - by this time the couple is married and they are ushering people outside the church. There are more pictures for the wedding party to take and the guests will go out to the Arlington community Center.
It was indeed a beautiful wedding.
When Lindsey and Josh were going to Pastor Wayne for their counseling they said the most important thing to them would be that the presence of God would be in the church and that the service would change someones life for Christ.
He was
It did!!!
Amen!!