This weekend we went to Dyer for Liz's wedding. I always love going home to Dyer but this weekend really seemed to be so much sweeter...and I'm going to get sappy so watch out!
Friday night we went to eat at the country club with my parents, grandmother and some of the Dyer crew. Nathan met us there and then Justin & Allison joined us later. The spotlight of that night was when my grandmother asked if there was going to be dancing at the reception. We told her yes. She asked if anyone was going to dance with her. My dad said he could pay someone to dance...then Nathan asked how much he was paying. At that my grandmother sat up in her chair and said, "Nathan, you should volunteer to dance with me! You shouldn't have to be paid! In my next life you're not going to get to swim in my pool, go to my lake house or sleep in my king sized bed with pretty girls." Needless to say, we were all laughed pretty hard at that. We had a good, slow night that night.
Saturday morning dawned bright...and hot! I got over to the farm about 9:00 and got put to work right away. There were flowers to arrange, chairs to position and messes to clean. We put out luminaries to guide folks for the parking and we just tried to make sure that everything was in place before it was time to go to church. Jeff spent the morning putting out luminaries and then he and Tom & Jay spent the rest of the morning getting ice for all the beverages. I think they had a good time doing that.
After lunch I went to the church to help my mom and Mrs. Doris make sure everything was ready for the ceremony. To quote my mother, "it was hotter than blue blazes out there." I played in the sprinkler at church. You know it's hot when you're a fully dressed, grown-up and you play in the sprinkler beside the church bell at church! HOT...I swear I've never seen Patti's face so red in all my life.
Then we ran home and got ready for the wedding as quickly as we could! That was entertaining and a mad house all at the same time, Scott, Jeff, Patti, Cathy and Marilyn Skiles all running around taking showers and trying to get ready. We were passing the hair dryer, hair straightener and jewelry around. We were all cracking up. At one point Marilyn was in my parents bathroom putting on makeup and my dad walked in with a towel around his waste and he said, "I'm cover...besides we're friends." Yes, folks! Only in Dyer. Man, I love Dyer.
Seeing all the different neighbors out and about helping get ready for Liz's wedding really was fun and special and it really made me grateful to be from Dyer and to know what good friends are, what good fun is and when you've got both you're blessed beyond your wildest dreams.
To top off this incredible weekend, I went to church with my parents on Sunday morning. I've pulled a lot of stunts in that church (some intentional & some not). I can remember getting to church late and everyone in the choir loft motioning for me to get up there...so what did I do? I walked through the middle of church and waved at everyone. I was told that I loved to twirl in my frilly dresses when they made the little kids get up to sing or put on a skit...I'm sure there's plenty more but overall...I can say that I am blessed to have grown up in such a loving and wonderful place as Dyer First United Methodist Church. Yesterday I was sitting there listening to the sermon and I was looking around at all the familiar faces and sites of the church. As I was sitting there the church suddenly got brighter. Logically I know that there was probably a cloud in front of the sun and after it moved things got brighter. Well, as a little girl when I would sit in church I would always imagine that was Jesus giving us a "hug" as we sat in his house. The stained glass gets brighter and the colors are reflected on the walls and it just seems warmer in the church, like you're getting a hug from your best friend. So, yesterday while I was sitting there and it got brighter I couldn't help but think I was getting another hug, surrounded by my family and some of my favorite people on this planet. It felt good. It felt really good. I hope everyone is so lucky to have a place where they feel that loved and welcome. If not, then I hope you make a trip to Dyer First United Methodist Church soon. Their arms will be open to you.
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