As promised, I am back to tell about our visit to Charlotte, North Carolina for my nephew’s wedding. We attended both the rehearsal dinner on Friday evening, and the wedding on Saturday. Before anything else, I will introduce you to my sister, Susan, and her family. She and Bill had four daughters and one son. In order by age: Sarah Marie, Nolan, Leanna, Katy, and Grace. The photo below was taken at Grace’s high school graduation.
From left to right: Nolan, Katy, Susan, Grace, Bill, Leanna, and Sarah Marie
(Photo from Kate’s Facebook)
You’ve probably guessed this by now: it was Nolan’s wedding festivities we took part in. He married Ruth, an intelligent and kindhearted high school English teacher. Here is a photo I took of them at their rehearsal dinner… what a lovely couple!
Nolan’s family, plus David and Leanna’s beau, Mack.
Sarah Marie and her husband, Tim:
Leanna and Mack:
Kate giving her father a lesson in technology
David and me
And then there was the wedding on Saturday. The ceremony was outdoors, and we were looking into the sun, so it was hard to get good photos. Here is one of David’s:
And one of mine:
When the bride and groom came inside, the dancing began:
Leanna was in the wedding party; what a gorgeous smile!
My sister, Sarah and her husband John attended the wedding with two of their daughters. Here is a photo of Sarah, Susan, and myself.
Sarah’s daughter, Alexis (Lexy):
Another one of Sarah’s daughters, Suzy:
And six of my gorgeous nieces:
From left: Grace, Katy, Sarah Marie, Leanna, Lexy, myself, and Suzy
What a jolly bunch!
Here is Susan with her youngest:
And her eldest:
Dancing with my sisters with the wedding couple on the right:
David and I enjoyed Nolan and Ruth’s wedding a great deal. To me, weddings represent such hope for the future, and they create occasions for families on both sides to come together to celebrate this optimistic look into the future. No wonder it is customary to dance at weddings — it is a way to have one’s whole body enter into that joy.
During the last dance, Ruth came and danced with me. I told her I thought I saw her dance all through the night. With a grin from ear-to-ear, she said, “But I am just so happy!”
What a joyful way to end the evening! When David and I left, we recalled our own wedding, 35 years ago. To this day, I still say it was the happiest day of my life. I imagine Ruth and Nolan will be saying that when they attend a wedding in the family 35 years from now. By then, David and I will probably be smiling down on them from the heavens. And perhaps that is what makes weddings so joyful… they make me think beyond my own future to the coming generations. There is nothing more hopeful than that!
Thank you for sharing. Family weddings are a treasure.
You’re welcome, Katie… they are a treasure.
Thank you Saloma. Loved seeing pictures of your family. Refresh my memory from youngest to oldest names of siblings. Joe the oldest? Then?
Hello Melodie. We came in this order: Joe, Lizzie (who died of cancer in 2009), myself, Sarah, Susan, Simon, and Katherine.
Thanks for sharing the photos of the wedding. Loved seeing your two sisters and your nieces. You are a lovely tribe!
I know… I have good-looking relatives, don’t I?
Very interesting! Thanks for sharing!
Eileen, you’re welcome.
So you decided against the purple shawl!
Hi Vanessa. I wore the purple shawl to the rehearsal dinner, and it rained. The raindrops left marks on the purple shawl, so I ended up wearing the green one to the wedding instead. Funny that you noticed!
Long time ago I read here. But all things going on.
Time to start trading back.
Love,
Wilma
Welcome, Wilma. Happy reading!
Thank you for sharing such a happy day with us! You do have a good looking family. I noticed the shawl “change” myself. I was thinking what a clever way to change things up!! I love shawls, yours are beautiful.
Thank you, Pamela. Vanessa saw me the day I bought the two shawls, and I asked her which she liked better. She voted for the purple.
They are both beautiful, but I agree with Vanessa that the purple really set your dress off nicely. However you had the perfect back up. The blue really brought out the blue in your eyes. Oh, and by the way, you and that adorable husband of yours make a great couple. Love the photo of you two, it’s just so darn cute!
Hi Saloma,
I’m a long time reader, first time commenter. How many of your siblings stayed Amish and how many left to become English?
Thank you and you have a lovely blog!
Welcome Kimberly! My two brothers are still Amish, and my sisters and I all left. So two stayed, and five left.
Thank you for your compliment about my blog. It wouldn’t exist without readers like you!
Love your blog, and thank you for the refresher course here on your siblings and their families! You are a lucky lady to have 6 nieces!!! Nice that so many family members could attend!
We just celebrated the wedding of first granddaughter. Such a fun, happy time to celebrate, a beautiful outdoor wedding, as well.
Blessings to you Saloma,