Vacation is over...

We returned from Grand Junction almost a week ago and we're still basking in the glow of the absolutely awesome time we had with our many friends and our entire family. It was a sweet reunion with family, and we had hours and hours of time together preparing for the wedding and reception and then celebrating together the whole day of the wedding.
We arrived in GJ and I was whisked off to the bridal shower where we spent a few hours with girlfriends we haven't seen in ages. Sarah and Rilo stayed with us in our hotel so we had nice BIG doses of the both of them!
We went out to lunch with Tom Hansen, our pastor, and had a few hours together updating Tom on our year and he updating us on what's going on in the church. Hopefully we encouraged him as much as he encouraged us!
We had many an evening hanging out at Ellen's house laughing and eating. A bachelorette party for Sammy took us to Ellen's, downtown to the Rockslide for dinner, Main Street making ridiculous poses with all the "Art on the Corner" statues, and back to Ellen's for presents, some drinks, and then picture-taking with the sisters and nieces (see photo on right). I love my sisters SO much and we just hung out together as much as we could whether it was coffee on Ellen's front porch at 7am, hanging out at the pool at our hotel, or decorating at Ellen's for the reception. It was AWESOME to get such a big dose together!
Friday evening all the girls in the wedding plus Lee and I, my mom, and another friend all went to Glenwood Springs and stayed at the Hotel Colorado together. In the morning we had ten women getting ready for a wedding in two rooms with one bathroom! Amazingly, we pulled it off!
The wedding itself was simply amazing. As you can see by the family pictures I've posted, the backdrop was majestic. I don't think there was a bad picture taken. It almost felt unreal it was so beautiful. Sammy and Chris gave their vows, washed each other's feet, exchanged rings, and were pronounced husband and wife! The bridal party went to lunch in Aspen and the rest of us high-tailed it back to Palisade to finish up the final preparations for the reception.
The reception was like a reunion. So many people from church, Chris' family and friends from FL and all over, and we had friends from Denver and even Iowa! (Yay, Mary!) We partied late into the night with speeches, food, dancing, and drink. It's a day none of us will soon forget!
Sunday I was blessed to preach all three services at First Pres, and many of the wedding guests came as well (including the bride & groom!). It was great to see folks and share how God has grown us and drawn us nearer to Him this last year - and how He wants to do that with each one of us!
Everyone seemed to leave all at once - my folks, Alex and Bobby w/ Sarah & Rob on Sunday; and Lee & Charlie, Sammy & Chris on Monday. We were able to spend more time with Sean and Megan after that and then we left on Wednesday. (And we actually hooked up w/ Lee and Charlie at the airport in Denver for a short reunion!) What a whirlwind ten days!
We came home to Jon and Kristen leaving early the next morning for CT to be with Jon's family over the 4th, so we had a quiet house for a few days.
This weekend we went to the Pittsburgh Regatta where we walked the beautiful river trail on the North Shore of the Allegheny River and watched dragon boats race (a drummer at the front, 9 people on each side paddling, and a person on the rudder on the back) as well as small "tunnel boats" - enclosed, small speed boats race around bouys on the river. The weather was perfect - 85 and low humidity!
Saturday evening we went to dinner in Cranberry Township w/ a group from Mt. Pleasant Presby - one of my field ed churches, and met a woman whose sister lives in Palisade! ...And the world gets smaller once again!
Sunday we went to Mt. Pleasant Presby where I assisted in worship, and then went back to the North Shore that evening to watch a huge fireworks display.
Monday was a brunch and parade at my friend Tai's mother's house in Zelienople (about an hour north of us), then home to melt in the hot, very humid weather!
Jon and Kristen returned around dinner time and we had a great time sharing about our vacations and reconnecting.
Jon's in Hebrew now and I'm in Greek - today was our first day - and so we jump back in to academic life. My prof is awesome, so I am hopeful that all will go well (I was very nervous this morning!).
So that's our update. The dog days of summer are definitely upon us - thank God for AC in the house! We are blessed beyond measure, and so thankful for the time we had with our family and a family to come HOME to here in Pittsburgh.
~Sally