16 Years Ago

On this evening 16 years ago, Jeff and I were having our wedding rehearsal at Harrisonburg Mennonite Church, then eating Virginia-style BBQ chicken and homemade-by-Old-Order-Mennonites pies at the rehearsal dinner.

~ my nephew Jason, my brother David, and his wife Lori (actually, they were engaged at the time and would marry 4 months later)

~ Jeff's brother Mike and Jeff's brother-in-law Mike...it's a good name  :)

My parents presented us with a big box, beautifully wrapped; and inside was the most beautiful quilt in the world, pieced by my mother (I didn't even know she could do that!) and quilted by Old Orders.  (More quilt pics in this post.)

We gave my parents a card...a little thank-you card...

Well, OK, a BIG thank-you card.  ;-)

Inside, I wrote:
Dearest Dad & Mother,
I could fill up 50 cards this size with lists of all I want to thank you for, but time and space limits me.  And if I get too mushy here, Mom & I will both be sobbing hysterically!  Y'all are the greatest parents a girl could ever wish for; and I thank you for giving me birth, raising me up, and delivering me to the care of my wonderful Jeffrey.  You mean the world to me, and I love you both so much.
Davene

Jeff added his words of gratitude:
Mom & Dad -
"Thank you" certainly does not seem enough; you have greatly done above all I could imagine.  Thank you for your sensitivity to all the "awkward" positions I've brought you with distance, family, and circumstances.  Be assured, I love you both, and I will give my greatest thanks & gratitude in loving, protecting, caring for, and providing for your daughter with my life.
Yours,
Jeffrey

16 years ago, my bridesmaids prepared a special bubble bath for me after we returned home from the rehearsal dinner.  I appreciated their gesture, and I suppose I relaxed a little in the bath; but I also kept thinking, "Can I get out now?  I think I'm done.  But maybe they're expecting me to stay in longer.  I really think I'm ready to be done now!  How long is a bride supposed to stay in a bath anyway??"  ;-)

~ me, my sister Donna (who was my matron of honor), and some of my bridesmaids: Judy, Dori, and Lisa

That night I went to sleep a very happy woman.  The next morning I awoke even happier, filled with anticipation at the thought of marrying my beloved Jeffrey.

16 years ago was a very good night.

16 years ago, minus one day, was an even better day.

;-)