Last Fall was a very busy time for our family.
Getting ready for events, being present at (and enjoying) events and then recovering from the events kept Jim and me preoccupied and occupied for months! There will be more pictures and more detailed descriptions of these significant life occasions in private and public posts to come. But for now, I’ll share these few images and tell you what we’ve been up to.
Our younger son and his wife were married in a private, civil ceremony in October of 2022 in California, where they were living at the time. They told us that they wanted to have a celebration of their marriage with friends and family up on Runaway Ridge when they moved “back East” in 2023. They made that move last September. Knowing that they wanted to have this celebration meant that we needed to complete some critical items at the top of our “to do” list on The Ridge. Nothing like a deadline to provide extra motivation! Number One - get the house sided! That was done in July of last year. Number Two - get the bathroom on the main floor of the house usable. This necessitated the installation of the radiant flooring PEX lines and subfloor materials but it was accomplished in August. Number Three - get the kitchen completed and functional. That was barely finished in time for their event, but it got done! We hosted a gathering of 70+ people from all over the country in mid October. We had some folks “under roof” with us in the house and in The Shack. We had some guests who brought recreational vehicles of various sizes for their own accommodations. Those who are already campers, towed their own lodgings and set up housekeeping. We provided some hearty souls with tents and sleeping bags. Some folks stayed with us as long as a week and others were with us for only 1 or 2 overnights. We had outdoor movie screenings, Beersbee games, Arts & Crafts, numerous “feasts” and lots of fun. The weather held for us most of the long weekend. We enjoyed spending time together outdoors and celebrated the joining of families.
Our older son and his wife had set a wedding date in mid November that was just four weeks after the party on Runaway Ridge! This meant that while we were busting our tails working on getting things ready in WV we were also keeping tabs on preparations that they were making for a large wedding to take place in a breathtaking venue in Malibu! I went out to Los Angeles in August to attend the bridal shower. But other than that trip, we were simply providing moral support from across the country. The week of the wedding came on us quickly after the party in October and we soon found ourselves on the plane headed to California! We were so happy and thankful that some of our family members were able to join us out there. Some of them even shared a beautiful vacation rental home with us. We were able to help our son and his fiancee with some of the last minute details and preparations for the wedding. And then the big day arrived. Perfect weather, gorgeous venues and a happy couple surrounded by friends and family made for a wonderful celebration. The experience of the day, the food and the decorations all showed the love and care that had gone into planning every detail. Again, we were amazed at how many people came from great distances to share in the celebrations.
We have gained two exceptional family members over the past two years and we made memories at their respective celebrations that will last a lifetime. We want to thank all of you reading this who made the effort to join us so much for your love. It meant a great deal to have you with us.