Wedding Eve

The day before the wedding began, as recorded in Heath's schedule, with the rental items being delivered while Heath and Suzanne had a pre-wedding counseling session with Pastor Eric.  Laura managed to direct the delivery guys while I was busy in the house and Mike mowed the lawn.

Pastor Eric was another one of the many wedding participants who was not from Illinois.  He is currently an Iowa resident although we knew him when all of us lived in The Woodlands, Texas.  We were very grateful he was willing and able to come to perform Suzanne's ceremony.  However, we found out later that this turned out to be a bad weekend for him to be away from his church.  On the Sunday morning after the wedding while he, Mike and I attended church in Greenville, his church had several crises.  The replacement pastor was unable to fulfill his obligations (he was ill) and the most logical stand in for the stand in was suddenly unable to step in (also ill).  I do not know who they finally found but in the meantime the stand in for the organist (on vacation) was under a lot of stress due to all the last minute changes.  All we know for sure is the Teri, Pastor Eric's wife, is a very resourceful person and managed to handle the situation.  

While Heath and Suzanne were engaged with Pastor Eric, some of us had time for a break.  Ever the good hosts, Laura and Emily took Sela and Parker (Heath's younger brother) on rides around the property.  However, the next time I saw them Sela was giving Laura a ride on the 4 wheeler and Parker was learning to drive the RZR.  

And some of the guys went fishing.  They were eager to get on the pond because the previous evening, Jordan, Heath's older brother, set a new pond record.  He caught a 7 and 1/4 pound bass.  So naturally, those guests among us who liked to fish, went out on the water in search of even bigger bass.  

Still we managed to find time for the wedding rehearsal.  It went well but it was pretty hot out there.  As soon as it was over, we took off for the rehearsal dinner.

The rehearsal dinner was in the upstairs room at Joe's pizza.  The pizza was delicious but I think the guests enjoyed seeing the baby pictures of Heath and Suzanne even more.  We also had appropriately decorated cookies for dessert.  The evening ended around 9 pm as most everyone there had plans for an early start the next day.