June 01, 2006
Casey’s Wedding
First of all, so sorry I didn’t get last week’s journal entry posted until Tuesday afternoon. I didn’t get the entry to Mike, my webmaster, until Saturday (it is due on Friday) and then I forgot about the 3-day holiday weekend. If you didn’t read the first part of our trip to Los Angeles, it is now posted and you can catch up after you read this week’s.
Today is actually my birthday and I am in Washington DC for the Foursquare Denominational Convention that my husband, Steve, produces every year. Tonight is opening night so Steve is busily running around taking care of details, the kids are in the other room watching a movie, and I thought I’d take this opportunity to write the rest of last week’s journal entry.
My birthday always falls during convention week, which, on one hand, is a bummer because Steve is always too busy to celebrate. On the other hand, we always love convention week so I try to adjust my mindset to think of the whole week as one big celebration. It is always so good to see old friends and family, hear great teaching, enjoy awesome worship, and God always has something specific to say to me each year. So, even though today is actually a drag of a birthday, I’m looking forward to the whole week. Steve was able to extricate himself from the office long enough to take me to Baja Fresh for birthday tacos. I would have been thrilled with a quick room service meal, so I am happy.
My mom took me out to dinner last week to celebrate. She then took me shopping and bought me my first pair of reading glasses. Happy 43rd birthday! Actually, I love them. My arms were getting too short to be able to read the menu or my Bible lately.
I’ll tell you all about the rest of the week in the next journal entry. Now, it is time to finish up last week’s. All of the wedding festivities were set to begin on Friday when many of our relatives from Texas arrived in Los Angeles. My morning began bright and early (or rather dark and early) for a 3-hour radio tour. From 6:00 AM to 9:00 AM I did back-to-back interviews, ten minutes apart, promoting the “Facts of Life” DVD.
When we wrapped up in the studio I met Steve and the kids at some dear friends’ house for bagels and fellowship. Then it was time to visit the hair salon where we all got our hair cut for the wedding. Steve peeled off to spend the afternoon at the church working and the kids and I joined my friend and hairstylist, Michele, to go shopping. Our plan was to go down to the garment district where you can get fun clothes at really cheap prices but we got caught in traffic and by the time we got out it was too late to go and get back. So, enter Plan B. We went to a nearby mall for some fish tacos and a couple of quick stores.
Friday evening was the rehearsal and rehearsal dinner. None of us were in the wedding but my parents were in charge of the rehearsal dinner so we got there early to help them. The dinner was at the Twin Palms restaurant, which is owned by Kevin Costner. The food was delicious, the atmosphere was festive, the company was perfect and then the band began and the evening just kept getting more and more fun. Who knew my kids could dance?!
The next morning was the wedding and it was wonderful. Other than some sound problems, the ceremony was perfect. Maria, of course, was lovely but I couldn’t take my eyes off of my beautiful baby brother. Who, in turn, couldn’t take his eyes off of his gorgeous bride. I am so proud of both of them.
The reception was so much fun. I’m telling you, I had no idea there were hidden dancing genes in our family. Everyone got out on the dance floor and had the best time! Even Steve! My favorite part was a toss-up between the slide show of Casey and Maria as little children and the mother-son dance with Casey and my mom. They laughed and cried through the whole song.
Casey and Maria headed off on their honeymoon and the rest of our family simply moved the party to a new location. We all met up at CityWalk in Universal City. We strolled along looking at the outlandish decorations and unique shops until they could finally seat our reservation of twenty.
We ate dinner at a really cool restaurant called “Café Tu Tu Tango,” where they only serve appetizers. The menu has over 50 different appetizers so we ordered an assortment and all tried them family-style. Most of them were delicious, but some of them were just plain weird. The restaurant is decorated from floor to ceiling with original artwork that is for sale. Clancy even had her portrait painted in a style that is perfect for her bedroom.
Guess what! Just as we were finishing up dessert, the Salsa Band started up. All of the kids jumped up from the table and started dancing again. Where did they learn how to Salsa? It must be the acting genes surfacing.
The next morning we all met at the beach for breakfast at “Gladstones.” This is one of our favorite places and my Uncle Jimmy reminded me that almost 18 years earlier everyone met here when Steve and I were on our honeymoon. I just love family traditions – especially when I get to join in.
After breakfast everyone headed to the airport for their various flights home. Tucker, Haven, Clancy, and Maria’s sister, Michelle, met a bunch of friends to spend the day at Six Flags Magic Mountain. If you’ve never been to this amusement park, you must put it on your wish list. Even though Six Flags Over Texas is the original, it pales in comparison to this park, especially in the roller coaster department.
While the kids were at Six Flags, Steve and I met my mom and Roy for a double date. We went back to CityWalk for dinner at Wolfgang Puck’s restaurant and then we saw “Poseidon” at the IMAX theater. The move was dumb but it was certainly BIG!
The next morning I stayed behind at the hotel for a one-hour phone interview while Steve took the kids and the luggage to get us checked in at the airport. I hung up and caught the shuttle to the airport just in time to join them on the plane. Life is never dull in our family. I hope Maria knows what she just got herself into!
Posted by weblion at 07:45 PM
