DAY 1

Determining “Day 1” for this trip is tricky.  Is it the day we left home or the day we left Canada?

We did leave Regina on Friday, January 30 with warnings from Alberta and Saskatchewan that snow was in the forecast.  But we drove on clear highway all the way to Calgary and north to Red Deer.   Just as we pulled into “Gasoline Alley”, flakes of snow were falling.  By the time we checked into the hotel and walked to a nearby “Ricky’s” restaurant, we were trudging through three or four inches of white stuff!

Our niece’s wedding was to be at the Sunnyside Christian Retreat Centre, a few miles outside of Red Deer.  Following the directions in the wedding invitation, we arrived with plenty of time to park, walk down the freshly plowed path to the Chapel and locate family to sit with for the 11 am ceremony.

The groom’s parents walked in and sat in the front row.  Our nephews, Stephen and David, escorted the mother of the groom, Brenda to her seat in the other front pew. Then the groom, Mike, and his brother, Tom, stood at the front of the chapel, in front of a white archway lit by Christmas lights.  The groomsmen lined up beside Mike, all watching the bridesmaids stroll up the aisle.  Then Canon in D began playing, and Walter’s brother Ed, in black suit and blue boutonniere, escorted his petite daughter, Rachel, in her strapless, ivory dress with silver sequin detail on bodice and down the skirt and train.  Ed kept looking to Rachel, but she was staring straight ahead, grinning joyfully at her groom, who was in tears as he beheld his bride. 

Tom, actually twin brother to Mike, was performing his very first wedding, and he did a fine job.  He was funny but maintained reverence, and kept the bridal party relaxed but engaged.  He opened with a Gospel presentation, and then Mike played guitar and sang a worship song.  Then the formal part of the ceremony proceeded.  The couple repeated the traditional vows, as well as very meaningful vows they wrote themselves.  Rather than the typical candle or sand ritual, the couple connected a lock on a plaque of a heart, to symbolize their unity and love.  After the pronouncement of “Mr. and Mrs. Mike and Rachel Samaroden”, they danced their way down the aisle to the bouncy song “Celebration”!

While the couple, bridal party and family had formal photographs taken, we had a couple hours to fill, so we drove back to Red Deer to grab some food.  It was nice to visit with Walter’s sister, Marilee and Robert and son Jay, with our son, Daniel.  We all went back to our motel room for coffee and then raced out to the reception at the retreat centre just as they introduced the wedding party!  Whew!

It was such a blessing to hear the speeches and see this young couple begin their life together with the support of Christian family and friends.  God bless you both, Mike and Rachel!