GIVING THANKS
This entire weekend has been a testament of God's goodness.
Friday after Caylea's treatment, we packed up our car and drove to Winnipeg, Manitoba.  We met Caylea's wonderful friends from Bible School at a gas station so she could continue on to their place for the weekend.  Walter and I continued to Steinbach, where we checked in to the Days Inn.  The wedding we would attend on Saturday afternoon was in the small town of Grunthal.
A weekend away...
I am thankful for the safe journey we had.
I am thankful for Caylea's level of health and lack of side effects after the week of Inteferon.
It was marvelous to wake up Saturday morning with no commitments, no appointments, no expectations upon us.  We wandered down to the Continental Breakfast room and ran into the father of the groom.  Dan sat with us and had breakfast, taking time to introduce us to various family and friends.  Their youngest son, Jon was getting married to a girl from Grunthal, whom he met at Nipawin Bible College.
We had a few hours before the 3:30 pm ceremony, so we drove downtown to the MCC Thrift Store, a huge building on Main Street with three rambling sections of second-hand treasures.  (For those who aren't aware, MCC is an arm of the Mennonite denominations that gives donations and volunteer manpower for those in need of relief and help around the world.  Proceeds from the stores go to their various projects.  Every big or small community in southern Manitoba with the large Mennonite population, has an MCC store.)
Two hours of wandering, looking, examining and handling various items and we made our way to the checkout counter.  The treasures we found this trip were:
Christmas cards
Woodcraft patterns
Black & Decker vegetable steamer/rice cooker
2 pairs of knitted gloves
Long black/grey striped cardigan
Oh, but you should have seen all the great deals we passed up!
I am thankful for the joy of simple pleasures, like shopping with my husband and the leisurely opportunity to do so.
As we tucked our parcels in the trunk, we realized we had to get back to the hotel and get ready for the wedding!  Getting ready didn't take that long and we made time to drive through the Tim Horton's to grab a coffee and muffin for the 20-minute drive to Grunthal.
Apart from the Google maps error sending us to the wrong Mennonite church, we made it on time.  In fact, we had lots of time to greet people we knew and make our way into the sanctuary long before the ceremony was to begin.
Dim lighting, beautiful harvest decorations and inspiring piano music played by Dan, the groom's father, set a special ambiance.  Soon, the ushers brought in the grandmothers, and then the mothers lit candles at the front.  The piano music changed as Jon and his groomsmen in dark suits, marched resolutely to the stage.  The smiling pastor led the way.
Another musical transition signaled the bridesmaids' entrance. pretty pink and white bouquets held delicately in front of navy blue, lacy cocktail length dresses.  Then a pause.
Jon looked a little worried as no bride appeared.  The friend who was orchestrating the procession was grinning and looking out into the foyer, but the bride and her father were hidden behind the wall...finally, a radiant young woman, Deana, in simple white gown with sleeveless lace and bodice and a short veil, flowed up the aisle on her father's arm.  Half way to the front they stopped, and I wondered if something was wrong, if they were needing to adjust something.  (Later, it was explained that she just wanted to slow it all down and savour the moment!)
The music tinkled to a close and the pastor proceeded with the traditional nuptials.  The ceremony was short and sweet, with a holy joy and humour to make the special moment fun.
I am thankful for the gift and covenant of marriage.
I am thankful to see young couples making that vow of fidelity and exclusivity in Christian love to one another in light of society's mocking and perverting of marriage.
Following the pronouncement of Mr. and Mrs. Jonathon and Deana Woodard, they had family pictures and we guests went downstairs for coffee and visiting.  More tasteful decorations and lighting in the basement hall with a coffee bar and soda station.  We located our table and then visited with various folks.  It was a blessing to see Caylea with all her friends and smiling as if life was normal.  And the Lord can make it so!
The meal was a delicious BBQ chicken dinner, with baked potatoes, Caesar salad and a roll.  No vegetables?  And the dessert was various kinds of trifle and a tiered tree of little cream puffs!  Not traditional there at all!
We sat with one of the groom's brothers, Joe and his wife Cara.  We've known them for years and it was sweet fellowship.  They had news to announce:  they are expecting their first child in late March.  How exciting for the Woodard family!
I am thankful for friends and the bond in Christ as we rejoice with them.
The evening program did not run late and we said our good-byes.  We followed Joe and his wife to their house, which Walter had seen the plans for when Joe was constructing it.  We got the tour of the finished product and expressed how good a job and what a lovely home it is!
We were able to relax in our hotel room and get the rest we needed after the past weeks of intensity and anxiety.  The next morning we grabbed breakfast with another couple staying at the Days Inn and then packed up to drive back to Carmen, MB, where Caylea was staying.  We planned to attend the church there and have lunch with Caylea's friends, then drive back to Regina with Kristina along to visit here in Saskatchewan.
I am thankful for the freedom to worship, the blessings of Christian fellowship and the opportunity to GIVE THANKS for all God's goodness!  He is an awesome God!  And He has blessed us with a weekend away, a daughter who is powering through these treatments and has such good friends and loyal prayer warriors interceding for her (and for us all as a family).
HAPPY THANKSGIVING, EVERYONE!
p.s. We have our family meal and celebration at our home today with 17 expected to attend.  Everyone will bring a dish or two and I have only to provide the house, the coffee and a pot of potatoes and a ham.  Looking forward to a great day!