Wow, it has been a really super busy month!! I am still getting my marathon training in for the most part, but I did skip a day or two these last couple of weeks. It actually worked out because it gave me a little more rest time before the Skinny Raven Half Marathon that I planned to run on the 21st. More about the half and other running updates later. I need to catch up on the latest news.
On their way!
To start with, my daughter (Sonja) was planning her wedding and due to scheduling and timing, I didn’t think that my Mother, Sister (Teena), and Brother-in-law (Jose) were going to make it to Alaska for the wedding. Given that sad news, I switched my own priorities and didn’t focus so much on cleaning and getting my house ready for guests. But, about two weeks before the wedding, they were able to make things work out and planned their trip to Alaska. I was overjoyed that they were all coming to visit, but I was stressed because my house needed some serious “spring cleaning” that should have happened already – like in the Spring. I couldn’t even begin to think of my Mother let alone my sister and her husband coming to stay with me with the house being such a disaster. And it would take every bit of two weeks to get it into decent shape! Scott was down in Idaho visiting his family, so he wasn’t able to offer much help, just support.
I do keep my house somewhat clean and straightened up most of the time. But things had gotten a little out of hand since I was spending so much time focusing on marathon training, getting our salmon for the year, blueberry picking, maintaining the flowers and just enjoying the really nice summer we were having. I also wanted to be involved in pre-wedding activities with Sonja as well as have some time with the grandkids since school was out. Since my Mother and Sister both keep a spotless house, I wanted things nice for them when they came to visit.
So, I got busy washing down fireplace stones, dusting window sills and fans, cleaning out lights and cabinets and all the stuff that I typically do in the Spring!! I made more of a mess cleaning which also had to be cleaned up ha ha
But, I got it done for the most part. When there is so much to do in so little time, you just have to accept things for what they are. I love the saying “it is what it is”. I have used that a lot lately!!
Their flight was late getting in, so by the time they got a rental car and drove to my house, it was after 1 am. Coming from NC, it was like they had been up all night already. Fortunately, they were able to get a few hours rest before the pre-wedding activities the following day.
My family is not too keen on getting their picture taken, but I was able to get this shot anyway. As we were all hanging out in the kitchen before the above photo, we were talking about bears and all of a sudden my sister points out the window and says “there’s a bear”. Well she is quite the prankster sometimes, so of course I didn’t believe her. She was not joking! There was a bear crossing the top of the hill outside of our house. He’s kind of hard to see, but he is there. And this wouldn’t be the only bear or wildlife for that matter that they would get to see on this visit.
After all the excitement, we headed to the Arctic Valley Lodge where Sonja, friends, and family were setting up for the wedding. On the way up, more wildlife! Way cool for my family to see…
Once we got to the lodge, my daughter was so surprised and emotional to see that my Mother had made it to Alaska. She wasn’t expecting to see her. And even though she was expecting to see my sister, she was just as emotional! Sonja and Teena have always had a special bond.
Sonja and her bridesmaid’s had most things organized and were busy putting on the final touches. We wanted to help out, but there wasn’t much for us to do, so we just hung out with the kiddos and helped when someone needed something.
I am not sure of the conversation, but it was probably good grandmotherly advice 💕
It is just a tad colder up in the Alaska mountains than it was in NC. Teena added some layers to Mom to make sure she stayed plenty warm. She is always looking out for her. And in the same photo, Sonja is getting everything organized. She seemed to have it all together and didn’t seemed too stressed to me. She did such an awesome job of planning and putting this whole thing together. She is amazing!
And her bridesmaids worked so hard to help bring it all together.
And Des really deserved this drink…talk about working hard, she too was exceptional in helping Sonja in so many ways!
And Sonja thanked them all with a special gift for each one of them!
And Matt did the same for the groomsmen!
Then it was time for the dress rehearsal…..For some reason I can’t upload the video so for now I will stick with photos. Obviously, it was raining out which was anticipated….
Once the dress rehearsal was done, we headed back to the house to get a little something to eat and of course get some rest. I know that my family must have been exhausted after a full day of travel and very little sleep! The following day was the wedding which I will add in a separate post. So, stay tuned 🙂
I will just have to say one last thing. I am just so glad that my Mom, Teena, and Jose were able to make it up to Alaska for Sonja’s wedding. It meant the world to me for them to be here.
And to Sonja, what an amazing job she did in putting this wedding together!
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