The year of weddings...the beginning.

Over the weekend, I was able to visit with a very special group of people and be a bridesmaid to a very special couple. A group with whom I feel comfortable being myself because they've eaten with me (something we do well together!), lived with me in a house as well as in sleeping bags under a tent, cried with me, laughed with me (quite often), worked with me in office settings as well as cleaning showers in a disaster relief area, and spent countless hours just hanging out in the hills of Kentucky. I miss them already. As luck (and God) would have it, we all came together (Kelly, you were missed!) in rainy Portland, Oregon, to celebrate...the joining of two of our little group in marriage...Jess and Allen.


CAP Alumni 2008-09 at the wedding

We haven't all been together in almost 2 years. Besides the hard work of finishing many last-minute details of a wedding, we were able to spend a little time after the wedding hanging out and eating (of course!), hiking (got to visit beautiful Multnomah Falls), reminiscing, telling (and creating) stories, and planning our future together. (I believe a two-year RV service trip was planned and discussed...we decided we would try to be "Jesus" (defnitely an impossible task) and accomplish what needs to be done across North America. We'll see if that pans out!)
 

Multnomah Falls, OR



My favorite things about this group of people are two-fold: 1) They're up for anything....something about volunteering your life for a year makes you realize that what is seen as a risky choice by others ends up shaping you into a person who can do anything. You realize the reward of stepping into a completely different world with completely different people. And we bonded in a way you can't do with just anyone with whom you work. 2)How cool is it that when people (in Oregon or wherever we are) ask you where you're from you get to say ....KY...CO...NY...MA...VA....TX....? Oh, yeah, and we met in eastern Kentucky.

The wedding itself was also very beautiful. It was in the Columbia River Gorge area which is full of beautiful mountains and waterfalls...so we got some great pictures (despite the chilly weather)! We all enjoyed making new acquaintances with friends and family from both sides. I remember the groom's dad remarked at the rehearsal dinner how it seemed almost a surprise that they were getting married (mainly due to Allen often needing a little push), but I thought, "you know, I think all of us knew from the beginning of their relationship in Kentucky that they would get married someday." And we did. Congrats!