JC & Jayci's Wedding: The Journey Home

The wedding over, it was time to go home. But we had a problem. My car had begun having trouble with the heat. I'd seen that trouble last year here in Indiana when we had temps over 100 for a few days - the car would not go into gear and would sit frozen where it was parked. Eventually I would be able to coax it into gear, and the problem went away when the temperatures dropped. I forgot all about the issue.

Well, with the same 100 degree temperatures in Utah, it began happening again. We'd finally get it in gear and be able to go, but we became more and more concerned about the 25 hour drive home. Would we get stranded along I-80  in one of those long, lonely stretches where help would be far away?

After talking it over, we cut a day off our trip and decided to caravan home with Sarah, Cole, and their families. That way we'd have help and two other cars with us should a problem arise. That proved to be a very good decision.

Things started off okay. Aside from heavy traffic and some road construction in Utah and western Wyoming, we were doing fine until this happened to Cole and Emily just past Green River, Wyoming.

A flat tire. On I-80 with trucks and traffic whizzing by. Cole got the spare out and onto the car (having to totally unpack the car to do so because the spare was under the seats) and limped into Rock Springs.

The spare went flat by the time Cole got the car to a tire store and since his other tires were pretty bald, he had them all changed out for new ones.

We ate at a Cafe Rio while we waited.

Cole, taking the photo, back table Sarah, Julie, Todd, Trinity, and Susie, front table Emily, Kate, Lisa, Craig, and me.

Then it was our turn to have trouble, a new trouble. The car was going into gear, but an alarm began chiming saying that the parking brake was on. 

Todd knows a lot about cars and car repair and he checked everything out. The parking brake clearly was off. Turns out there was a short in the motherboard that said differently but we were safe to continue driving. We cautiously got back onto I-80 and resumed our drive.

Accompanied by this lovely sound. Constantly. For fourteen hours the first day and another ten the second.

All. The. Way. Home. Never stopping, unable to be drowned out by playing music. Making conversation difficult. Driving us absolutely bonkers. 

(Five days later we are still waiting for an appointment with Ford to get it fixed. I am driving Craig's car in the meantime.)

The third car in our caravan, Sarah and Todd's car, had no trouble on the way home. It actually was a good car to switch into and get a break from the constant chiming in our car. Lisa, Sarah and Trinity had some fun while they drove together.

But Todd and Sarah were not unscathed by the bad luck we were having with vehicles. 

They discovered that Trinity's car was dead when they got home, despite just having a new battery put in before they left for the wedding. 

In the end, though, everyone got home safe and sound.

A few other things not mentioned yet...

The bride's brother was late to the reception. Why? Well, when a LARGE sign is posted in an elevator that says it is touchy and DO NOT JUMP IN IT because it will stop and then off-site tech will need to be called to get you out, FOLLOW THOSE DIRECTIONS. I think a couple of young men learned a hard lesson. They were in there for an hour or so.

The JCs Squared were unable to go on their honeymoon to Sequoia National Park. They had both been pretty sick before their wedding and what with the heat issues and being so sick at their reception, they just did not feel up to driving out to California.  They spent a few days in a friend's Vrbo in Salt Lake City and then drove back to Rexburg, Idaho where they are students at BYU Idaho. Their plan is to go on their honeymoon later this fall.

The wedding trip turned out to be quite a saga for sure! But despite the challenges, all is well. And best of all, Craig and I got to spend time with all our kids and their families, the people we love the most.

 

JC & Jayci's Wedding: Part 2

Illness, heat, thin air, hot sun, heat exhaustion, car not starting... This is that post.

A luncheon was scheduled for us in a reception hall after the JCs Squared's wedding, but because we'd arrived early due to the heat canceling the outdoor photos, they were not ready for us. No worries - we could mingle and chat.

Mountain Mama Jessica played some games with some of the kids in attendance while we waited. (All but two of those are Pony Pals and Cowpokes.)

I was so glad to get back inside. Even with my walker, I was struggling with the heat and all the standing. (Which is why I will probably never make it to BreyerFest again.)

After cooling off and eating lunch, the bridal party headed back outdoors with the photographer for more photos. Even in the shade, the heat was oppressive, especially since we were very high in the mountains and the air was thin.

Soon the bride was feeling ill despite the attentions of Mila, Whitney, Melissa, and Cory.

The groom was in trouble, too, and much worse off than Jayci. He got the fan treatment, ice, water, and more, but he had to be brought inside and be attended to by three nurses who were in attendance. (His mama, his sister, and his other grandmother.) 

The venue began putting out large jugs of ice water for everyone and, while JC Squared (and a bridesmaid who fainted in the heat and was receiving medical care, too) were all in a back room recovering, the decision was made to scratch the outdoor ring exchange and bring it into the air conditioning.

Pony Pal Cambria was thrilled to be a flower girl.

And Cowpoke Titan (on the right) was "ring security" with another boy. Each of them had a black security box with one of the wedding rings in them. They were pretty funny.

Craig was the REAL ring security - he held onto the boys' ring boxes before the ring exchange so they didn't get misplaced. (Vanessa, Craig, and Lisa)

Trinity was a lovely bridesmaid (and a major help as we brought the ring exchange indoors and got it organized.)

The bride and groom said some sweet things to each other, ring security brought up their rings, and ...

both the bride and groom needed to sit down again. They both had been sick for a couple days before the wedding, and were already not 100%; add to that the stress of a wedding, the heat, and more - they were pretty worn out.

Luckily the fan brigade was ready to go and believe it or not, that was very helpful! (That's Pony Pal Addie next to Lisa.)

The wedding photos were finished indoors so that the JC Squareds and those in attendance did not have to go back into the heat.

Me with my grown up girls (and JC): Jessica, Lisa, me, Sarah, JC, Trinity, Vanessa, and Emily. (Plus Kate blowing bubbles on the far right.)

The Isenbarger siblings with the bride and groom: Jessica, Kyle, Lisa, Jayci, JC, Sarah, Cole, and Curt. (Grands Ian, Cory, Lukas, Mila, Kate, Susie, and a niece of Jayci are on the right.)

All our grands. Back row: Addie, Trinity, me, Jayci, JC, Craig, Ian. Front row: Susie, Mila, Melissa, Julie, Kate, Lukas, Cambria, Titan, Whitney, and Cory. (Missing are Braden and Isaac who could not be there.)

Some honorary Isenbargers were there, too - Craig's favorite cousin Lynda and her husband, Bill. They came all the way from Florida to be with us!

Cory brought a Breyer plush horse that I'd given her a while ago. She said it was because it reminded her of Abby, her twin horse. I was very touched because I knew that that gesture was also meant as a sign of love and sympathy for me. (Thank you, Cory! <3)

As the sun went behind the mountains, the heat lessened and the shade increased. Dancing had been set up outside on the terrace and the decision was made to move forward with that.

Ian, Cole, Curt, and Kyle out on the dance floor.

I was just making my way outside to the dance floor when Braden arrived!

We had a great time catching up. (When did he get so tall??)

And then there was another surprise.

Our two dear friends from Illinois arrived. We've known Dave and Zina since 1979. (That's Lisa's dress LOL, Emily, and Sarah in the background.)

Zina and I found it funny that we both had walkers that we were in and out of, so of course we took a photo of us together in them.

The JCs Squared left for their honeymoon with a sparkler send off (fire department approved due to the heat and dryness.)

But, just as the plans had changed all day, so did theirs. Furthermore, ours would continue to change, too.

Stay 'tooned!

Briefly

 We are back from JC and Jayci's wedding. It was lovely.

It was also fraught with car problems, excessive heat, and illness.

More on the wedding is coming - right now I am catching up on sleep, doing laundry, grocery shopping, and more.

And apologies for the issues with the blog posts while I was gone. I'd written and scheduled one to drop every day except for yesterday but I know at least one did not post when I'd expected it to.  I will be posting daily starting now. Depending on how much I get done as I unpack,  you may even get another one later today.

Stay 'tooned!

Second Post of the day: Tsao's Daughter's Wedding

Saturday I attended the wedding of my friend Tsao's daughter. It was a black tie affair, very formal, and it began at 3:30 and ended at 11:00. It was a long day, but a lovely one.

Tsao and I have been friends for seventeen years and she has no family here aside from her husband and two adult daughters. Her mother in Vietnam died four years ago and Tsao has since told me that I am her mother in America. That is a huge honor.

Tsao's mother (left) was included in a memory display of loved ones who were gone.

The weather was sunny so the wedding was moved outside. That surprised me and I only had a sweater with me, but it was okay.

I didn't get any pictures of the bride and groom, but you can see her seated under those high windows. (Guests had been asked to "be in the moment" and were told that the families would share photos later.)

Tsao may not have any family in the United States, but she has a lot of friends among the Vietnamese community in Indiana. I was seated among them along with four other of Tsao's American friends. I really enjoyed learning more about Tsao's culture.

Because the wedding was an hour's drive away and out in the countryside, I did not stay for the dancing afterward. I don't like driving in the dark, so I slipped out after dinner, thanking Tsao as I left and explaining why I was leaving early.

It was a lovely day, and even better, wonderful to celebrate such a momentous day with a very dear friend.

 

A Very Special Wedding

The wedding I attended on Saturday was for someone who is very dear to my heart.

I was Madeline's 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade teacher and needless to say, when you spend three years with someone, they become almost like family.

Her sister, Meredith, was also in my class. A year younger that Madeline, she was with for me for 2nd, 4th, and 5th grade. (I taught the 2nd/3rd grade Gifted class for one year and then moved on to the 4th/5th Gifted class for the rest of my career.)

I've known these two ladies since they were 7 and 8 - lucky me!

Brooke, Madeline's best friend and matron of honor, was also in my class for three years. Needless to say, seeing these young women again was very special to me.

I sat down Sunday and went through old blog posts on Teachinmama, my original blog. Here are a few of my favorite photos with the girls.

Both girls were accomplished ballet dancers and I went to many of their performances.

A highlight of my Christmases for years was attending their annual performance of The Nutcracker Ballet and seeing their roles change as they grew more and more accomplished in their ballet training.

In 2011 I had both knees replaced, and they came to see me while I recovered at home. As a treat, they made ice cream for me from eggs that their ducks had laid. (If you are ever offered duck egg ice cream, say YES!! It is so rich and creamy!)

I retired in 2018, and with my principal's blessing (and to my surprise), years of former students descended on my classroom one afternoon in May and surprised me with a retirement party.

Madeline and Merry were right in the thick of things. What a lovely thing for all those former students to do for me and what a way to close out your career by celebrating with kids (many of whom were now adults) that you loved and still held close in your heart.

I didn't stay retired for more than a few months - due to illness, a teacher suddenly needed to retire during the school year. I was asked to finish the year as the class's teacher.

There was also a teacher's aide position for that class to be filled. Madeline was a studying Elementary Education at Purdue and I asked her to apply for the job if she was interested. She was, and was able to arrange her class schedule and take the aide position.

She did a wonderful job and it was really, really fun to have her as a colleague. (She is now in her fourth year of teaching 4th grade.)

Bumping into Brooke and Madeline at The Feast of the Hunters' Moon in 2021.

Congratulations, Madeline and Joe, and I hope you have many happy years together! And thank you for including me in your wedding day. 

Love always,

Mrs. I./Lynn

 

A Day Goes Awry - in a Good Way

I lost yesterday. My plans for the day got flipped around and went topsy turvy, but in a good way.

On the docket was spending a short while at the barn in the morning while out of town friends stopped by to see the horses, and then a late afternoon wedding.

Easy peasy, lots of time to get other things done, right? Well... can you hear me laughing about that assumption? 

I am an early morning riser, but not necessarily an early-morning-get-dressed-for-the-day girl. Luckily, yesterday I was. 

Those friends coming through town were early and I had to rush to the barn - I hadn't even started writing the day's blog post. (In their defense, they had said they'd be here early; I just did not realize that they meant quite that early.)

Lydia appears to be a true horse girl.

We spent time in the pasture with the horses, then went into the barn to see Tim's horse drawn vehicle collection. And we came back outside,

Lydia went right back to the horses and spent time petting them.

Abby loves people and will tag along and follow me wherever I go.

So she stayed by Lydia's side, and Lydia was thrilled! Abby even put her ears back a few times when the other horses tried to encroach on her time with Lydia. 

There were a few moments when Abby began falling asleep, she was so relaxed and happy!

Special moments with horses are precious, and Lydia was certainly having one of those. I could not bear to break that up, so I quit worrying about having time to shower and prepare for the wedding (it was out of town so there was a bit of a drive involved) and just let her have her moment.

Two hours later, Lydia and her parents were on their way home, Abby was a puddle of relaxation, and I was hustling home to hop in the shower and change clothes.

We made the wedding with time to spare

and I had a wonderful reunion with several former students on a very special day for one of them. 

More on that to come. Stay 'tooned!