Dear Reader:

There are all kinds of ways to remember special gatherings in life but for me getting to bring home these beautiful calibrachoas to plant in my back yard (by the fence) is the best way I know. Now all the Ya’s can enjoy the memories of the wedding flowers with me when they come to visit.

Saturday morning Libby, Brooke, and I re-packed for the wedding and overnight stay at the Pisgah Inn ….sitting on top of the mountains overlooking Brevard. Because of its altitude Matthew said the inn is only open from April to October and then closed the rest of the year. In fact when he and Jhasmany went to check on the wedding plans the weekend before… it was snowing!

Jackson called before we  left for the Pisgah Inn to warn us that it was quite cool and very windy. And it was…but thank goodness the inn, itself, blocked the wind for the outdoor ceremony so everyone was quite comfortable! Everything else was inside.

It was getting to Mt. Pisgah (from Saluda) that proved a little nail-biting. Libby accused Brooke and me of withholding important information before she agreed to drive….information like dark, long, scary rock tunnels built into the mountainside (nine of them….we counted them on the way back) and a windy day that felt like it was going to blow our car right off the edge.

Libby said she needed time to have a complete “melt-down” before the ceremony….her nerves were shot! But boy was she a pro coming home….she was ready for those dark tunnels with motorcycles passing you inside the tunnel and the sharp curves with drop-off cliffs.

We weren’t able to get photos of the ceremony itself….we were all too engaged in the vows and readings that were beyond beautiful. After the ceremony we ate for hours…literally hours…first came wine/beer and heavy h’oeuvres, followed by a buffet supper of barbecue with all the trimmings….followed by cakes and pies that Jackson  brought from Columbia. And then the partying went down.

Brooke and I fought over the cutest eligible bachelor at the dance.

It was when Brooke got back to our room that she called me out on the deck to see the moon….it looked like a full harvest moon…the most brilliant shade of orange was coming up over the mountain….this had to be a great sign for such a wonderful day filled with love.

This was the scene from Brooke’s and my room when we arrived Saturday afternoon at The Pisgah Inn. Just breath-taking!

Sunday morning we woke up to this awesome sight….it was as if the orange moon sprinkled some orange flakes on the mountain before disappearing the next morning.

I am going to stop at this point and just put in the random photos I took of Jackson and her sister Em….photos of the Ya’s with different family members and friends, as well as Matthew and Jhasmany. Some are from Saturday and some from Sunday or Monday…..

 And as for Brookie….she did wear a feather in her hair. Carrie Bradshaw- a.k.a Sarah Jessica Parker-  (in the old Sex and the City series) didn’t have anything on our Brooke when it came to wearing a feather in her hair at the wedding. Go Brookie!

So until tomorrow….We thank you Father for memories and togetherness….unity in humanity!

“Today is my favorite day”  Winnie the Pooh