Home again, home again, jiggety-jig

Just got back from taking a quick trip to Utah for a family wedding, which was held in a beautiful old church building that has been converted to an even more beautiful wedding facility. It's called The Old Meeting House, and if I lived in or near Salt Lake City, I'd use it as a venue in a minute. (Unworthy blogger that I am, I'm ashamed to report that I took no pictures, but the place definitely has that old-time feel with lots of high ceilings and graceful arches and beautiful chandeliers.)

The wedding decor was simple and elegant with bridesmaids in black, groomsmen in black and white, and roses in red and white. Perfect, I thought, for a winter wedding.

Even better, of course, was the fact that most of my husband's family was there. I'm sure the bride and groom felt love and supported, which is as it should be.

As for me, I got to spend a lot of time talking to people I hadn't seen for a while, including nieces, nephews, and friends of my children. I also got to see all of their children, which is always a good time. I even managed to meet up with my own sister, my nephew, my niece and her husband, my brother-in-law (up there to take in the Sundance Film Festival), and two of our dearest friends. I thought all of this "meeting up" was a mini-miracle, considering the fact that the wedding was on my husband's side, not mine.

All in all, it was a pretty satisfying weekend...and I haven't even talked about my travel companions, who were the best: my husband (of course), my second youngest son (the only one of my kids who could get off work), and my husband's brother (a delightful maniac from way back.) We stayed with my husband's sister and brother-in-law (parents of the groom), and their home and hospitality are always warm and welcoming. I was even given a beautiful fresh water pearl necklace and earrings for writing a wedding poem for the happy couple!

(Of course, you could be the owner of one of these wedding poems yourself...or any kind of poem for any kind of occasion, if you just take part in Granny Sue's famous giveaway. Remember, this is my 98th post, and you only have till midnight the day of the 100th post to submit your song for the competition!)

But back to my most enjoyable weekend...

While this little getaway featured everything from witnessing a wedding to:   visiting a family gravesite...sitting around the dinner table chatting up relatives I don't get to see nearly as often as I'd like...hanging out in a pool hall...discovering an old used book store I could have spent several days investigating...AND way too many more things to mention...one of the best parts of all was returning to Northern California. Every time I go away and come back to this beautiful place, I appreciate it more.

Vacations are great fun. They are also great at reminding you just how much you love being home.  =)