Just a week after we got back from our trip up North, Jeff and I headed back out on yet another trip. I had just started my second summer session class (a seminar on terrorism) that Thursday, and that weekend we'd be heading down to Atlanta, Georgia to celebrate the wedding of a dear friend of mine, Ruth, whom I had met and become close friends with while I was in Jordan.
We left at 3:30am on Friday morning to drive down to Atlanta - painfully early, but totally worth it since it meant I would get to spend some time with Ruth and Janelle (my last roommate in Jordan) before the wedding festivities got too crazy. We had a lovely breakfast together, complete with lots of stories about the bride and groom and how all of us had met. Afterwards, we went to the church to help set up some of the decorations. Back at Ruth's house, Jeff had been helping Ruth's brother-in-law cook shrimp for the wedding reception. It was fun to see a little of the process that goes into it, as well as see Janelle demonstrate the proper way to eat shrimp.
That afternoon, we went to a local park where the rehearsal dinner would take place. Jeff helped man the grill, and I helped put up streamers. It was an "Up" themed dinner - one of Ruth's favorite movies. There were balloons and bird houses and lots of delicious food. It was so much fun!
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| my sweet friend Ruth |
We left a little early since we were staying about an hour and a half away. My great-aunt and uncle live in a beautiful home high up in the hills with a gorgeous view. The best part - it's called Rivendell. We got there just in time to see the last bit of the sunset fade away. The next morning, some of my cousins came over for breakfast, and we got to spend time catching up. We also played spades, and I learned how to shoot a slingshot. There was something oddly satisfying about launching acorns into the air...
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| the beautiful view |
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| shooting acorns |
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| clearly, the love of Tolkien runs in the family... |
After breakfast, we packed our nice clothes into the car and headed back to Atlanta for the wedding. It was a beautiful service. Ruth was a radiant bride! After the ceremony, there was this tunnel of swords thing that her brothers led, which was really fun to watch. "A kiss to pass!" they would say, blocking the newlyweds' path with their swords.
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| a kiss to pass... |
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| friends from Jordan reunited! |
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| Janelle, Ruth, and me |
The reception was party! There was dancing, lots of yummy southern food (although I didn't eat the shrimp, still don't like seafood...), delicious punch, and of course, I had a very handsome date :)
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| my studly husband :) |
After the reception, I changed back into comfy clothes, and we headed back to Rivendell. Janelle joined us, so we could hang out the next day before we had to leave. We spent a couple hours talking on the porch with my great-aunt and uncle, and found out that Janelle met some of my family in India when she was student teaching. Small world!
The next day, we had a big breakfast, then we went on a short hike to see some nearby waterfalls. Then we went to the lake, went out on a paddle boat, then went down the big rock slide next to the lake (the water was so cold!), and then finished off with dip in the swimming pool. Aunt Andrea made the most delicious pork tenderloin, with this fantastic chipotle plum sauce. After stuffing ourselves full of food, we packed our things up and said our goodbyes.
It was a quick trip, but it was a great weekend celebrating marriage and enjoying the company of friends and family.
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| Jeff, me, Aunt Andrea, and Uncle Rich |
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