The People in It All

I am beginning to be overwhelmed about next weekend.

Not in a "I have so much to do" or a "I'm nervous to walk down the aisle" or even a "What if it rains or something major goes wrong?" But, in from a position of "Wow!" I am going to get to spend four days next week hanging out with most all of my most favorite people in the world. Many will be traveling for long distances just to be present at an occasion just to be supportive of the vows we will say to one another on Saturday evening.

With a week to go, I'm feeling the intensity of it already: how amazing it will feel to have the wedding party and many others standing beside us in loving kindness. How blessed I will feel to walk down the aisle during the bridal processional! How loved I will feel not only by Kevin as he does the crazy thing of committing to be with me for the rest of my life, but as as I see the faces of those present. It all seems like one of the best gifts of time and space I've had in my life (and so I hear from others this is true).

But, even beyond the actual weekend festivities themselves, I am overwhelmed by the gifts of time many of our friends and family have given to us in the past several months.

• Friends who will do almost anything to be helpful. Even if that means, spending their Sunday afternoon helping us move 50 boxes of plates up and down stairs when it is really hot outside and having a nap seems like a better idea. (It's a long story).
  
• Family who call us to check in every day, making sure that we are happy with all the details THEY are taking care of (I love these kinds of people, by the way).
  
• Family members of family members who stay up late painting, decorating and organizing a little bit of everything in preparation for the reception.
  
• Church friends who spend an entire morning tirelessly proofreading the worship program to make sure there aren't errors, ensuring that every sentence is just right.
  
• Friends who call us daily to check on our sanity.
• And countless other examples too.

It has certainly taken a village to pull together a wedding for 300 or so in a town ten hours away from where Kevin and I live. It has taken an army of friends to keep us sane through all the details to take care of, phone calls to make, and events to attend recently. It has taken some amazing co-workers to keep us focused at work and encouraged along the way. It has taken the love of our parents and those who are like family to us to keep everything grounded as we take this big step. And, most of all, it has taken the whole Hagan clan in action to find every usable resource in Kevin's hometown for a wedding of our size. I can't believe how hard many people I don't even know have worked and are working for us!

Truly, our hope is that our wedding will be not only a celebration of us, but of our communal bonds with so many amazing individuals.

I promise to post some pictures from the wedding when I return in November from the honeymoon!