Dun Dun Dun-Dun...

Today seems like the first day since Wednesday that I have been able to exhale, relax, and take it easy. As I wrote you last, I was discussing the difficulty that it would be for me to finish out the school year and be back in time for the wedding. Everything went according to plan, which was fantastic, but it was tiring none the less.

After my student's kindergarten graduation, I said a sad goodbye to Melvin at the bus station, rode on a bus for 5 hours, and arrived at the Mennonite Central Committee office at 11:00pm to await a mattress upon the floor that I was going to sleep on. It was the most beautiful bed I think I had ever seen. I slept for about 4 hours, woke up, took a shower (since San Pedro Sula is super hot and there was no ceiling fan or AC), and caught a taxi at 4:30 am to go to the airport. I hopped on my flight, was greeted at the airport by my dad, and went straight to the church to help my overstressed mom make the final preparations and decorations for the rehearsal dinner the next day. I think I squeezed a trip into Target sometime that day, but it was all a blur and I didn't buy a thing because I was so exhausted. For those of you who know me well, Target is the #2 of things that I miss while being in Honduras, with #1 being family and friends. For me not to buy a thing you KNOW I was exhausted. After my Thursday night Target run, my mom and I headed over to her friends house to get her hair dyed that night and to bring over the food that she was going to help prepare for the rehearsal dinner. We stayed for awhile, with me being delirious, and I returned to my parent's house to find it full of cousins that I have not seen in YEARS. I could not go to bed at that point, and I somehow managed to muster the strength and back-up reserve socialness to hang out with them for yet another couple of hours. I think it was 2 am when I finally went to bed, and I slept in on Friday until almost 11. I cannot remember the last time I did that.

Friday was rehearsal dinner, which was such a special time. I was very appreciative for my mom's 3 good friends who helped her out tremendously in serving 35 people. I normally help out my mom with all parties and social events that she puts on, but with the school year going so late and me coming in the earliest that I could, I did not help her before the event took place. So, if you're reading this ladies, THANK YOU SO MUCH for all of the hard work! We then proceeded to roast the bride and groom with stories about Gary (or whether you better know him as Gay Bear or Gall Pupohase) and Katie, who I myself do not know super well since they started dating after I was moved out and living in St. Augustine.

Saturday was the big day! We woke up early, took my mom to get her hair done, then we headed off for free make-overs with some friends we knew who worked at the cosmetics counter at Dillards. With no time to spare, we headed to the church, got dressed, and as soon as my zipper was up it seemed like family and friends were at the door. By far, my favorite part of the wedding was seeing so many members of my family all at one occasion, at one time. Since I have been away from Vero Beach now for 6 years (2 of those years being out of the country) there have been many cousins, aunts, uncles, etc. etc. who I have not seen for quite some time. I enjoyed every moment of it, and I really enjoyed having the freedom to walk around and not be tied down to any bridesmaid duties. Plus, I had an excuse to buy a really fantastic little black dress instead of the mandatory bridesmaid uniform! --Melvin, if you are reading this, please make an occasion in which I can wear this dress again! I promise you won't regret it :) --

We ate, we danced, we we all were weirded out together that my little brother is getting married. Here are some pictures of the wedding, and I promise to add more as they start filtering in. If any readers out there have some of their own that they would like to share, I can add them to my blog.

The question now is, what am I going to do for the rest of my month here???

Enjoy and God Bless.

Moi

Father of the Groom, my not-so-little brother (the Groom) and the Momma.

Mom and my fantastic Leopard-Print Grannie.

Bride & Groom

The fantastic Little Black Dress that was aforementioned above.

I mean it Melvin, we need to go out to a nice dinner or something!