Awesome weekend!

This weekend was fantastic! My grandparents celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary and our family planned a surprise party for them... well more like a surprise weekend for them. We threw it for them at the camp they met at. It was so awesome! First there was the luncheon, which was just family. They were so shocked! My mom and dad made a slideshow for them, and my aunt made a double wedding ring cake which looked just like their rehearsal dinner cake. There were many people there that surprised them because they didn't think they would be there because of health reasons.

Then we surprised them by telling them that starting at 2:00 we would be having a drop in party for them and people from all of the churches my grandfather was a minister in, as well as friends, were going to be coming. It was just fantastic. There were a lot of people that came and it was a lot of fun.

After all of the festivities, we (my aunts, uncles, parents, grandparents, cousins, and us of course) all stayed at the lodge in the rooms. It was so nice just to spend the night hanging out, talking, eating pizza, blowing up balloons and putting them in my grandparents bathroom, sitting around a campfire, and many other fun things. This morning we had breakfast and then went to see the old part of the camp (that is still used!) to see where my grandparents each stayed when they were there, and all of the places they talked about (like Vesper Hill, and the dining hall). It was very moving and fantastic! It was so emotional to see my grandfather (who has trouble walking) walk up a hill to go to Vesper Hill, where they used to walk up and have their meditations and worship services at camp (it was a church camp). He also said the dining hall hasn't changed a it in 53 years! We also went to check out the cabins that they stayed in. My grandfather apparently carved his name in the cabin and we wanted to find it. We did! It was really cool!

My grandparents were so appreciative and were so surprised about the whole weekend. It was so nice to spend such an extended period of time with the whole family. I am sad it is over so fast!

Incidentally, on their anniversary, which was on Saturday, it was also two years ago that day that Jeff and I were engaged. And now soon we will be celebrating our first anniversary! It is wonderful to be surrounded by so many strong marriages. Both sets of grandparents have been married 50+ years, my parents have been married 26 years, and many of my aunts and uncles have been married 15+ years, or have been in extremely long term relationships that have just been married recently. It is awesome!