Camel Train

When you are invited to a wedding in Sparta then its a good idea to look up directions
for the place in the town of Sparta instead of say - Tomah -   a neighboring town.  That
saves a bit of trouble when you actually get to Sparta and start looking for the wedding.

The night before we carefully looked up the directions online and very carefully wrote
them down on a piece of paper. Then I stuck the directions in my purse with the invitation
and made sure my purse was in the car when we started off.  But something went wrong -
very wrong.

The directions looked like someone had dyslexia - hwy 21 turned to 12. 
Streets turned to avenues. Nothing added up and nothing matched.
But my husband is one of those rare men who will stop and ask directions. 
I know!  He is a keeper!

So we made it to the wedding with five minutes to spare.
What a sigh of relief to find out there was a relaxed atmosphere inside.
We walked in and saw the groom's dad and uncle and brother standing there talking.
They welcomed us in and said find a seat and we did.

Chatted with grandmother of the groom and more cousins. After awhile the groom escorted
his grandmother to her seat and the wedding began. There was a darling flower girl tossing
petals down the aisle and the cute ring bearer did his best to keep up.

Bridesmaids and groomsmen

Bride with her parents

The minister broke the ice by declaring he never gets in on any of the pictures so he's
solving that by taking a *selfie* on his tablet right then and there with the bride and groom.

Then he went ahead and preached a sermon that spoke to us all. 
And the groom said his vows
        and the bride said her vows.
They exchanged rings
          and kissed
 and were introduced
    to the audience.

There was a feeling of deja vu. The girls who sang at our wedding were there. 
(Two of them weren't able to be at this wedding) The trio sang this song which has
become a favorite of mine ever since I first heard it at my sister's wedding. 
My aunt and uncle sang it at Dad and Mom's 50th wedding anniversary as well.

1	’Twas a day in early springtime, By an ancient wayside well, Eliezer paused to rest his camel train. He had found a bride for Isaac Ere the evening shadows fell, For his weary journey had not been in vain. Chorus:
	Oh, get ready! Evening shadows fall. Don’t you hear the Eliezer call? There’s going to be a wedding, And our joy will soon begin, In the evening when the camel train comes in.
2	So he took the fair Rebekah, Dressed in jewels rich and rare, Quickly to her waiting bridegroom far away. Where Rebekah loved her Isaac, And he loved Rebekah fair; Oh, it must have been a happy wedding day.
3	Now the blessed Holy Spirit, From our Father God above, Has come down to earth to find a worthy Bride. For our Isaac over yonder Has prepared His tents of love, And He wants His fair Rebekah by His side.
4	We have left our kinfolk gladly; We have bade the world goodbye. We’ve been called to be His pure and spotless Bride; Where we’ll soon behold our Jesus In that blest eternity— What a happy, happy wedding that will be! - Hansel P. Vibbert       - from Genesis 24