Jerry and Mel Say "I Do", Part 2

So 9 PM came and went, and I started to worry. My parents were supposed to have landed in Detroit (coming from Canada and transferring at Chicago) at 7 PM. They were planning to be in Ann Arbor around 9. Why hadn't they called yet? So I waited... and waited.... chatted up with Eunice and Irene as we lay in bed, just waiting. Eunice had drank a huge cup of coffee at Comet Coffee, so she couldn't sleep, haha! :) Anyway, around 11:00 - I get a call from my dad.


"Hi Mel. We are stuck. Our flight is delayed. We won't be there until midnight." My dad was on the other line, still sounding optimistic.


"Okay, we'll see you when you get here!"

An hour later...

"Hi Mel. Can you look up train and bus tickets for us? Our flight was cancelled and I don't think we will make it on another flight tonight or tomorrow."

Every bride's worst fear... or mine, anyway. Having my parents there was the most important thing (besides actually marrying Jerry) to me and to think that they might not make it... I was sad and upset. Irene prayed with me and we fell asleep eventually, but not for very long periods of time. I kept waking up hoping that my parents would call again, but they never did. Because my parents have international phones, they could call me, but I couldn't call them back. So I waited.

And waited.

Finally at 6:30 AM - a call.

"Hi Mel. Dad was in the hospital last night." This was my mom now.


"What?! Why?!" 


"He hurt his back. We are in the hospital now. But things are okay."

God, why did You allow all this to happen? During such an important week? Questions swirled in my head. What could I do? What could anyone do? It was that feeling of helplessness. My mom hadn't wanted to call me - she knew I would be worried. And she was right. There was nothing to do but pray and hope they would make it and my dad would be okay.

I remember just feeling waves of guilt. If they didn't have to travel all this way for our wedding, he wouldn't have gotten hurt. Why were they stuck in a place that I couldn't get to? I couldn't do anything. I hated that feeling.

Luckily, God works in the most amazing ways.

The next morning, we (Eunice, Irene, and I) got up and ate breakfast at Webers. It was nice to spend time with these girls and just take my mind off of things for a bit.

Eunice and I also spent part of the afternoon watching the Bachelorette. :)

We love our reality TV shows :) And the guy we were rooting for won in the end!

I spent parts of the day on the phone with the airline company getting my parents' luggage information and on the phone with them figuring out what was going to happen with their travel plans. At this time, my mom had contacted a family friend who was coming to our wedding from California. This is where the story becomes God-filled, because only God could have orchestrated such good timing. The couple had stopped in Chicago to visit some friends before making the drive to Ann Arbor, and when my mom called them from the hospital Tuesday night, they were still in Chicago! The next morning, they picked up my parents, checked them into a hotel to rest, and planned on driving together the next day (Thursday). This is one of the things that week where I look back and say, "That was all God."

That night was my bridal shower. Irene left with Tiff to set up, while Eunice stayed and hung out with me. We napped a little and then had dinner at Webers.

Meanwhile, the girls set up the Knox music room. :) It was so cute!

Haha, Sky! These balloons were so big!

Sky and Tiff.

Tiff and Irene!

Marylee - my wonderful discipler during grad school :) She got us the location for the bridal shower!

Too cute!

 

 

 

Irene picked Eunice and I up and off we went for a night of celebrating and girl time! :)

Tiff explaining the rules for the games.

 There were games - "How well do you know Mel?" (which Eunice won!), toilet paper dress making contest (which Maggie won), and gifts :) Even though I told people not to bring gifts, there were still a lot! I am so blessed with the ladies in my life!

The food! Everything was so good. I wish I could've eaten more!

All the ladies :) Thanks for coming!!

Practicing for the big day? Hahah!

My girls... pointing to their favorite photos?

All the toilet paper dresses, haha!

Me with my now mother-in-law :) It was special that she came!

Haha!

Our "silly" photo :)

My girls! (minus Jodi) Tiff got us all pins (bride-to-be and bridal party). It was too cute. I loved it all!

It was a lovely shower, and I was so happy to see all these wonderful ladies who have been a part of my life for so many years. It was great to be together again!


To be continued!