A very special thank you.....

Gwen, Johnny, Barb and I would like to thank all of the family and friends who helped to make last Saturday such a special celebration.  I know we did not have time to talk at length with all of you, there was just so much going on, but we sure are thankful to have so many special friends and family members. Our thoughts and prayers go out to those who could not make it, but rest assured you were in our minds and in our hearts.  It is hard to express the emotions of such a day. I am so proud of my family for accepting Gwen as you have and so proud of Barb's family for pulling together to make the reception and other festivities so successful. I never realized all of the little stuff that must be done. That list Barb gave me just got larger and larger. Finally, I started misplacing a few pages. We tried to keep everything simple and old fashioned, but that was probably easier said than done.

There were four families represented. Barb's, Gwen's other Dad's, Johnny's and the Tryons. Warren and Nancy (host and hostess) had a little trouble with crowd control, keeping the Tryons away from the food line, and I noticed when the dance music started, the Tryons left, but that is tradition....It became a real cowboy wedding, (all of the groomsmen and groom are bull riders, one is a rodeo clown) complete with the Texas Two Step, swing music and the Dixie Chicks, .the others danced until well after 11:00 and we did not get done with the clean up until 12:30....Sunday the gifts were opened at our house. Many of Barb's side stayed at the Nevada Super 8......Barb made the attendants dresses, the potatoes, the lefsa (sp?) and a whole lot more and man was the meal good. Her sisters and sister in law worked like crazy to get the food and decorations ready at Gates Hall for the reception. Unbelievable effort by them and they still made the wedding. Quite a job.

Like I said, I am so proud of my family (but always have been) and for Barb's side, it was truly a memorable day. So many nice comments by all of you, thanks so very, very much. I kept thinking of Mom, Dad and brother Ray and how many times they had been through these things, and how friends come and go, (and they are important), but the family is always there when it matters most.. I just can't imagine what it would be like to be without the strong support staff that we all have. So when I come down to earth, get caught up on my sleep and my self esteem recovers from all of the tuxedo jokes, I will put a slide show up of the wedding. So all of you that could not attend can be with us to enjoy a very special day. Thanks to all....it's just so great to get together with one another, looking forward to Christmas at Dale and Janet's. Bless Be The Tie That Binds.

Dick, Barb, Gwen and Johnny