Volume 55: Rest in the Thayers

22 But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. 23 And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. 24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate.

Thankfully, Bailey nor Austin are prodigal children, but man it was an awesome celebration thrown for them!!!!! What I believe to have been a small glimpse of what our endless celebration in heaven will be like!

Perfect weather! 
Beautiful scenery! 
Wonderful food!
Important people!
Impressive dancing!
Christ-centered love!

And unlike the spontaneous party thrown for the unexpected return of the Prodigal Son, this celebration had been meticulously planned out for months. 

Decisions about napkins. 

Finding the perfect three tier cake stand. 

Ordering the correct dimensions for a sign.  

Dance classes for the father daughter dance. 

Creating a worthy playlist. 

Packing individual welcome bags and then delivering them. 

Wrapping the forks with the napkin. 

Arranging flowers for each table. 

Setting up the tent, only to be torn down a couple of hours later. 

The list goes on and on. For almost nine months, there were many phone calls, meetings with planners, dress fittings, food tastings, and so much more. There is a lot of behind the scenes work that goes into a wedding, most of what we, as guests, will never know.

But why? Why do people spend so much time and effort and energy in planning for one night out of the year? One five hour event? 

Yet, all of that hard work came together by a team of people. It was not one person doing all of the work. The execution of weddings are the cumulation of many people showing selfless service. 

The Austins delivering all of the welcome bags and hosting a pickleball tournament. 

The Shaws providing a meal for a dinner they weren't even present for the whole time. 

The Hudsons intricately tying the strings around the napkins. 

The Markeys spending a Saturday placing a water, moonpie and popcorn in the welcome bags. 

Mom Priddy getting casseroles and making sure the charcuterie tables were perfect at the wedding. 

Kim Brock lending her metal tins and helping clean up after the reception. 

Stephany and Justin driving the vans for the bridal party and groomsmen. 

But why? Why did all of these people care to help when the night was not about them at all?

For some, it may have been harder to help serve hands on, yet they displayed their support by showing up. Folks from Indiana and Texas and Arkansas and all around! Making the long drives and flights for a weekend in Chattanooga!

People that have watched Bailey grow up at camp. 

People that knew Bailey in high school. 

People that work with Bailey now. 

People that went to Texas with Bailey. 

Oh and all the people that love Austin, too! 

Whether from Mt. Ida or Indiana or Austin, everyone there had one thing in common: excitement for the Thayers and gratitude for what they mean to them. In what other night could they get all of their people in one place!!! 

But why? Why do people get in a mini van and drive 13 hours to Tennessee or get on a plane and face the ATL airport all for one night? 

Well, the decisions were made and the planning happened for 9 months. The family and friends offered to help in any way. The guests booked their flights and hotel rooms. Why? Because it is an honor to be invited to celebrate the marriage of two people, especially Bailey and Austin!

To be able to witness the promise being made and show our support for their marriage. That in the ups and the downs of whatever is to come, they can look back on the day of their wedding and think about the people that were there and remember that they are not alone. 

For me, Bailey and Austin are important! Two people that are quick to serve others. After getting to see their relationship up close this summer, I am so excited about their marriage and the life that they will live together, as one. Even though Bailey may have tried to get rid of him lingering many times this summer, she's now stuck with him forever!!! And I know they will continue to make one another better. 

And as a couple who doesn't care to have any attention on them, I am so grateful that October 14th was a day ALL about them and it couldn't have been a more perfect celebration. A day that was so evidently covered in prayer, as Jesus was seen through their love and the people that they have surrounded themselves with! With two great sets of parents to look up to, they are fortunate to walk into marriage with strong examples of long lasting love. 

So here's to the Thayers!!! Selfishly, thank you for combining my worlds of bringing my favorite Chattanooga people and all my camp people in one place! It was a wedding that I will never forget!

~An Unplugger shoutout~

When I arrived to the wedding, the first thing I noticed was the long anticipated Camp Ozark bench that we got to sign! So of course, I bee lined for the bench and grabbed the gold sharpie to sign.... only to then look down and notice that my hand was now ALL gold... so I scurried to find the bathroom to attempt to wash my hands...

After scrubbing for a solid five minutes, I surrendered and walked out of the barn. As I turned the corner, I AUDIBLY GASPED! We had sighted Debbie and wow she looked BEAUTIFUL!!!! 

Well, all of that story was pointless, only to express that when we first saw Debbie, we were star struck!!!

More than her appearance, there was an aroma of joy and contentment that followed Debbie throughout the night. She was living her best life, surrounded by the people that she loves. And even letting loose on the dance floor!!! 

Let me tell you, she deserved it! She put in so much hard work into making sure this was a night of making Bailey and Austin felt celebrated. And that every guest had a great time! Considering one of her greatest concerns about the night was that she wasn't going to be in every conversation with her people, it was obvious that she genuinely wanted every single person to feel loved and for Jesus's presence to be felt. 

Well, everybody that was there was able to see the Lord through Debbie's love for her daughter, her individual gratitude to the guests for being there, and the peace she exuded!

It was all worth it, Debbie! All benefitted from your selfless service, especially Bailey!