I’m sitting watching the girls get their hair done and make up. (I indulged a bit too!) I keep thinking of Queen Esther being “provided with beauty treatments and special food…12 months of beauty treatments, six months with oil of myrrh and six with perfumes and cosmetics.” My husband may be mystified by all this, but as a mother of three girls, I get it. The funny thing is that we’re going for the “natural” look. (That is, natural in the pictures and videos.)

It’s been a quiet, sweet morning of relaxing. There were a few small tasks to be completed, but mostly it was about being together and the beauty treatments.

So many people have joined together to make this wedding happen. Awhile ago, Annaloor, the housekeep at Capernwray, delivered the bouquets. They are simple, and lovely. Just prior to that, Sarah and her four daughters brought flowers and gifts from James, on their way to finish the centerpieces for the reception (also very cool.) Her husband, the chef at Capernwray, is taking care of the light tea after the wedding. He and Sarah also were their pre-marriage counselors, meeting with them regularly over the last eight weeks. Peter and Glenys have provided a warm home for Anne, lots of encouragement, and Peter will be marrying them later today. Zac, a student who got tired of traveling came back last Sunday and has been a huge help to James, ready and willing to do anything. James’ family has all pitched in to help. They’ve fixed food, provided rides, hung bottles from the trees, set up the tent, washed dishes, foraged for ferns, picked up chairs and delivered a grill. The Bruce women filled small milk bottles with candies and nametags. Her bridesmaids gave her a shower and Emily, her maid-of-honor has kept a detailed calendar and notes on all the details. Martha and Lloyd Watkins have let them use their farm for the wedding and were ready and willing to help in many small ways.

We woke up to sunny skies and a 0% chance of rain, with highs about 80 degrees, though much cooler in the evening. (We noticed that it was 3 degrees in Chicago yesterday. Sorry.)

It’s going to be a great day!