Let the Festivities begin...and so they did for the Final Wallace Wedding...Ever! Robyn Lynn united with John Akins on October 17, 2010...but the activities were four days in the making!

Friday, October 15 brought Jan and Jim to Della Terra, location of wedding, reception, and housing for "The Givers!" We started the afternoon with a trip through the Rocky Mountain National Park with Kelly (Robyn's twin) and her husband Matt Marlow (photographer extraordinaire of this Wallace wedding!). The sights and elk were so grand to behold, that John and Robyn decided over "pizza by the indoor pool that night" to unite with the four of us and "see the park at sunrise!" We jammed into the Marlow's Motorcoach...and enjoyed the beauty and majesty of Estes Park, Colorado on the official "Morning-of-the-Day-Before!" Then, after walking Estes, the rehearsal luncheon got the entire wedding party together...for food, fun, fellowship, and gifts to one and all...Jim and I especially appreciated our gift this past November...as we travelled to Pensacola, checked into a pre-arranged motel, enjoyed a pre-paid gourmet dinner and wine, and then, headed off to see Mannheim Steamroller and their 25 Celebration before turning in and returning home the next day!) Gifts given...and then all were off to Della Terra to rehearse and commune with the absolute beauty of the outdoors in October. The eyes could not fully chose a pallet for the myriad of colors surrounding us. God's beauty...so magnificent! Then, the PM brought us together for an "Akins Family-Wallace Family"
dinner before joining all participants at an evening of bowling...might not have been the best bowlers of the night, but the comradery and fun was not to be equalled! On the morning of the 17th...girls gathered at Della Terra for primping and sharing "The Day" with "The Bride"...from AM treats set up by a maid and her mom to a luncheon spread for all to enjoy. The groomsmen enjoyed the "theatre" at Della Terra and a luncheon spread of their own. Then, after the Bride and Groom's Special Moment and pictures...the conclave united for pictures prior to the ceremony. Then...the ceremony began..the procession...and the dictates from the dias...where the groom's father and the bride's father shared as wedding officiants for the Scottish rites ceremony that Jim had written for the bride and the groom and their day. I was and am so very proud of his tendered expertise...a first for him, to be sure, but one that I am sure John and Robyn will treasure. The Binding of the Hands with the Clan colors...the Golden Horseshoe of Prosperity...the clanging of the anvil...all made so meaningful by Jim's words and actions.
With the presentation of Mr. and Mrs. Akins, the ceremony ended...as their lives began, two as one united. The reception was enjoyed by one and all with dinner, dancing, Bride and Groom's dance, Bride and Father of the Bride sharing their dance to a special rendition of "Angel in my Arms"...and wine flowing! But, all good thing must come to an end...and so when JOhn and Robyn departed, the reception calmed and closed. However, the morning brought many of the friends and family back together again at a brunch-before-flights....and an opportunity for our "Fifth Daughter," Ethylea Griffitt, to present the ceremonial bride and groom hats that she has designed for all our girls...in fun and merriment.

Four days of flavor, fun and merriment shared by many...May those of you watching enjoy the times as did we...and may your prayers and wishes be for the future of "Mr. and Mrs. John Akins"...two now as one united.

Well, it is clear to me that we did NOT retire from life...rather we jumped into living and hit the ground with feet running!

Returned from Robyn's wedding (the next blog of note!)...only to re-pack and leave for Barcelona, Spain, first class flyin'...enjoying complimentary beverages, two appetizers, pumpkin bisque and a mixed green salad...followed by beef tenderloin and shrimp scampi..topped off with a vanilla ice cream sundae "over the Atlantic! Then laying back with your own personal headphones and TV...geeze...talk about "dacadence and lovin' it"... Wow...well, we are not in Kansas anymore! DeGaulle airport in Paris and then on to Barcelona for four days. The Hotel Arts afforded us an incredible room with a view of a marina on the Med...pinch me please!

A first night of Flamenco dancing and dinner at Botafumeiro...now all the plaudits of that restaurant are true, and then some.
Three days of a private guide gave allowed us to experience parts of Barcelona to the fullest...and the Happy Pills helped us keep up the pace! The Church of the Sangrada Familia, still "in the process" of construction since 1882...offered us not only the two facades dedicated to the Birth of Christ and the Passion of Christ and the incredible innards of light and elevated sights...but who knows, at its proposed completion in 2030, the 18 towers and two additional facades will truly be a Gaudi testiment and even more of a Barcelona landmark...and a gorgeous cathedral. Gaudi lives on in Park Guell (green space before the monicur was even invented!)...La Pedrera and Casa Batllo.Barcelona...land of the motos...Mediterranean, Land of the "Smart" car.

Fourth Day...we boarded the Royal Caribbean Radiance....and started our Tour of Other Lands...St. Tropez might be a monied place, but have to say, when it rains, without adequate run-off, it is a flooding place too! Umbrellas out for Tropez, Tuscany, and The Field of Miracles in Pisa...an architect's fiasco-a tourist unperpendicular photo-op! Then on to sun in Rome...and the histories of time. An 11 hour tour tried to focus on the majestic Roman highlights of old, the Colosseum, the Pope' Vatican City's museums and grounds, and the unbelievable Michelangelo's magnificent masterpiece in the Sistene Chapel. Naples offerd us a taste of Limencello (tasting to the toes!) and also its acute need for waste removal services (striking at the time). Around Italy's boot and on to Venice...water, water everywhere (and a bit stinky too!) No singing from the hired gondolier, only that of "my" gondolier (romantic...even if he is tone deaf!). Heading south to Croatia...rebuilt, reenergized yet celebrating the historic walled-city, moat and all. Last stop, Corfu, Greece...where we enjoyed the sights, foods, homemade wines, and carvings of olive wood in Paleokastritsa... ate and witnessed more olives than I ever thought could fall from trees!

And then, exhausted, educated, fulfilled, pleased...all the decsriptive adjectives affordable...and we headed back to Barcelona..and then home again. Traveling, touring, cruising is FANTASTIC...we are so very blessed..but coming home again has its plusses too...you better believe it! Now off to sailing the Caribbean with Captain Jim and his First Mate Jan...welcome to 2011!