This Was Not On the Wedding Checklist Ken!

My mom continually brings up the fact that I shouldn't have moved from Utah, that I should be singing in the Tabernacle Choir, and that she doesn't know my grandkids. It's been 31 years since I moved from Utah to more traffic, warmer year-round weather, and higher housing prices, but it never really hit me that she was basically saying that she missed me and felt lonely, until my baby of six left today, headed to Las Vegas and his new home, along with his beautiful new wife, Sarah.

Yes, David got married. And the past three posts have highlighted it in some way. It was beautiful, joyous and sad, all at the same time. We want nothing more for our children than to see them happy and successful, along with staying righteous and living honest lives. And when they find that "soulmate," we are happier for them than they can imagine. As parents, we do feel what they feel, hurt when they hurt, smile and laugh when they laugh, and rejoice when they see success. So, for David and Sarah, I gave them big "good bye" hugs and kisses, and thought out loud, "make sure you call your mom weekly!"

July and August have been jam-packed with family happenings! From the birth of Josh and Ashleigh's baby boy, Harrison Joshua Burgess, the baptism of Chris' oldest, Kelli Jo, to spending the month there in Utah working out, driving back to Vegas to pick up Ken, the wedding, the paramedics rushing Ken to the hospital, to... Oh yes. Forgot (conveniently) about mentioning that.

Twelve years ago while on a family vacation at Lake Powell, Ken suffered internal bleeding from some ulcerations in his gut, removal of a tennis ball-sized tumor, and recovery. And he hasn't seemed to have had many problems with this since, other than an occasional challenge with stomach burning when eating any sort of semi-spicy foods. Until the day of David's wedding. He knew he was again bleeding internally, was very pale and weak. His thinking was to make it through the wedding for David's sake, then admit himself to the hospital to get this all checked out. The boys came over earlier in the day - Ben, Eddie, Josh, and Chris - and gave Ken and blessing, he rested a bit - then off to the wedding. However, 30 minutes before people started to arrive he sat down, went white as a ghost and collapsed. Luckily Chris was there to catch him, call out to Lesa to call 911, then moved him to the floor. As soon as he gained consciousness and his color returned to his face, he smiled and said, "what am I doing on the floor?" I (frightened) but lightheartedly said, "honey...this wasn't on the wedding checklist."

Ken was rushed by paramedics to the Western Medical Hospital near the Tustin Tennis Club, smiling and waving us to continue with the wedding. So - that's what we did. With Ken in our thoughts and prayers we continued greeting people as they arrived, started the instrumental ensemble playing, and proceeded with the wedding, then the reception, follow-up and clean up.  Other than having Ken nearly die prior to the wedding starting, things went pretty well.  Huge "thank you's" to Ashleigh, Joshua and Lee Ann Chamberlain for the incredible decorations, Ben and Cooper for the non-stop work on everything from writing checklists, shopping for the rehearsal barbecue, scouting out the park in Irvine for the barbecue, decorating the park tables and surroundings to match up with the wedding colors, food prep, event organization, clean up, best man duties with announcements...etc. For Lesa, Angela and Eddie for prep and clean up, for Chris watching all of the kids and helping...it all came together. And once again...families are forever, and they pull together at times of need in a huge way - an eternal way that says, I love you mom and dad! And, that IS on the wedding checklist!