Tonya and Bud's "Budget Limo"

I heard that Bud's sons didn't know for sure if Tonya the Bride would actually ride in this thing, 

but here they stand, like the mischievous fellows they are, 

with folded hands and broad grins on their faces--

waiting with this "Budget Limo"!

Sure enough, Tonya did what a versatile new farmer's bride would do--

she laughed heartily and plunked herself right down in this wheelbarrow,

and off her groom went, 

a huge smile on his face!

The sons and grandchildren followed in merry pursuit,

blowing whistles and truck horns!

Thanks to Tonya's gracious sense of humor,

it was one of the funniest, most hilarious things we ever saw!

I don't know what all those guests thought who were already enjoying the shredded pork sandwiches, potato salad, baked beans, pickles, and potato chips...

but who cares?

This was between the bride and groom and family and wedding party
and unconventional bystanders like me

and we were having loads of fun!

Sometimes we miss out on having a lot of fun because we have too big an ego to make room for humor,

or we worry too much about what people will think.

Tonya and Bud didn't seem to worry. 

While they made their way to the food table, people around visited and had a good time.

Here Sis. Gault is holding Sis. Rosemary Stratton's newest grandbaby.

Sis. Stratton, (far left in the bright pink blouse) has been fighting cancer and been through chemo.

Her hair is starting to grow back in.

A dear Christian lady. May God bless and be with her and her family, all of whom are serving the Lord, at least four of the five, and maybe all five, in full time ministry as far as I know.

Gifts were piled on hay bales.

I had sewed a clothespin apron for the new farmer's wife,
"budget gifts," if you please.
Because the prairie rancher's wife has to have a budget, too,
and if my work at home doesn't earn money,
I can at the very least save money for my hard-working husband
by schooling my children at home,
altering goodwill clothes for our college daughter, and
working with my own hands to make wedding gifts.

Rose gave a dishcloth and scrubbies she'd knitted.

Loved this "Budget Gift Bag" we got at Dollar Tree!

Inside were these "New Farmer's Wife's Grocery Sacks" that one of the girls had made.

The "Budget Limo" was parked by the gifts, probably to take the gifts to their final resting place later!

Bud and Tonya just found a spot to sit with Bud's grandchildren.

They did not have a special table for the wedding party, and I had to admit I admired that. 

Maybe there was no special reason behind this choice, but I just thought it was mighty nice of them to just sit down with the rest of us instead of having a special table.  

Sometimes when people do differently than others,

it makes you think a little bit--

that is, if you are thoughtful enough to think

instead of just scorn or criticize something because it's different than what you expect.

It is probably easier to go into a marriage when you've been simple, humble and economical in regard to your wedding, than to try to have all the bells and whistles and be somebody big for a day, and then have to meet the hard realities of life within a few hours or a few days. 

So I could really appreciate Bud's and Tonya's simplicity and humility in this wedding.

How they weren't riding high horses, expensive limosines, or even fancy tractors.

I mean, a wheelbarrow of all things!

It brought tears to my eyes, later, thinking how Christ humbled Himself to mingle with men.

Sam climbed up the stairs around this silo later as we waited around with others to watch the milking (more pictures on that later). 

Sam loved being up there high in the sky, as high as he could go, looking all over the farm.

But then he started down.

His poor mother watched as he stuck first his feet and then his long legs over the edge and onto that first step up there.

And did the Heavenly Father watch perhaps a little anxiously

(if Divinity could experience anxiety)

as His Son stepped over the threshold of heaven and began the descent to earth?

 As He was born in a stable, of all places.

As He just came down and down and down,

walking where humanity walked,

among the least and lowliest, 

the farmers and the carpenters and the poor,

feeding the hungry and taking the children in His arms,

feeding His lambs,

seeking the lost,

rescuing the sinners

and shepherding His sheep.

Bud and Tonya's unique wedding was a little picture of Him Who left the glories of heaven

to become a man...
,

to suffer and submit even unto death,

so that we could gain eternal life!
(And more pictures coming later!)