Betty

Up North Celebration

Betty and Dan holding a Mr&Mrs sign at Up North Market in Michigan.
July 26, 2021

Do you celebrate life? Dan and I were married three months ago in a simple ceremony, on the beach, in Perdido Key, Florida. We kept things simple for a number of reasons. We’d been together for thirteen plus years; we are older; this isn’t our first rodeo. It was a wonderful wedding and day for us.

Three months later, Linda (my sister) and her husband, Phil, during our annual family visit to Pentwater, Michigan, gave us a dinner to celebrate our wedding. And while we thought having our wedding day with just the two of us was great, it was even better to celebrate this special event with our loving family. And some animals, too.

Well actually, there were more animals than people. There were goats and llamas, or maybe alpacas, a donkey and some Shetland ponies. While the animals outnumbered the twelve of us, the love of our family filled the farm and overflowed in our hearts.

The celebration was held at the Up North Farm Market. Now, I don’t think the Market does many wedding receptions, but it was the perfect place for our gathering, and I highly recommend it. It’s a market and a petting zoo and a restaurant with outdoor picnic tables. We all sat outside, under cover, in perfect weather.

The little one in our family could enjoy the petting zoo, play on the playground, play in the sand box, stand at the top of the slide and yell out “All Aboard” for the 99th time, or just run around in the grass pushing a toy tractor. A couple of corn hole games were set up, and even though it was our special day, two in our family, whom I won’t name, skunked Dan and I. It was great fun.

Betty and Dan holding the cake.

The food from the Market was absolutely delicious. Linda had gotten a cake from Hansen’s Grocery. It had the strawberry filling in the middle. It was flavorful and moist and delicious. I would get married just for that cake. We had ice cream, too. I got to pick two flavors – “Grandpa’s Vanilla” for Dan and “Moo Mint” for me. Can life get any sweeter?

Talia, Betty, Dan,
Allie, Michael and Danny

The ice cream, while sold at the Market, was from the Country Dairy nearby. The tables were decorated with beautiful bouquets which Talia had gotten from the Pentwater Farmer’s Market. The service at the Market was outstanding, and I could tell they really wanted our event to be everything my sister wanted for us. Which it was. It probably didn’t hurt that my sister called several times and even went up there the day before to confirm all the details.

The whole shebang was most heartwarming, but perhaps the most touching part was when our kids, Michael, Danny and Talia, each gave a toast to Dan and I. Their love and good wishes are known, but to hear them spoken out loud to us and to others inscribes on our hearts a most special memory which we will treasure for the rest of our lives.

Celebrating a wedding, love and family annoints these things as precious treasures which we are most fortunate to enjoy in our lives. Such a celebration is more than a day to enjoy. It’s a lasting memory to keep and a reminder to care for and to treasure all those we love in our lives.

Family picture of everyone at the celebration.

Thank you, Linda and Phil!

24 comments

  3. I heartily echo Brizzy-it was uplifting to read. Thank you for sharing the special day with us, and I raise my morning glass of orange juice to you: indeed love and laughter and happily ever after!

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  4. What a wonderful post. The love you and Dan share, and the love of your family shines thru so beautifully. Yes, celebrating life is so important and when it came be done with family it is so much more precious. Enjoy your day.

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  6. Congratulations to you and your husband, Betty. Loved the pictures, and it must have been great fun to have so many of God’s dear creatures on hand to celebrate with you.

    Liked by 1 person

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    • Thank you! Yes, it was a wonderful place. We will definitely go back to enjoy lunch or dinner as well as the petting zoo and the store. Enjoy your day!

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    • Thank you for your congrats! Yes, I am looking up-Up-UP at Dan. Did you know I am 5’10”? I have several readers comment in other posts that they thought I was short! 🙂

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    • Thank you so much! It was the perfect place to celebrate. Our great nephew could run around to his heart’s content. We plan to go again next year just to eat a meal and enjoy the place. There was also a market selling food and some craft items, too. I appreciate your good wishes!

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