Pick Good Attendants

I have been in many weddings as a junior bridesmaid, a bridesmaid, a maid of honor, and then also a bride.  I have been present to witness hundreds of weddings to which I was on the sidelines as the event supplier.  One thing I notice that stands out is the attendants at the wedding - they can make or break the big day.  Pick your attendants carefully.  Pick them for who they are to you, but also how reliable they are for you and will be on your wedding day.  Pick the ones that will make you laugh when you want to cry, will lift you up when you fall down, will fix your hair and make up, and shower you will love.  Pick the ones that want nothing for you but that you shine.  Grooms, pick your BEST men.  Pick the ones who show up.  The ones who are not just there for your wedding, but will be there for the birth of your son.  The ones who will back you, laugh with you, and get you where you need to be on time and sober.  This is important.  You have one day to give your wife the best of you and the company you keep may impact what your best looks like.  If no matter what you want you end up going with the obligatory attendants (i.e. siblings, cousins) then at the very least make sure you pick your vendors well.  Pauline and I are also there when the bridal party breaks down - Abacus may go above and beyond when it comes to service, but choose wisely there are more of us out there than you realize.  The vendor who delivers your kegs, the vendor who sets up the room, the DJ, all of these people should be hired not only on their skill but also on the committment to YOUR day.  They need to be people invested in YOU. 

Little Reminders

Often times I find myself so busy going from one task to another that I question whether or not I am on the right track.  Should I slow down?  Do I have margin and balance in my life?  Is this a healthy pace?  All of these questions will pass through during the course of my running.  This week I had to collect a stage that I had rented to Mill Creek Pub.  I would have generally had a second set of hands for this task but I was alone.  As I walked into the restaurant I hear, "Donna"!  I look over and there sits my pastor Mark Newell and a friend of his at a table for lunch.  What luck - I tell him how happy I am to see him because I need help.  He and his friend walk the heavy stage to my truck.  I wonder what I did to deserve this kind of luck.  And what I have done to have these kind of people in my life.  People that get up from their lunch date to lift a heavy stage for me without a second thought.  I called the restaurant to pay for their lunch and the owner's response was, "don't worry about it - we are having them help us lift an oven so we are happy to buy their lunch". This blog is a little reminder to myself that all the running around, investing in others, and doing whatever it takes to run my business is the right thing for me.  I am on the right track and I have support from amazing community members like Mill Creek Pub and North Creek Church.  Community members who laugh when I need to pick up a stage on my own.  Community members who lift me up, hug me, and ultimately remind me that I am right where I need to be.  Additionally, I was able to meet with another community partner - Pacific Perks coffee.  Jim took time to talk shop with Pauline and I and we walked away with yet another connection to remind us that we are right where we are needed.  Thanks!