A Beautiful Wedding
Doug and Judy Kramer are incredible people. (That’s Doug, top left, awaiting guests for their daughter’s wedding recently).
Both of these good folks used to attend our church with their SIX children and used to be the directors at Camp Encounter.
I was surprised to learn that the camp is STILL running and here is what it said on the website….
“Camp Ministry in the Catholic Archdiocese of Edmonton has a rich history. Many young people have discovered lasting friendships along with profound experience of the Catholic faith at one of our camps. We’re so excited that in 2022, a team of youth and camp ministry veterans are volunteering to offer youth an experience of camp ministry this summer at beautiful Camp Oselia on Wabamun Lake. We’re preparing three weeks jam-packed with epic games, sports, swimming, laughter, great food, learning about the faith, and prayer... all done while spending time in the beauty of God's creation.”
Our own girls went to the camp and they had great times and still hold memories dear from those days. They met “Fr. Catfish” when he was just a young leader there (and who has since passed on after leaving an incredible legacy in Edmonton).
Judy and Doug ‘walk the talk’. They lived at the camp and spent a good chunk of their lives bringing Christ to kids. Judy homeschooled her gang and the couple and the youngest children now live on an acreage outside the city. They chop their own wood, grow their own vegetables, have chickens for eggs, beef from their cows, sheep for lamb dinners and you name it. They continue to live lives that exemplify what it means to ‘preach’ the gospel by the way they live.
Every once in awhile, when the family was young, we would give them a break and take the children out for a fun day/evening…like good ole’ Chuck-E-Cheese! And we try and see them every Christmas at least. ( I also receive Doug’s daily Friday blog and it is incredible too. Check it out below by copying and pasting….)
https://outlook.live.com/mail/0/AQMkADAwATE2ZjcxLTM2ZjctY2RjMC0wMAItMDAKAC4AAAOOXWi7WpB1SrkTV4AZnOz2AQCNAW24UBiMQJWkhK5Eab4KAAACAVQAAAA%3D/id/AQMkADAwATE2ZjcxLTM2ZjctY2RjMC0wMAItMDAKAEYAAAOOXWi7WpB1SrkTV4AZnOz2BwCNAW24UBiMQJWkhK5Eab4KAAACAVQAAACNAW24UBiMQJWkhK5Eab4KAAVvHju4AAAA
So it was an honour and a happy surprise to be asked by their eldest daughter, Gabrielle (like the angel) to sing at her wedding to Noah.
We came outside after the ceremony to find intensely blue skies with wispy clouds and a long line up of folks ready to meet the bride and groom. Micheal their oldest son (above right) returned home and we got to meet his new girlfriend.
Michael is also a very dear friend of mine and a very unusual young man. When he was a teen or perhaps in his early twenties he called me up and said,” I hear you have a newly renovated kitchen. How about we bake together there sometime?” And so we have a few times now. He is just the most personable guy!
After the wedding, we had a nice break at home when all of a sudden the skies opened up and poured with yet more rain. It was short lived though and I got to see a portion of the double rainbow that appeared.
Back to the reception and just in time for introductions of the head table and a mediterranean type buffet style dinner that friends prepared.
The whole reception was probably done with a modest budget but you’d never know it. What a classy affair. Doug and Judy did the most incredible toast to the bride and groom and I liked it so much I want a copy of it! (Terry took mild offence and said that he’s pretty sure he can come up with his own toast for our daughter’s wedding in November…ha ha)
A lot of the wedding party and many of the guests were former campers and what really struck me was that this cohesive group would cheer SO loud for all the speakers, they’d join in every song, and when it was time to dance….EVERYONE was on that floor having THE best time ever! Even Noah’s best man did a speech that could have been a sermon it was so beautiful and faith-filled.
Best of luck, Gabrielle and Noah. (You won’t need it) You will be blessed I’m sure.
Looking past the shoulders of Doug and Judy towards their gorgeous daughter, Gabrielle, and their other lovely daughter, Katieri, as Maid of Honour.