I am five days from marrying off my youngest daughter. It is feeling kinda weird. We moved all her furniture to North GA this past weekend. We’re (actually mom and daughter) are making the last minute purchases and completing details. Although I still have to write the wedding service. I’ve been delaying. I did send the Campus Minister at UGA an outline so he could be ready. Franklin is doing the intro, scripture, prayer and asking who is giving her away, that would be me and my wife. Then I’ll go on stage. The family is placing bets on whether I can get through it or not without breaking down. Anna was a little concerned about the vows and I told her “you know the usual, love, honor, and obey.” She was not amused at the obey part.

She is marrying a great guy. He has always been a gentleman and at least to us never complained about some pretty strict rules when it came to dating. They hung around each other in high school for more than a year before we would even let them watch a movie at the house. Here is a dating tip, it is not exactly original with me but here is my thoughts on curfews: My children never had a curfew when it came to dating. They had a time limit. Movie starts at 7, last until 9 home 9:30. Movie starts at 11:30 pick her up at 11:00 movie lasts 2 hours, be home by 2. It’s not the late hour that gets kids in trouble it is the length of unplanned time they have together. Also if he came and hung around at our house we didn’t give him a time limit either but we were ALWAYS up and walking through the room periodically. I remember several girls I dated whose parents would go to bed and leave us in a private room by ourselves. In my teens that was not a good idea.

Also I have to say they have done everything the right way. Waited, didn’t live together, got their education, got jobs. They dated almost 8 years it could have been a temptation to marry early.

Anna and Ray I am very proud of you. I look forward to the new addition to the family. Now we don’t have to rush around getting the junk out of the living room every time you come over!