Discovery of the Day

Should I have been more astounded by the fact that Dylan actually went to the pantry and selected peas as a late afternoon snack? Or alarmed by the instruments with which I found him attempting to open the can?

The Wedding

I feel that I've been terribly remiss in not posting sooner about my mom's wedding. But, in addition to having just been through one of the busiest weeks of my summer, I think it's taken me this long to simply process the enormity of the event! In a word, I'd just have to describe it as "Fairytale". Everything about it was just story book perfect, from the exquisite detail of her gown to the sumptuous setting of the ceremony.

Despite having spent the entire morning with my mom, helping her dress and ready herself for the momentous occasion, riding with her in the limousine, and waiting nervously together for the ceremony to begin, I was in no way prepared for the sight of her finally walking down the aisle to greet her husband-to-be. She was absolutely gorgeous, radiant. I'm pretty sure I heard the groom utter a single stunned syllable: "Wow".

Indeed.

I was never more thankful for smudge proof mascara as I was at that moment!

It was such an honor to witness their solemn exchange of vows. Having been together for six years prior to their marriage, I didn't really anticipate how fundamentally different their relationship would immediately seem to me. But hearing them pledge their faithful love to each other, seeing their joy at being pronounced "husband and wife", reminded me once again of the sanctity of the marriage union and renewed in my own heart the same promises I made to Darren over eight years ago on our wedding day. I pray that they will always be as richly blessed as we have been in our marriage.

My mom, my brothers, and me:

And my handsome husband, my rock and constant

in this ever changing world:

One Year

Happy birthday to my blog!

And a great big "Thank You" to each and every one of you who takes the time to visit me here. I count many of you among the very best of my friends, and I value beyond measure the gifts of inspiration, encouragement, love, and support I have received from you over the course of this past year. Truly, my life would just not be the same without you in it!

So please, stay a while, and enjoy a bit of this little cyber celebration with me!

Today is done.

We've wished them well.

We've said goodbye.

Tomorrow will be here much too soon.

Isn't she lovely?

FINISHED!!!

I cannot believe I did it. Thank you all so much for the encouragement! I love the finished product, and it was ready (thanks to a little help from Darren!) with not a second to spare before I left to pick up my mom for our girls' night out. I knew I would be cutting it close when I had to put my work down to clean up a major mess after the toilet overflowed all over our master bathroom! (On the upside, I can't remember the last time that floor has ever been so sparkly clean.)

At any rate...it's done. I can now breathe a huge sigh of relief and hope to, for once this week, get to bed before one a.m. Although, that's no guarantee I'll actually sleep.

Because tomorrow...

...tomorrow, my mom is getting married.

Wow.