Another Glimpse

DrummerDude sent me a few of his pictures from the wedding, and I picked a few to show you.

This first one I like, for some reason. It's technically not a "good" picture, but I love the moment it captures. That's LovelyDaughter, of course, being hugged by Dad. To the right, JD and his dad are exchanging a hug also.



This is LovelyDaughter with Grandpa. I think she looks very beautiful in this one.




And here's the whole bunch of us: JD, LovelyDaughter, Hubby, me, MB3, DrummerDude, and GuitarGeek (who must be just blinking-- that's a rather odd expression he's wearing.) MB3 and DrummerDude are not as scary as they look. They just like the "sober" look in photos. Also, I sure enjoyed wearing the dress I have on in the photo. The other day I bought a black shrug to wear with it, so I can use it now in cooler weather, and just in time, because this weekend is our annual Dinner Out with MandoNut and his folks, and they love to eat at NICE places. I get to dress up! Again!



A portrait of the bridal couple. I have to say that I have never seen a bride and groom look as relaxed as these two do. It must be because we kept the wedding simple. Also, we had no marathon photo session before the ceremony. On-the-spot snapshots are the only photos we have, but they all look so alive, and capture the day so well.

******

I know it's been three weeks since the wedding, and two weeks since the couple left on their trip, but I still find myself looking at the pictures over and over. Re-living, remembering; embedding it in my brain. Trying to somehow comprehend that this life-altering event has really happened. Trying to understand that I have stepped across into a new strata of life; a mother of grown children.

There are days I really miss LovelyDaughter.

Not because she's gone on a trip.

No, some days, in spite of all common sense, even though I am very happy and excited for her, I miss my unmarried, live-at-home daughter, who is gone forever.

Even stranger, I feel kinda like Megan at FriedOkra when she watched her little girl trot off to preschool for the first time (my adaptations in italics):

I didn't cry. Are y'all proud? Actually, I wasn't even sad. Because... this foray into married life feels right for LovelyDaughter at this stage in our lives, and I know she's truly going to love it. She needs some time and experiences all her own right now. The only things I felt walking away from the wedding were giddy excitement for her and a huge sense of pride at how she's grown up and become (acceptably) independent and ready for this, and I've been right there with her throughout the process. And dang y'all, that just feels GOOD.

I can't wait to pick her up after her honeymoon and hear all about it. I can't wait to tell her how proud I am of her and HOW STINKIN' MUCH I LOVE HER.

Oops. Did I say I didn't cry?

Guess I called that one a little early.

Sniffle.

I guess it all comes around.


(read what Megan actually wrote here.)

A Few Wedding Photos

I figured out how to snitch pictures off of LovelyDaughter's laptop, so I have a few photos from the wedding for you. These were all taken by our friend Swede, with the exception of the last one, which was taken by DrummerDude.

Now I just need to get DrummerDude to get me pictures off of his computer. He's got some very nice ones, including pictures of the whole family. But-- maybe later. For now, enjoy these...



The bride and her father. I think Hubby looks so handsome in a suitcoat. I've only seen him in one three times: our wedding, his brother's wedding, and now LovelyDaughter's wedding. In the background is the camping cabin belonging to JD's grandpa that we used for the dressing room for the bride and the bridesmaids.


LovelyDaughter running to her groom.


Ready to begin the vows. I put this one in so you can see what I was doing at this point. That's me to the left, playing my violin.


All three four of our guys. I'm so proud of them it almost hurts.


The bridesmaids.


Do you need a caption for this one? Actually, maybe you do. In the order of service JD wrote out for the preacher, this part was entitled, "JD pounces on LovelyDaughter." This was several long moments in, hence GuitarGeek's response.


The bridesmaids finally have a chance to chase down the cricket that had been climbing around in LovelyDaughter's skirts during the ceremony. I had wondered why the maid of honor kept smirking!


Getting ready to cut the cake. Remember, no chocolate on the wedding dress!


This is LovelyDaughter's favorite photo. A beautiful couple on a beautiful day in a beautiful place. This captures the feel of the day very well.

Well, We Got The Knot Tied--Firmly, And With A Big Bow

Disclaimer: I am rather tired, and my eyes won't focus very well, and I can't seem to type or spell today, or even think very clearly. It's taken me forever to write this, and I don't think it's my best writing, but I want to share anyway, while it's still fresh, so bear with me.

Yesterday was the Big Day!

JD and LovelyDaughter were married at just about sunset in a park next to a small lake, surrounded by pine trees, and friends, and family.

It was all we could ask for. The weather was absolutely perfect. There were no bugs or mosquitoes, the sky was beautiful, the trees were pretty, the lake was full, the grass was green, and there was a nice, unassuming little breeze to offset the warmth of the sunshine.

JD's grandpa brought his little camping cabin/trailer that looks like a tiny log cabin on wheels, which we parked to use as a dressing room for the girls. When it was time for them to appear, they came out of the cabin and walked barefoot across the grass, down the "aisle" that was outlined with a string of white lights, until they reached the stage area, where the groom already was waiting. The boys and I played pretty music (and I got to use my new fancy five-string violin).

Then it was time for the bride. LovelyDaughter stepped down from the cabin's little porch with her dad's help and they walked, holding hands, toward the front. When they had gone about two-thirds of the way, Hubby dropped her hand and said, "Go." And LovelyDaughter picked up her skirts and ran the rest of the way to meet JD, which produced a burst of spontaneous applause and laughter from the audience. It was an action so typical of LovelyDaughter.

The boys left their instruments and stood in their role of groomsmen while JD and LovelyDaughter said their vows (which JD had written, and they were very heartfelt and real), and then exchanged rings. The pastor pronounced them man and wife, and then JD kissed his new wife, long and hard and enthusiastically, to the accompaniment of much laughter and applause.

Then the pastor led them in communion together, and then Hubby and two dear family friends, Swede, and RR, came forward to bless and pray for the new couple. RR is Jewish, and he gave a wonderful Jewish blessing, spoken in both Hebrew and English.

And then GuitarGeek turned everyone loose, and we had a picture-taking session with the lake and pines in the background, and anyone with a camera could take photos, which added a real audience-participation, party atmosphere.

When the food was ready we all went over to the picnic shelter to watch JD and LovelyDaughter cut the first piece of cake (which, by the way, was a beautiful four-tier chocolate-chocolate cake decorated with pink silk roses). I had strictly cautioned them not to have too much fun with the cake, because, how do you get chocolate out of white satin? (I had good reason to be concerned, because JD and LovelyDaughter love to have food fights.)

JD showed remarkable restraint, and managed to hang around and greet people for a whole hour after the ceremony, and then he announced to everyone that he was stealing away his bride and taking off. With that, he swept LovelyDaughter off her feet and ran to his waiting car.

And then-- he caught his foot in LovelyDaughter's dress and they both crashed down on to the gravel. If it had been me, I would have been crushingly humiliated. JD and Lovelydaughter just laughed and kept going. They picked themselves up, and tried it again-- but this time JD just walked, fast!

And then-- JD came running back, announcing that we had a serious situation on our hands. His car was trapped between two cars and he couldn't get out, and he was frantic to find someone to move those cars.

Yes, it was a "problem." Two cars had somehow been parked within an inch or two of JD's bumpers. Hm. I wonder how that happened....

Swede, MandoNut, and WTal confessed later that they couldn't resist the prank after hearing JD brag earlier about how he had parked his car for a "quick getaway"!

Anyway, I felt the delay was providential, because it had been a bit of a hard moment for me to have JD sweep LovelyDaughter away without me having a chance to say good-bye, and this way I had a few moments to make sure she was okay after the fall, and say "Good-bye, I love you" one last time.

Today, we are very tired, both physically and emotionally. I feel as if I've had a shock. A good shock, if that's possible. It seems like any kind of major change is a jolt, of sorts, and our bodies and emotions have to regroup.

Hubby says with every good new thing gained, there is a loss. We have lost our little girl who lives with us; but we've gained a married daughter and a new son. We have come to the end of these days; but we have new ones coming. As long as I look forward, I'm happy, excited, optimistic. When I look back, I grieve.

Tomorrow I will clean up and put things away, and tie up loose ends, and make new plans, and look with optimism to the future and all the good, new, bright things it holds.

But today is my day --just one more time-- to look back, to remember, to grieve for what is gone.

And then-- forward and onward.

Congratulations, JD and Lovelydaughter. I will love you both as long as I live.

Wedding Countdown: ONE Week-- ONE!

Well, y'all. It's time to either panic or not. We have ONE week left (in case you missed that).

Actually, plans are going well, and there really isn't much left to do, until the day itself.

We have Hubby's suitcoat, which we thought we had, but it didn't fit, and we weren't able to get one that did, and I hunted and searched and shopped, and FINALLY found a suitable (ha-- get it? Suitable?) option. JUST LAST WEEK. Too close for comfort, my friends.

Anyway, we also now have many other miscellaneous details accounted for.

So. I think we're... yes, I really think... is it possible? We're READY!

Now to clean house, and give myself a pedicure, and trim my hair, and cut DrummerDude's hair (if he'll let me), and mow the yard, and weedeat, and put new siding on the house, and weed the flower borders. You know, last minute stuff like that.

Taking a deep breath. I'll. Be. Fine.

Really.

Wedding Countdown #3: Four Weeks

Yesterday I got a lot of wedding-related stuff done.

We finally came to a consensus about what the boys are wearing, since all three of them are groomsmen (and also the musicians for the wedding) and I GOT IT ALL ORDERED!

Would you like to see what they're wearing? Okay.

This shirt:



With this vest:


With these jeans:

As you can see, the guys are wearing brown and black. The girls are going to be wearing brown and pink. We threatened to have the guys wear pink, too, but we had mercy on them...

And that reminds me, since last week we had a breakthrough on the dresses for the bridesmaids. Plan C turned into Plan D, and here's what we're doing: LovelyDaughter found a pattern and fabric, and we're having a friend sew three dresses for us. Like this:



Fortunately, the three bridesmaids are built similar, so when the maid of honor said the pattern LovelyDaughter picked would look great on her, we figured it will look good on all three girls. The dresses will be made of brown fabric with sheer pink overlays on the skirt.

Also yesterday, I ordered the strings of lights we want to decorate with. Supplies for the reception have been bought as well, so we are on the cook.

On the cook, meaning "getting things done," as well as "cooking in the heat." Next week's break in Colorado will be very welcome.

Wedding Countdown #2: Five Weeks

Yes, yesterday marked FIVE weeks till LovelyDaughter's marriage to JD.

I'm almost as excited as LovelyDaughter, sometimes in a good way and sometimes in a bad way.

As in, How Wonderful! My Daughter is Getting Married!

And then, smack on the heels of that sentiment: AACK! My Only Daughter is LEAVING HOME FOREVER in Five Weeks!

Talk about your roller coaster.

We celebrated (well, not on purpose; it just worked out that way--but it sounds good) the five week mark by going shopping for more things for the wedding. We got necessities like LovelyDaughter's jewelry to wear with her dress, and a necklace and shoes for me, to go with my dress.

I didn't mention shopping for shoes for LovelyDaughter, because her lifelong dream has been to be barefoot at her wedding. (Thank goodness; that's one less item we have to chase down.)

I will also mention that we are in dire straits in regard to the bridesmaid dresses. I say this at the risk of opening ourselves up to criticism: No bridesmaids' dresses YET, with the wedding THIS CLOSE?!

Believe me, it's not for lack of trying!

We thought we had it all figured out, but unavoidable circumstances (the bridesmaids are scattered all across the globe), and idiotic dress designers (can't they design clothes to fit ordinary girls, not just beanpoles?), and changing fashion seasons (most of the dresses we pre-shopped for online are no longer available anywhere, or only in super tiny or super large), have all conspired together to obsolesce Plans A and B, and put us up a crik with only one paddle instead of two. And that, if you're not careful, is a recipe for going in circles!

On the positive side, we do have Plan C ready to implement, and, by odd coincidence, Hubby's new suit coat/sports jacket/blazer arrived yesterday via UPS.

More news next week!