We couldn't wait!! Testing for the baby's gender was done, the results sent to one of my dear friends, Charlotte, who ordered the correct gender color.
I would say 80% of the family guessed BOY. It was me, Sofia (Jeremy guessed along with Sofia, because Sofia has great intuition), and Jeremy that guessed GIRL.
The drum roll...
IT'S A GIRL!!!!! I am delighted!! From the moment Brooke found out she was pregnant, I had sign after sign it was absolutely a girl. IF it had turned out to be a boy, I would have questioned my own intuition.
Mama is doing great and her belly is bigger every week I see her. She is feeling her little girl inside her and I know she is overjoyed knowing she has a built in best friend for life growing inside her.
It was a wonderful celebration, there were screams of excitement when the balloons popped, pink confetti burst in the air and my next grandbaby's gender was revealed. What a wonderful moment and we have so much to look forward to.
Marriage vows are much like the bible, people tend to use a few words put together to their advantage and call it the gospel.
WE like to remind one another the words of our vows, "... and all my worldly possessions" which transforms the words yours and mine into ours.
I haven't had to share in decades. You know the buy what you want, when you want, hang what you want where ever you want. This husband-person I now have has opinions, too. Fortunately for me, my happiness is everything to him and truth be told, he trusts my opinion.
What I've quickly learned is, if I quickly hang something where I like it, and present it to him in excitement, it removes the opportunity of something else placed there I am not fond of and in busyness we move on to the next item.
He's so good to me.
Me, I am learning to work on not saying the words, "my and mine." It's actually habit. He is quick to remind me of our vows.
One large moving truck, a Uhaul, countless trips loading into our vehicles + two weeks. It has taken two weeks to move into our new home.
We are in and it's SO beautiful!! Actively looking since last August, it took us 10 months to find it and our conversations now are, "Just think of all the houses we almost bought!" This one is absolutely perfect! It checks all our boxes of wants and desires with a stunning view from our back yard.
Where did July go? Between the wedding, buying our new home, selling mine, and moving, it's been a blur of activity.
The big stuff is done, a few new purchases to complement this home bought, and we are settling in very comfortably.
I just turned 52. What a great age, what a blessed stage in my life. Family came over, many seeing our new home for the first time as we celebrated my birthday.
Brooke's gender reveal is next, she looks so cute with her baby bump! I think it's a girl, David thinks it's a boy. We are thrilled to know what this little one is!
We woke up on a beautiful summer morning, but this day was very different, "Good morning, it's our WEDDING DAY!!!!"
Our wedding day was exhilarating from the moment we woke up! Beautifully balanced, well-planned, it was exactly what I wanted, yet filled with unknown magical moments. David was upstairs getting ready, when I filled the air with Wedding Day by the Bee Gee's. A song I have listened to for decades and patiently waited. I was in the kitchen listening to this song I so longed for when David came downstairs, pulled me in his arms, held me tightly and danced with me. I cried and he continued to hug me tighter and tighter.
David is more than I ever imagined or dreamed of.
I wanted to set every detail at the venue, my vision becoming reality and it was perfect! Running home for a couple of hours to myself, because quiet brings me balance, I was so ready.
Surrounded by our family, our daughters, our grandchildren, and closest friends, I walked down the aisle with my dad, a moment I've always dreamed of. Wanting time to slow down, I looked from side to side at our guests, then my eyes on my husband, the one I promised forever to.
My daughters on my side, his daughters on his, our grandbabies walking down the aisle. Nathan sat my mom, my dad at my side, my brother officiating. I was radiant and smiled the entire time. You know the glow of happiness bursting out of you kind!
We said our vows to one another and in front of God. I especially loved each moment of the vows, slipping his ring on his finger, kissing "my husband" for the first time and being pronounced husband and wife.
Music filling the air, everyone happy in celebration, how blessed we are all our children are thrilled over our marriage. We know it could have been all together different, yet it's perfect.
Our dinner was exquisite and guests are still talking about it. We did a plated dinner, Mushroom Lavender Filet with Asiago Chicken, Rosemary Garlic Roasted Red-skinned Potatoes, Sweet Corn, and the salad was custom created in 4th of July themed with a Spring Mix with fresh Strawberries and Blueberries and Raspberry Vinaigrette. On the side was fresh cut Watermelon cut into stars and hearts (a surprise touch by the back of house team). Each plated graced with an edible flower.
SIGNATURE COCKTAILS
Our Signature Cocktails theme was inspired by our engagement vacation. Mine, the Mango Tango (I fell in love with this on the white sands of Siesta Key Beach). His, Smoky Mountain Moonshine in Mountain Java and Butter Pecan.
Our wedding cake... the top layer we cut, kept, and have been enjoying all week was Chocolate Chocolate Chip with two layers of double Toffee filling. Absolutely delicious!! The bottom layer was White Cake with Chocolate Ganache, also magnificent. Cupcakes at each guest plate one done in Amnesia Roses, White Tulips, and in scrolling matching our wedding cake.
White tulips, my signature flower, everywhere... my bouquet was Amnesia Roses with White Tulips.
At Last by Etta James filled the air and the DJ asked for the bride and groom to come to the dance floor and I danced with my husband for the first time. Twirling on the dance floor, he pulled me in his arms, I love the feel of his body against mine. A video sent to me shows my Sofia & Addy on the side of the dance floor swaying watching us dance. Could there be anything sweeter?
The day, our wedding, all of it was sensory magnificence! The DJ asked our guests to join us on the stone bridge for a group photo and while everyone was smiling for the photographer, commercial-grade fireworks bursts into the air behind us. That was the moment we wanted captured and guest whirled around in surprise and fireworks continued to shoot off behind the water on the other side of the stone bridge.
There were so many moments that was so special. My first look photo with my dad. My dad praying with me moments before walking down the aisle, and walking down the aisle with my dad. I've witnessed this so many times in the weddings that I conduct and I wanted it for me... and it happened.
Our wedding day was more perfect than I ever imagined.
We were off to the hotel for our honeymoon... and what nobody knows, would ever imagine, or even believe, we waited. I don't know how we did it, but we did. I honestly believe there are many, many blessings that have come because of it.
I married my best friend, the absolute love of my life, hand-picked and chosen by God.
Closing on our new home, under contract on our current home, and our Bachelor/Bachelorette party made for one heck of a week!
Our Bachelor/Bachelorette Party was up at Put-in-Bay and we had the best time. Sunny & 80's, being by the water, and sharing this moment with our daughter's and son-in-laws (although we missed Brooke & Alex) was the absolute best. There are moments that catch me off guard and I beam with pride with our daughters and son-in-laws. We are so blessed they are so put together, good, loving, happy, independent, and married. Sitting back watching them talk and laugh with one another, thank you God. Tons of photos captured together, time with them in pre-celebration of becoming a blended family, we love our bonus daughters + son-in-laws.
Life is a wonderful whirlwind.
The week my name changes. This week I marry my love.
How is it June 5th already? Every time I blink, another week has gone by. I'm so grateful though because I just want to get to our wedding day.
Weddings, weddings, and more events, I am in busy season and it's going really well. David asks me to text him when I'm coming home so he can start dinner on the grill. I know I say this all the time, but "thank you, Jesus, he is an excellent cook!"
I am refreshed knowing I get to go home to him. Coming home to the grass freshly mowed and edged, projects accomplished, trees and shrubs trimmed, him on the deck grilling dinner with a fresh haircut and looking all handsome, and I all I have to do is arrive... everything is done. He is always happy, always lavishingly loving and playful, and he enhances my life in every way! I absolutely love coming home to him and our life together.
Last night we tried a new beverage, which is always fun! Snuggling in his arms watching our current favorite show, Blacklist, is an evening routine we enjoy.
My soon-to-be husband is beyond my wildest dreams. How blessed I am to have such a loving Heavenly Father, a magnificent earthly father, and now an extraordinary husband. I am blessed beyond measure.
We all have habits and well-known phrases we use associated with us.
One of mine has been, "What on earth?!" I didn't realize I would say this until I heard my little Sofia repeating this and I wondered where she picked that up. One day I prattled that off and I caught myself. I guess I do say that a lot.
David's is, "OUTSTANDING!" Said with enthusiasm because he is an enthusiastic person.
I have another... I know I say it and I know I'm kinda known for saying it, and now I hear others have picked it up and prattle it off... "Absolutely not!"
Absolutely not means this is a hard no. Said with swift passion, it leaves no room for discussion and crystal clear so there is no room for interpretation, confusion, or question. It is a merciful and a matter of fact term.
