Fifty Ain't So Bad... so far!

My last post I was on the precipice of moving into a new decade... my 50's.  Even a month later that still sounds so scary... and OLD!

The actual day/week of my birthday wasn't so bad.

My day started off with a delicious breakfast made by my Honey.  I apologize to my fellow Canadians for not enjoying real "Canadian Maple Syrup"... but I prefer the old "fake" stuff.

That evening, my Sweet Hubby had planned for my dearest and closest friends to come celebrate with me on my first night on the "other side".  My BFF unfortunately wasn't able to make it as her precious "H" is fighting with cancer and she wasn't able to join us.

Hubby did everything himself from food, drinks... invitations.  SO impressed!

Although he'd tried to make the party a "surprise", it's rather hard to surprise me as every year he gets me together with friends on my birthday.  I tried my best to keep "WHO" was coming a surprise so each time I opened the door I was delighted by the faces on the other side.

With my "besties" surrounding me, the evening was full of fun, laughter and making delightful memories.  One of my precious "daughters" used her talents to create a rice-krispie "cake" for me, topping it off with an extra special topper she'd made herself with fondant:

Hubby had also purchased a delicious chocolate cake for me as well to share with my guests, after blowing out the candle of course.  We couldn't put 50 on or the fire alarm would've gone off!!

It was a super special night and a wonderful way to ease my way into this new decade.  Thank you Sweetheart and Precious Friends for making this such a memorable evening!

Until next time...

Ten Years Already!

They say that as we get older time seems to pick up it's pace.  I would whole-heartedly agree.  Remember as children when a year felt like FOREVER?  Now, a year feels like a week and well, a decade… who can believe how fast THOSE are going by!

Ten years ago today I was 39… dreading the fact that my 40th birthday would be encroaching upon me within the next 9-1/2 months.   Still waiting on God for a miracle baby… wrestling with God as He took my precious Mom to her heavenly home.  Ten Years!  How can it be?  I still remember that week leading up to October 25 as if it were yesterday.  That summer Mom's health had declined.

 She had been unwell for many years, the results of a botched surgery that paralyzed half her face and throat.  Eating became too difficult that summer and she began to lose weight.  Her cough sounded very pneumonic (like pneumonia to me).  Her headaches increasingly frequent.  Yet, despite it all… every time we spoke she'd recite her favourite Bible verse:  "This is the day the Lord has made.  I will rejoice and be glad in it"Psalm 118:24… every day that is but the last time I called.  Something was different.  Something wasn't right!

Mom had started getting shots from the doctor to help her anemia so Dad had brought her down the 2-1/2 hour drive from their home on the Lake to my brother's.  When they arrived at my brother's place Mom was unresponsive… catatonic almost.  She was rushed to the hospital where she sat in the ER for 2 days until a bed could be made available for her.  FINALLY on the Sunday afternoon she was put in a room where visitors were finally able to come see her.

Having a brand new 2003 Honda Civic which God had just blessed us with…and that I had just saved from my work proceeds to put the downpayment on… I was able to shoot down the highway to visit my Mom.  She did not look herself at all.  Instead of the vibrant woman I knew, there lay a feeble "old" lady.  Only 72, my Mom looked 92.  She was fading away day by day and quickly at that.

Mom had stopped eating solids by this time and was only able to drink her calories.  For Mom though, this was catastrophic to her health as damage from that botched surgery in 1981 caused her to aspirate everything she drank directly into her lungs.  That horrid cough I heard was indeed her lungs.

The days in the hospital that week were sacred to me.  Mom directed me, her youngest child, to oversee the giving out of the hand-crocheted tablecloths she'd made for her granddaughters.  She also told me to hold on to the baby sweaters she'd knit… for my own child… that never came.  (I've since been distributing them to my nibbling' babies).  She never complained of the pain.  Never thought of herself. Just kept thinking and almost mourning for her children and grandchildren as she saw her days on earth were few.

Being with Mom in the hospital that week always reminded me of a conversation I had with her in my teen years.  I remember mentioning to her that I was afraid of having children… "what if I have one and don't like it" to which my wise Mother (of six) assured me that "something magic happens when you  have your own baby".  I never forgot that and sitting there by her death bed that week, not being a mother and not knowing that love for myself, I realized that there was something "magic"in this experience too.  As a mother brings her child into the world and experiences that "magic"… so a child sending her Mother out of this world experiences a similar "magic".  That week with my Mom was like sitting on holy ground as Mom prepared to "go Home".  For those moments I will forever be grateful!

That first year without Mom was unbearable.  The blackest hole I could ever imagine.  Worse than my infertility pain.  But God, in His great mercy and grace, seemed to open a portal to Heaven for me around the first anniversary of Mom's passing.  He gave me a glimpse of her… whole… smiling… the "old" Mom only better.  Thank you Jesus!!

So here I sit 10 years later.  I still miss Mom but thankfully that dark hole of existence is long gone.  Sometimes I feel guilty that I don't miss her more but I realize that she wouldn't want me to stay sad forever.  She would want me to go on.  To embrace life.  To look forward to when we'll be reunited in Heaven.  I can't wait to see her mansion!  I bet it's a 'Beut!"

To honour my Mom today I put together a little collage of pictures from her life…  I hope she would have liked this glance at the beautiful life she had.  She truly was a woman I aspire to be.  It's funny… ten years ago I never would have imagined how much I'd start to look like her.  I was always more my Dad's side of the family but this summer my brother gave me the biggest complement.  He told me that my hands and gestures were very "Mom" like.  She lives on!  She lives on in me and in my siblings and niblings.  As I chose the pictures for the collage I was struck by how much my sisters look like her too at different stages of her life.  As a young girl she looked like my oldest sister and then a few years later looked like my middle sister… Thank you Jesus that she's still here!

Sorry to go on & on… I guess it's cathartic to write on this day as I honour the memory of my precious Mom.  I feel like she deserves to be remembered fondly on this her "new" birthday… her Heaven birthday!!

The Life and Times of my Mom!

Until next time...

What a Weekend... and Full Moon to Boot!

Can you tell it's a full moon out this week?  I sure can!!  Poor Hubby took 19 hours (and 3 flights) to get from Toronto to Austin, TX yesterday.  Of course it came on the heels of a VERY busy Saturday wedding.  More on that in a minute.

For me I could tell it was a full moon today as my business seemed to take an ugly turn for a few hours.  I ended up making a rash decision that could cost me most of one commission cheque.  My own fault for being hasty to resolve something before I thought it all through, but nonetheless it is done and I will have to deal with the fallout (if there is any) when my clients return from Europe in early August.

Now onto what I know some of you are waiting for... an update from Saturday's wedding!  I took well over 500 pictures that day so needless to say I will NOT be uploading them all, but I will pick a few of my favorites to share!

Sat morning started early for me.  I was up around 7:30 and in the shower by 8am.  By 10am we were in the car and I drove Hubby (the Best Man) up to the Groom's home where he would have time to pray with "A" and get ready for the big day.  I had been asked by the Bride, "C", to help her put together a little goodie bag for her groom so I delivered that and took a pic (of course)

Leaving the boys behind, I then head down to "C"'s Dad's place to meet up with the bride and her attendants.  We had a quick bite to eat and then it was time for them to get their beautiful dresses on

The bride was laced into her dress (it was STUNNING) and then it was time for pictures with the photographer (and me... his little shadow for the day)...

After a few shots were taken outside, it was time to carefully package the bride into the car for the trip to the church.  This is one of my favourite pictures from the day!

We got to the church about 20 minutes before 1 when the wedding was to start.  The bridal party went to a room just inside the door of the church where we waited for the sign to start.  Once in the room and settled, some of us were informed that the florist hadn't delivered the flowers for the church.  Apparently, they went to our sister church in the next town and weren't swift enough to actually follow the address they were given to get the flower displays to the correct church.  Oy!  We ever so carefully decided to keep this little "glitch" from the nervous bride and when she asked about how the flowers looked, we diverted the conversation to another topic.  While someone ran out to the local grocery store for bouquets of red roses, we entertained the bride by regaled silly stories of weddings.  Finally... almost 40 minutes later... we were ready to head to the back of the church to get in position.

As I mentioned in my last post, I was beyond honoured to be "C"'s stand-in "Mother of the Bride" for her.  It meant so much to me to be there by her side and witness her dream come true up close with a front row seat... literally!  But first I had to do my duty... walk down the aisle (or in my case catapult... we were late after all & folks had been waiting a long time!) and light the unity candle for the bride's family.

I borrowed this pic
from one of the bridesmaid's FB page ;-)

It was kind of cool to sit in this role as I was the one to stand and get the crowd to stand for the bride's big entrance after my official duty was completed... although it was funny...  When the bridesmaid's started down the aisle this old man behind me who I'm assuming was "C"'s grandpa or uncle, kept saying loudly, "Shouldn't we stand?".  I quietly said to him, "We're going to stand when "C"'s going to come down the aisle!".  Phew... he didn't trump me and get on his feet before my next big role!

Once the ladies were in place I stood and moments later the doors opened.  I don't know about you, but I always like to keep my eye on the groom at that moment.  I love to capture the look on his face when he first sees his bride... and for "A", that moment was precious to witness as he is such a softie!

And then the moment arrived... the beautiful bride made her way down to the altar, ready to wed the man of her dreams!

The ceremony was lovely and it was nice being right in the middle of the action from the front row.  After the pastor's charge, the vows, exchanging of rings (and personally written vows), prayer of blessing (by that handsome Best Man), it was time to kiss the Bride

And light the unity candle.  The red rose on the table was placed there in remembrance of "C"'s Mom who passed away 6-1/2 years ago.  Originally it was meant to be placed on the piano, but I rather like that they had it on the unity candle table instead... I feel it made it more significant with it being there!

They soon made it official (we think... my sweet Hubby made a faux pas and signed the wedding certificate in the wrong place - oopsie!)

Once the marriage license was signed the only thing left to do was for our pastor to introduce the new Mr & Mrs

After some family pics were taken, the bridal party (and little tag along moi) head up to the golf course where the reception and bridal party pictures would be taken.  Again I shadowed the photographer and got some pretty cool pics (if I do say so myself) from our new Sony Nex 5R camera.  (Did you like that little commercial slide in there - ha ha).

Who is this handsome... bridesmaid??

Thought one of our golf cart drivers needed a little photographic love too!

The Bridal Party were jumping for joy!

 Left with only a couple more pictures of just the bride and groom, the bridal party (and I) head back up to the clubhouse to get ready for the reception.

The reception was lovely, the meal delicious, the speeches heart-warming and the party afterwards a blast!  Here are a few pics from the rest of the evening...

First off... a few of the head table and wedding cake...

These were the centrepieces... and I got to bring one home!!  (One of my hydrangeas didn't quite make it though)

The wedding party made their entrance...

Not sure how I feel about my Hubby with a younger woman ;-)

Mr. & Mrs "C"

I just love the look of sheer joy on their faces!

The Bride and Groom had their first dance before the dinner was served...

It was SO romantic... until the music made a sudden change.  Was the DJ just doing a terrible job?  

Nope... the Bride and Groom had a surprise for us up their sleeve...  they did an amazing Gangnam Style dance for us! 

Next the newlyweds cut the cake before sitting down to enjoy their meal.

After the amazing pumpkin soup was served, my sweet Hubby got up to make his Best Man speech and toast

And then it was the Maid of Honor's (and bride's younger sister) turn.  Her speech included a surprise video of well wishes from friends and family from all across the globe who weren't able to join the happy couple on their big day.

Hubby and I snuck away for a quick photo op in between courses

After dinner the parents of the groom...

And Father of the Bride got up to give their speeches.  The Groom's Dad's was amazingly short... like I think one line almost (and super funny)... while "C"'s Dad's speech was very touching, especially as he mentioned C's Mom and how proud she would have been of her beautiful daughter today.

Some of "A"'s family members endowed him with this Emporer's new hat...

And "C" with some of the Empresses' new clothes... (or empty hangers representing the new lingerie they picked up for her honeymoon - ha ha)

After dessert the newly married couple got up to say their list of thank-you's which of course brought a tear to my eye numerous times  and then it was time to PART-Y!

Hubby and I got to dance together for the bridal party first dance

And then it was time for the Father/Daughter dance...

And Mother/Son dance...

After the official dances were done, we all joined on the dance floor and had a blast.  The groom's entire family got on the floor and did the Gangnam dance together and at the end of the night the bridal party (and few remaining guests) danced the Macarena to end the night.

It was a FABULOUS wedding.  One of the very best I've ever attended!  I am so happy for our friends and wish them a world of Happily Ever After!!