Dream Fulfilled

Years ago, we sat in the car listening to a Christian radio talk show named Focus on the Family.  I still can tell you the parking place we drove into and the time of  the day...it was sunny.  My heartstrings were tugged by every word the guest speaker spoke.  She was calling Christians to consider adopting just one child.  If Christians all over the world adopted one child, then the orphanages wouldn't be necessary, nor the foster homes.  My youngest of four was riding with me on the day's errands.  I had no idea that she was intently listening, too.  She jumped up as I turn the car off to announce, "Mommy, it is time we go get my baby sister!"

I couldn't help but want to agree with her.  Surely, adoption was in our future plans.  At this same time, another friend's heart was being tugged to adopt from China.  She already had four girls and she began to share her desire to adopt.  I also heard from another friend who had just adopted a child.  Adoption was being accepted throughout the Christian community in a whole new way.  My generation was witnessing a change.

God never had adoption plans for our family. Instead, we grew with two more biological sons.  However, my knees have bowed often as other friends adopted from all over the world.  Adoption had been placed in our hearts.

The friend with the four girls never adopted either.  Again, adoption was placed in the hearts of her children, also.  Her daughter has now adopted two boys from Africa.

That bouncing daughter who had announced, "well, let's just go get me a sister" was the instrument God used to bring adoption options into our world.

Sunday, our son and daughter-in-law had their dreams and parenting prayers answered as they brought home their 2 year-old-son.  All the legal items are still waiting to be done as the family gets to know each other.  That daughter whose heart was open to adoption at a young age is now an Aunt....I am a first-time grandmother.  Praise God that all those years ago He knew that it wouldn't be me that adopted, but one of my children.  I just love that Benjamin sees adoption as normal also.  His class of twelve includes two children adopted from Africa.  God's word that was heralded through the guest speaker on Focus on the Family in the early 90's has become a reality that I witness daily, as the Body of Christ opens its arms to those who need a family.

As soon as I am given permission, I will post a picture of the happy family!!  In the mean time, just know he is the most precious little man around and this grandmommy loves him.

I am TRANSITIONING...yes, my word for the year...to another part-time job.  I now have three part/part time jobs.  On Monday, I started teaching 1st grade for a two-day school.  Benjamin now has his mother as his teacher five full days a week....and I no longer have free time!

Friends, You Gotta Have Friends

The definition of friends has changed through the years.  Facebook numbers have changed the whole thought process of friends.  Social media has its place, but real flesh and blood can't be replaced.

My daughter...(yes, still wedding stories... I might change next week)....she loves people.  When the wedding assistant announced that the 100 they had planned on having was now over 220, my daughter just lit up with excitement.  The more the merrier.  She would have more people to hug and greet.

I, however, have gone through so many seasons of life that I now know the true meaning of a friend.  As I walked into the crowded reception area, my eyes caught the faces of True Friends... Friends who have been with me through thick and thin and have remained friends. (Oh, how I wish I had had my own camera)

Each of us are truly blessed if at the age of 50-plus we have a handful of true friends.  Those are the ones who are golden.  My handful blessed me beyond measure by attending my daughter's wedding.  They have not only been faithful friends, they all wear the badge of  honor of being faithful servants of the most high God.

What makes them so special isn't just that they love me and have put up with me, but the true treasure is that ALL have gone through life's hard swings, and refused to denounce the Lord. The list of scars these women have endured through unwanted battles could bring even the greatest soldier to his knees.  Knees...that is where they went and came up still in praise.  Many times just one of these battles would make a person question their faith.......not my handful of friends.  Their walks with the Lord have deepened with each blow.  When they say I will make it, or they extend an encouraging word.... I receive it and they know it.  They aren't speaking from an ivory tower. They have seen God and His faithfulness firsthand.

So, as I sing along with an artist talking about friends.......I know what a real friend is made of.  My real friends were there to see my daughter get married.  They were there for me to hug and shed a tear with at the reception.  The funniest thing of all.......they were also the ones whom I drug out on to the dance floor for a line dance, while giggling our heads off.  One had had knee surgery, another was afraid she would split her dress...and we all giggled and did the friendship dance together.

To my Ethels.................I love you all!!

Behind the Scene Stories

week of wedding!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  

Let me give you some background to set the tone of these stories.  If you have seen Brave, then you have seen my daughter.  The daughter in Brave is like my Nicole....give her rules and she will find her own way of getting around them.  She would also compete any day with the boys and probably win. That being said, here are the stories behind the scene....as we all said, "In Totally Nicole Style"

My daughter was in total control over her wedding planning. I was the labor with the duct tape over my mouth and my own hidden time table.  So in Totally Nicole Style, I found myself in the front seat of her small car speeding across the Metroplex on Friday, late afternoon, the last work day before the wedding on Sunday.   She was on  the phone...yes, putting her own mother's life in danger, while moving in and out of traffic to get to the wholesale flower store.  We were to pick up all the roses that "Ethel" and I would be using to create the bouquets and boutonnieres for the wedding.  The place closed at 3 and it was already after 1....yes, too close for my comfort zone, yet a wonderful challenge for my daughter.  As we were driving, she and hubby-to-be were discussing their to-do list.... the marriage license was next.


WHAT?? MARRIAGE LICENSE HASN'T BEEN APPLIED FOR YET?!?!   I could just feel my anxiety swell up and then I started to giggle inside.  Oh this would be sooooooooooooooo like her.  I listened as he discussed that they just need to marry within 72 hours of getting the licence   I knew better...it wasn't get married within 72 hours, it was a waiting period of 72 hours BEFORE getting married!!!!!!!!  Now this conversation was going back and forth at 2:30 on Friday afternoon.  He calls the courthouse....they close at 4 o'clock!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

They dropped me off with all the flowers to run to the courthouse...the time was close to 3!  I got into my car just knowing that this story wasn't at an end... what they thought and what I knew were two different things.  I had a Chesshire-cat-grin on my face as I  drove home..............we all might be at the courthouse on Tuesday, but this wedding was still going to happen.

picture at courthouse

A few minutes after 4 pm, my future son-in-law calls to tell the story...he won't allow my daughter to tell it.  Yes, it was as I said...72-hour wait.  My daughter had almost lost it.  Then in a last minute save, he asked about a military waiver!!!!!!!!!!!!! YES, YOU READ IT RIGHT!  They were given their marriage licence with a military waiver....so Sunday would be both the wedding AND the marriage on the same day.....what a close save!!

The other thing going through my head was my daughter's command to have her ring cleaned before the ceremony on Sunday.  So hubby-to-be needed to add one more thing to his list.

Wedding day comes....all the nervous and anxious feelings that come with a wedding were flowing.  My daughter giggled and got a little sharp with her mouth.  My future son-in-law got quiet and more sentimental.   We came to the last detail of the day.  Rings were to be tied onto the Bible my future son-in-law had used in his proposal to our daughter.  Benjamin would have the honor of carrying rings and handing them to the pastor for the ring exchange.  We put the groom's ring on the Bible and waited for the wedding assistant to retrieve the bride's ring.

She comes in and looks Nicole in the face and very sweetly says, "well, Nicole... there is just one little problem, but we have it worked out.  Michael forgot your ring, but we have one that looks like it we can use today.  There just won't be any ring pictures today."

This is me in the left hand corner!!  

I was behind her when she got this message.  I said, "no, hold on."  I pulled my wedding ring of 33 years off my finger and slipped it onto my daughter's hand...a GREAT fit!  We tied my ring onto the Bible.

My daughter was married with my wedding ring!

She facebooked and instagrammed their wedding pictures the following morning.  Beautiful!

We didn't take any pictures with my ring on her hand.

There was just something so special to this little forgotten thing.  I felt funny without my ring all through the reception...while grinning that my only daughter married with my ring.

As they drove off in a vintage car....I forgot to get it back!!!  So instead of zero conversation the following day, we were arranging how I would retrieve my ring before they left for their honeymoon.

Now if two stories weren't enough, there just had to be one last one as a great ending.

To save you from all the details.............they only escaped about 1 mile from the wedding venue when they ran out of GAS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  In Marine style, he got out of the car with a grin.

All the wonderful stories and at the end of the day they were Mr. and Mrs.!

ps for a future blog: My grandmommy visit was the greatest!!!  I can't wait to have more time to get to know my first grandchild....a two-year-old precious, little boy!