Last week I sat down and completed thank you notes that contained tips for the 70 vendors that worked the older daughter's wedding this weekend, from the furniture deliverers and florists to the band and bartenders. I was tempted to put them in a lock box, but opted to just hand it off to planner Lauren to let her wrangle passing them out to the appropriate folks. Be warned... there will be intermittent wedding posts headed your way soon.
I had been praying about the wedding weekend for quite a while, knowing I'd be so excited for this new chapter in our older daughter's life while also sad at the fact that my precious mother wouldn't be there with us to celebrate. Our gracious Lord held me close, keeping me focused on the joy of this blessed occasion. I got the wobbly chin a few times when emotion swamped me, but I was able to remain in the moment and recall all that I was gaining instead of the one person so many of us were missing. The cardinals I regularly spy on our property remind me Linda Ruth is ever in my heart and only a memory away.