soul sister

i couldn't think of any other family-titled song except for "we are family", and if i ever DO undertake the "blog-titles-as-life-soundtrack" project, i do not want that song to be on the playlist... soooo.....



anyway.



i have the BEST family. really, i do. and i'll tell you why in a second. but first, a bit about mom's birthday on saturday.



i had really really really wanted to do something with my siblings on saturday to celebrate mom's birthday. and, i had really hoped that Yale could get enough work done on his dissertation that he could come up to rockford with me to celebrate. alas, it was not to be. siblings were busy, saturday didn't work out, and i spent saturday morning and afternoon with my dear friends J&J and then saturday night by myself.

and i made the grave error of watching the movie "little women" on cable and sobbing my eyes out. thankfully, in the midst of my heaving and snotting all over the place (when the housekeeper sprinkles rose petals over beth's dolls the morning after she dies), Yale called to see how i was doing. just as i was shaking my fists at the sky that i was alone, and WHY am i still ALONE when i am having a meltdown? don't i have a fiance who is now obligated to see that i am not alone during emotionally tumultuous days? anyway. i was glad that he called. we talked about silly things and i felt better and i went to sleep. still would have been better if he had actually been there, but i also know that getting married does not mean i will never feel alone and sad ever again. i know. bleh.

on sunday morning i drove out to rockford for my first bridal shower. my aunts and cousins threw me a family shower, complete with thoughtful color-coordinating plates and cups and bright red punch. they were super cute, and i enjoyed spending the afternoon with them. one of my aunts made my mom's famous vegetable pizza, which made me smile, and most of the aunts also mentioned how happy mom would be to see me with Yale. it was sweet, and i was incredibly relieved and warmed by how excited they all are. happy, encouraging, eager to help. i'm not sure why i was nervous that they would disapprove of our plans for a low-budget, earth friendly party on the lawn at mom and dad's house, but they were 100% supportive. and ooohed and aaahed over photos of my dress and the bridesmaids dresses, and gave creative ideas and offered supplies and volunteered to help. it was good. very good.

and my dear sister is a rock star. i am just so incredibly blessed and amazed to see the beautiful, confident, comfortableinherownskin woman that she has become. her talent dazzles me. she made 4 mock-ups of our wedding invitations to show me, and i was blown away. so much more beautiful and perfect than i could have envisioned. like she tapped into some unspoken idea that i had and polished it into something beautiful. i guess that's what you get when your invite designer has known you for 30 years!

it was a beautiful weekend. i was thrilled to walk around mom's house with my sister and really see how ideas i have are going to take shape. the tiny shoots of mom's beloved flowers poking up through crusty earth helped me remember that the winter is over, and green and spring are almost here. i ended up feeling recharged, excited, loved, supported, and wrapped up tight with blessings. (and a bunch of new presents!)

God is good. all the time.