ABC Wednesday---O Is For Something Old...

ABC Wednesday is hosted by Mrs. Nesbitt's Place.

No...not ME! ")

Yes...that sweet young thing was me on my wedding day...November 1, 1986. All of twenty three years old...and by the looks of things about 96 pounds soaking wet. It was a gorgeous night...unseasonably warm...just awesome.

I'm sure you are familiar with the tradition of the bride having or carrying something on her person...something old...something new...something borrowed...something blue. My old and my borrowed were the same thing. I had the same penny in my shoe that my mother had in her shoe when she married my dad. My new was my dress...and my blue? Well my eyes of course!

I would like you to focus on the bride's bouquet as it is what inspired this post. Those gorgeous white roses are silk. I had spent an inordinate amount of time with the florist trying to get him to understand exactly what I wanted as to my floral selections...and my bouquet, thank God, was the only thing he got right! There was one moment of blind panic when at the reception, someone spilled bright red punch all over it...but it all came out...and it still survives! I'm looking at it right now as I'm typing. I have it in a small rattan basket next to my desk.

Lately it appears, it draws not only my admiration, but also Wally's. The black and white fifteen pound feline has decided that this work of art is his sworn enemy. I have been finding bits, pieces, stems, buds, baby's breath, et al in every room...including the basement. Last week I decided enough is enough. He won't stay away from it...I'm tired of keeping the door closed...I'm just pitching it. And then...I remembered...something old...

You know...I'm an older parent. Yes, I know there are plenty of other parents out there older than I am...but I can't help think about it. I WANT to be around to see my girls grow...mature...and become the strong, confident women that they are destined to become. I want to see them graduate from high school and college...find someone they want to spend the rest of their lives with...hold my grandchildren. But I also know that there are a lot of variables in this life and I just might...with even the slightest of chances...not be able to.

But the bouquet? It's survived 23 years...even WITH Wally's maulings. So I'm going to take it apart and save a handful of blooms for each girl. And maybe...just maybe...someday...I'll get to see those blooms again in Hope's and Claire's wedding bouquets.

Be blessed y'all,

In My Daughter's Eyes can be found on my playlist at the bottom of this page. Feel free to turn it on...or off...or up!

November 1, 1986

As of today

I’ve been married for 22 years to the same incredible man.

I love you honey…I'd do it all again…every single step…

Dancing our first dance as husband and wife
to the song Garry chose for us.

"There's No Way" by Alabama

As I lay by your side and hold you tonight,
I want you to understand
This love that I feel is so right and so real,
And I realize how lucky I am.
And should you ever wonder if my love is true,
There's something that I wanna make clear to you.

There's no way I could make it without you,
There's no way that I'd even try,
If I had to survive, without you in my life,
I know I wouldn't last a day,
Oh baby, there's no way.

It means so much to me, whenever I see,
That "wanting me look" in your eyes,
I don't know how I could do without,
Holding you close every night.
I've waited so long just to have you to hold,
And now that I've got you, I'll never let go.

There's no way I could make it without you,
There's no way that I'd even try,
If I had to survive, without you in my life,
I know I wouldn't last a day,
Oh baby, there's no way.

I never knew until you, what I was missing,
Now you say forever, and I find my heart is listening.
Yes I'm listening.

There's no way I could make it without you,
There's no way that I'd even try,
If I had to survive, without you in my life,
I know I wouldn't last a day,
Oh baby, there's no way.

Baby, there's just no way.

(Lisa Palas/Will Robinson/John Jarrard)