2017 - Good times and making sure to ENJOY every moment!
I have been really lax about writing my blog, but since my cable is screwy tonight, seems like a good time to get started again! I have been BUSY!! With two weddings, a couple months of Florida sunshine in which to recuperate from chemo, an impromptu trip to Wisconsin to see family, and bridal showers; it has been a very, very busy couple of months! And I have loved every single moment!!
Since we were gone in February and Holley needed to get busy with wedding plans (June wedding), she went dress shopping without me but with my blessing! The girls did facetime me when she found a couple possibles and then when she tried on "the one." It was for sure bittersweet not to be there!! I did go with her when she tried on her actual dress and she is going to be a beautiful bride! Of course, in my crazy, I can do anything, mind, I decided to make her wedding veil. I youtubed video how-tos and I must say I think it looks pretty good for an amateur. The best part is that I put all the love I have for that girl into it and I can't wait to see her wear it on her special day.
Next were the bridal showers. I decided it might be easier to have two--one in Lebanon at my mom's for Holley's Lafayette friends and our family and friends who live up there, and another here in Bedford for same reasons. We had the Lebanon one last weekend with the help of Holley's best friend, Kristen, my best friend, Debbie, and my mom. We did a brunch complete with Mimosas and it was a lot of fun!! I especially loved listening to Jeremy's answers on one of the games Kristen made for everyone to play. Now, we are preparing for another shower down here and Holley's other best friend, Kim, will be helping along with Holley's Aunt Debbie. It has been fun doing crafty things to get ready for the showers!
That being said, the "year of the wedding" is upon us! We sent David and Mindi's "save the dates" around the same time we sent Holley's actual invitations! Since Holley's wedding is very small and mostly family, it has not been too hard to plan, but still there are things to get done! My sister and her daughter's shop are THANKFULLY taking care of Holley's flowers so that is VERY helpful!! The reception is going to be a lunch at a restaurant - so that is fairly easy and mostly organized. The flower girl's outfit is taken care of as well as hair and makeup appointments, so I think we are all on schedule!
The trip to Wisconsin I made last weekend with my mom. Many years ago, my mamaw (Becky Whiteley's) sister, Katie Roseboom, along with her husband, moved to Wisconsin. Rice Lake to be exact. Katie and Becky were close and so were their kids. My mom, having no sisters, became like a sister to Katie's three girls and since Susan was closest in age to my mom, she was especially close to her. My mom spent a lot of time with those girls when she was young, and as it sometimes goes, life busyness got in the way of much visiting as they started their own families. Evidently I did make a trip to Wisconsin with my mother when I was two, but I don't remember it obviously.
Last year I helped work at my (mom's 1st) cousin, Beth's Euchre tournament to raise money for Alzheimer's research. Mom's cousin Susan and one of her son's Andy, and his two kids Carmen and Drew came down for the tournament. It was an instant connection for me with Andy and his kids. Two of the sweetest and cutest kids and a sweetheart of a dad. (I know this is long, but I am setting up the history). When mom asked if I wanted to drive up to Wisconsin with her, I immediately said yes! So last Thursday morning we woke up early and hit the road. I wasn't in any hurry to get there because in all honesty I was a bit nervous--what if "the family" didn't like me? So we took our time, and even stopped at a casino or two on our way. We spent the night in a lakeside resort in the Wisconsin Dells. (I am definitely going back :)) We awoke the next morning and headed north to Rice Lake, WI .
Rice Lake is pretty far north and west in Wisconsin - a couple of hours to the east of St. Paul and Minneapolis MN and a couple hours south of Lake Superior! When we got to the smaller town where Andy lived, he called and invited us to have lunch with him in Eu Claire. We did and had a great visit with him! We finally made it to our hotel in Rice Lake and took showers and cleaned up to go to dinner with Susan, her sister Laura and their husbands. Mom and I went to Susan's to ride with them to the restaurant to meet the others. I walked into Susan's house and it honestly felt like I was walking into my grandmother's warm, friendly house, the place I referred to as home.
Before dinner was over we already had invitation for breakfast with Susan's other son Jason at Susan's the next morning. We went to breakfast, which was delicious, and then Jason drove us to an Amish country store to buy some famous Wisconsin cheese. (YUM) Before Jason left us, he invited us to his home for dinner that evening, where once again we were served dinner and treated like royalty- not kidding! After this we drove out to Aunt Katies to visit with her as she had not been feeling too well. She perked up immediately when she saw my mom and they had a great visit. She told me I looked a lot like her sister Becky (my mamaw) which was the best compliment ever! Sunday was to be a lunch for the entire family to gather at Laura's house with Susan doing most of the cooking. Again, everything was delicious and everyone so kind and welcoming. We had the best visits and hated when it was time to pack our things and head for home, although I was for sure missing my husband and my pups!
I think part of me is sad that we didn't start these trips years ago, but like I stated before, busyness of life keeps people from doing things until sometimes you just say - let's do it. I am glad I did go, I talked a lot to my mom on the way and back and found out some interesting things about my family history and I would like to write them down for future grandchildren before I forget!
Until next time, remember to make time for family and close friends and not sweat the small stuff!
MARY
Since we were gone in February and Holley needed to get busy with wedding plans (June wedding), she went dress shopping without me but with my blessing! The girls did facetime me when she found a couple possibles and then when she tried on "the one." It was for sure bittersweet not to be there!! I did go with her when she tried on her actual dress and she is going to be a beautiful bride! Of course, in my crazy, I can do anything, mind, I decided to make her wedding veil. I youtubed video how-tos and I must say I think it looks pretty good for an amateur. The best part is that I put all the love I have for that girl into it and I can't wait to see her wear it on her special day.
Next were the bridal showers. I decided it might be easier to have two--one in Lebanon at my mom's for Holley's Lafayette friends and our family and friends who live up there, and another here in Bedford for same reasons. We had the Lebanon one last weekend with the help of Holley's best friend, Kristen, my best friend, Debbie, and my mom. We did a brunch complete with Mimosas and it was a lot of fun!! I especially loved listening to Jeremy's answers on one of the games Kristen made for everyone to play. Now, we are preparing for another shower down here and Holley's other best friend, Kim, will be helping along with Holley's Aunt Debbie. It has been fun doing crafty things to get ready for the showers!
That being said, the "year of the wedding" is upon us! We sent David and Mindi's "save the dates" around the same time we sent Holley's actual invitations! Since Holley's wedding is very small and mostly family, it has not been too hard to plan, but still there are things to get done! My sister and her daughter's shop are THANKFULLY taking care of Holley's flowers so that is VERY helpful!! The reception is going to be a lunch at a restaurant - so that is fairly easy and mostly organized. The flower girl's outfit is taken care of as well as hair and makeup appointments, so I think we are all on schedule!
The trip to Wisconsin I made last weekend with my mom. Many years ago, my mamaw (Becky Whiteley's) sister, Katie Roseboom, along with her husband, moved to Wisconsin. Rice Lake to be exact. Katie and Becky were close and so were their kids. My mom, having no sisters, became like a sister to Katie's three girls and since Susan was closest in age to my mom, she was especially close to her. My mom spent a lot of time with those girls when she was young, and as it sometimes goes, life busyness got in the way of much visiting as they started their own families. Evidently I did make a trip to Wisconsin with my mother when I was two, but I don't remember it obviously.
Last year I helped work at my (mom's 1st) cousin, Beth's Euchre tournament to raise money for Alzheimer's research. Mom's cousin Susan and one of her son's Andy, and his two kids Carmen and Drew came down for the tournament. It was an instant connection for me with Andy and his kids. Two of the sweetest and cutest kids and a sweetheart of a dad. (I know this is long, but I am setting up the history). When mom asked if I wanted to drive up to Wisconsin with her, I immediately said yes! So last Thursday morning we woke up early and hit the road. I wasn't in any hurry to get there because in all honesty I was a bit nervous--what if "the family" didn't like me? So we took our time, and even stopped at a casino or two on our way. We spent the night in a lakeside resort in the Wisconsin Dells. (I am definitely going back :)) We awoke the next morning and headed north to Rice Lake, WI .
Rice Lake is pretty far north and west in Wisconsin - a couple of hours to the east of St. Paul and Minneapolis MN and a couple hours south of Lake Superior! When we got to the smaller town where Andy lived, he called and invited us to have lunch with him in Eu Claire. We did and had a great visit with him! We finally made it to our hotel in Rice Lake and took showers and cleaned up to go to dinner with Susan, her sister Laura and their husbands. Mom and I went to Susan's to ride with them to the restaurant to meet the others. I walked into Susan's house and it honestly felt like I was walking into my grandmother's warm, friendly house, the place I referred to as home.
Before dinner was over we already had invitation for breakfast with Susan's other son Jason at Susan's the next morning. We went to breakfast, which was delicious, and then Jason drove us to an Amish country store to buy some famous Wisconsin cheese. (YUM) Before Jason left us, he invited us to his home for dinner that evening, where once again we were served dinner and treated like royalty- not kidding! After this we drove out to Aunt Katies to visit with her as she had not been feeling too well. She perked up immediately when she saw my mom and they had a great visit. She told me I looked a lot like her sister Becky (my mamaw) which was the best compliment ever! Sunday was to be a lunch for the entire family to gather at Laura's house with Susan doing most of the cooking. Again, everything was delicious and everyone so kind and welcoming. We had the best visits and hated when it was time to pack our things and head for home, although I was for sure missing my husband and my pups!
I think part of me is sad that we didn't start these trips years ago, but like I stated before, busyness of life keeps people from doing things until sometimes you just say - let's do it. I am glad I did go, I talked a lot to my mom on the way and back and found out some interesting things about my family history and I would like to write them down for future grandchildren before I forget!
Until next time, remember to make time for family and close friends and not sweat the small stuff!
MARY
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