A Beautiful Wedding...
A couple of weeks ago, Casey and I left for Florida to go to my cousin Rachel's wedding. It was a really beautiful day...
I have 6 cousins, and have been lucky enough to spend a lot of time with a few of them. My cousins from Florida used to come up every summer for several weeks at a time, and I would go and stay with my grandparents where they were all staying. I have lots of fond memories with them. One thing that comes to mind whenever I sit down at the dinner table at my grandparent's house is my grandma saying to all of us: "Sit up straight, put your knees under the table, get your elbows off the table, and scoot your chair in!" She was always adamant about making us behave...and still is.
Grandma seemed so strict when we were growing up. She has never been hesitant to share her opinion. Through the years, though, and especially through my college years, my relationship with my grandma has evolved into one of my most treasured relationships. I know it sounds silly, but when I broke up with my high school boyfriend many years ago (my First Love, if you will), I had a really difficult time. Just because you love someone doesn't always make it the right choice, or the right kind of love. At the time, I knew it was the right decision, however it hurt more than anything I had experienced up until that point in my life. That is when my grandma shared with me her first experience in love, which ended much the same way as mine did. At that point, she was the only one who seemed to understand the hurt I felt inside. I have been able to talk with her about anything. The good thing about my grandma's frankness is that she doesn't sugarcoat anything. She will tell you like it is, and I value that. I know that if I have a question to take to her I will get the honest answer, whether I like it or not. And yes, there have been times that I was sorry I asked. Then again, I wasn't sorry. I would rather know the nitty gritty truth than a sugar coated lie or an omission. My parents are the same way, so I must come by that honestly.
Getting to know my grandparents as an adult has been one of the greatest gifts of my life so far. I don't know when or how it happens, but they have become some of my closest friends, who know me inside and out, love me no matter what, and are my strongest allies. And without them, I probably wouldn't have been able to know Rachel as well as I have throughout my life. She is three days older than me. I am also the shortest on that side of the family. The youngest by three stinking days (only because I was nine days late), and the shortest by three stinking inches. Actually I am not sure if I am the shortest by three inches, but I am the shortest on that side of the family, nontheless. Big sigh...I've never heard the end of it...
I have 6 cousins, and have been lucky enough to spend a lot of time with a few of them. My cousins from Florida used to come up every summer for several weeks at a time, and I would go and stay with my grandparents where they were all staying. I have lots of fond memories with them. One thing that comes to mind whenever I sit down at the dinner table at my grandparent's house is my grandma saying to all of us: "Sit up straight, put your knees under the table, get your elbows off the table, and scoot your chair in!" She was always adamant about making us behave...and still is.
Grandma seemed so strict when we were growing up. She has never been hesitant to share her opinion. Through the years, though, and especially through my college years, my relationship with my grandma has evolved into one of my most treasured relationships. I know it sounds silly, but when I broke up with my high school boyfriend many years ago (my First Love, if you will), I had a really difficult time. Just because you love someone doesn't always make it the right choice, or the right kind of love. At the time, I knew it was the right decision, however it hurt more than anything I had experienced up until that point in my life. That is when my grandma shared with me her first experience in love, which ended much the same way as mine did. At that point, she was the only one who seemed to understand the hurt I felt inside. I have been able to talk with her about anything. The good thing about my grandma's frankness is that she doesn't sugarcoat anything. She will tell you like it is, and I value that. I know that if I have a question to take to her I will get the honest answer, whether I like it or not. And yes, there have been times that I was sorry I asked. Then again, I wasn't sorry. I would rather know the nitty gritty truth than a sugar coated lie or an omission. My parents are the same way, so I must come by that honestly.
Getting to know my grandparents as an adult has been one of the greatest gifts of my life so far. I don't know when or how it happens, but they have become some of my closest friends, who know me inside and out, love me no matter what, and are my strongest allies. And without them, I probably wouldn't have been able to know Rachel as well as I have throughout my life. She is three days older than me. I am also the shortest on that side of the family. The youngest by three stinking days (only because I was nine days late), and the shortest by three stinking inches. Actually I am not sure if I am the shortest by three inches, but I am the shortest on that side of the family, nontheless. Big sigh...I've never heard the end of it...
So, as I have said, I have countless memories with Rachel, so watching her get married to Jarod a couple of weeks ago couldn't have made me happier. As you can see, she is beautiful. If you are lucky enough to know her though, she is even more beautiful on the inside. She is one of the kindest people I know, thoughtful, intelligent, and loves family more than anything. I have never seen Rachel so happy in my life...It was such a treasure to witness such a beautiful day...
Comments
Post a Comment