#1) Be in the moment -- always! I found myself so busy taking care of details and taking care of what other people needed during the wedding that I missed out on some really important moments that I cannot get back. In the pictures of all the women getting ready together, there will be few of me, because I would be reminded of a detail that still needed to be taken care of, and off I would go to handle it. I missed the bouquet toss, because I was playing hostess. I'm sincerely not complaining!!! Taking care of the wedding details was my gift to my daughter and her husband. As a single parent with two kids living at home and one still in school, I don't have the kind of money that other families might have. So, I offer my time and my labor as a gift of love. However, I do know that missing out on moments and experiences is not something I want to ever do again. I want to be there to live every little second of the important events that happen in life. At 48, I'm finally learning this lesson, and it took something momentous to get my attention. Well played universe.
#2 - Love never fails! I'm going to be honest here. Not that you would expect anything else, right? My daughter and her husband have had some tough times, but after eight years, they still make the decision every day to love each other. Even when they don't particularly like each other, they love each other. This is an inspiration to me. Here's some more honesty. I have not had the best luck in the arena of love. Shocking, I know. Here's what Janie's wedding reminded me of, though. There are many kinds of love, and one is not better than another. I am lucky to have someone in my life now that I think is absolutely amazing. I love my children with everything that I am. There truly is nothing more powerful than the love a parent has for their child. AND . . . last but most definitely not least, I love me. I have to tell you, this has not always been an easy task, especially with the whole illness thing and the scars and the body image issues. It took an inordinately long amount of time for me to find this love, but it is the love that sustains me. Self-love is truly the only love you will leave this earth with. If you don't love yourself, you are telling the world that you are not worthy. Let me tell you something, people. I am worthy. I'm a pretty darn wonderful person. And so are you. You really are. Don't forget it.
Ah! Nothing like a wedding to put life into perspective and make our hearts beat a little bit deeper. I know I say this all the time, but damn! I really am blessed. There is so much to be grateful for in this life of mine.
I love you, Janie and Tyler. You inspire me every day. Thank you for letting me be mom, grandma, and friend.