Mother of the Bride Impressions -- Part ONE

 Before the big day

This is the sidewalk Lily rode her tricycle on when she was six years old.

These are the lily of the valley that have been growing there next to that air conditioner (and all over this 122 year-old yard) for decades before she arrived on this earth.  I picked some tonight.  I'm taking them to use in her bridal bouquet.  A little piece of home, lilies for Lily from the home she grew up in and played hard, fell and skinned her knee bad enough that her little seven year old voice screeched 'if its bone just kill me now dad'.

One minute, riding the purple tricycle.  Moments later braces, then college. Next minute going down the aisle with her dad.  Just like all the sappy songs, it is true.

So, Mother of the bride.  It was so much easier than I'd dreamed in the planning stages.   Actually I'm typing this five days before the wedding, but motherofthebriding begins from the moment of the engagement.  All kinds of fun.  Exciting roller coaster with well-wishes, dress shopping, my dress shopping, venues, meals, cakes, and much much more as any good pinterest board labeled 'someday' will tell you.  I was lucky enough to have a daughter-bride who was efficient, knew what she wanted, and frugal to boot.  My motto for five months has been 'The bride gets to decide.' and I've tried to live by it, and not explain how much better plum would look or daisies or chocolate cake.... I've mostly succeeded at this.  My tongue may be bleeding a bit.

With five days to go it feels like it is finally here.  Finally time to pack the bags, drive the miles, buy the flowers, cut the strawberries.  Hands-on time!  I've been looking forward to this part.  It won't be easy, but it will be memorable.

But like graduations, weddings it turns out, for me are about seeing that little girl again.  All grown up.  Or not? Maybe in dress-up clothes with the high heels and the beads.  Moved out of the house 8 years ago?  Or still cartwheeling across the front yard?  Still holding the perennial lemonade stand.  Still dancing a jig with her sisters to some cheetah girls tune, making a snowman, or directing her sisters in pretend commercials?  Still smelling like chlorine from her years on the swim team.

But it isn't any of those things, they happened yesterday, and now we're thinking about tomorrow.  When she starts a life with a great guy, one God planned for her and she for him.  The future is a big blank whiteboard just waiting to be written on, and the past is a million little memories and right now, we are in the few days between those points.  The tipping point.  The time in-between.