The Empty Nest Is Upon Us

Well sort of...the wedding came way too fast and is done. The week was a blurr of activity from start to finish. Shawna showed on Sunday, and we began wrapping up details and house repair. We tiled and painted for two days. Tuesday, I went to confirm chairs and decided to pop in on Tonia, completely unaware of what had been going on in her life. By Tuesday lunch, Tonia and Caitlyn were with us. That situation complicated the week, but in and through God's grace, we got to Thursday. By Thursday, I am very tired, and Tonia has to go to the hospital. Thursday became a roller coaster ride of getting on one car and then off and then on another. It was the night of our family/wedding party barbecue, and Tonia was in the emergency room. I was holding my own ok till about lunch when I felt some criticism for the way I was handling the situation. I stopped and cried, got a grip, and went forward. We moved on, went shopping, finished up what we needed to and got ready for the barbecue.

We made it through that night (but not without tears) with Tonia getting admitted to the hospital, and Friday's rehearsal was right around the corner. I got up Friday morning with just a few hours of sleep and went to work on gumbo. The family would all be arriving about 1 that day. They did arrive all at the same time, my brothers, Jon's brothers, and my mother-in-law. We made our rounds, got everyone eating, and took off to decorate for the wedding. We arrived at Olde Oaks at 3 after dividing and conquering...had to get flowers picked up, grooms cake picked up, confirm with IHop we were coming in that night, and order a tray from Chick-fil-a for the following morning. Whew...went right to work, but wasn't able to finish and get home to change for rehearsal. So....Kat left with her mother-in-law so they could get ready. Natalie left so she could meet us at IHop later, and Shawna and I sat down and waited. About 7 everyone came in for rehearsal. I did a quick change, and Ronnie took over. The rehearsal went amazingly well. Everyone laughed and had a good time. The sun was setting over the golf course and it was absolutely breathtaking! (Can't wait to see those pictures!). Off we go to IHop. My brother and sister-in-law met Natalie at IHop and got everything ready. We walked in, and it was just perfect. It went like clockwork. Jon and Kat handed out gifts, everyone ordered, everyone played and laughed. Kat and Jon made speeches, my brother Rich said a few things and so did Elizabeth. It was precious....and now 11:00 pm.

We finally skiddadle...have stuff to do at home and a very early day on Saturday. Girls spent the night here and actually went to sleep! Steve and I were up till 2:30 working on video and getting stuff together. I finally lay down and tried to sleep but to no avail. It was basically a sleepless night. I prayed for the day, for my daughter and Jon...for everything that came to mind, and then the alarm went off. Steve was dragging, but needed to test the video. Kat came in and crawled into bed next to him to watch it. We loaded the car and off we went. Steve called me on the way to Olde Oak to give me a weather update-perfect weather for an outside wedding! God was already showing Himself...August in Louisiana with a high in the low 90's with less than 50% humidity! We were on shouting ground!

We are excited, all is well. Shawna and Natalie both had to turn around and go back to their houses because they forgot their dresses....something we laughed about because we were so proud of ourselves...we were ahead of schedule. (Turns out while I was getting dressed that I realized I was missing a shoe. Steve had to run go get it, and I took first set of pictures without shoes!) So...we are there...decorating. I am outside working on railings with Shawna. I walk in the building and there is Ronnie and Kayla working on music and Rich and Doreen working on tables. It is only 8 am. I was so blessed to see everyone there and helping. Because they were there, we met our time window. Doreen finished up and decided to stake our her spot. Ronnie and Kayla set up for music and staked out their spots. The advantage I suppose of being up there for nearly two days straight...you get to choose your seats before anyone else gets there!

We didn't have assigned seating except for the wedding party, parents, and grandparents. We tossed around the idea of placing people, but I am not a big fan of that, and seating was already limited. Not to mention who knew who would actually show up. Many who sent in an rsvp weren't there, and many who did not were! (My greatest anxiety was the seating and food). All in all I worried for no reason. The wedding was beautiful. Everything was seamless. There was enough seating and plenty of food, although I am told the seating was cutthroat. Ms. Molly told me over lunch Sunday that she got up to give our son and his wife her seats and went to get him. When she got back, those seats were gone and the ones she had her eye on were gone too. She said she finally just had to sit down and stay put. I was so busy running around making sure everything was done that I didn't really eat or notice the seating situation. In hindsight, I could have given Daniel and Lauren our seats as we really didn't sit much, but at the time, I was too busy to think about that. I am only one person, and had over the last six months done more than any one person should ever have to!

All in all...it was exactly what Katherine wanted in her day, and it was her day. She was beaming and beautiful, and we were blessed to be a part of it. We were also blessed to be able to share it with so many people who love her and love us. Love...isn't that what it is supposed to be about any way!?

So..that empty nest...well I was too tired to even feel the effects of that on Saturday. We aren't really empty yet and won't be for a bit. Tonia and Caitlyn are here...but none of our own children are any more so that does constitute an empty nest. Sunday, we got to see them open their presents, something we had also shared with Robert and his wife the day after they were married. Monday, they ran around getting stuff together to leave town...and that is when it hit me. I watched them drive off, on their way to honeymoon, and I fought back tears. The whole day I was teary eyed...somehow just seeing them drive off brought the point home...she was gone. [sigh] She reminded me that she would be back in two weeks, and they just live down the street, but....she does have her own life now. I can say it is different with girls-I don't feel like I have lost my daughter, but instead feel like I have gained a son. Since I also have the privilege of sharing in Caitlyn's life-I have also gained a granddaugther. God is so good to comfort my heart, and place exactly the right people in my life at exactly the right time!

I am still reading in Job..."Oh that i were as in months past,....when my children were about me..." (29:2a & 5b). Time doesn't stand still and things continually change. Those days, when our children were small and still at home seemed so hard then, but now they look so simple. Those days were busy days, but not in the same way that we are busy now. They were sweet days when our children trusted us, cuddled up next to us to tell us about their day, their adventures, their discoveries, or show us a picture or a Lego creation. They were eager to learn, always on the go. I picture them sitting beside us in church: Kat snuggled up with us sucking her thumb and playing with her hair, Robert sitting like a perfect little man, listening with his Bible on his lap, Daniel fidgeting with his pencil, kicking his feet back and forth. So long ago....so far away....and Caitlyn cries-she is awake from her nap right here and right now.