Yesterday, we celebrated my future daughter-in-law, Kelley, with a bridal shower here at the house. It was a mix of her family and ours, her friends and ours. It was fun getting to know her people. I liked them all, and it’s a good sign when that happens. It’s like that scene in the movie Hitch, when Hitch advises Albert that the upcoming event he and Allegra are attending is not about Allegra, but her friend Maggie. Hitch says to Albert, “Tonight is about Maggie. A woman’s best friend has to sign off on all big relationships and decisions, so you can’t afford to mess this up.” Both families, the Bates and the McNultys, melded, mixed and mingled the entire time. It quickly became abundantly clear to me where Kelley gets her beauty. It’s from the inside and comes from a beautiful and loving family who molded her into the person she is today. If I could have sashayed, jumped up and kicked my feet together at the end of yesterday like Albert did after kissing Allegra, I would have, but my feet hurt from standing and talking to everyone the entire time.

Today is Easter. Seven-thirty Mass came early after our long, but fun day yesterday, but the message at Mass was clear. Jesus took it all for us. He suffered and got through to the other side so that we, the sinners, could hang out with God some day (if we are lucky and play our cards right.) What does it say about our God that hanging out with the perfect one for eternity isn’t enough? He wants the rest of our flawed souls to join the party, too! It makes me love God so much more than I already did and does give me hope that maybe most of us will make it to His party some day.

In the meantime, hope abounds inside of me for Kelley and Pat and their wedding. I am anticipating the fun of the day and events surrounding it. I’m thankful for the chance of Heaven, too, that’s for sure, but I am thankful that God has blessed this family with love immeasurable, with all of our kids and grandkids, and now we are adding Kelley to the mix. Soon, we all get to share in that special day together. I am beyond excited to see it happen. For now, Heaven can wait because we have a wedding to get to!

So, it is now MONTHS after said wedding and is actually the Christmas season.

Not sure why this post didn’t get published other than the fact that we were busy with said wedding, which was awesome, BTW. The wedding, on a mountain, was filled with more love than I can possibly explain in written words. Kelley’s brother Chris married them, and he did an incredible job doing so. The ceremony that he wrote entirely himself (short of the vows that Kelley and Pat wrote to each other) were heartfelt and loving. And the wedding reception was a blast! Plus, the mountain weather graced Kelley and Pat with a beautiful day for sure.

To be honest, it was so fun, that it felt like we were all kind of close to Heaven that day. Pretty perfect, like Heaven will be hopefully. Again, not assuming the God party invite, but hoping that we all eventually get there. In the meantime, here’s to 2024 and the best of times ahead!