A Good Day

Today was a good day.  It was the first Saturday in months where I didn't have to think about mileage or fueling....I ran the half -marathon last week and am quite pleased with myself and the outcome.  I have found I am an addicted to running though!  Which is good, I guess.  But back to today, today was good.  I did go for a short run and then hurried back to get our new abode ready for a bridal shower.  

See, my younger brother is getting married!  I have been waiting for this for a long time.  Selfishly, I want a new sister.  She is a jewel.  I am thrilled for my brother, Gavin.  He is happier than I have ever seen him.  As soon as he proposed, I mentally started planning the shower.  Again, selfishly, I wanted to host it at my new house and invite all of our extended family and long-time family friends.  I wanted my new four walls filled to the brim with laughter and smiles and love from generations of women I love.  I wanted Karly to feel the love we have for Gavin and for her as well. 

To accomplish this feat, I decided to have simply sweet decor and delicious food served in my Nana's crystal.  I did not document the spread with photos, but it did look sweet and simple.  I left some decorations up and will take a picture when I get a chance.   I made a salad simply entitled The Good Salad and boy is it ever good!  My mother brought cut up fresh fruit and my father made his famous chocolate chip cookies.  Everyone loved the food and yummy food lends itself to a fantastic party atmosphere.

Games were not a part of this shower.  Our family does not need silly games for entertainment.   We are quite fun just as we are.  The funnest part of all is that all of my Dad's living aunts came from far and away to meet Karly for the first time.  Both of my Dad's sisters came.  My cousins came.  Nana came.  Second-cousins came.  Family friends came.  Gavin and Karly, you are so loved.   After great conversations with these amazing women and the opening of gifts, an improtue advice session from the married ladies began.  Karly got some great advice ranging from sweet to scandalous:

Say prayers with each other every day.  

Don't go to bed mad, stay up and fight all night.

Double think before you speak.

Make sure he knows you're in charge.

Love him.

Keep his belly full and his privates empty!  (That was from my Aunt Kimmy, not me)

As the shower drew to a close, Todd came back home with the groom and our kiddos.  Some other male cousins showed up to pick up their wives.  I love how the male presence affected this shower.  I yelled, "Here's the entertainment" when one of the male cousins walked in and he started showing us his moves.  Gavin took his place, right at Karly's side, with a huge grin on his face.  Todd snacthed Mandy's new born baby girl out of her arms and held her and cooed and baby talked for a long time.  He is a natural with babies, I tell ya.  I took all of this in and smiled to myself.  This was the shower that I had envisioned.  At that moment, and for the two hours that preceded it, our humble home was filled to the brim, bursting at the seams with love.  

I pray that the love at this shower will follow Gavin and Karly into their marriage.  I also hope that a little of it stays here too.  I want to keep this feeling in our home, after all, it was a really good day.