Tag: bride

My Sweet Caroline

julieannetaylor

I am sitting here feeling so many emotions as I try to put into words how much my Caroline means to me. Not only is it wedding week for my baby girl, but she’s also getting ready to start her first year of teaching. Watching this young lady grow into the woman she has become has made me immensely proud.

Caroline came into this world on her own terms. I was scheduled to have her on January 26th. But she decided she wasn’t waiting. She made her entrance into this world in the middle of an ice storm a week early. And ever since, she has taken on this world on her own terms. In her own way. She has always been undeniably herself….never worrying about what other people thought. I adore this quality in her. Along with so many more.

Growing up with a big brother …in his shadow, can be hard. But not for Caroline. She was tough as nails and could hold her own. I remember many nights after peewee practice, Caroline would run sprints with the team…and usually ended up beating many of them. On the soccer field, she was almost always the smallest…and ALWAYS the toughest. Those other teams didn’t know what hit them – especially when she got mad. She played with he whole heart every minute of every game.

And that’s how she does everything. With her whole heart. She’s not an outwardly emotional person at all. But she truly does have the biggest heart. And if you are loved by her, she loves fiercely. Anything she puts her mind (and heart) to, she does it with passion and drive.

So as we are on the verge of her wedding, and her first year of teaching, I smile knowing that she will love her future husband loyally, and will work tirelessly with her little learners. To say I am proud of her does not begin to do justice to how I feel. I am so excited to celebrate her this weekend as two lives join in the sacred union of marriage. I have loved their love story, and I can’t imagine a better match. I have cried for several days as we lead up to the big day. Happy tears. Proud tears. Sad tears that she’s all grown up and not still running around the house.

And as she embarks on her teaching career, I know in my heart that she is exactly where she is supposed to be. Watching her navigate her degree and student teaching has been so rewarding. She has grown so much as an educator already and I know that she will make an impact on so many students and families.

My sweet Caroline, as you move through these two big life milestones, please know that you have brought me so much joy! It has been my greatest honor and blessing to be your momma. Go do great things baby girl!

Enjoy the Joy

julieannetaylor

Yesterday morning I began planning my future daughter-in-law’s bridal shower. (I tried out the new stories feature on here and shared that tidbit). My son, Zach and Katie will be married in September of this year. Zach is my oldest and my only son. He has always been a momma’s boy…but now he’s about to outgrow that title and become a husband. A husband to an amazing woman. When he was little I began praying for the woman who would become his wife. I have prayed for this young lady for many, many years. God answered in a BIG way and brought Katie into our world.

As I went through my day yesterday, the plans for the shower were on my mind. Katie has a very keen sense of style, and I want to give her a beautiful shower that matches her style. So all day, I was thinking about ways to create this perfect party. More than once – okay at least a dozen times – I was overwhelmed with emotion and began crying. I would find a picture that inspired the flowers, and then I would cry. I would think about sharing this time with Katie and all of our family, and then I would cry. I envisioned all of the smiles and laughs and pictures of that day, and I would cry.

Initially I was confused about these emotions that were bubbling under the surface. Were they sadness from the feelings of “losing” my son? Were they happy tears at the thought of having this special family time to celebrate Katie as a new member of our family? Did these tears come from a place of worry and anxiety about planning the perfect party for my son’s bride? I thought deeply about these emotions (its just what I do), and sorted them out in my head and in my heart. I think that may some of those tears were from each of the things I had thought, but the overwhelming and overpowering emotion I was feeling was pure JOY.

Joy was what was bubbling up from my head and my heart. There is no other word for what I am feeling as we prepare for my son’s wedding. Joy for the joining not only of two people but of two families! Joy at the thought of my daddy being the one who will perform the ceremony for his grandson and bride. And here’s the thing, joy feels good.

I am sure that as the day approaches for the shower and the ceremony, there will be some times of stress and maybe even some not so joyful emotions. I know that worry and anxiety may set in, but none of that will steal the joy of this very special time for our family!