Wedding Bells

Hey Mom. I never told you this before, but I am really thankful you and Dad got married. Truly I am. I remember like it was yesterday. I recall it was an early Saturday morning. The sun had just started to peak over the horizon when you woke me up to come and eat the breakfast. I remember you wearing your big, lavender bonnett that held your jumbo curlers in place. You flipping over the sizzling bacon while wearing that long, sky blue robe with little yellow ducklings strewn all over.

The smell of hickory-smoked bacon frying on the pan filling up the whole room. The sound of orange juice being poured into three seperate glasses. With Dad whipping up a new batch of pancakes for us to eat after our first helping. It was a sight from heaven. That was one of the best breakfasts' I was ever blessed to partake in.

Fast forward to us all at the church waiting for your arrival. And then you appear, like something out of a novel. Watching you make your grand entrance through the large, oak brown doors of our church as a bride. I thought you looked like one of my Disney princesses. The choir singing, the happy faces, all of it was so whimsical. Your all-white dress beautifully adorned on you. Your tiara sitting atop your updo without a hair out of place. I was awestruck to say the least. I could not recall a time I had seen you so elegantly dressed before. You were beautiful. Still are.

I remember you slowly striding down the aisle with Papa's arm intertwined with yours. How halfway down the aisle, you and Dad both started to cry with tears of joy. It's funny now when I think about it. I was so confused why you would cry at a time like that. I had thought you could only cry for sad instances like when you got really hurt or scared.

After the vows were said. After you both shared your first kiss as husband and wife. After Stevie Wonder's "Ribbon In The Sky" was sang by the church chorus. We all proceeded to the reception. Oh what fun that was. Only to have the festivities continue at Grandma and Papa's house when everything wrapped up.

As soon as you came back from your honeymoon, it was quite a shock to learn that I would be having a sibling. I remember being one-part excited, and one-part uncertain. I was already nine years old at this point and had not had any siblings up to that point. Forward to sixteen years in the future and now I have three siblings in total. And you two are still going strong.

Besides you two, I had never really seen anyone else in my extended family in a healthy, loving, stable relationship. It seemed like something of a curse or just out of reach altogether. I mean, I had seen my great-grandparents in a similar relationship, but they were so much older than me, it seemed far removed from me. I didn't see them go through struggles, arguments, compromise and teamwork. They had already gone through all of those steps long before I came into this world.

But because I had you two, I got to witness first hand what it was to be a household that laughs together when you would tell one of your funny stories. Cries together when Papa passes away from being sick. Supports one another at each of the kids activities. Loves each other unconditionally. And so much more. I'm so happy for you. Proud too.

I look forward to when I have my own special day of walking down the aisle. Arm-in-arm with Dad and you right up front witnessing the same blessed day. Until then, all my love. Lexi.