Countdowns

I have so many countdowns going on right now!

In just over 41 hours, my beautiful daughter will be here from California for almost 2 weeks!!! So excited to see her!!!

In just over 90 hours, my wonderful son-in-law will be here from California for 9 days!!! So excited to see him!!!

And in 6 days my amazing California kids will be renewing their wedding vows in the big wedding they didn't get to have when the married last year!!! It's been quite a planning and executing process and I can't wait to see it all come together!

So here's the story behind it all....

April and Justin met through eharmony back in November of 2011 and talked through email, skype, and phone for 3 months before finally meeting up in Seattle in February 2012. Justin lived in San Francisco and April in Eastern Washington. I and one of April's friends went with her to Seattle, and Justin and one of his friends met us there. As soon as I saw the two lovebirds look at each other, this Momma knew they would marry. I had no doubt God had intended for this couple to have the forever kind of love. Before the weekend was over...they knew it too.

It was a hard good bye, but they managed. In April, Justin sacrificed another trip he'd been planning so he could come and spend April's birthday weekend with her. So sweet. They had a great time...but another difficult good bye. In June, April was graduating college and Justin came for the first extended visit. It was going to be 10 days. He arrived the weekend of her graduation. The beginning of the next week they had planned a dance lesson. They went and had a blast. I remember getting the call when they were done. I could hear the joy in their voices. They were going to show me their moves when they arrived at the house.

I heard the front door open.... suddenly things changed! More than I knew at the time. April ran in ahead of Justin, the look on my daughters face....fear, shock...I didn't know why??? She took hold of me and looked hard into my eyes and said, "Mom, it's bad! It's his  mom!" At which point I heard the screen door, and the next minute he's in my arms in tears... I still don't know fully what's happened. I'm not sure if she's hurt...sick... or worse... All I know is they need me at that moment. I hold him...I pray...

When he breaks away, he tells me he needs to find a flight home. Then April tells me his mom is in the hospital... not sure of the whole situation, but it's bad. Then she looks at me and says, "I'm going with him." She's 24, what am gonna say? The plan is she'll go for a few days and help out, then come home.

That was the plan.... our plan. God's plan was a bit different. It turns out his mom had a very aggressive thyroid cancer and there was nothing they could do. April decided to stay and help care for her. She lived in the basement of the house at night and sat at her bedside during the day. This woman she'd never met... she loved her and cared for her and stayed in the hospital with her day after day. She was her mother-in-law the day they met...even if they weren't married, or even engaged yet.

A short time later, he proposed at the beach. Then on the evening of Thursday, July 12th I got a call. Mom, we're getting married on Saturday afternoon. The doctors say she hasn't got long and we want her to be at our wedding. So we book the first flight out on Friday. April, her dad, and I spend the day shopping for a wedding dress (her big fancy dress is home in alterations) and flowers and other decorations to make it special. Then, with less than 36 hours to put it together, they get married in the conference room in the hospital. And it was beautiful. His mom got to be a part of it and we're so thankful for that. She has since passed and went on to be with Jesus.

In 6 days, we will have the fairy tale wedding with the big fancy dress that every little girl dreams of. It too will be beautiful. But what is even more beautiful....the life these two wonderful, selfless people will have as they walk the journey with each other and with God!

I love you April and Justin! I can't wait to see you both! I only wish I could slow down the turning of time a bit once you arrive so I can savor my time with you that much more!

God Bless
~Kim