The Shower

Alright.  I'm forcing myself to sit down and write this.  Not because it's a chore or anything like that. But, because it was so wonderful and I'm not sure if I can write down words to convey that day. 

Everything was perfect.  It really was. 

And, Washington, my first love, you delivered.


You delivered so well.  I'm very proud of you. 

Almost as well as these four:

My two surrogate mothers, my most extraordinary addition to our lives, and my once-in-a-lifetime-couldn't-ask-for-anyone-better-matron-of-honor.  You four not only showed how a shower is done, you showed how we do things in Washington.


Where do I start?

Kevin's favorite part of the shower (he said it while playing Madden 2011, and I typed):  I really enjoyed meeting people who were a part of your past who I've never met before.  And, I really liked the scrapbook pages--I liked the moment that we had, reading those pages with you, knowing that we're moving in the same direction together.  I know it was emotional, but it was good to be in that moment with you.  There was no other way to describe it, except amazing, like a fairy tale. They captured what our vision was for not just a wedding shower, but what we would like to have in our future.




It was a fairy tale.

My favorite part.  I can't narrow it down. 

The way the heat of the day lifted off of the sound and lit up the lanterns that hung from the umbrellas. 

The way that the little rings clinked against crisp wine glasses.

 The laughter from a mother who's girl I knew would have been there.

 The shyness of a teenager who I use to hold and rock to sleep, and how it started to fade away when she recognized the familiar-ness of her babysitter. 

The pride of a father who's scrapbook page trumped all scrapbook pages (which was really really hard because they were all amazing).

The plates full of salads, steak, and polish sausage, which didn't scream shower food--just the way I like it. 

Cupcakes that were painfully perfected. 

The smell of a dusk fire and blinged-out cigars. 

Changing into jeans and a sweatshirt and curling up on a bottom brick step with the bestie, vowing we will take more pictures, maybe build a Summer home together, and definitely forget which of our kids or dogs belongs to who. 

Looking over at my better half and realizing that he fits in just fine and that he's already a Washingtonian.

Feeling so unbelievably blessed and relaxed because I knew that I was surrounded by love and family. 

Going home that night and making a gigantic plate of nachos for our Washington crew.

Knowing that our memories back home will grow as we start our life together there.




I can't describe my gratefulness.  So much time and effort was put into this event, and all of it done because people love us. 


Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.


Oh, I forgot the best part.


They made us FLAGS.  We have our own FREAKIN FLAGS! 

It was a perfect day.