EMILY'S WEDDING & A TRIBUTE TO MY SWEET MOTHER

Oh, ladies, my friends, I am so excited to write this post and bring you these pictures!  You have listened to me moan and groan and fret over this wedding and I have to say, it all came out and about so beyond my dreams.  But isn't that how it always is?  So without further ado...here are the pictures and a very tiny bit of narrative from me (!!!!).  Above...we kicked the day off with some mimosas...

And as promised, my very best friend in the whole world, Snow, brought breakfast casseroles, muffins and fruit and The Husband ran out and bought donuts and coffee.  These girls so appreciated it and ate, and ate, and ate!

We had two make up artists in the dining nook.  The first one did air brush foundation and base make up...

...and the second did all of the contouring eyeshadow, lashes and lip color.  All of the girls were so excited to get the lashes...they look so natural and  as you will see in the photos, you would never think!

Back in the family room, we had, Kim, hair person, extdrordinaire, here she is working on Megan, matron of honor.

Daughter Abigail had a gorgeous updo.

Here, some of the girls had put on their dresses and were sipping drinks.

You can't see her, but the bride had made her entrance and her friends flocked around her.

And here she is, getting help with her sash,

I could cry...she looked so beautiful...but you know, I cried when they first put her in my arms 25 years ago...she was just as beautiful and precious!

A trolley waited in front of the house for all of the ladies and Emily, and the photographer and I were able to get some great photos.  These girls are so special, not just to Emily, but me.  She not only went to grammar school with them, she attended an all girl high school, which I truly think promotes a special bond among girls.  Maybe that's why she had so many attendants...they were all so close to her heart.

Being the first to get married among her friends, this morning of celebration and joyfulness was truly new and wonderful for all of her bridesmaids and we all had such a spectacular time.  I was long over being a nervous wreck and I think the girls were way beyond Jane as being the basketball, soccer mom, volunteer lunch mom and sleep over crazy lady!!  We laughed and joked and fluffed and primped.  Some of then told me how they had always envied Em for having such a pretty mom and that just made me feel so good...for what it's worth.

So here we are, The Husband and true love of my life (isn't he handsome?), ready to head off to the church.  We were ready for the best part and giving  our daughter to the most special man that she could have ever found.  At this point in my post, I can only say that it was one of the most special days in my life.  I have to wait for the photographers pictures because I just could not bring my camera, I really wanted to "be in the moment" for this occasion, I know all of you understand.

And finally, I want to say Happy Mother's Day to all of you.  This is my mom in her high school graduation picture...St. Sabina High School in Chicago.  She was always   true beauty and she was full of grace.   I am one of seven children, one brother and five sisters  I can never fully comprehend how she did it all, but she did.  We started off in the city and then moved to the flat  prairies of Western Illinois where she said she sat at the kitchen table and looked out at nothing.  But our house was always crazy and full of activity.  I think that made it easier for me to raise 4 children.  When I think of  things she taught me, it was to be a lady,  dress nicely, eat with my mouth closed, wear good shoes and carry a nice purse (God knows she was obssessed with shoes and purses!), wear lipstick,and dress every morning like you were going out or expecting company.  She was absolutely beautiful and had the best sense of humor and laugh.  She loved her children and grandchildren and could change a diaper or heat a bottle like in 2 seconds flat.  She taught my sister and I the basics of motherhood, the rest, she let us explore for ourselves.  She was gone way too soon.  As with anyone you lose in your life, you mostly cry and grieve because you will never see them again.  It's still true for me although it's been 12 years.  Thankfully, I still hear her laugh, see her curled up in her favorite chair with a book and her coffee, doing crosswords at the kitchen table or playing yahtzee by herelf.  If she were still here, that coffee pot would be full and me and my sisters would all be hanging out there...it's so hard to know that you have it all by the tail until it's gone.  I love and miss you Mom...you are so loved on this very day and forever.

Much love to all of my sweet blogging ladies and my precious sisters and brother, as well, on this Mother's Day.

XO,

Jane