Countdown to Cleveland - Day 19

JEFF'S GRADUATION WEEKEND MIGHT HAVE BEEN ONE OF THE BUSIER WEEKENDS OF OUR LIVES. (SERIOUSLY.)  AFTER STAYING OUT LATE SATURDAY NIGHT CELEBRATING, WE AWOKE EARLY TO ATTEND OUR LAST CHURCH SERVICE AT THE VINE.  BEING THAT IT WAS ALSO FATHER'S DAY, WE SURPRISED JEFF WITH  CARDS, KISSES, AND A NEW CD BY ONE OF HIS FAVORITE ARTISTS.  WITH NO TIME TO WASTE, WE LEFT OUR HOUSE AND MET HIS FAMILY DOWNTOWN SO THEY COULD JOIN US FOR WORSHIP AT THE VINE.  THE LITTLE LADY WAS VERY EXCITED TO SHOW OFF HER CHURCH TO DOC AND MIMI.  IT WAS A TEARFUL SERVICE (FOR ME) AS I REFLECTED ON OUR TIME WITH THIS BODY OF BELIEVERS AND PRAISED THE LORD FOR HIS TIMING IN BRINGING US THERE. 

UNFORTUNATELY, WE COULD NOT LINGER AFTER THE SERVICE AS WE HAD TO SAY GOOD-BYE TO FAMILY AND HEAD TO ILLINOIS FOR A FRIEND'S WEDDING.  ADDING TO THE EMOTION OF THE MORNING WAS THE FACT THAT WE HAD TO SAY OUR "FINAL" GOOD-BYES TO DAWN AND BOB, AS WE WOULD NOT SEE THEM AGAIN BEFORE THE BIG MOVE.  WHY ON EARTH DID I THINK BLACK LIQUID EYE-LINER WAS A GOOD IDEA THAT MORNING?! 

AFTER PROLONGED HUGS AND SNIFFLES, WE LOADED THE KIDS IN THE CAR, GRABBED A QUICK BITE, AND HIT THE OPEN ROAD.  WE ARRIVED IN WHEATON, IL 2 1/2 HOURS LATER AT THE DOORSTEP OF OUR DEAR FRIENDS THE LIVINGSTONS.  I IMAGINE WE WERE QUITE A SIGHT TO SEE, WEARY FROM OUR TRAVELS, PUFFY-EYED (WELL, AT LEAST I WAS), AND WEARING OUR EMOTIONS ON OUR SLEEVES.  HOWEVER, ONCE IN THEIR PRESENCE OUR MOODS BRIGHTENED, AS THEY SHOWERED US WITH HUGS, SMILES, SUPPORT AND A FEW SWEET PRESENTS.  THERE ARE FEW THINGS AS COMFORTING AS BEING IN THE PRESENCE OF FAITHFUL FRIENDS.  ASHLEY QUICKLY STEPPED IN TO DISTRACT THE LITTLE LADY AND MAN, WHILE I ATTEMPTED TO REMEDY MY MAKE-UP AND CHANGE.  OUR SWEET ONES WERE DELIGHTED WHEN SHE ALLOWED THEM FULL ACCESS TO HER LIP GLOSS STASH FOR ENTERTAINMENT. 

WITH A FEW QUICK INSTRUCTIONS, A BRIEF Q & A WITH THE SITTERS, AND KISSES FOR THE CHILDREN WE WERE OFF ONCE AGAIN.  THIS TIME OUR DESTINATION - DOWNTOWN CHICAGO FOR THE WEDDING OF OUR FRIENDS CHAD AND KELLEY.

"LIPPIES!!!"

(WHAT I WOULDN'T GIVE FOR A STASH LIKE THAT!)

ME AND MY GIRLS, BECKI AND ASH.

WHAT A GIFT FROM ABOVE THEY ARE!  IT NEVER CEASES TO AMAZE ME HOW THE LORD ORCHESTRATED ALL OF OUR MARRIAGES, ALLOWING THE THREE OF US WOMEN TO MARRY TAYLOR UNIVERSITY GRADS.  IT BRINGS ME SO MUCH COMFORT AND JOY TO KNOW THAT I CAN SHARE LIFE'S UPS AND DOWNS WITH THESE TWO WOMEN, WHO HAVE BECOME LIKE SISTERS TO ME. 

THE MEN OF TAYLOR UNIVERSITY

GREG, JEFF, ROB, & MATT

BESTIES.

OH, AND MIGHT I ADD THAT WE ALSO CELEBRATED OUR 7TH ANNIVERSARY ON THAT DAY.  WE HONESTLY HAD NOT PLANNED ANYTHING EXTRA TO CELEBRATE; HOWEVER, WE WERE THRILLED WHEN WE REALIZED WE WOULD BE ABLE TO FIT IN DINNER OUT WITH ROB AND ASHLEY BEFORE DRIVING HOME.  ADULTS ONLY.  MEXICAN FOOD.  UNINTERRUPTED CONVERSATION.  IT WAS THE PERFECT WAY TO END A VERY BUSY WEEKEND.  THE FOUR OF US COULD NOT REMEMBER THE LAST TIME WE HAD DINED AS COUPLES, WITHOUT CHILDREN.  WE CHERISHED EVERY MINUTE OF IT!

IT IS HARD TO BELIEVE SEVEN YEARS HAVE GONE BY.  I WAS EXTRA EXCITED TO CELEBRATE THIS PARTICULAR ANNIVERSARY AS IT MARKED AS MANY YEARS OF MARRIAGE AS YEARS SPENT DATING PRIOR TO OUR WEDDING DAY.  14 YEARS OF MEMORIES ALL TIED UP IN ONE MAN, AND WHAT A MAN HE IS!
 I LOVE HIM SO.