Greetings Loved Ones,
It's a lovely, albeit hot, Spring day in Memphis Tennessee. I thought I would let you in on what's happening here.
Well, last Thursday Robert took Charlotte to dinner at J.Alexanders and then they went to a little park in our neighborhood. It was twilight and the lovely lamp posts had just come on. They took a seat on a bench and held hands. It was a perfect Southern Spring night, just a little breeze and things were just starting to bloom. I'm sure he gathered all his courage and knelt on one knee pulled a box out of his pocket and said, "Charlotte, will you marry me?" She tells me that she grabbed him and said yes before he could even open the box. It was just the two of them, which I have come around to loving. Would I rather have a video? Yes, but this is so sweet and personal and something they will share privately forever. Most importantly she is so very happy. I love him for that.
So now to the business at hand. We went to see The Pink Palace last week as a venue and she fell in love (as did I) It is just lovely and very old fashioned and has been her favorite museum since she was a baby. I can see her and her new husband walking down the grand staircase while being announced as Mr. and Mrs. Robert Riding. There are elements of a museum that are combined with the dancing (like a shrunken head) but that just makes it all the more fun. In order to get this when she wants to get married we have changed it to a Friday instead of a Saturday. I just hope that won't throw people off it being a work day and all. I'm hoping the draw will be the beautiful and unusual surroundings and the bride of course. We went to a reception yesterday and the turn out was very sad. To be fair, it was a second reception for the groom. Please let me explain. Mormons often times have two or three receptions depending on where family is located. LOTS of folks that leave Utah for jobs and such often have a reception where they live and also back in Utah so Grandma and Uncle Earl can come without schlepping halfway across the country. But my girl is homegrown and while her affianced is from Utah he has made his roots here. His Grandparents are coming here. So there will just be one.
We haven't signed the contract yet on the Pink Palace. Dave would like us to complete our trip to Birmingham (UAB) tomorrow and get the 2nd opinion from the specialist first. Just so we can put that behind us. I wasn't nervous at all but as the time approaches I am kind of dreading it. Not so much what the Dr. will say but the trip itself. Usually a trip to B'ham is a pleasant trip but tomorrow will not be. I wish it were a fun shopping trip for wedding things or a trip to visit friends and family instead of what it is. Wish us luck.
We have hired the photographer and yesterday we went and outfitted 6 men in new black suits. They all looked so very handsome (especially MY man) ;) Charlotte's dress came in from Latter Day Bride and is already at the seamstress for alterations. I have my suit, Annie has a possible 3 dresses that she can wear. The only problem is the boys. For some reason they don't make nice suits for boys. What's up with that? I realize that most kids grow too fast to justify purchasing a suit but my boys don't and David wears his every single Sunday. It's very irritating. All of them are cheap polyester and can only be found in the ghetto or Wal-Mart. Arggggg. Oh well, what of that. We have a DJ in mind and have already contacted him as well as a caterer. So things are moving along quite nicely.
If you get this e-mail I hope you know you are very much wanted to attend but we certainly understand the expense of traveling to Memphis. We would love to see everyone that can make it. Dave likes to tease me and say it will be the social event of the season. I don't know about that but I do know I want it to be wonderful for the bride and the groom. Yesterday when we were trying on shoes the groom didn't really like them so we didn't get them. Period. We have time to find a comfortable pair of shoes for goodness sake. My OCD be damned.
Time to sign off and get ready to go to B'ham.
All my love, Tracey
Sunday, April 10, 2011
Monday, April 4, 2011
"Nothing's haaappppeennning!."
Greetings loved ones,
My title is a line from "A Little Mermaid". It's what the seagull Scuttle says when he is waiting on the prince to kiss Ariel so she can get her voice back and they can live happily ever after. It's how I've felt for about a month while we wait on the ring to be presented. Charlotte's boyfriend wants the proposal to be perfect and while I love that about him the practical mother who has to plan a reception by July 16 is just about to have a meltdown. It isn't really a secret anymore so I would just like to get on with it. I don't want to rush it because I know this time with her is precious but photographers get booked as to venues (which is a WHOLE other topic)and caterers. I want it all settled so I CAN enjoy what little time I have left with her as well as out of town family and guests. I suppose all the years I have planned events at church was just a training ground for this moment. Make no mistake this is the Olympics of parties. I want it to be magical for her, like a fairytale. All little girls dream of their wedding day, I know I did. While Charlotte is not near as high maintenance as I am I know her and she is excited. When I ask her, "Are you excited baby?" I get that precious grin from when she was 4 or 5 and she says, "YES!" Like when we were about to go see Santa or to the zoo or to Disney. My favorite part is watching them together. It's so romantic and it reminds me of when Dave and I were their age. Can't wait to see him, to kiss him, to plan our lives together. Ah, young love.
We are planning as if it's public news. Dave, Charlotte and I are going to meet the photographer in the morning. I will then go see a couple of venues. We have the cultural hall at church reserved but Dave thinks we should cover all our bases plus I love the package deal. My dream venue would be a lovely site WITH a wonderful caterer. Be still my heart. We could use the gym but it is disgusting and is in terrible need of a paint job and would take 2 days to decorate, something I would rather not do. So the quest is on. Heartwood hall is booked, as is The Esplanade and Hunt Phelan Inn, Le Pavilion isn't but I fear it is too small and The Cadre building has yet to call me back. (That's where I really want to have it) We shall see. Wish us luck. Well it's time to do homework and get dinner ready.
All my love, Tracey
My title is a line from "A Little Mermaid". It's what the seagull Scuttle says when he is waiting on the prince to kiss Ariel so she can get her voice back and they can live happily ever after. It's how I've felt for about a month while we wait on the ring to be presented. Charlotte's boyfriend wants the proposal to be perfect and while I love that about him the practical mother who has to plan a reception by July 16 is just about to have a meltdown. It isn't really a secret anymore so I would just like to get on with it. I don't want to rush it because I know this time with her is precious but photographers get booked as to venues (which is a WHOLE other topic)and caterers. I want it all settled so I CAN enjoy what little time I have left with her as well as out of town family and guests. I suppose all the years I have planned events at church was just a training ground for this moment. Make no mistake this is the Olympics of parties. I want it to be magical for her, like a fairytale. All little girls dream of their wedding day, I know I did. While Charlotte is not near as high maintenance as I am I know her and she is excited. When I ask her, "Are you excited baby?" I get that precious grin from when she was 4 or 5 and she says, "YES!" Like when we were about to go see Santa or to the zoo or to Disney. My favorite part is watching them together. It's so romantic and it reminds me of when Dave and I were their age. Can't wait to see him, to kiss him, to plan our lives together. Ah, young love.
We are planning as if it's public news. Dave, Charlotte and I are going to meet the photographer in the morning. I will then go see a couple of venues. We have the cultural hall at church reserved but Dave thinks we should cover all our bases plus I love the package deal. My dream venue would be a lovely site WITH a wonderful caterer. Be still my heart. We could use the gym but it is disgusting and is in terrible need of a paint job and would take 2 days to decorate, something I would rather not do. So the quest is on. Heartwood hall is booked, as is The Esplanade and Hunt Phelan Inn, Le Pavilion isn't but I fear it is too small and The Cadre building has yet to call me back. (That's where I really want to have it) We shall see. Wish us luck. Well it's time to do homework and get dinner ready.
All my love, Tracey
Saturday, March 26, 2011
Leaving the nest
Greetings loved ones,
I haven't posted in quite some time because I was shocked to have a complete stranger comment on my blog about Emma. I didn't realize the whole world can see your blog unless you block it. What a chucklehead. I still haven't blocked it but figure my other posts are very mundane and no one will be that interested. I must say, it feels good to be back.
It has been an emotional last three weeks. My best friends son was serving his mission in Sendai, Japan when the earthquake and tsunami hit. We didn't know where he was for about 24 hours and as you can imagine Beth, (my friend) was a raw nerve. We all were. I've loved that boy since he was 6 months old. Finally, he emailed them and told them he was okay. The church closed his mission and sent him home because he only had about six weeks left. It has been a hard transition for him. To be snatched out of there and not get to say good-bye to anyone is hard on these young men. We are all so glad he is home, safe and sound.
The week before I took Charlotte to the neurologist and we found out that my 20 year old daughter had had a stroke the previous year. We found out because she volunteered as a 'base line' for a study at St Jude. They took an MRI of her last year and then when she went in this year the MRI showed an 'anomaly' and the radiologist called her at home that night to tell her to get to her GP IMMEDIATELY for a referral to a neurologist. It was all very upsetting. But the doc figured it out and now she is on Plavix and life is good. We will be going to UAB for a 2nd opinion sometime in the next month. The Dr. in B'ham is a fellow and has extensive knowledge on this sort of thing (it isn't normal for 20 year olds to have strokes).
Last week we spent 10 days in Southern California with all the kids. So, I've discovered that I don't especially like traveling with teenage boys. It's kind of like traveling with a caged badger in the backseat. Let's just say I was glad to be home. My favorite part was getting to see my precious step-mom Angela. I hate the wording for step-parents. It sounds so not-so-important, which is completely lubricious. I have loved both of my step-parents as much as my biological parents. I'm glad my children just call her Gigi. That's much better. Anyway, I have this sweet memory of us eating dinner at a really nice restaurant in Downtown Disney with our Gigi. It is something I can take to heaven with me one day. :)
Now with all this craziness going on in our lives there has been one sweet thing that I am really enjoying. My daughter is in love. She is in love with a wonderful man. I say man and not boy because Robert is 8 years older than Charlotte. Robert is sweet and quiet, loves to read and fish but mostly he is crazy in love with my daughter. I adore him. If there were arranged marriages he would be my choice. He is smart (he's an engineer at Fed Ex),kind, and faithful. He served his mission in Colorado Denver South, he is the Cub Master in his ward (which is in a disadvantaged area of town)and he is a good son to his parents. I know this because we are good friends with his parents. He spends every extra moment with Charlotte and while he is very shy and quiet I know he is very romantic. He leaves her flowers and sends her sweet love texts (that's what the young people do now). She is very loyal to him as she doesn't share what he says but I see her smiles when she gets them. It is so wonderful to watch her grow into a beautiful woman and to watch her mature and just to be happy. They are too precious together. I know there will be a ring soon and a wedding this summer. (Remember I'm good friends with his mom.) While I'm so happy for her I know I will miss her terribly. We are the best of friends and she really cares how I like things (the definition of a friend). You raise them to be independent of you but never really think about them moving out until the very end. I've been buying her things for her hope chest since she was 15 but didn't see them being used. But now I do. I can see her hanging pictures, cooking and building a home. It's what I've been training her to do her whole life. I keep thinking, is there anything I haven't told her that she needs to know? When I do think of something I try to tell her right away. It's kind of like sending her away to camp for the first time. Do you have EVERYTHING you need to make you happy? I hope she has everything. Let's see, you've got faith, wisdom, love and knowledge packed in here. If you need anything else just call me and I'll bring out to you. It's harder than I thought it would be. It came sooner than I thought it would. I guess that is what my parents said. On second thought I was a pistol, I'm sure my mom was just glad I found David. ;)
So that's my update. All is well and I hope all is well with ya'll.
With all my love,
Tracey
I haven't posted in quite some time because I was shocked to have a complete stranger comment on my blog about Emma. I didn't realize the whole world can see your blog unless you block it. What a chucklehead. I still haven't blocked it but figure my other posts are very mundane and no one will be that interested. I must say, it feels good to be back.
It has been an emotional last three weeks. My best friends son was serving his mission in Sendai, Japan when the earthquake and tsunami hit. We didn't know where he was for about 24 hours and as you can imagine Beth, (my friend) was a raw nerve. We all were. I've loved that boy since he was 6 months old. Finally, he emailed them and told them he was okay. The church closed his mission and sent him home because he only had about six weeks left. It has been a hard transition for him. To be snatched out of there and not get to say good-bye to anyone is hard on these young men. We are all so glad he is home, safe and sound.
The week before I took Charlotte to the neurologist and we found out that my 20 year old daughter had had a stroke the previous year. We found out because she volunteered as a 'base line' for a study at St Jude. They took an MRI of her last year and then when she went in this year the MRI showed an 'anomaly' and the radiologist called her at home that night to tell her to get to her GP IMMEDIATELY for a referral to a neurologist. It was all very upsetting. But the doc figured it out and now she is on Plavix and life is good. We will be going to UAB for a 2nd opinion sometime in the next month. The Dr. in B'ham is a fellow and has extensive knowledge on this sort of thing (it isn't normal for 20 year olds to have strokes).
Last week we spent 10 days in Southern California with all the kids. So, I've discovered that I don't especially like traveling with teenage boys. It's kind of like traveling with a caged badger in the backseat. Let's just say I was glad to be home. My favorite part was getting to see my precious step-mom Angela. I hate the wording for step-parents. It sounds so not-so-important, which is completely lubricious. I have loved both of my step-parents as much as my biological parents. I'm glad my children just call her Gigi. That's much better. Anyway, I have this sweet memory of us eating dinner at a really nice restaurant in Downtown Disney with our Gigi. It is something I can take to heaven with me one day. :)
Now with all this craziness going on in our lives there has been one sweet thing that I am really enjoying. My daughter is in love. She is in love with a wonderful man. I say man and not boy because Robert is 8 years older than Charlotte. Robert is sweet and quiet, loves to read and fish but mostly he is crazy in love with my daughter. I adore him. If there were arranged marriages he would be my choice. He is smart (he's an engineer at Fed Ex),kind, and faithful. He served his mission in Colorado Denver South, he is the Cub Master in his ward (which is in a disadvantaged area of town)and he is a good son to his parents. I know this because we are good friends with his parents. He spends every extra moment with Charlotte and while he is very shy and quiet I know he is very romantic. He leaves her flowers and sends her sweet love texts (that's what the young people do now). She is very loyal to him as she doesn't share what he says but I see her smiles when she gets them. It is so wonderful to watch her grow into a beautiful woman and to watch her mature and just to be happy. They are too precious together. I know there will be a ring soon and a wedding this summer. (Remember I'm good friends with his mom.) While I'm so happy for her I know I will miss her terribly. We are the best of friends and she really cares how I like things (the definition of a friend). You raise them to be independent of you but never really think about them moving out until the very end. I've been buying her things for her hope chest since she was 15 but didn't see them being used. But now I do. I can see her hanging pictures, cooking and building a home. It's what I've been training her to do her whole life. I keep thinking, is there anything I haven't told her that she needs to know? When I do think of something I try to tell her right away. It's kind of like sending her away to camp for the first time. Do you have EVERYTHING you need to make you happy? I hope she has everything. Let's see, you've got faith, wisdom, love and knowledge packed in here. If you need anything else just call me and I'll bring out to you. It's harder than I thought it would be. It came sooner than I thought it would. I guess that is what my parents said. On second thought I was a pistol, I'm sure my mom was just glad I found David. ;)
So that's my update. All is well and I hope all is well with ya'll.
With all my love,
Tracey