A Return And Some Good News

Well, good morning, folks!  It is a happy Monday morning indeed.  At least, I hope it is. In full disclosure, I’m writing this on Sunday night.  I imagine it will be a happy Monday except that I will be driving first thing to work for an all-day training class and let’s be honest, that’s very Monday morning-ish, yes?  Let’s just hope your Monday is happy.

I am happy to be writing again.  Please excuse my 6-day absence, but I do believe I am back in the land of the living.  I came down with a fever on Tuesday morning. I managed to work through the day, shivering and achy, but by Wednesday morning I was done for.  In fact, I took a real, live sick day, even though I can work remote, and slept until noon. I haven’t done that in years and years. Unfortunately, I didn’t sleep it off, whatever it was. As the day wore on, I was becoming more convinced it was strep throat.

By the time I woke up Thursday morning, I was sure it was strep throat and shuffled my way over to urgent care where I cried when the nurse wasn’t very nice to me and swabbed my throat THREE times because my tongue kept getting in the way or something.

The antibiotics worked it’s magic, though, and by Saturday I was nearly back to normal with a little Ibuprofen and cough drops—enough to go engagement ring and wedding dress shopping with my mom and sister, WHO IS GETTING MARRIED THIS OCTOBER.

Yep.

After a 40 day fast from Facebook, she announced they are engaged this weekend.

The happy couple

She’s been dating a guy that Scott and I have known forever from Scott’s home church for a few months now. I wish I would have written it down like I thought, but I guessed they’d be getting married within weeks of them meeting. In fact, I gave them 6 months to be engaged. They’re seriously great together.

 

The only picture from dress shopping I can share without getting in trouble. Wedding planning with social media in the mix is all new to me and I’m trying to learn the rules.

 

I wish I could write her story all down so you might know what a momentous occasion this will be. In fact, it’d probably make a great novel. My sister has been through a lot.  Death, deception, disappointments, disease, diets, dating, debt.  God has spent the past 3 years restoring so much of her first 3 decades.  Seeing God give her a companion (that adores her) to travel this new road with is just beyond exhilarating.

 

 Brakefield, the venue of the wedding

 

 

The view at Brakefield from the ceremony location.  It should much more green in October.

 

For my blogging friends, I should tell you I will not be at Allume this year.  The only date the venue had open is the same weekend.  The good news is the money and time we had budgeted for that weekend will just be moved and believe me, I am very happy for it. 

 

Scott and his future brother-in-law chatting in the Bride’s room at Brakefield. This picture makes me all sorts of happy. They’re so much fun together.

 

So, once again, I look back at my post from the first of the year where I looked expectantly to the new year, unsure of what would come.  February brought more sickness, snow, and sad news but also such happy moments and the best of best news.

I look forward to bidding last week, February and indeed, the entire winter both a hearty thank you and a good riddance.