The Wedding

This past weekend my baby brother married his best friend.  I got the honor of performing the ceremony.  This was a special day and special wedding.  Not that all weddings aren't special but my brother and his now wife have had a relationship for almost 20 years already and they are only 23 and 24.  They truly do have a love story that goes back to diapers.  I always knew that they had known each other for a long time but when I saw the pictures of the birthday parties, kindergarten graduation, teen years, and now it became evident just how long they had really been together.  They've always been friends.  Even when Casey was seeing other people Lisa was in his life as a friend. 

It was a lot of fun and overall just a great wedding.  This picture has a story behind it.  You see they have just done their vows and now are going to do the ring exchange.  So Cory, the best man and my other brother realizes he doesn't have the rings, Ashley the maid of honor and sister to Lisa sees Cory's panic and bursts out giggling.  Cory is trying to blame James, other grooms man for not bringing the rings and Casey and Lisa are staring lovingly into each other's eyes, oblivious to it all.  Thankfully the rings were only 2 miles away so Cory's wife went and got them.  Needless to say it was a hilarious and unforgettable moment in the wedding.  The rest of the wedding went smoothly, and of course Cory was teased all night for his forgetfulness but he took it in stride and went with all the jokes.  I had a great time and can't wait for the next Dunlop wedding, oh wait that would be mine!  No I'm not engaged but a woman can dream can't she!

You grew in my heart

I know that's such a cliche but last night I used it.  We had gone to my brother's and got back late and so Jacob fell asleep on the drive.  As I carried him into the house I told him how I loved him and that he was mom's big baby boy.  To which he asked, "grew in mom's tummy?"  I didn't know what to say.  I  was caught off guard, I was thinking this conversation would happen later, a different time, a more alert time.  I should know better though and know that life doesn't work just like you plan it.  It's not that I was avoiding this conversation.  It wasn't an option to lie to Jacob about the most important thing of his life.  That I am not his biological mother but I am his mom forever.  I've made no secret about the fact that he's adopted and when I get a shocked look and people say, "he looks so much like you" I smile.  God planned it perfectly I guess, what or who else could take credit? 
So off I carried him to bed and told him that he grew in another mommy's tummy but that he came to live with me and he grew in my heart and I would be his mom forever.  I know that this won't be the last conversation of many and that's okay.  One day I will open up the pictures I have stored away for him and show him the picture of his first mommy.  The one that loved him enough to make sure no harm came to him in birth and for this I'm forever grateful.
So you might be wondering why this came up.  I'm only assuming that his little buddy who he goes to the same sitters her mom is pregnant, a good friend of mine, and I'm sure that there has been lots of talk about Savannah's mom having a baby in her tummy.  So the conversation may come up a lot over the next several months and that's okay.