Sweeter: A beautiful day, a beautiful bride, a loving family

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Ashley and Chris...the happy couple.

Today was a day I'd been looking forward to for a long time. My niece Ashley and her fiance Chris were married. They choose a lovely lodge not too far from Salem as their setting. It rained like crazy on the drive down, but as we got closer the clouds began to clear...it turned into one of those beautiful autumn days that I love so much with cool air and the fragrant scent of falling leaves and drying grass filling the air.

The setting was gorgeous. Beautiful trees showing off their dresses of yellow, orange and red interspersed with the deep green of Douglas Firs. But, even more beautiful than the trees around us, was the bride. She glowed...absolutely glowed.

It was a bittersweet day for me as well. I was so happy for Chris and Ashley, happy for my sister Karen and her husband Casey, for the wonderful loving family they raised, and I was happy to be surrounded by my family. But also, too, I was sad. This was the first big family event we've had since my mother passed away last November. There were loving reminders of Mom everywhere at the wedding. My Mom and Dad's cake topper from their wedding in 1953 stood in a place of honor on the top of Ashley and Chris' cake. My sister Karen was wearing my Mom's pearls. Ashley wrapped one of my Mom's scarves around her bouquet. And before the ceremony started, Ave Maria played....it was my Mom's favorite church song. It was the song my grandfather sang at the wedding of each of his children, including my Mom and Dads', and it was the song that we played in tribute and in sorrow at my Mom's memorial service. As the song played, my sister's and I looked at each other....knowing the special meaning of the song to my Mom, to our family. Tears welled up in our eyes. Tears of longing, to not have her there, but also tears of joy, for this special day and the gathering of family.

Laura and Karen.

Mom and Dad's cake topper from 1953....watching over the whole day.

During dinner, my sister Laura was holding my adorable great-niece, JoHonna (named in part after my Mom). Watching Laura softly rock and sing to her brought back memories of Laura rocking my own daughter Jessica to sleep when she was about the same age. It seems only moments ago that the children were all young. My girls playing with Karen and Casey's kids in my Mom's backyard. And now, they are all grown. Getting married, bringing the next generation into the world, living and loving. How blessed we are and how proud my Mom must have been as she watched us all from her perch in heaven.

Aunt Laurie with baby JoHonna.