Shower the People You Love with Love, Part 2

When you have a daughter who lives nine hours away and you go visit there are a lot of things to do that get crammed into those few days. We were in Nashville for 5 days--2 of those being driving there and back so really three days there-- and had about 10 days worth of plans. Ok, not really ten days worth but it did seem that way.

Especially because there's a wedding in May and DrummerBoy was playing the Ryman (see yesterday's post HERE if you missed it) so we:

• got people fitted for wedding suits
• had the wedding dress modeled for us
• discussed wedding attire 
• visited the wedding venue and met with the coordinator (a truly lovely girl)
• attended two nights at the Ryman
• went cowboy boot hunting
• ate yummy food at a local dive
• attended a most delightful engagement party/bridal shower

And this was after we traveled 10 hours with a toddler who got car sick 4 times before we figured out how to help him out. AND we did it all in the incessant rain and do not get me started on the Nashville traffic that adds a good 30 minutes to an hour to everything you need to do on a good day. Seriously, we knew we had arrived in that big, wonderful city when we were suddenly surrounded by a gazillion other cars sitting still on I 40.  

Of course, the good news is you get a picture of the Bat-Man building.

To say people were exhausted is an understatement. To say we had a good time is also an understatement.

When you have adult children, as most of us do, we tend to have a list of 'hopes' we have for their adult lives and one of the top three on my list for my girls is that they have wonderful, supportive, kind-hearted friends and it's even more important to me that NashvilleDaughter have this support system since we live our lives nine hours away from each other (10 when you travel the distance with a car sick toddler).

I've had the privilege to have met a few here and there of her friends and they fit the bill perfectly but, as life tends to move us around, our friends don't always live in the same cities forever. This weekend, I was given the gift of meeting many of NashvilleDaughter and DrummerBoy's local friends and my heart was filled.

I know I do not have to worry about NashvilleDaughter having a support system of friends because y'all, she has the best group of any I've ever known.

And they showered the happy couple with love. There is no doubt how these friends feel.

Good food:

 CAKE!

Gifts--

Good friends, a few words, and a toast to the happy couple---

And the house was gorgeous! It was built in 1910 and I loved every single thing about it. But as nice as the house was, as delicious as the food was, as big and perfect as that cake was none of it compared to the group gathered to celebrate my girl and her love. And see that sweet lady standing beside my girl in that picture above? That's her future MIL and we should all be so lucky to have a MIL who loves us like this sweet lady loves my girl.

This mama misses her sweet daughter every day but I also know I don't have to worry about her. She's strong and independent. She has a man in her life because she wants him not because she needs one. She's smart and loyal. She goes all out for her friends and gives at least 110% to her job. She is talented and creative and not only works full time as an interior architect but also is an entrepreneur. She's sweet and savvy. And she's surrounded by a support system of friends and in-laws that makes all others look weak.

Cheers, my loves! May you always love and be loved. "May you always hold hands, share secret looks, and cultivate a private language that only the two of you can speak. May you always find things to talk about and places to explore, and may you prefer things to be the same level of clean (😂.) May you take turns being strong and weak, keep a secret list of what delights one another, and always have a trick to pull out of your hat. May you find that together, things are easier and more fun and more interesting, and may you always remember what it felt like to fall in love." Emily McDowell.

And that's how we spent three days in Nashville, TN.

AND---

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