When you imagine having a little girl, you picture a Lea.
She was all things girly. We could paint fingernails and play princess and she walked through the house doing cheerleader moves 24/7.
She balanced that with sports and was a fierce competitor all while battling allergies and asthma.
But when you asked her who’s girl she was, she would always say her Daddy’s.
We would ask her just to watch her say it and laugh.
But the truth was, you could have just as easily asked Jeff who was his baby. But you didn’t have to, because we all knew.
We joked and aggravated her about being the favorite.
In the middle of 5 kids, she carved out a special place that is hers alone.
I told a Bible story about Jacob, his many sons and Joseph’s coat of many colors. I said that he was the favorite of his many brothers and they hated him and his coat. I added a comment that it wasn’t good to have a favorite child and little Lea let me know quickly, “You better tell Dad that story.”
We still laugh.
It has always been a running joke in our family.
And at her wedding yesterday, everything was as it should be.
When I pictured Jeff walking her down the aisle, I thought about my own Daddy.
We arrived early and I stared at my Dad’s picture on the memorial table along with everyone that left us.
Later that evening, it dawned on me that standing next to it were everyone who has since joined us.
In the years of loss, we have gained six grandchildren and one on the way.
My heart aches with every absence but it bursts with the blessings we receive in every smile and giggle.
We have miniatures of Colby and Lea in River and Laken thanks to Lauren. We have Hadley, John Luke and Baby Beau who attended his first wedding at 3 weeks old.
Sweet Suzanna stopped the wedding as an upset flower girl who didn’t want to make a mess. And Jett Walker Dodson is scheduled to arrive in February.
Another picture on the left graces the table. And with it another reminder.
There is a beauty in Lea that could only come from Kathy.
I have loved it when Paw Paw would look at her picture and say, “Wasn’t she pretty?”
Yes she was.
And yes she is.
Because there she stands today in that beautiful bride.
And also in those giggling great granddaughters.
A spirit of her love so strong that you can pass it down for generations. You can never deny where it came from. And it will live as long as we do.
I am naturally biased and like to think our children are the best, but when it comes to their spouses- we hit the lottery.
Braden joins the finest ranks with Nathan, Courtney, Molly and Alex. Jeff and I stand back and wonder at our blessings.
In all fairness, I think that balances out with the fact that we are now indirectly kin to Keith Whatley.
Who being Keith Whatley, completely punked the guests and asked everyone to stand to false start the wedding.
We all needed a good laugh on a day full of emotions.
This beautiful day where young love conquers all.
Where time stops for a moment and erases the hell, heartache, pain and regret of yesterday with the renewed hope of today and tomorrow.
Life is nothing without all of it.
Maybe that’s why they call it the dance.
We could all take a lesson from our littlest. They could not wait for the dance floor to open and they also stayed up late and shut it down.
My love for Laken requesting the DJ play “Feliz Navidad” in October.
“Party in the USA” made Lea and Reagen 3 and 7 years old again along with their nieces.
If I could give you and Braden any advice in this journey called life, it would simply be this-
Stop.
Enjoy it all.
Every little mistake and mishap.
Don’t carry an ounce of guilt, weigh yourself down with the stress of expectations and the opinions of others.
Don’t chase perfection.
It doesn’t exist.
Stop, take it all in and know when all is said and done,
Baby Girl-
I hope you dance through life and leave here knowing that you left it all on the dance floor…
Enjoy your honeymoon and know our love goes with you today and all of your tomorrows…
cherylsuzette 