Today

My daughter got married the weekend before last. I’m not objective here, of course, but I do believe it was the most beautiful wedding ever (see the picture here for corroborating evidence). My cheeks hurt by the end of the ceremony from smiling so hard. The reception was lovely . . . the weather was lovely . . . my girl was lovely . . . the vows and toasts were beautiful . . . it was just a joyous occasion.

And then on the last evening of their honeymoon, someone broke into their hotel room and stole their wedding rings.

And then the next day, they got a call from the hotel that the rings had been recovered, and they were able to go back and get them (no details of what happened . . . the hotel people probably can’t discuss a legal situation like that).

During the twelve hours of furious back and forth in the family group text about the rings, my other daughter was strangely silent . . . and then not answering my phone calls. Nobody else had heard from her, and her local friend I have contact with wasn't answering his phone, either. I was concerned. And then really worried. And then almost panicky. But she eventually called and assured me she was alive, and I literally cried tears of relief.

That conversation happened an hour before I got the call from the mechanic checking over my car to tell me it needed a couple thousand dollars’ worth of work done.

I spent my first evening back in San Antonio at a friend’s lovely house, where she had a quiet guest room for me. And cats to pet. And sea salt chocolate caramels in the cupboard.

Did I mention that I had to stay there that night because after two days of driving, I got home and realized my garage door opener was in my daughter’s car in Atlanta and the doors to the house all had security bolts on and I had no way to get in? That my daughter had to Fed-Ex me my stinkin' garage door opener?

Y’all . . . I’ve had a week.

It has been an emotional roller coaster. Thank God it was my school’s fall break so I was off work – but I usually use my breaks to prepare for the next few weeks of school, and I simply haven’t been able to focus my brain enough to do any school work well. I’m going to regret that as time goes on here . . .

Ever since my daughter’s car accident when she was home in July and then the unexpected deaths of a couple friends (one of them VERY sudden), I’ve been on an emotional edge. Just so very aware of how life can change drastically in a heartbeat. I’m not generally a big worrier, but I’ve had to fight lately to keep my brain away from the what-ifs . . . and the last couple weeks have provided fodder for some horrible ones.

The morning after the wedding, I visited with my daughter and son-in-law (“son-in-law” -- that’s nice to be able to say!) before they left for their honeymoon and I left to drive home. My girl said that she often heard brides talk about what a great day it was to be “surrounded by people we love,” and she had always shrugged at the cliché. But at her own wedding, when she looked around and saw all the people from so many places and so many different parts of their lives and realized every person there loved them – she got it. It was such a cool feeling, she said.

Perspective.

I’m trying to do that. To just stop and look around me – at the right now. That’s all I have. And it’s enough.

I’m writing this more for myself than for anyone else, but if it speaks to you, too, then great. On this earth and in this age, God has only promised me today and his presence in today. Today will have trials, but it will also have amazing blessings. The only way to prepare emotionally for the inevitable trials in my future is to genuinely embrace the blessings of today.

Like my new son-in-law. He's a good one. 😊