Whirlwind weeks

It sounded like so much time when I planned the trip, but time flies.

How was the wedding?

Jacob and I were the first to come down the aisle after the officiant. I think this is my “I’m joyful, I’m savoring the moment, I’m trying not to cry” face.

The wedding was gorgeous and sweet and emotional and joyful and exactly everything that Jacob and Mikayla wanted it to be. The pair wrote their own vows, and the pure love they so eloquently poured into their words to each other left not a dry eye in the place.

Catching up with friends I’ve known for more than 35 years…Also, that’s a temporary tattoo on my arm. It’s a little drawing of the bride and groom with their names and the wedding date. Adorable.

The reception was a blur of trying to talk to everyone and failing, catching a few moments with some precious friends, great food, loud music, and lots of dancing.

Amye, her sister Beth, and I were photobombed by the groom!

This little trio has been friends since Jacob was a tiny infant!

I sure do love my brother-by -choice!

This photo from the rehearsal dinner is the only one I took of my stunning new daughter-by choice during the festivities. I was too in the moment to pick up my phone.

Toast Time!

I gave a toast after dinner, a toast I had written a month prior, not wanting to procrastinate, a toast I had edited and practiced, a toast I wasn’t sure I’d be able to deliver without dissolving into snot-nosed ugly crying. Anytime I practiced it alone, I did fine. When I practiced in front of a human, I always cried.

The time came - I was FIRST for some reason - and I knocked it out of the park! People laughed and cried and felt all the feels. My voice broke in two little places, but I was quickly able to regain my composure. Amye stood by my side and wept enough for both of us, I think. She said I would have been fine to do it without her, and maybe she’s right, but I’m grateful to have had her by my side. I don’t want to do any important life things without her right there with me.

One of our seven kids, Tristan, couldn’t come at the last minute because of a terrible injury and subsequent surgery, so we missed him very much, but it was incredible to watch the rest of our offspring (can’t really call them kids anymore) support one another and celebrate together. What a team they are now. The whole thing was just magical.

Not one of the photos above is one I took. I don’t have a lot of photos on my phone from the event because I was determined to put it down and be in the moment. I have no regrets about that decision. You’ll have to follow Mikayla Kimes on Insta @mikimes27 if you want to see more.

How has it felt to be back in Birmingham for several weeks?

This is another popular question I’m hearing. It has been a whirlwind of activity until the past few days. There was wedding prep, the wedding weekend extravaganza, trying to see as many local people as possible after the wedding while also recovering from the wedding, making some repairs and doing some deep cleaning at our Airbnbs, and now suddenly I’m nearing the end of my trip. I will leave Thursday morning to visit my youngest son, Patrick, in New Orleans for the weekend, and then I fly back to Minneapolis from there.

Bittersweet

I hung out with my eldest, Zak, and his wife Adria on Sunday afternoon and evening. We ran an errand, went and had dinner, and then returned to their house to watch a movie. As I walked into his house after dinner, each of us carrying something from our outing, the dogs bouncing with excitement that we were home, and the three of us chatting amiably, it all felt so completely normal that it broke my heart. I love my new life, and I’m loving crafting it daily with Amye. Still, leaving Birmingham in a couple of days will be ripping the bandage off all over again, I’m afraid. It’s totally worth it, though, to have had this time to spend with everyone, and especially with my kids.

Speaking of our kids, who aren’t kids anymore at all, we said bon voyage to our youngest, Sophia, this past week. She is moving to Germany this week for an indeterminate amount of time. She is half German, and is a German citizen, so she will be taking some classes and spending time with family, and eventually working in journalism there. We admire her for taking such a leap and going after her dreams. She’s a total badass. Damn, though, we sure will miss her.

It has been quite the emotional time for us, with one getting married, one hurt (he will recover and be fine, but it will take some time and hard work,) and one moving to another continent. Maybe Minnesota winter will feel like no big deal after this.

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