Head Above the Wedding Waters

Hey, Siestas! I am so happy to reconnect with you today! I am just beginning to emerge from the throes and promised not to leave you hanging. Some of you may not be able to bear another entry about the wedding (last one till a handful of professional pics come back!Then that will be the real last one! Unless Melissa wants to talk about it when she gets back, then that will be the real last one really) but, for others, I fear I’d be slapped about the head with a corn tortilla if I didn’t offer up some treats on the festive table of Siestaville. Let me begin by giving a much deserved volume-10 shout of thanks to Amanda for doing such a fabulous job of keeping you up on our all festivities. All three of us – AJ, Lis, and I – wanted so much for you to be a part of it and, thanks almost entirely to just one of us, you were, if you wanted to be. Her terrific play-by-play and snap-shot walk-thru helped me relive so much of the excitement…and I really needed to! As so many of you know, you plan a wedding for months and it seems it will never come then suddenly it’s over in a flash and you wonder if you missed it.

Amanda won’t appreciate me taking up space here to dote on her about stuff like this but, truly, she is the ultimate big sister for big occasions. Among many other things, she planned the girls’ night out on Thursday night, hosted the spa day on Friday (I joined them at the end and took them all to the bridal lunch but felt they’d have more fun without a mom right in the middle of those two things). Amanda showered Melissa with numerous gifts that only a sister can give – complete with said celebratory CD – and, all in all, simply never left her side leading up to the ceremony. She also let Melissa be right for twenty-four solid hours which was no small task for girls who do not mind sharing their minds. Perhaps best of all (since words are our chief love language), Amanda wrote and read the neatest blessing at their reception, calling back to mind so many Moore memories and traditions that she hoped Melissa would carry on. (Equally I hope to call OFF, in Jesus’ Name, the ones we hope neither daughter carries on. And there are plenty.) Even as understandably distracted as our little bride was, the blessing wasn’t wasted on her. She called from the airport the next day and told Amanda how she loved it and wanted to make sure it was in a safe place so she could find it and keep it forever. Take heart, mother of fighting siblings!! Thanks to Jesus, they may one day be able to stand beside one another without you having to say, “Am I going to have to separate you two or paddle you?”

OK, here are a few of my favorite memories that haven’t been mentioned in our posts so far:
*Having Melissa upstairs in her room just like she ought to be on the morning of the wedding. Fixing coffee one last time for my darling little single daughter. Using our matching cups with our names on them (that one of our Bible study sisters somewhere in the nation sent all three of us, as a matter of fact! In case the giver is tuned into Siestaville, they are darling green and yellow mugs with parsley sprigs painted on them after an LBY story I told. We have used them a jillion times in the last three years!)

*Watching Lis and her Daddy do a quick run-thru of their dance that morning while they were still in their jammies.

*Springing the money for a stretch limo to take Lis, Amanda, and me to the church (the men came much later) so that we could lay her dress all the way out without wrinkling it. Stopping, of course, by a Starbucks on the way and laughing because we had to. Seeing someone from Tuesday night Bible study while I was in there and having her ask, “Don’t you have a wedding coming up sometime soon?” and pointing to the block-long car and replying, “That’s us and, actually, we’re supposed to be at the church right now.”

*Spending that one last hour with Melissa, Amanda, and the bridesmaids in the bride’s room before the ceremony began. We girls had already had our pictures taken in the sanctuary so we were completely ready yet we had an hour to wait. I didn’t want to crunch up my dress by sitting down so, since they all had on strapless dresses, I just walked around and gave all the bridesmaids and the bride back tickles. (Admit it, that’s what you really want when you go for a massage but you’re too embarrassed to ask.) The conversation in that room was so precious and it was almost like God heightened my senses where I could take in every sound, sight, and scent. I’ll never forget it. Melissa was so happy. She kept looking at the clock and, instead of being nervous or fretting about one single remaining thing, she kept saying, “Only forty more minutes…only thirty-three more minutes…only fifteen more minutes…only five more minutes!” I reveled in the absolute assurance that my baby daughter was marrying exactly who she wanted to marry. She could hardly wait. I couldn’t resist texting Colin to say, “Amid all the stress of the last four months, this child has not had one single doubt. She cannot wait to marry you.” I heard back from him instantly. It represented something so precious to me. I realized with entirely fresh understanding that, when the bride has made herself ready (Revelation 19:7), she doesn’t want the ceremony delayed. She wants to see her groom. I want to be that way about Jesus. Without a hint of morbidity, I want to be a bride who sets her mind on making herself ready for her startlingly gorgeous groom and can hardly wait to meet Him at that altar. I want to live like a young woman getting ready for the biggest royal wedding in the universe.

*Watching Colin watch her.

*Watching her watch Colin.

*Watching Keith watch me. Heehee. I dang well meant to catch his eye that night.

*I don’t know if I can describe my favorite all-time moment in words because you would kinda had to have seen it. As Melissa and Colin held hands and faced one another, saying their vows, Lis would periodically shimmy back and forth with the unbridled glee of a five year-old. It was almost like she’d get a sudden jolt of a happy-shiver. She was delirious. Happier than she was the night we got to see “New Kids on the Block” and I never imagined she’d ever be more in love than she was with Donnie Wahlberg. Alas, the heart heals. I doubt a soul at the wedding missed the shimmy because you could hear folks all over the sanctuary snickering. This I promise you: no one there could accuse either one of those two people of being dragged down that aisle.

*Looking around that beautiful candlelit room at the restaurant-reception and seeing so many people we love celebrating there with us: our families, our best buddies, our LPM sisters and many of their handsome husbands, our dearest church friends, Melissa and Colin’s high school friends. People like Travis and Angela Cottrell who are like blood to us and who we love so much we could cry. Friends like Steve and Dixie who took time they didn’t have and came several thousand miles to stand with us. Seeing couples dance and even smooch that I’ve hardly seen hold hands before. A wedding is so good for an ailing romance.

*Dancing with my man. Knowing we’d ride home together. And feel things nobody else could feel with us. Good things. Tender things. God things.

*Feeling happy but a little lost about 1:00 AM that morning back at my house…then tiptoeing in to look at my grandson while he slept in his crib. And it was his second birthday. And thinking how life really does go on. And how right it is for them to grow up. But maybe not so fast.

And those are good things for me to be thinking right about now as I sit on the tiny porch of Melissa’s apartment while the movers busy themselves packing everything she owns. Some things are meant to be felt.

Love big.

On behalf of the Moores, Joneses and Fitzpatricks, thank you so much for entering into this wonderful and important season of our lives. We do not take your love lightly nor your prayers sparingly. May God throw you a surprise party of your own. We are humbled to be your servants.

PS. DJ, you are smarter than a fifth grader to your siestas. How dare they?

Before Girls Night Out.




Jill, Melissa, and Erin at Cafe Adobe.


Outside the limo.


Inside the limo.


Picking up Liz from the airport.


The cake present. Each box was wrapped in satin. This was from someone who has been a mentor to my sister and it had all kinds of wonderful things inside - crystal, silver, and other treasures from her own home.


Spa extravaganza.


Lunch with the bridesmaids and the bridesman.


They weren't lying when they called it a pear salad.


Serving up the good stuff.


Jackson enjoying breakfast in Pappaw's chair.


The Bride getting all dolled up.


The Moore girls. I really liked my hair from the side.


The Moore men: Joe, Ben, and Mike Meadows; my dad and my grandpa.


My little fam. For now this is the only pic I have of us or of Jackson.


The highly anticipated dance.


Another sweet dance.


The Cottrells and the Fitzpatricks. And I believe the song I mentioned earlier was "Forevermore." Travis, correct me if I'm wrong.


Stealing a kiss.


M-O-B also stands for Mother of Beanie. Here she is after the wedding, cooking dinner for her four-legged daughter. (Beanie has a bone disease that gets worse if she eats carbs, so she's on a special diet.)


Beanie was ready for her sisters to fly the coop so she could rule the roost again.


After removing a few bobby pins, my awesome Queen Amadala hairdo looked like a Grand Ole Opry special. We felt the need to document this unique moment in my life.

Wedding Weekend Recap

What a weekend. My baby sister is married and is sitting on a beach with her new husband. I spoke to her for 2.5 seconds on Monday morning and she was about to lay out and get a drink with a little umbrella in it. She sounded so happy.

I guess I should start from the beginning. Jackson, thank God, never got sick with a stomach bug that hit Curt and I right before the big week. We were able to travel to Houston on Wednesday as planned. I didn't make it to MOPS that day, but inside I knew I probably wouldn't. I had my last personal training session and although the whole thing was really challenging, I will miss it. I love what it did for my arms and legs. I may ask Curt for a punching bag and some boxing gloves for Valentine's Day, which we haven't celebrated yet.

THURSDAY

The wedding gears started turning on Thursday. That morning Mom and I swore that we would not eat at any restaurant that we liked, nor would we eat any food that we really wanted. We had to focus on the goal of looking as good as possible in our dresses. So we planned on devoting ourselves to Jason's Deli (which we prefer not to frequent). We never made it there once. Instead, we got chicken tender salads at Chick-fil-a. We both hate eating salads. I actually ate two salads last week and that should show anyone who knows me the depth of my sacrifice. In our despair, we swore that Sunday would be known as Fat Sunday. We would eat anything and everything that we wanted in celebration of having met our wedding fitness goals. We could not wait.

That afternoon my mom picked up two of Melissa's bridesmaids from the airport and got them checked in to the Hilton. Thus began the whirlwind. Melissa and I met the girls at their hotel at 7 p.m. for Girls Night Out. Then we went to Cafe Adobe on Westheimer for dinner. (It was Valentine's night, so we were really limited in where we could go. We would have loved America's.) The diet was out the window. After that we went to the Dessert Gallery. We had some yummy treats and then headed to the airport to pick up another bridesmaid. It might not sound like that exciting of a night, but we did all of this in a black limo and it was extra fun! Melissa and I got home at 11:30 and found a really cool gift waiting for her there. It looked like a wedding cake. We had to open it up immediately. That was such a fun moment.

FRIDAY

The next morning my lovely, blessed, beloved mother-in-law and sister-in-law flew in and became Jackson's primary caregivers for the weekend. It was amazing. I cannot convey the amount of stress it took off me. What a blessing. Curtis was in charge of the ceremony, so we really did need some help. That it could be family was just perfect! Especially since Jackson's birthday was Sunday.

At 9 a.m. on Friday, Melissa and I picked up the bridesmaids and we all went to Norris of Houston Spa and Salon for mani-pedi's and 30 minute massages, compliments of the M-O-B. She is a generous lady, that M-O-B! Afterward we had lunch at the Backstreet Cafe. I had never been there before. The food was great. I had cheese grits and shrimp. Oh my word. Yes, the diet was definitely out the window. The last bridesmaid to arrive came during lunch, as did Melissa's BFF from Wheaton, Kevin. He was basically a bridesman, but he was there to read Scripture in the wedding. Melissa had been very intense but when he got there she was able to relax and laugh like her normal self. I think it also helped that she knew every last person had made it safely. I'm sure Kevin loved being the only man at the bridal luncheon. Thankfully it was not your traditional, Southern bridal luncheon.

At that point I was nearly comatose from exhaustion, but I had to go pick up Melissa's bridal portrait and convince the photographer to give me a digital file to put on the blog. Mission accomplished. They were so accommodating. When I saw her portrait it was like a bolt of lightning hit me. I was stunned by how gorgeous she was. Every single person in my family had the same reaction. Especially my dad. I'll never forget how he gasped, took a step backward, and put his hand on his heart.

On Friday night my whole family hopped in my hubby's suburban and headed completely across town in rush hour traffic. We were late to the rehearsal, of course. We all recalled being late to mine, too. What can you do? The rehearsal was painless. Afterward we went to Ouisie's Table for the rehearsal dinner. Besides my own, it was the neatest rehearsal dinner I've ever been to. What a neat restaurant and what good food! Yes, I know. The diet. Oh well. I was seated with my Pappaw and he and I have always loved to eat chicken fried steak together. Yes, I ate a CFC the night before the wedding. I hate myself. One time in jr. high, when I had super human metabolism, I spent spring break with my Memaw and Pappaw. Somehow that week I managed to eat CFC every single day. Someone turn me in to the Guinness people.

Melissa and Colin did the neatest thing during their rehearsal dinner. Colin works for the company that owns Marble Slab Creamery and he sells franchises for them. So Colin had an actual marble slab, along with lots of sweet cream ice cream and strawberries, brought to the restaurant. At the end of the meal, he and Melissa put on little Marble Slab aprons and served ice cream to all of their guests. If you've never been to Marble Slab before, they scoop out the ice cream and mash it on the slab with the strawberries or whatever other topping you get. It makes it taste so good. I didn't have any ice cream, so three cheers for me.

We headed home and put the bride to bed. We were all so tired already and the big day wasn't even here yet.

SATURDAY

The next morning Melissa woke up at 5:00 and couldn't go back to sleep. Bless her heart. Mom, figuring that any repercussions wouldn't show up that day, got a huge box of Shipley donuts and kolaches for us for breakfast. She had a severe case of Moorder (which is when the Moore's order more than they need. We do it every time) and managed to spend $25 on donuts. The cashier nearly threw confetti on her.

A limo took Mom, Melissa, and me to the church and we started getting ready. The wedding was at South Main Baptist Church by the way. (HFBC was booked for that date.) Wow, it does not get prettier than that for a Baptist Church. So beautiful. It is so dumb how early you have to get ready for weddings. It just makes for such a long day, although I don't know how you get around it. It was like pulling teeth for Melissa to push back the time as much as she did. A makeup and hair person was there to take care of us. She was wonderful. We went through every single emotion in the hours that followed: joy, bliss, stress, nervousness, nausea, and excitement. Once Melissa got her hair done and the flowers arrived, she was able to settle down a bit. We played the CD I had made for our Girls Night Out and it lightened the mood. I felt bad playing "Let's Get It On" in a church, but when you have a couple who has put off relations until their wedding night, you get to be lighthearted and happy about it. God wanted them to get it on. And that's all I have to say. Thank You, Jesus.

Right before the ceremony began, we made a circle around Melissa and her friend Erin prayed. Erin immediately started crying and Mom and I looked at each other and whispered, "Don't do it!" I had to look up and keep my eyes open to control myself. Soon they called mom out and then it was time for the rest of us. I was suddenly very nervous. The fact that Curt was doing the ceremony added to my nerves. When we got to the foyer, Travis Cottrell was singing "Forevermore." Lis and I watched through a small window and I could tell that Travis could see us. Melissa was pumping her fists in the air because how can you not when you hear Travis sing? It was a-w-e-s-o-m-e. Those 3 minutes were my favorite of the whole weekend. That is the snapshot I will keep in my heart.

I walked down the aisle and the flower girl quickly followed. She waved to everyone like a beauty queen and it was so precious. Then out came Dad and Melissa. I can't describe my emotions to you. I was about to burst. I was half laughing, half crying (without tears because I did not want to mess up my makeup), and half wanting to pump my own fist in the air. (Don't judge my math.) They were a gorgeous pair and they were headed to a very excited groom. I loved watching Colin's face. He always looks at her so lovingly. The ceremony was short and sweet and very meaningful. I thought Curtis did a great job.

After pictures, we headed to Brennan's of Houston for the reception. Everything looked amazing. My sister had worked so hard and the atmosphere was incredible. I could not believe how beautiful it was. Her colors were brown and white and there were lanterns at the center of each table. The table linens were spectacular and all the chairs were covered. Brennan's is a New Orleans restaurant and the look of the ballroom "evokes visions of a New Orleans carriage house with vaulted ceilings, skylights, and crystal chandeliers." I just copied that from the web site.

For dinner we had lobster bisque, salad, steak and fish, bananas foster, wedding cake, and groom's cake. It was out of control. A quartet played music through dinner. At that time, Jackson had a moment to shine on the dance floor with our cousin Carleigh, a.k.a. the cutest flower girl ever. Soon Melissa and Colin danced to "The Luckiest" by Ben Folds Five. They looked very happy. Then Lis and Dad danced to "My Girl." They did so good! When Colin and his mom danced, I nearly cried thinking of Jackson and I looked over at Johnnie, who is my mom's BFF and mom to two grown sons, and she was bawling. Everyone gave her a hard time but I think it's just tender being a boy mom.

The DJ played old, classic slow-dance songs. The dance floor was full every time I looked over at it. It was fun seeing the guests enjoy themselves. It was also just really special to have such close friends there with us.

The best man and I each gave a toast toward the end of the night. I was super nervous, but tried not to care that my hands were obviously shaking as I read my speech off a piece of paper. I'm too tired to try and write it all out and I'm not sure I would anyway, but Melissa said she liked it. I was glad I got to do it.

Soon it was time for Colin and Melissa to go. Since we were at a restaurant, there wasn't really a way to throw flower petals at them as they rushed out to the car. Instead, people said goodbye to them in the reception room. They had to go down a big staircase to exit and of course Mom, Dad and I, along with Colin's family, went down to see them off. I made it down first and there were some people sitting in a lounge at the bottom of the stairs. They were marveling at the beautiful princess coming down the stairs and I looked at them and said, "That's my baby sister!" I was so proud.

It was raining when we got outside and Colin held a huge umbrella over his new bride. They were so sweet. Then they got into their limo and were whisked away! We left shortly after and we have been thinking and talking about it ever since. It was a wonderful weekend and a magical night. The Lord truly blessed us.

We had no idea there were tornado watches or warnings around town. The Lord made us completely oblivious. For that I am so thankful! The weather didn't have much of an impact on things, except that we had to adjust our hairstyles accordingly. I had planned on wearing mine down, but definitely not in that weather.

I have more to say and show, but I am all typed out for now! And I'm saving Jackson's stories for later.

That had to have been the world's longest wedding recap. Well, it was my baby sister's wedding! What did you expect?

Just a Glimpse

Hi Siestas! I'm just dropping by for a minute to say good morning and let you all know that we had an incredible weekend. Thank you all for your prayers and kind words! The bride and groom were stunningly beautiful and oh so happy. We are still recovering this morning from an exciting weekend. Jackson's birthday was yesterday, so we had some more celebrating to do.

In a few hours my crew and I will head back home and then I will have some more pictures to share. Until the photographer and our friends send us pictures from the ceremony and reception, we will be a little limited in our offerings.

In case anyone was wondering how I managed to post a picture during the actual wedding, my sweet friend Sunni did that for me. We were so excited to get to do that! At about 12:30 a.m. I checked into the blog and, by faith, just moderated all the comments at once without reading them. (I have since gone back and read all of them and they were so sweet!)

Mom and I both have lots to say and I promise you will hear from us soon. In the meantime, I have to share this picture with y'all that my Aunt Mary took. I love it so much! May God bless each one of you who prayed with tons of joy and favor today. We love you!

Mrs. Colin Fitzpatrick

Wedding Week - Installment 2

Awhirl in tulle!

Busy as bees!

Had to work both Monday and Tuesday because of Tuesday night Bible study. (Melissa even worked Monday) My Pastor has been so gracious to wait until the day after we finish our series to begin the much-needed remodeling process on our sanctuary. Knowing we have an immovable deadline to finish up, there simply was not a week we could cancel class. It was so hard to concentrate and to get notes and handout ready in the midst of many other items on our wedding checklist but God graced us with His Presence last night in spite of divided loves and loyalties. I awakened with overwhelming gratitude in my heart to Him this morning and felt a huge release to do absolutely nothing but wedding. So here's a report since installment #1. Melissa's list is too long to even recount but I'll tell you what we've been up to:

*Monday evening: Made one of the funnest and funniest memories of our lives at dance class. As long as I live, I will never forget our male instructor slow dancing with Keith to sharpen his technique. I made sure Yancy (our able and enthusiastic teacher) knew that Keith and I may not know how to fox trot and rumba, but make no mistake, we shone like the sun under the light of a disco ball.

*Tuesday afternoon: Lis and I met before Bible study at the photographer's studio and picked out portrait. Incredible memory. With one hand I held proofs of a regal young woman in a white ball gown and with the other, I hugged a darling little girl in a t-shirt and jeans and almost no make-up who looked about 15 years old. The contrast blessed me so.

*Headed to Bible study via the Starbucks. Barely made it in time to get ready. Praise God, He was already there and fully prepared. Even before I walked on the platform, my mind was totally distracted and confounded. I couldn't even think how to start the lesson but when I hit my knees before that Houston group I love so much, God brought instant - I do mean INSTANT - clarity to my thoughts and I was more caught up in the lesson than anyone. I probably needed it most. Oh, the mercies of Him who loves us so!

*Late last night: Melissa headed to the airport to pick up her groom. Remember, he's been in Atlanta throughout the engagement. They've only seen each other a handful of times in the last month and a half. Someone else was supposed to go get him because her hands were so full with a jillion things but she couldn't stand not to be the one. They were ecstatic to be together. In love if anyone ever has been.

*Today: Got up early for prayer time then did my Breaking Free homework. Then me, Beanie, and Sunny met Melissa and Colin at the county courthouse at 8:00 AM with her birth certificate and her passport so they could get their marrige license. Got the documents out of my safety deposit box a few days ago but her apartment is turned upside down with boxes as she prepares to move and I was afraid they could get lost in the inevitable turmoil. As I drove there this morning, I was also worried there might be a long line of couples because of all the weddings on Valentine's Day but, alas, Lis and Colin called me thirty minutes later with the glee of four year-olds and told me they had their license. I enthusiastically assured them that did not mean they were married yet. Heehee. Having to watch them close. They are ready to get married.

I'm back home now and about to throw some rollers in this hair, gather up Melissa's gown and veil and head back to the seamstress so she can put final touches on it and steam and press it for Saturday. Melissa's heading to her hair appointment to get a few fresh highlights. That should have gone without saying.

The remainder of the day is packed with one task after another. So much to do that Lis has to go one direction and I have to go another but we will talk every five minutes like we've been doing for twenty-five years. It's a beautiful crisp cold day in Houston so I'll enjoy being out and about. My friend, Priscilla Shirer, sent me a new worship CD and I can't wait to bask in it through my comings and goings. God deserves praise today.

Amanda and our almost-two-year old darling grandboy get into town early evening and we can't wait to get them here. I'll leave you today with something Amanda said yesterday that has made Lis and me laugh ever since. I was telling her that I'd seen a mock-up of the programs and that Melissa honored Jackson as "Honorary Ring Bearer." Amanda said, "But she really doesn't mean for him to actually do it, does she? Because, Mom, we'll have to throw a ball down the church aisle so he'll chase it down to the front. That's the only way we'll get him up there." I keep picturing it. No, he's not really doing it. But he IS putting on a fancy suit and playing in the church halls with his Nana (Curtis's mom) during the wedding then coming to the reception! Then again, if while they're playing in the halls, a ball should get away from Nana, who knows who might be running down that aisle???

Fun days. Thanks for sharing it! The Moores love you and cherish your love for us! Christ in you, the hope of Glory!

No time to spell or grammer check! Shoot fire. Just realized I don't know what I'm wearing to rehearsal dinner. Wear something I already have? Don't make me do that! Please don't make me do that! OK, well, I may do that. Depends on how the day goes. May have to work in a quick stop by the Steinmart today.

Wedding Week - Installment 1

Two things. One, the suit Jackson is wearing this weekend arrived on my doorstep today. Oh my word, it is out of control cute. He hasn't tried it on yet but I know I will not be able to take my eyes off either one of my men that night!

Two, my mom needed to have a really effective workday today, so I have tried not to call her all day. We just spoke and I was given a very juicy piece of information. Right now she and my dad and sister are on their way to have private dance lessons. Dance lessons. Wow. I am so tickled about this. If only I could be a fly on the wall in that room tonight! Mom said she wished Curt and I could be there, but I assured her that it would be the quickest way to send us into couples therapy. (There's a reason we didn't have a dance at our wedding reception.)

Mom wanted you all to know that she would not be needing lessons if they were going to dance to 80's aerobic music. Man, that was selfish of Melissa not to pick any songs that my mom could make a routine to! There's just no end to the abuse of the Mother of the Bride!

To Melissa

My Darling Melissa,

One week from today you will turn into Cinderella for a night and walk down that aisle to your handsome Prince Charming and in the blink of an eye turn from a Miss to a Mrs.…and not just for a night. For the rest of your life. Several days later while you and Colin are on your honeymoon, I will meet the movers at your apartment and see your things off to Atlanta where the two of you will begin your lives together. I have no idea what is ahead but of this I am certain: Colin will not be bored. We certainly never have been.

That you are such a whirlwind and always have been is why your sudden presence and sudden absence is always so jarring. You don’t just love a four-shot Grande Non-fat Cappuccino, Honey. You are one. But make no mistake. Not a dry one. You’ve always been a force. Sometimes a force that needed a spanking but usually a force that needed applauding. What an amazing young woman you are is evident is countless ways, not the least of which is that you’ve waited till your wedding for certain joys though you were born with a rebellious streak a mile long and to such inarguably flawed parents. You are five feet nine-inches of delicious dichotomy. Both intense and hilarious. With the temper of a panther and the passion of a ten-pound pack of firecrackers in a candle store. With the look a fashion mogul and a weakness for muscle cars. You have to be with people…then you have to get away from them. You are the same one who grew up to say to me emphatically, “I disagree with you on that,” with one breath and, “I’m obsessed with you,” with the next. You have the prowess of an athlete and the mind of a scholar. A contemporary theological thinker…with liturgical taste.

Where on earth did you come from?

Things are quieting down after four whirlwind months of wedding planning and I am letting myself feel the full emotion of the occasion today…so we can save next Saturday for rejoicing. Your sister is feeling it, too. She just called with tears – not the mournful kind but the sentimental kind, the awed kind – and said the same words with which I began this letter, “A week from today, Mom!” Twenty-five years ago, that romantic little idealist got more than she bargained for in a baby sister and wouldn’t trade you for anybody else’s boring sibling for anything in the world. The same one who finally – after years of provocation – hauled off and hit you when you guys were teenagers will stand beside you next Saturday and take your bouquet as Colin slips a wedding band onto your finger. You will be loved dearly by every young woman on that platform a week from today…but by none so much as her. She alone will be able to stand beside your parents and wave and flash-back to a thousand family snap-shots, both beautiful and painful, as you drive away from the reception with your groom.

“The four Moores,” we’ve always called ourselves. Crazy as loons. Thick as thieves.

How many times have I said, “Melissa Moore? ME-LIS-SA MOORE!”? Your four-syllable name sounded like four notes ascending in brisk staccato on a keyboard from Middle C to F. A week from today Melissa Moore will become Melissa Moore Fitzpatrick. (And, no, for the five-hundredth time, you cannot hyphenate your name.) With that wonderful addition to your name come a bounty of additions to our lives. We are crazy about Colin, Honey. You were right about him. He is wonderful and so kind. How blessed could I be to have two sons-in-laws like Curtis and Colin? Remember when you told your sister that you weren’t going to marry until you found a man that loved you like her man loves her? I do believe you happened on him, didn’t you? Married life is hard, Baby Girl, but it is good. We commend you into Colin’s arms and bid that you would never leave them…nor ever threaten to. You will inevitably fight but you can make the choice to fight well. Fights are worth having when they’re for your marriage. And for one another. Never stay mad. Be people who kiss and make-up quick.

No time to keep carrying on. After all, I’ve got somewhere to go. In just a few hours, I’ll meet you at the studio for your bridal portrait. I’ll zip you into your dress and help you put on your shoes under all those blinding layers. I’ll place your veil in your hair and clasp your necklace. As you put on your earrings, I’ll laugh with you over the fun we had at Saks Fifth Avenue getting them for what we thought was a fortune and the clerk thought was pocket change. (I could have sworn he rolled his eyes and sniffed as we high-fived. Maybe we should have waited till we got in the car.) Today I’ll also probably tell you to put on a little more lipstick. And you probably won’t. Next week we’ll do it all for keeps and I’ll have a second chance to smooth your veil and bustle your hem. That glorious day you will be Mr. Colin Daniel Fitzpatrick’s bride. Today, in this mother’s heart, however, you are just my baby girl playing dress-ups.

Go forward, Darling Child, with this public blessing and commendation to flee the proverbial nest and fulfill the plan God has for you and your man. It is right. It is good. And we rejoice withholding absolutely nothing. Thank you for the ride…and for the promise of many more as the family vehicle gets bigger and bigger. I place you in the hands of your faithful Creator and nod with reassurance of His love for you. I’ve seen Him shamelessly demonstrate it countless times. Your dad and I will miss the intensity of the relationship we’ve shared these many wonderful years with you. Our appropriate loss will be exceeded, however, by the ecstatic joy of you having married well. And, oh, the beautiful sight of your smiling face coming down the escalator at Houston Intercontinental Airport when Mrs. Colin Fitzpatrick flies home for a few days to see her parents. I’ll have the comforts on the stove.

Until then, on those Georgia mornings when you awaken and every now and again wish you were little once more and upstairs in parents’ home, if you’ll listen very carefully, you will hear a voice down deep in your heart saying, “Good morning, Little Sweetie. This is the day the Lord has made!” And you’ll feel right at home.

“I’ll love you forever, I’ll like you for always. As long as I’m living my baby you’ll be.”

Mom




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So Here Are The Goods

Hey, Darling Siestas!

I'm going to give you some of the goods on the wedding but first I must thank you so much for your prayers yesterday as we launched the revised version of Breaking Free here in Houston. WE FELT THE INTERCESSION! God brought us the most incredible group. They were a little timid but, actually, that's a good sign. It means a lot of them really are new to the environment and that's what we want! They should warm up in no time. I was so happy to see tons of new faces. A good number of older teenagers and college age girls, too. I want so much to see young women deal with their stuff with Jesus before they make huge life-altering decisions - like who they want to marry. I'm asking God to go ahead and weed out (and send to another Bible study) the (precious and dearly loved) ones that are just coming to come and leave us with the ones serious about BREAKING FREE even as early as next week. (That process usually takes about three weeks but I'm asking God to nail down our group quickly this time so we can begin to gel as a group and get that freedom train moving.)

If you have much familiarity with the studies, you probably know this is the one dearest to me because it is my life message and I had to fight the enemy and my past so ferociously to write it. It is the dearest and most personal thing that God has ever entrusted to me and a testimony of our journey together out of my grotesque bondage. It represents the deepest pain and highest joy of my life. Although Believing God (really Breaking Free, Part 2) is my favorite of the studies because it was the most fun for me (Esther, close 2nd!), Breaking Free is the one that is closest to my heart. As God brings us to mind, please continue to pray for Him to work miracle after miracle among the women in our group and to set captives free so thoroughly that they will never return to bondage. Thank you so much for caring for our home girls. They mean the world to me.

NOW, I do believe you and I have bigger fish to fry! WEDDING DETAILS! OK, let me tell you a little about how things transpired. Melissa and Colin knew each other (or more accurately - about each other) in high school. He was a year older but they passed each other in the halls and had a few mutual friends. Years passed. He went to school in New York State where he did his undergrad and grad work while she did the same in Chicago. A little over a year ago, their paths crossed again. I have never seen her more intrigued by anyone. She waited a while before she started bringing him around Keith and I so that she could keep us uninvolved until she knew if it was worth getting our radars up. (We're a VERY close family. Grin. And we don't keep our opinions to ourselves (even Curtis). So, in our family, if you don't want it openly discussed, you'd better keep it to yourself. And even then, we're probably going to be onto it. Because we can tell when someone looks guilty. Nothing but God is sacred at our house. And privacy? What the heck is that?????)

Quit getting me side tracked. Anyway, he's a businessman but his love-of-a-hobby is music and he writes, sings, and plays the guitar. The blend of business and art in him was just more than Melissa could resist. She also said something I found so hilarious that I laughed and slapped my knee for fifteen minutes. When I began to see that she was really falling for him (and we still had barely gotten to meet him), I said, "Honey, what is it you like so much about him?" (Translation: How can you like anyone that much that your parents don't even know? I thought we were closer than this.) She said, "Mom, he is the kindest person I've ever known." Then she paused a second, looked me straight in the eye, and blurted, "And he thinks TULIP is a flower." (TULIP is the acrostic for the five points of Calvinism. Melissa dearly loves the academic side of Bible study and, in the right setting, enjoys a good, healthy doctrinal debate but she adamantly did not want to marry it.) In other words, she found him completely refreshing. He's fairly new to this whole wild world of serious theology and is, in countless ways, a tremendous breath of fresh air to us.

And he liked her, too. She's such a (Godly) wildcat, she kinda gets under your skin.

Little by little, particularly since Melissa lived in Chicago, we got to know Colin and fell totally in love with him like she did. He looks you dead-on in the eyes when he talks to you and I like that in a person. He smiles easy and is fun to get tickled. He also didn't need our family to be perfect which was a relief. Colin has one of the sweetest servant-hearts I've ever seen in anyone. And Beanie liked him. We always do the Beanie test. She has very good taste. (You might think I'm overlooking Sunny but you need to know that Sunny doesn't like anyone but immediate family...and some of those more than others. Visitors are just extra baggage for her to have to guard. She finds their company exhausting and annoying and prefers to wait outside and bark until they're gone.) Importantly, Colin also liked Beanie and, had he not, that would have been the end of the family favor.

Oh, man! I'm running out of time! Just about to have a staff meeting! So I'll make the rest quick. Last October Colin took his life into his own hands and approached Keith to ask for Melissa's hand. This is the truest test of intent. Keith is - how shall I say? - terrifying. Very protective of his girls. But he likes Colin. Just can't help himself. So he relented and gave his blessing. Soon after that, Colin quietly and privately proposed to Melissa. That's his way and we're good with that. We'd rather him be more dramatic with his commitment than his proposal. We want a big love that lasts a lifetime. Not a big show that lasts thirty minutes.

We waited to announce it to you until the invitations went in the mail. We wanted you to be surprised (thanks for being so much fun about it! We read every comment!) and feel VERY invited to the wedding through your prayers. Melissa has chosen to have a smaller, more intimate church wedding than Amanda's (still called the Cinderella Ball at our house) because she wanted to serve a sit-down dinner to her guests at the reception. So, that's exactly what we're going to do and we are thrilled.

Does that satisfy a little curiosity? I'm tickled you wanted to know. I'm like that, too. I'm a hopeless romantic if you'll ever find one. You know what, Siestas? Amanda, Melissa, and I love you so much. We really, really do. One by one, you've stolen each of our hearts. You're such a blast to do life with. I may not have met you in person but I know so many of your "names" and even a little about you from your comments and, at this point, would even recognize many of your faces from your blogger pictures. I'd call that real. Have a blast with Jesus today! He's so worthy of your highest romance!

Requesting the Honour