Tuesday, August 24, 2010

After All This Time



Last Saturday night we celebrated Mike (hubby's brother) & Glo's 40th Anniversary!
They hosted a party that was wonderful! They renewed their vows and then the party began. There was great food and music and fun!

Once upon a time about 33 years ago there were 2 young girls that were recently divorced from their spouses. I had 2 small children and Gayle had 1 little boy. We shared an apartment and made a home for our children while dealing with things the best we knew how. I have not saw Gayle since then. We both went our ways and went on with life but I never ever forgot her. We both went through some rough times and were there for each other.

When we saw each other at the party it was just like we saw each other yesterday. Things have changed for both us since then. The most important thing is that we are both Christians. We have been emailing each other, but Saturday night was the first time we have saw each other in so long. We were both so excited. I have been blessed to be with my soul mate for 32 years. Gayle has now found hers. I am so excited for her.

After all this time the love story begins.
This is Bruce and this is Glo's (my sister in law's) brother.
Isn't this something? Bruce told me that he loved Gayle back in high school but she didn't know it.
Wow. We never know what life will bring us. Once, good friends and roommates and now we are kind of going to be family in a round about way. Bruce and Gayle are engaged! They both needed each other. Life brought them together. What a blessing! Can you tell that I am so excited?
Our children are grown and here we are full circle. I just know that there is a plan and I can't wait to see it all unfold. They both are wonderful people and we look forward to many many good times with them.
The band that played featured my niece Sanna and my nephew Schylar.
They are so talented. Here you can see "Baby Sanna" (as we call her) in her Tina Turner mode!
She was awesome!
I don't know why this picture is so small.
This is us with 2 of our daughters at the party.
Shannon (Trouble) & Maranda (Big Sis) helped with the party.
Unfortunately I had been sick last week with vertigo and could not help but I was so proud of my girls!
Here Sanna and Schylar are singing some of the oldies that Mike & Glo loved as they were dating.
I cannot even begin to describe to you how good they are.
I was taking pictures of Bruce and Gayle dancing when all of the sudden I looked up and there was my sweet honey with our Granddaughter, "Sweet Teen". Is she not beautiful?

Angel & Brother are having a ball dancing to the music.
They even had a hoola hoop contest!

Look here! This is mine & Glo's Mother in law!
She is dancing with Angel!

Grandmother ( my mother in law) out on the dance floor again.
She tried to get me to go out and dance with her!!!!
But she found her brother's wife and they had so much fun.
The funny thing about this wild woman is that she is 80 years old and she has a pacemaker.
They say that only 30% of her heart functions like it is suppose to after heart attacks.
She also has had back surgery and goes through a lot of pain because of it. But Saturday night was her night. We got the biggest kick out of her. She is so much fun and truly amazing!
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Snippets From My Heart
This party was to honor Mike & Glo for their 40th anniversary and what an example they are to all of us. They have a wonderful family and we are honored to be part of it. I was not feeling great at the party due to vertigo but as I looked around I realized how blessed that I am. I thought of my marriage of 32 years and realized we are not far behind them. Then I looked at my daughters that were there along with their families. I was so proud how my girls helped make this night special for Mike & Glo. I looked at my grandchildren having so much fun. The smiles on their faces told the whole story. I looked at Sweet Teen dancing with her Paw Paw and thought about how fast she is growing up and she will have her own story one day. Then getting to spend the evening with my very good friend after so many years and realize that we both had to go through so many things to get to where we are now. She was there for me and I was there for her when we didn't have anyone else. I know that the Lord has a plan for all of our lives if we open our hearts to see and hear what he has for us. I watched as Gayle and Bruce danced and laughed and just looked at each other with love in their eyes. How blessed we all are. I am so thankful. After all this time......

17 comments:

Sherry said...

What a wonderful story. I love hearning stories like this thanks for sharing.

Allie said...

What a special evening - it looks just magical, Val! That is so wonderful about your friend, congrats to her too!

webbsway said...

Awwwhhh, my dear Valerie,

You are so right about appreciating our blessings . We are so truly blessed. How precious that your friend has returned into your life. Isn't love the greatest gift of all.:)

Bruce said...

May God continue to bless you, Valerie. Gayle is so blessed to have a friend like you. Y'all need to stay in touch now. True friends are too hard to find and too easy to lose. Love, Bruce

Alice Grace said...

Looks like everyone had a great time! Congratulations to Mike and Glo, a wonderful couple!
The Grands are so cute dancing, especially Sweet Teen and Randy, her PawPaw!

Pat said...

Wonderful post with great photos! Thanks for sharing this special time and your thoughts about it and about your life, in general. May God continue to bless you with His goodness.

Amelia said...

Val, Fun party...music, food, and lots of enjoyable people to make this such a memorable event.

You are blessed!

quiltingnana said...

great story....it is amazing how people get together

My Colonial Home said...

What a great post Val,
How wonderful you two started out your young lives together and both ended up HAPPY and now are were able to see each other again.
Good true friends always pick up where they left off like there was no time missed in between.
Hugs, Karen

Needled Mom said...

This is a beautiful post, Val. Isn't life interesting? It looks like it was a wonderful event to celebrate a long standing love.

lindsey said...

Great post Valerie, and such a happy story about Gayle & Bruce. You should be very proud of your children and grandchildren and of yourself for all that you have put into their lives.

Connie said...

Beautiful story, God bless all!

Patty said...

Lovely pictures very touching story. Happy anniversary.

Midlife Mom said...

What a delightful post my friend! I so enjoyed reading it and hearing all about your friend from 'back in the day' and how you now are believers and have that bond as well as friendship!!! What a blessing!

That was a lovely party celebrating their 40th anniversary. We will have ours next May and I can hardly believe the years have flown by so quickly. So nice of your daughters to help make the party so special. Sorry you were having vertigo, it is awful isn't it?

Just read your last post too and I WILL be making those Crescent rolls soon!!! Thanks for putting in the recipe. I think I will add some garlic powder and serve them with spaghetti!

Take care! xoxoxox

Latane Barton said...

You have the neatest grandmas in your life. Going strong and living life. Something to aspire to.

Jenn said...

You are so blessed! I hope you realize that. I would do anything in this world to have my family back but it is destroyed and ripped apart due to divorce and dysfunction. I look at people like you (and others) and feel a small twinge of jealousy because I wish I had what you have...BUT, I am SOOOO HAPPY for you!! You are truly blessed to have your whole family be able to be in one room together and get along so wonderfully and be so happy. :0)

Unknown said...

Looks like fun! And what an awesome story. I love seeing the older people get out there and dance! Have a good weekend!