It is an exciting day in the Thorn home. Our daughter Christina called us early this AM to announce that she is engaged. Images of the movie Father of The Bride, immediately entered my brain. Especially the scene at the dinner table when it appeared as if a 5 year old girl announced, "we are getting married".
This Magic Moment
We are excited and we are concerned. There are many things to be happy about and there are many things to worry about. I suspect that this is normal. We don't have much time to prepare. The wedding is planned for August 14th.
As the shock wears off, I find myself reflecting on my own story. Some of the things that were said at the time of our engagement are starting to make sense. The concerns of a parent are real to the parent, but totally unfounded for the couple being married. Together, Stacy and I formed a union that proved to be stronger than any of the concerns of our friends and family. I hope the same thing happens for Christina and Mike.
Choice
In a strange way, I feel very good about something. The man my daughter is marrying is not the man we would have chosen for her. Our hopes and dreams created a very different picture. That may sound harsh to admit, but I do not mean it in a critical way. I simply find myself feeling very happy that my daughter is making her own choices. To me, it is a sign of our success as parents.
We know, that our influence is still felt and respected. She knows of our concerns, we have discussed them openly with her. Despite our apprehensions, she is moving forward with her choice. That is the way it should be.
Life is Good!
I called each of my brothers and sisters this morning as soon as I got the news. We are a busy family, and I wanted to make sure that they got the date on their calendar so they could begin to plan. Each conversation was distinct. Some shared perspective, others shared advice and all shared hope. These conversations were different for me. In many ways they marked new beginnings.
During one conversation, I felt myself moving on into a new phase of life. I saw the exit door opening just a crack. I could see that my time is giving way to my children's time. Very soon, we will have 14 kids instead of 7 and many tiny voices will be calling us Grandma and Grandpa. I did not feel afraid by this vision, I felt excited.
And so it begins. it seems like only yesterday that we hunted through the mall for the very last Little Mermaid video and now we give our princess away. We are full of hope. We want the best for her, and we know we cannot give it to her. She must find it herself. To some, that may seem scary, but I wouldn't want it any other way. See you soon Grandma!
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