Just a Mom of Big Kids

  What a day. Rae has been training for 6 months to run the Grand Rapids marathon, and today was the day.  While there were hours of running to prepare for today, that isn't what this is about. While there were many many phone calls about running adventures, trails, and times, that isn't what this is about. While the marathon took her through her most favorites city in Michigan with her favorite places along the route, that isn't what this is about. While she had her best cheering section, filled with her boyfriend, her siblings, her friends, even that isn't what this is about. It's about John. John and Rachel were running near each other practically the whole race. She'd pull a little ahead, then he would, but throughout the 26 miles, they started talking. Two complete strangers, with nothing in common except that they ended up near each other today, encouraging each other. Laughing at their training- or lack of... just basically passing miles in short conversa...

Can you really sum up such a great day in a blog post? Probably not, but at least I can forever look back and remember the feelings we had this day.  You see, Caroline, Holly (Jack's mom) and I didn't actually live anywhere near each other for the year before this day. But Holly (who is amazing and organized and thrifty and smart) and Caroline (who is easy going and easy to please) did the lion's share of the work. I ordered supplies on Amazon, listened to to-do lists, prayed a lot, helped with what I could, and then rolled into town a week before the wedding. Somehow, Holly had it all together...there was a purpose, a plan, lots of hugs, not too many tears, and so many smiles my cheeks hurt. But all the collaboration, planning, and praying led up to this...... after 7 years in the waiting, Caroline and Jack got married. The girls got ready at Jack's house, while Jack and the boys were at his aunt's house. There wasn't much stress, but there was music, singing, ...