Gone, but not forgotten

So, like almost every other blogger in the world, I decided to take a vacation this past weekend & just enjoy life. We passed the days watching 100 episodes of Law & Order, debating what kind of junk food to eat and wishing that those lazy days would never end. I enjoyed my long weekend- so much so that I was dreading the thought of Tuesday- but knowing the summer is quickly approaching has made it easier to cope. I don't have much wedding news to report, it's been quiet in the world of matrimony lately. *knocking on wood*
If you care about my life outside of wedding planning, I enjoyed a mother/daughter tea with my New Mom & Sisters on Saturday. I absolutely loved it. Maybe because that sort of thing is new to me, or because of the wonderful company I had, I left with the most loving feeling in my little heart I just thought it would explode. I was in awe of how warm and accepting everyone has been of me. Not that I'm some kind of circus freak that would automatically be rejected, but I've known my fair share of mothers who were unwilling to part with their sons. I admire my NM for embracing me rather than seeing our marriage as losing him. She actually stood at the podium & addressed her daughters one by one (including me! wow!) and told us all how much she loved us. *I'm getting all choked up writing this...sigh* No one has ever done anything like that for me. I was always raised to assume your family loved you, just because they were family. It felt so validating to actually hear someone say it (in front of other people no less). My uber-talented sisters made me so proud, I feel so lucky to have fallen in love with not just a wonderful man, but a truly amazing family. I feel like I was adopted by the Oprah- without all of the zillions of dollars and stuff but with the awareness, caring and affection that makes a person feel at ease. Don't get me wrong, I love my family. I do. (I do...I just have to keep repeating that...lol) But there's just this whole other level of appreciation when you're given a choice in who you call family. And now I am done with my personal therapy session...
*climbing down from the soap box*