If God allows, 2016 will be a busy year.
We have two weddings coming up this summer.
The weddings will be two weeks apart.
I will be both the mother of the bride and the mother of the groom; I couldn’t be more pleased.

My son was engaged two-and-a-half weeks before my daughter.
My daughter’s wedding is two weeks before my son’s.
In a large family, that is always the way.
There is always something to be celebrated and a milestone to be recognized.

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She comes to Bible study with her grandmother.
She comes every time.
She loves to play with the toys in my basement.
The same toys my children played with are still going strong for a new generation.

She likes to come to Miss Gina’s house.
I like when she comes.
She enjoys playing with the other children.
She has her favorite things to play with and plays well with others.

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As a girl, I used to go Christmas caroling.
Thanks to social media, an old picture resurfaced as evidence.
It also brought those of us in the picture back together again.
We each knew the whereabouts of someone else in the group.

The moment from all those years ago is now frozen in time.
I remember going back to one of the older girl’s house.
Her mother had hot chocolate and cookies waiting for us.
One picture brought back a flood of memories.

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In a few hours, my dear friend from high school is going to bury her mother.
She and I lost touch over the years as life moved us both on.
As only God could orchestrate so perfectly, I was able to get to her mother’s visitation.
I was not able to stay for the entire service but we have reconnected and I am so glad.

There were three of us that were seemingly inseparable for a time in our high school years.
One friend would be my maid of honor.
The other is a part of so many wonderful memories.
As was usually the case, I towered over each of these friends with my tall height.

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A mother of young children never seems to see the light at the end of the tunnel.
She is in a sea of diapers, late night feedings, potty training, and scraped knees.
Enjoy it; it goes by so fast, falls on deaf ears.
They don’t know what they’re talking about, she thinks with annoyance.

I will always be changing diapers.
I will always be getting up for the late night feedings.
No, you won’t!
Believe me, you won’t!

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Every year I wonder if this will be the year.
Every year I make a mental note of our Christmas decorations.
I set them up in my mind.
I see the house decorated before one thing is taken out of the bins.

It is my favorite time of the year.
The holiday season from Thanksgiving through New Year’s Day.
I am like a child when it comes to this time of year.
I anticipate decorating with great joy.

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The young mom was trying to schedule another appointment at the doctor’s office.
She had a baby in the stroller and a three-year-old boy alongside her.
She was trying to coordinate her schedule and check the calendar on her phone.
Her little boy smiled at me.

I smiled back and a bond was formed.
The kind of bond that happens in an instant and lasts only for a moment.
It was there nonetheless.
He knew he had an audience.

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How much is that doggie in the window?
The one with the waggly tail.
How much is that doggie in the window?
I do hope that doggie’s for sale.

I sang that song over and over as a little girl.
There were more verses that I would sing in the car with my mother and my aunt.
My aunt always had a flare for the dramatic and would hold the last note of the refrain.
She would hold it until my mother told her to stop.

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We met for breakfast.
Three friends who grew up together.
Three friends who would not have reconnected had it not been through social media.
Three friends who lived near each other all these years and never knew.

My two friends share the same first name.
Each spells it differently.
One is Cathy with a C.
The other is Kathy with a K.

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My cell phone rang.
It did not hear The Walton’s theme song so I knew it was not my family.
I looked and saw that it was a call from the place where I get my hair cut.
They were calling to remind me of my appointment the next day.

If I’m out running errands or my phone is on silent the message goes to voicemail.
But this time, I was in the kitchen and the phone was right there.
This time I answered the call.
The voice on the other end seemed startled.

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