Beautiful Distractions & Beautiful People

Yesterday (Friday) I watched my little sister marry an incredible man. The couple was SURROUNDED by family and friends who love them - you could just feel what the two of them meant to everyone there. It was a beautiful day and we even answered the age old question, "how do you keep your wedding day stress to a minimum," - have 11 bridesmaids and make sure at least 30 to 40 percent of them are UBER bossy :) The day went off without a hitch - well, except for forgetting the wedding dress at the house and turning around for it because, let's face it, it's a pretty important piece of the puzzle. I also may or may not have accidentally left my sister at her rehearsal dinner :)

Anyway - there are several reasons I'm writing about the wedding, the first of them being I almost had to miss it as Cooper's surgery was initially scheduled for October 3. I was prepared, and my little sister was incredibly understanding, but God made it all work and I was honored to stand next to one of the people that means the most to me in this world! The second reason for writing about the wedding is that I met, talked to and truly connected with so many people - from my own family, to Brendan's family to even Sandy AND Brendan's friends - that reminded me that Perry, Cooper and I are NOT alone and that we are stronger than we know. The hugs, the cards and the brief conversations meant so much to me, and I know that God had a hand in creating a perfect day for Sandy and Brendan with some sprinkled bonuses for The Cunningham Family. I walked away with TWO very important tokens that I will no doubt have on hand Monday. The first, my little sister's 1927 penny - one of HER wedding gifts that she gave to me WITHOUT HESITATION -  (a long story but one that has everything to do with my granddaddy who passed away in 1999 - my heart still aches for his bear hugs and the way he made everything OK) and the second, my granddaddy's handkerchief (another long story) from my Uncle Brian who has kept it safe for moments like this when STRENGTH and COURAGE are needed. My Uncle Brian is a special man who has always treated me like his own little girl, so let's just say the exchange of the handkerchief was definitely an emotional one. The third reason for writing about the wedding is, it has been the BEAUTIFUL distraction that has kept me focused on something other than SURGERY DAY. From small jobs, to traveling, to a few busy days of helping with last-minute details (including ironing linens - that one's for you mom) and even a reception that I will not soon forget, I have welcomed being caught up by something fun and exciting. SO WHAT NOW???

I also wanted to take a second to THANK everyone for the phone calls, texts, cards, gifts, etc. We have received AT LEAST one card per day for the last few weeks - an incredible blessing and definitely a source of strength. On my last day of work last week, I opened a card filled with gift cards and gas money from coworkers that had pulled together to collect for my family and I, wanting to do SOMETHING, ANYTHING, to help us through. I was shocked and emotional, but I just kept thinking, "people are amazing and we are not alone in this." I was beyond touched by the gesture and still can't believe the generosity. Even my sister's best friend (who recently went through a similar scary surgery with her own little girl) slipped a card into our diaper bag after the wedding (I think - we just found it) to let us know that she is there and thinking of us. The title of this blog, "Beautiful Distractions & Beautiful People," is simple but also so perfect for the last few weeks.

So it's almost Sunday and I really just want time to stand still. As ready as I am to get things over with, I'm scared for my little boy and I'm having trouble not thinkng about all the things that we will see and do in the next week. I am strong and my faith is strong, but my baby is still my baby.

I have no doubt that people like you who are reading this right now are the ones getting us through, so please continue to pray. Pray specifically for strength and comfort and OF COURSE for the surgeon as he works and for Cooper as he heals, that he is comforted and that things are as easy as they can be for him. There are a lot of SCARY POTENTIAL effects of the surgery with very small percentages, some of which we won't know if they've occured until days later, but I can't get them out of my head and I want to be free from those thoughts, so if you could pray for that too, I would be so grateful.