I think it worked out. Sure, we had no cold beverages for the first half hour of the party, and everyone was trying to greet me while I was figuring out how to manage the dreadful and unexpected situation – my mom forgot to out the cold beverages in the fridge, where I had cleared out space for her yesterday specifically to put them last night, and we had almost no ice to gel the situation either. But I pulled out some big San Pellegrino bottles and a bottle of Martinelli’s sparkling apple cider from the outside fridge that had been there from our wedding, as well as some of the small plastic cups from the wedding, and that helped immensely until a family friend was able to go down the road and get us some bags of ice. Oddly, my mom had seemed almost disinterested in resolving the issue, though she had straight up caused it. She was just so focused on everything else on her list that was behind schedule (like having the food out and ready, as well as all the hot beverages out and ready), it seemed like her brain just didn’t care to process that no one even had water to drink. However, we got it sorted and everyone seemed to settle in pretty well, both in the house and in the backyard.
The weather ended up being warmer than I had hoped, but it was, fortunately, still cool enough for folks to be outside period, and several sat around the table on the patio under the umbrella to chat for a while (and others explored and checked out the chickens!). I managed to chat with most people, but not all. I was sad not to talk with one old co-worker in particular. But I was still incredibly happy that he had come. I was also delighted to see how he seemed so mentally and emotionally well and comfortable within himself, as well as how well he looked physically. I have never seen him so well on either front, and it was awesome.
I also didn’t get to chat much with my husband’s family folks who attended, but I did at least get to interact for a couple minutes with each of them. I guess it was kind of the same with a lot of folks. But I was just so happy they were around me, just greeting them and having them there was a blessing for me, and I was grateful for their presence and their love.
It was extra-great to reconnect with a few folks, and I am very grateful to have had that opportunity. I hope to maintain those reconnections, as they are absolutely blessings, each of them!
My husband’s gathering went well, too.
Side note: Everyone st my party raved about the the food. Many complimented the décor, too. My mom did a great job (aside from the cold drinks and no-water mishap at the start), and people seemed very satisfied with the event. It went a touch long for some folks, and my quite a third left before we even did the guessing game or opened presents, but it made it all the nicer and more intimate for those two events. It was definitely fun at that point(!).
Anyway, apparently around 13 or so guys showed up at the beer garden to join my husband. Some family on both our sides, and some friends. And then, as he was wrapping things up, a friend who had left my party had joined her husband over there, and they and my husband and my brother all had a couple rounds together, just the four of them. Though I felt like I was missing out, I was happy just chilling with my family at the house post-party and chilling. And I’m really happy that they got to hang together like that after my husband’s thing.
The friend who joined them apparently told my husband to return the diapers his brother had given him. 😛 She said they barely work and that we would hate them, so definitely return them. I thought that was hilarious, and also so my friend. 😀
Thank you, God, for today and it’s love and successes. Thank you. Please, make me and the baby and my husband well, and keep us all three safe. Thank you for my family and their love. Keep them safe, too, please. And grant ease, please, to all who attended today and shared their love with us – May it return to them tenfold through your arms. In your name, I pray. Amen.
Post-a-day 2024
hannah ananas 