A Party, A Surprise Shower and a Marriage Blessing, (or: How We Spent Our Trip to San Antonio)

Joe and I returned this past Tuesday from a trip to San Antonio, Texas, where a large number of my family on my Mom's side resides. For those who don't know, Mom is the third of nine children, so I have many Aunts, Uncles and cousins from that side of the family (yes, NINE kids!! I can't imagine and I am only working on number one). I am able to visit about once a year, though I really wish it could be more. Usually the visit is around September or October for the annual "camp-in", when we celebrate my Grandparent's birthdays, (Poppie is turning 95 soon, and Mahgie just celebrated 91).

Before Mom, Toby, Joe and I headed out to the resort for the weekend-long party, we took advantage of the couple of hours we had free to see a little of the city. For posterity:

Remember The Alamo.

The all-weekend party was great, and this was the first time Joe had met this side of the family, which made the trip special already - but while we were there, my cousins threw me a surprise baby shower, and Poppie, who is a retired Catholic Deacon, was able to make time to bless our marriage in the Church.

The Shower
 
First, a big thank you, and I love you, to Heather, Kayleigh, Madeline, Aunt Cindy, et. al,  for a special surprise baby shower for me and Bean! A lot of thought went into the party, and it was so kind of you to think of me. The cake, gifts and decor were great:

The cake, (red velvet - delicious!) with the carved baby hand decorations that were displayed on each table.

Me, my hat, the gifts. Kayleigh made some great, festive head-wear for the occasion with headbands, feathers and ribbon. I would like to wear mine daily.

The Blessing

I have had the privilege of receiving all of my Sacraments, Baptism through Confirmation, from my own Grandfather, so it was a very special treat to have him bless our marriage as as well. It is a memory I will cherish for the rest of my life, and I owe a debt of gratitude to Mahgie and Poppie, my Mom, and all of those who were able to help with/attend the small ceremony and make this special day possible. For those of you who weren't able to be there, don't worry, I am determined that at some point there WILL be a party or reception in St. Louis, perhaps a vow renewal. I know it has been a few years delayed, but at least we have had good reasons (Iraq, Germany, now Bean).

Here are some photos from the day:

Poppie conducting the ceremony

 

 

 

Poppie, Mahgie, Myself, Joe

24 week Bump picture, so one day, Bean will know he was there.

It was a great day. It made me giggle a little to myself, though, thinking about how it must have looked to some of the other residents at Air Force Village: the six-months-pregnant-bride running about - little did they know we were already married!

If there is anything I would like most to take away from all of it though, it will be the myriad advice offered this weekend by my grandparents, who just recently celebrated their 69th wedding anniversary. Hopefully, a little of their good fortune rubbed off on us as well. Nine children, fifteen grandchildren, three (soon to be four), great-grandchildren, many military moves and a lot of love and hard work later, their bond is as strong as ever. I feel so grateful to be a part of it all. 

Joe and I will celebrate our third anniversary (although maybe we have two anniversaries now?) on October 12. Here's to the next 66 years.