We convened, at 3pm, for a casual, Easter family dinner at the Olive Garden located, in Laurel. Bread was broken, jokes were shared, and good food was consumed. In short, a great time was had by all.
Little did any of us know, Grandma had tricks and treats up her sleeve. We were serenaded; both Dad and N, were celebrating their respective birthdays, additionally, we were pleasantly surprised when 2 chocolate mousse and ganache cakes, were delivered tableside.
Bread, eh hem, albeit in the form of chocolate mousse and ganache was broken once more, and a series of jokes and toasts were shared, in honor of, our Birthday Girl and Birthday Boy.
Afterwards we headed for the home of MomJ & DadJ. Grandma had yet another treat up her sleeve. She�d painstakingly taken the time to isolate photographs and slides of each of her grand children and had them set to music and created a video. Grandma�s project took a little over 6 years to complete, but we all sat, cheerfully and sometimes tearfully oo-ing and ah-ing at the video.
It was a delightful trip down memory lane, one which afforded me the deepest look yet, into the childhood memories of my best friend and sister T, our brother J, and our baby sister N and many of our cousins. Their photos made it evident to me, that they were loved tremendously, and that they were happy babies, who continued to grow into happy and balanced adults.
After the video, DadJ and N opened their presents. Dad told jokes and had us all laughing, our sides were sore from laughing the day before at T & D�s wedding and reception. N got a bunch of cards filled with money. This will come in handy, as she�s bound for college in less than a month.
All I can say is that T�s friendship has been a blessing and a complete reward for me. She has been an immeasurable friend, and a continued source of inspiration, love and support.
It is a truly blessed and equally beautiful thing, for me to have been invited into the deepest part of her family, more over, to be accepted and loved as if I were a blood relative. Their video gave me so many good feelings and powerful images. I can�t say that I�ve ever been loved on a level such as this before.
For lack of better words, My Spirit felt as if it was soaring.