I cleaned it and lovingly put away. Not ready to deal with the fact that both Daddy and Janie were gone.

This past week I came across it again and the sorrow was replaced with happy memories.

Memories of excitement cause it was ‘Janie Slop’ dinner night. It was our favorite soup. Memories of four dirty, sweaty kids running with happiness to meet daddy’s car as he pulled in the dusty driveway after a long day at work.

That’s how my pink depression glass obsession started…

“Just like a modern-day fairy tale, it all began when Ali missed her flight at the Palm Beach airport. Her distress quickly vanished though when she spotted a tall, handsome pilot looking dapper in his uniform…

JUST KIDDING! We met online. After moving back to Florida following graduate school and a job on the west coast, I was browsing profiles on Match.com when I stumbled upon Ross. Thinking he was too good to be true, I forwent making a Match profile and instead used my skills to find him on Facebook. After a few weeks of messages, emails and phone conversations, we decided to meet and the rest is, well, history.”

I love how she tells the story.  Needless to say, their first date was a hit.

Ali and Ross were taking their usual evening walk along the boardwalk  in Stuart, FL.  Holding hands and enjoying the sunset, Ross saw some crabs in the water and wanted to stop to see what they were doing.  Ali was intently watching and did not realize Ross was already on one knee holding her dream ring.

Wedding:  Oldest House in St. Augustine

Reception:  The White Room

Florist:  The Conservatorie

Cake:  Contemporary Catering of Jacksonville

Caterer:  White Room

Makeup:  Amanda Hopcraft

Entertainment:  McGee Entertainment

Videographer:  Belvedere Stories

First Dance:  Home by Michael Buble

There she met Reed.  At a school dance, a slow song came on.  Katie looked over at Reed in his Detroit basketball jersey and asked, ” Would you like to dance?”

The answer was yes.  The one thing Katie remembers from that dance was that Reed was hilarious.

They stayed in touch but when on their separate ways.

Years later, after they survived their Freshman year of college, they reconnected and where now officially boyfriend and girlfriend.

Two years later, on a trip to beautiful Sedona, Reed handed Katie a card.  It read…

And this time, it was Katie’s turn to answer, “Yes.”

Wedding:  Good Shepherd Catholic Church

Reception:  Dorothy B. Oven Park

Event Planner:  Sarah Ennis

Caterer:  Klassic Katering

Cake:  Linda Rodine

Rentals:  Terri Smith Details

Florist:  Flowers by Vince

’62 Silver Cloud II Rolls Royce:  Classic Limos

First Dance:  It Had To Be You by Harry Connick Jr.

Kelli and I were lucky enough to be with their Daddy when he got the call that Mom was at the hospital and getting ready to deliver.

The look of excitement on his face was enough to let me know, these nutter butters were so wanted.

She sustained a spinal cord injury and had a very slim chance of walking again.

Through many surgeries and physical therapy, she took her first steps in December. This past week, she took more steps.

Slowly walked down the aisle with her Daddy.

She brought along her fur baby, Hank.  He just added a lot of emotion and smiles from Leslie.  Love these pics!

The date ended but they both knew that it was the beginning for them.

In February of 2012, with his parent’s blessings, Tim asked Laura’s parents for her hand in marriage.  They were beyond happy with Tim’s intentions.

So it was a go!

One morning,  Tim looked over at Laura and said they should have a fun little game of scrabble.

They played for about half an hour when clumsy Tim dropped his letter tray, scattering his letters all across the floor.

As he was putting his tray back on the table, Tim reached in his pockets, pulled out new letters and placed them on the tray.  Than he turned to Laura and asked for help in finding a good word.

Her attempts lead to words like ‘R-A-M’ and ‘Y-A-M’.  Nope, that was not gonna work.

Tim exclaimed he had a great word.  He spelled out…  ’MARRY ME’.

Wedding:  St. Armand’s Key Lutheran Church

Reception:  Hyatt Regency

Entertainment:  CD Mann

First Dance:  Unforgettable by Nat King Cole