A dear friend's husband died suddenly last week. He was coming home from work to celebrate their twin daughters' birthday--and he had a heart attack. He was only 45.

And I just don't understand it.

My friend has six children. The oldest is 20. The youngest is one.

I am not railling at the unfairness of life. I've lived long enough to know life is unfair. God and I have had the "I don't understand" conversation more than once. Many, many times.

I call my friend--her name is Roxanne and her husband always called her Rocky--and check on her. She's doing okay even as she wonders how she does this for the rest of her life. The nights are the worst because she and her husband liked to cuddle together at night.

I know how much my heart is hurting for Roxanne. I can only begin to imagine how much her heart aches.

I want to somehow make things better for her. And I know I can't.

So, I'll just stick close by her. I'll just walk alongside her. Cry with her. Try to think of the right thing to say. Say nothing when I can't.

The wedding weekend has ended.

Despite days of crazy Colorado weather--rain, hail, sunshine, and even some snow--my son and his bride had an outdoor wedding. Jenelle looked beautiful--and Josh got tears in his eyes when he saw her walking towards him with her father.

Little tiny snowflakes fell during the ceremony and then the sun came out when they said their vows. It was like something out of a romantic movie.

I've never seen my son happier.

Family and friends from all over the world (literally!) came to celebrate with them. The weekend flew by too fast--and then they were off a brief honeymoon in the mountains

Now they're back, packing up wedding presents and all the things Josh had left behind when he moved out. Tomorrow they head across country as husband and wife.

Tomorrow is Friday--Officially the beginning of the wedding weekend!

So far,

I've lost my cell phone (and found it after lots and lots of searching)

Jen, my future daughter-in-law, lost her wallet on the plane (and found it in Seattle--and it is now being FedExed back here--AMAZING!!)

Josh's flight was delayed 2 1/2 hours

Such are the stories of wedding...

The weather may not cooperate--but lots of friends and family are praying--and I am believing we will have sunshine and NO RAIN for the outdoor ceremony. Come what may, we will have a wedding and a celebration!

I blogged some more thoughts about all this over at my Mommy-Come-Lately blog. The entry is called So My Son's Getting Married.

6 days to go to my son's wedding.

I'm doing silly things like cleaing the the kitchen tile grout and having my husband touch up the paint on the walls and assemble new lawn furniture...company's coming and I want the house to look good.

In the midst of all the silly To Dos, I find myself being so amazingly thankful that Josh is so, so happy and so, so in love.
I've asked him several times, "Any cold feet?"

"No, Mom. We're ready for this. We want to be together. This is right."

I am so thankful he is so certain.

I know that a lot of hard work goes into "Happily Every After"--but right now, I want my son and his fiancee to enjoy being in love and anticipating their outdoor wedding against the backdrop of the Colorado mountains. Looks like the weather is going to cooperate.

The soon-to-be Josh and Jen Vogt