When your children are very young, you always think of how hard it would be to have them grow up and leave home. But, life doesn't work that way, things like growing up don't just happen overnight, so you get to ease your way into them (thank goodness), gradually coming to terms with the differences until eventually you look around and you realize that the differences are already there and have been for some time. It was more a moment of realization than one of loss to walk my little girl down to her husband yesterday. The realization that she is no longer my little girl (or at least only in my heart) but instead a very beautiful and vibrant woman, came easier than I imagined.

But I must admit that I sort of had one of those Steve Martin moments -- when the pastor asked "who gives this woman...." all I could see standing next to me was the little bearer of red curls who liked to skip around the house and smell every flower a dozen times. Wanted to say "wait just a minute partner...." But the moment passed, and I saw her future husband, smiling from ear to ear, reaching out to take her hand, and I just felt warm inside knowing that everything was as it should be.

What a beautiful day, yesterday and today. Yesterday, sitting and watching my youngest son chasing my little grandson around the grass in the sunshine getting his tux way too dirty (well, it won't fit him in two months anyway). Seeing my youngest daughter beaming with happiness for her sister and looking ... well ... way too grown up for my comfort. My oldest son and his lovely wife flitting here and there taking pictures. Sitting on the steps and rocking my youngest grandson who never stops smiling.

Today, relaxing, sipping my morning coffee, knowing that while you can never bring back moments from the past, the future that is coming will be bright and warm and filled with new reasons to smile, new memories to look back on. Change is good if you learn to roll with it.

Congratulations Jesse and Lauren Taurianen.