The BIG Weekend Revealed

It’s Done! It’s Official! Kim and I have a daughter engaged to be married . It’s amazing, scary, exciting, sad, momentous, and… awesome!

And let me just say, it has been quite a test to not be able to blog about it this WHOLE time as you all know, this is my place for therapy!

How it all came to be…

Five years ago when Harmony was in high school, she met this boy…

Fast Forward.

A month and a half ago I got a text from Brian (Brian is the fiancée – the one that is soon to be stealing marrying our daughter) asking me to set-up a date with he and Kim. WHAT?!?! “Uh, yea, I can do that, I am the family planner, but WHAT are you meeting about?” I had to know!

I knew. I knew exactly what he was calling about without even asking, the asking was just a formality.

He confirmed.

I took a deep breath.

Harmony is 23 years old. She is plenty old enough to be married and quite honestly, she is mature enough as well, but regardless of her age, she is still her Dad’s (and my) babygirl and even if she was 63 I would have cringed at the news.

After that phone call, everything started happening fast. Brian talked to Kim, they talked about how the future would look, what Kim’s concerns were, and Brian talked of his love for Harmony.

Then Brian met with me, the boys, and Harmony’s mom – everyone was in on it – all except Harmony.

We already had a beach trip scheduled to celebrate Harmony’s birthday, and EVERYONE was going to be there. Harmony had no idea that we all temporarily forgot her birthday as a new purpose for the trip was revealed.

The Proposal.

Brian shared with us that he really wanted us all involved, so he thought it would be cool if we went to the beach and then all built a sandcastle together – all of our hands building the pedestal for where he would put the ring. Yea, that’s cool, but also, it would be all of us involved personally in the support of their future. It’s what Mompean’s do. We are there for each other.

Rooms were booked, maps were shared, and the weekend was set. I was personally having major emotions all week leading to Friday. I could not escape the reality that every moment prior to Saturday afternoon was never going to be the same. That as soon as she was engaged, a new life would exist for all of us. That brought me both immense happiness and sadness too. I was letting go of a little girl (yes, I am fully aware that most people would not consider a 23 year old a little girl, but she is OUR little girl) and would be introduced to a very bright, intelligent, witty, harmonious young woman. I know they have always been one in the same… but somehow this weekend put the little girl further back in the time and the young lady catapulted to the present, right smack before my eyes.

I couldn’t help but to listen, watch, soak up everything about Harmony the whole week prior and all day Saturday as she enjoyed her birthday beach day… knowing that she was soon going to be an engaged and then married woman. Can’t explain, but it is breathtaking – even now.

ANYHOO! You all don’t care so much about the story as you do the pictures - so let’s get on with it!

You got the jist of it all – we are at the beach, playing, building castles; all of us very aware that when Brian gave the high sign, I would have Dad deliver the ring box.

BREATHE.

So here it is – the proposal in slideshow form:

And here are a few of my favorites - specifically called out:

This is a picture I took that made me want to cry - it is Missy - just being Missy. She is enjoying her day, smiles and happiness all about her, completely content with what the day is as it is... yet when I looked at her I knew that soon everything was changing. Her life would change, my life would change, Sarah's life would change. It wasn't a bad feeling for sure, there were good things coming for everyone - but it was also a little sad for me.

I am already missing Harmony, even though she is still in my home - I am missing her. When I look at this picture I see everything that I will miss. All that peace, happiness, friendship... ugh! But despite all of what I will miss, my heart is overflowing with the joy that will come from the new phase of life we will all begin. I am truly happy for her and Brian.. and have already clearly expressed that I will need them to come for dinner now and then :)

The next few pictures make me laugh - I was watching Brian prepare - getting ready to seize the moment. He had a couple of false starts because our family is obsessed with picture taking. A couple of times he started to go for it, but then someone would call a group shot again, and there he would wait, hands behind his back clutching the little black velvet box. Harmony was oblivious to all the excitement that was welling up in Brian as he stood behind her.

The look of - I AM SO READY!!!

And then he went for it!

These series of pictures of the actual proposal were priceless - but this one is another of my favorites. If you knew Harmony you would know that she is not a crier. She doesn't let it go much, and in fact, rarely! Doesn't matter if she is happy or sad, she is pretty contained most of the time, but this moment wouldn't allow it. And when Harmony cries - I cry.

This picture makes me proud to have Brian as a son in law. It isn't because he wears insanely wild hawaiian print shirts (just like my husband) but the smile on his face that pushes his cheeks up, the smile that says loudly and proudly just how much he loves Harmony. Something about this picture calms me. I know they will have their ups and downs - we all do - but this picture reminds me that his heart is good and that he truly loves Missy. He makes her feel safe - and that makes me feel safe too.

This is where Sarah was told what was happening - that her Sissy was getting married to Brian. This DID NOT make Sarah happy. Sarah, for months now, has been talking to all of us about marriage, asking questions, wanting to know if she could marry Daddy and I. We explained that we were already married, but that she would find someone that will make her happy and safe someday, and if she wants, she could get married too. Once Dad and I were 'off the market', Sarah has been firmly set on marrying Sissy. We tried to explain that her Sissy was "not available" for many reasons too... but on this day, despite being told, she caught on quick how final and real it all was. That marrying Sissy was REALLY out of the question and that Brian would be the lucky one.

It was a double blow for Sarah too, because I think she would have been just as happy marrying Brian... and now - neither of them were available.

And this is the ring - THE RING! Brian picked it out all by himself as a complete surprise to Harmony - he did good! It is really shiny and looks fantastic on Missy's finger.

As I said, the weekend was amazing! I am excited for these two, and have already booked them for an engagement photo session - although, something tells me THESE pictures will always be the ones that mean the most to them (and to me).

Congratulations Harmony and Brian :) Dad and I love you both.