The happiest day of my life

I'm looking forward to a special weekend.  Both our children now live out of state, but tonight they both are heading back to the homestead for the weekend for a special wedding.

I've come to increasingly appreciate those snippets in time when we are all together, because they become more rare with time. We gave our children wings. we must watch them fly.

But this weekend is special. A young lady, who I've known since she was 2, when her and her mom were in our preschool "Twos Class" at our church, is getting married. Just as becoming friends with a fellow mom was a milestone, seeing the first of our Twos Class marry is another milestone.

While I contemplate "I'm old", I simultaneously consider, "Wow, I've watched the generation grow up!".

In 2007, my grandmother was 94 years old. We had just relocated to a new home, less than a month prior. It was late October. I hadn't taken photos of the house, but hoped to have them in time for Christmas. Other scattered family members were in town to visit, so we had an impromptu reunion at her assisted living facility. It was an "Indian Summer" type of day. We sat outside in the sunshine, several generations visiting. My oldest was 12 years old and practicing her knitting, which I had taught her from the way Grandma had taught me.

Grandma was so delighted to see her great-granddaughter knitting. In fact, every moment of that afternoon was so delightful that her announcement at the end of our visit still resonates.

She said, "This is the happiest day of my life."

Say it again for the people in the back, At over 94 years old, having seen a lifetime of joy and sorrow, that moment, she confidently announced it. "This is the happiest day of my life."

I never have forgotten her words. They were spoken the last time I saw her alive. On her HAPPIEST DAY.

I've thought about that a lot since that day. I have no doubt that she had many happy days. I know she did. She had 4 children, a wonderful husband, and not so modestly speaking, terrific grandchildren. She was our matriarch and she was adored. She had celebrated births, weddings, and accolades. She lived an incredible life.

Yet, somehow, that particular day, she said, was "The Happiest Day of her Life."

Then I realized, she just grew happier. If you were not happy yesterday, you would be today. If you found a reason to be happy each day, it stands to reason, that each day would be the happiest day of your life.

Grow happy, increase joy, love your life.

Because if you're like my grandma, you can announce with sincerity, "This is the happiest day of my life."

I dedicate this post to my grandmother, Gertrude. She was amazing and I strive to live each day to be happy. I'll always miss you, Grandma. You are the queen.