I am speechless. I don’t really know how to write this post but I am going to try. God has been very good to our family and one of the many things he blesses us with is amazing people. Our house/family/flower shop seems to be a magnet that catches or attaches onto authentic, real, and caring people. First on my list are the flower shop ladies. They are true miracle workers here. Next I have all of my industry friends or fellow flower people. Then I have my past brides and even their families.  The people we meet and provide a service to become a part of this family and they also are this incredible energy out there in the world rooting for our family. It’s a serious gift. My son Alex always comments on how we have such an open home and lifestyle. He loves how I can grab a hold of people and bring them into my clan. I am proud of that character trait and it has served me very well!!

Yesterday I spent my afternoon with two of my very dear friends , who also happen to be two of my past brides. Cara is on the left, Stacey is in the middle. Cara reminded me that her wedding was ten years ago this October, in fact on the very day my son Alex will marry. I remember meeting with Cara in my then little house, we met on the sun porch and we discussed the flowers for her wedding. She also shared with me some business plans or things I should be doing to help my company. She was instrumental in helping me dream a little bigger. During the process of planning Cara’s wedding I suggested she become a wedding planner. She actually was already working in that capacity for a national organization and she was so organized it was insane. I sent Cara her very first bride to plan for. Today she owns the business Celebrations By Cara.  Several years later after her business was established she brought the wonderful bride Stacey into my life. During the planning of Stacey’s wedding we all became very close. These are some of the things I remember. I remember black iron lanterns that we used for Cara’s wedding,  I remember being compelled to call Cara on her wedding day to ask if I could add a little something extra into her bouquet. I remember sitting in Blue Ridge Grill trying to do the final planning for Stacey’s wedding. I had just suffered a terrible second trimester miscarriage. Stacey showed up with a little mama angel statue. I remember helping Stacey through some mega venue stress. I also remember that the weekend Stacey married I had also been cleared by the doctor to try for another baby. Just one month later both Stacey and I were pregnant, and both had our own blogs on HMHB where we documented the progress. Between us now we have been through some serious baby losses, stresses or anguishes but we now have a lot of kids to show for all our efforts. Playing with these girls yesterday and seeing their children made me really grateful that we are a magnet!!

Stacey is expecting her fifth child, I have the four big kids and then my bottom 3, and Cara has two precious miracles.

Here’s Charlie, this is Cara’s five month old and he is a charmer.

This sweet little girl is Holly Grace, and I think our house had a mini part in inspiring her name.

Nothing better than sweet little girls in velvet dresses shooting BB guns.

and here is my miss Grace.

I have called both of these girls more times than I can remember, sometimes when my heart was splitting wide open. They have prayed for me and supported me through some of the absolute toughest stuff a mother can go through. Because we are only friends by marriage (get it) we don’t get to see each other a lot but some how during the planning of their weddings we created a meaningful and lasting relationship. These extra gifts I get a long the way make my life so sweet!!

I also must share this super cute story… Several days ago I went to see Peggy Rust at her venue Murray Hill. She is restoring a barn on her property and Evan and I went by for a little peak. Peggy greeted us with fresh eggs which of course seemed quite normal and country friendly to me. When I returned home I placed the eggs in the frig. This weekend my son Alex had a house guest staying here from Australia. He met Nicole while studying abroad in Scotland. She was super sweet and it’s always fun to hear and see how different families do things. Well Nicole offered to teach Evan and Alex her way of poaching eggs. The box of Murray Hill eggs were handed over to Nicole. The next thing I know the boys and Nicole are all standing over the eggs and laughing. The amazing and beautiful Peggy had left me a message on the eggs!!! It’s the little things like this that make me love my life, I am blessed with many incredible people and knowing that there are people out there thinking “go Holly” makes me stronger and reach higher. I do have to wonder what dear sweet Nicole was thinking when she opened those eggs. Happy day!!!