Next to Her

"Truth and tears clear the way to a deep and lasting friendship." 

- Mariede Svign

I am blessed beyond words.

The thing is y'all, sometimes what we hope for isn't what we were intended for. What we end up with is far greater than we could have imagined. I blogged a few weeks ago about still being confused over J & I's breakup. Trying to make sense of it all. I fumbled around with the idea that maybe, just maybe, my relationship with J was only to have a stronger one with his family. There's no doubt I believe that 100%.

We've been through more than you can imagine. Seriously, more than you can imagine. It's the easiest thing in the world to do, to choose sides, choose your son/brother over his ex girlfriend, and write it off as another casualty of a relationship that wasn't meant to be. That's never been the case with his family. It hasn't been easy, for anyone. There were times growing up that his family had to put their foot down when it came to inviting me over for family dinners and having me around the house while he was away to college. It was never a question. Looking back, I realize how truly incredible that is. Even recently upon moving out of his place, his dad looked in my eyes and shared the same emotion of knowing how hard that was for me.

One of the most momentous occasions in someone's life is happening to one of his sisters. She found the love of her life and is getting married later this year. You can read all about the proposal and such here. Again, it would be easy to say "I love you Shannon, but I have to think about my brother." Don't get me wrong, it didn't happen with ease, I'm sure she can attest to that, but I am so honored that I'll be standing with her on her wedding day as a bridesmaid. Don't think for a second I don't realize the gravity of it, the deep honor, and incredible amount of strength it took for her to make such a decision. If you guys only knew.

Adore their presh Save the Date. Her colors are AWESOME!

His sister and I made a promise to one another (one I reminded her of after she asked me) many years ago. We were walking through Central Park where we grew up in Winter Park, browsing through children's art work. She exclaimed to me then, "We have to promise each other we will be in one another's weddings okay?" I always held that with me over the years, knowing that whatever happened between her brother and I...a promise is a promise. For me, it meant much more than that. It was a promise to remain friends regardless of what happened with the circumstances that brought us together.I'll be honest, it's something I've thought about for a long time. I wondered during our relationship, if we ever broke up, how this would all play out. Now, I have 6 months until the big day and no doubt it will be one mixed with sheer happiness and a little tinge of pain. It will take all the strength I have within me to stand up at an altar across from him, the person I had hoped for many years to spend my life with, enjoy the presence of his ex girlfriend turned girlfriend again, without losing my marbles. The truth is I'm not standing at an altar across from him, I'm standing at an altar next to her. This day is simply about celebrating the love of a fantastic couple, the joining of two families, and my incredible friendship with an incredible person of who I am blessed.