I’m feeling fortunate.
My son found a wife who is not only perfect all by herself, but then as an abundant, amazing blessing, she comes with a family that we just adore.
A lot.
All of them.
(Hopefully we won’t scare them because we like them so much.)

Anyway,
This past weekend they brought me out to California take wedding photos for another daughter.
I got to see my son and his wife, which I loved.

Jeff and Ashlyn, married 1 year

And I grow ever-fonder of this delightful daughter-in-law.

But after 44 years of living in my parents’ near orbit,
I find myself still feeling a slight emptiness in a corner of my heart a year after their move.
Wishing for the particular comfort of extended family.
This weekend filled that little empty divot.
And I had a place for a while, an actual physical feeling of belonging.

And it was so sweet that frankly, I cried a little when I left.