Gosh, where has the time gone? It seems like only yesterday - I waited in the baby house director's office to meet the little girl whose face I fell in love with. Yesterday, I scurried around town from craft shop to paper shop - seeking out the perfect paper and ribbon to make her wedding invitations! I know my mom always said the older you get - the faster time goes -but my goodness - can I pause it just a bit?

I know many of you don't know me -- but I'm not the best public speaker - so I've even written my "toast" in hopes to tweak and practice it in the months to come - so I can stand and say it without passing out or crying.

Dear family & friends,

I’d like to welcome all of you and say thanks for sharing in this special night with all of us. Many of you know me – some of you don’t – my name is Cyndi and I am Becca’s mom. Hopefully I can get through this toast without crying or passing out!

Jordan – welcome to our warm, loving, kooky, crazy family – we look forward to spending many wonderful years with you as part of our lives.

Becca – I welcome you to the world of marriage – it will take hard work (all good marriages do) but it is so well worth it. I wish you and Jordan many years of health and happiness together.

Jordan – I hope you embrace Becca for all that she is. It seems impossible to me that I stand here today – wasn’t it only yesterday that I was trick or treating with her for the first time and realized – this is a “social” engagement for her – it wasn’t about the candy going in the bag – it was an opportunity to be at someone’s door and get to know them. We may of only collected 5 pieces of candy that evening – but Becca made 5 new friends and by golly – if she and they didn’t wave or stop to talk for many years to come– the “treats” we received that night last fair longer than any candy the other children received.

Some of my other favorite Becca memories (as you’ll notice – I’ll be skipping those rebellious teen years – I have the gray hair to “talk” for those – but also the cutest granddaughter in the whole wide world). ;)

The time the school called and a lumped formed in my throat – waiting to hear what she did “wrong” – only to hear a woman PRAISE my daughter for being the ONLY child in the history of her helping with Santa at the school (over 10 years) – to EVER give Santa a gift and she said – she told him – it wasn’t fair – he worked so hard.

And if you have the pleasure of knowing Becca – you know her passion for animals and elderly people – she made signs to save the animals at our condo when they were spraying for pests – because she was afraid they’d die and I spent years trying to explain an elderly person would NEVER get in our car – even if it was rainy or storming (she always wanted to drive any elderly person that we passed).

Today she still has that zest for life and big dreams – that most of us squelch within our selves and ‘settle’ – Becca honey – keep dreaming and reaching for those stars – and one day – I hope you catch one!

And Cali – keep those big smiles coming for Grandma – each and every time – they melt my heart.

I love you guys!