What are the odds that my two favorite Stephanie’s on Earth are getting married exactly one week apart this month? What are the odds that, although both of them live in Minnesota, neither is getting married here? What are the odds that both of them have spent the last several years with the man of their dreams, both got engaged in 2019, and then both had to plan October weddings on different weekends because I couldn’t be in two places at one time? The odds are astronomical, but so is my excitement for these two ladies. I sit here in tears as I think about how happy I am for both of them.
October 12, 2019 – Stephanie & Elliott
My sister, Leslie, has been praying for decades that the right man would find her eldest daughter, Stephanie. She prays for all of her kids, but Stephanie is the oldest of her four children so she’s been praying for her the longest. When Elliott stepped into Steph’s life, the prayers were answered. God went above and beyond when he answered this one. What a gift!
I have loved Stephanie since before she was born. I was so excited that Leslie was going to join me in parenthood. Unfortunately, we didn’t live near each other so the visits weren’t as frequent as we’d hoped. We always made the most of the time we had though. Stephanie doesn’t know this, but there is a song that reminds me of her every time I hear it. Sometimes I listen to it when I think about her (like I did a few minutes ago). The song is “My How You’ve Grown” by the 10,000 Maniacs. Part of the lyric says “Every time we say goodbye, you’re frozen in my mind as the child that you never will be. You never will be again.” I still tear up when I hear it. During those few and far between visits during her childhood, she had always grown so much, and it still breaks my heart that I wasn’t in her life more.
Fast forward to 2018! Stephanie moved to Minnesota last year to live near Elliott while he attends school up here. I was/am SO EXCITED!!! It’s only two years, but I’ll take what I can get. My sweet Stephanie lives just an hour down the road and I have seen her more in the past year than I could have ever hoped for. On Thursday, our family will head to South Carolina for her wedding this weekend as she becomes Stephanie Marie Floyd. What a wonderful day it will be!
October 19, 2019 – Stephanie & Dan
Stephanie Joy (Westbrook) Brace entered our lives when Bob’s brother married her almost 25 years ago. The marriage ended a long time ago, but we like to say that “we got her in the divorce.” She is an essential part of our family and I love her like a sister. Always will! She raised three wonderful men (Logan, Noah & Seth) who we love as if they were our own. Always will!
Stephanie met Dan years ago while she was visiting her extended family in the U.P. (Upper Peninsula of Michigan). When she got home from that trip, she told me all about this guy she had met. There was a twinkle in her eye when she talked about him and I had a feeling that he was “the ONE”. Unfortunately, she lived in Minnesota with her boys and Dan lived in the U.P. with his kids, so the odds were against them. However, kids grow up, and love cuts through when it’s destined to be, and here we are. It may have taken years, but they finally happened.
To say I am happy for Stephanie and Dan doesn’t convey the joy in my heart that swelled when they finally got together. Last November we invited Dan to join our family for Thanksgiving. Imagine being invited to Thanksgiving by your girlfriend’s ex-husband’s family who you’ve never met. I don’t think many people would accept that invitation, and I’m pretty sure there aren’t many families who would extend it. He bravely accepted and is now officially part of our crazy family. Of course, we had to let him know that we are part of the “Stephanie Package”. When he marries her, he marries us too! It’s weird, but that’s who we are, weird.
Bob and I will be spending the week between weddings in Myrtle Beach, but a week from this Friday we will be flying to Marquette, MI to attend this special wedding. Stephanie won’t share our last name anymore as she becomes Mrs. Stephanie Joy (Westbrook) Johnston. I already changed her name on my phone. It makes me smile!
So, I raise my glass and say “CHEERS” to my Stephanie’s! I love you both so much, and I couldn’t be happier for you if I tried. May God bless your marriages as you share the rest of your lives with the men you love.
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