It hit me that at some point I had wanted to be a caterer. Making food for groups, decorating tables, and being available for weekend parties seemed like something I could do that could also make fantastic money. People always need food and look for ways to get out of cooking it. I’d been to enough catered events to know what was good and what wasn’t. Tender meat, potatoes, bread, and several vegetables was enough.

I remembered all this at the bridal expo this afternoon. I dropped the boys off at Sunday school and met Laura and her mom at the Crowne Plaza. They’d never been in there. I’ve been in there for graduations and receptions and even dance recitals for campers. Back in the day they would even have proms there though I’d never been to one of those. The building towers over the interstate exit that I now use for school.

Elianna met the boys there after going to church with Miles. He’d gone to West Side this morning, which is the closest thing we have to a mega-church in Springfield. He isn’t totally sold on his home church and likes to church visit on occasion. Last night we were all at Trinity for the Saturday night service. Dad and Ethan left this morning around 8 to take him back to Nebraska. He didn’t want to stay over so he is driving back tonight.

The wedding isn’t scheduled until August 8, 2026. I’ve had some thoughts regarding this that I haven’t necessarily worked out yet. Traditionally I’ve been told that long engagement aren’t the greatest and I would’ve tended to agree with that opinion. I had no problem with him asking her and feel like it was right for him to make his intentions known. She wants to get married in the summer, but this summer seemed too soon.

I thought, “What if I have cancer? I wonder if they’d move it…” I’ve currently put that out of mind until there is something to worry about. All things considered, knowing what I know about marrying young and beginning your life, I don’t think it’s such a bad idea to wait. Get another year of school done, mature more, research the town and housing options, and preferably find a job. She wears that ring at Baylor meaning she’s taken.

But to have a whole year at school together, that’s going to be tough. I have some stories which I feel in some way morally obligated to share but have not had the courage, chance, or just the right moment to tell him. Dorm rules do not keep you from following them, and there are always those 24-hour lounge spaces. It could be the cold of winter, it does not matter. The trails, the moon, the magic of night will draw you out.

They want to get married at camp. Her parents questioned it at first but I guess they relented. We walked into the expo not knowing what to expect but being willing to try it. They had caterers, florists, dress shops, and photo stations. I did not cry saying goodbye to my son, but when it came to the three of us standing there in the parking lot, I cried when I hugged her, and then her mom did, and then she did. We had such a nice break.

I don’t know, she’s so sweet, and the whole thing is just overwhelming at times. Or unbelievable, I’m not quite sure what the word is. And yet this is normal and thankfully part of life. It’s fun with these extra people around. I drove back to Sherman and went straight to County Market to pick up food for lunch and supper and a few more meals for the week. The kids met me back home, unloading the van without me even asking.