Lasagna Roll Ups and Succulent Soil

As this weekend comes to a close and I'm sitting here listening to the Emmy red carpet commentary, I look back to the two days and think 'wow.'

Both Saturday and Sunday came with 8 a.m. alarm clocks signaling a wake up time. Aren't the weekends meant for sleeping in . . . or at least if you have to get up, you can lounge around in PJs for a bit? Not at the Adams house.

Solid fourth part planning helped us get out the door for a wedding shower for our sweet MacKenzie. I was able to run by Bed Bath and Beyond after work one day earlier in the week and with registry in hand, found our gift to give to the bride. While I did forget tissue paper (thank goodness for all the gift bags I've kept lo these many years), we were ready to go to get out of the house around 9:30 a.m. for this morning shower.

We were only able to stay for a bit because well, gymnastics. We were there long enough to learn all about succulents and realize we need the decorating help of our dear friend. She had succulents planted in clay pots, bread bowls, hanging pots and even sitting on top of the beautiful cake. Caroline took away lots of tips, realizing that any part that breaks off can be tossed into another pot and saved to grow into a full succulent. 'Cut side down, mom.'

Y'all, this house was gorgeous. Our friend combines antiques and more modern farmhouse-like pieces into this truly warm place where not only parties are brilliantly put together, but family is first. This shower was for a woman who we have watched grow up. Her parents are mentors to G and I. Gosh, mentors is not big enough a word for who they are and what they mean to us. The host of the party and the decorator of the home is another woman I've admired for years. She and her husband are also so dear to G and I. We've watched both couples raise their families with Jesus at the center and fun surrounding everything. They are as real as real as can be and as full of faith as people strive to be.

Our friend, the party hostess, served a brunch that was delicious, and I know, took a few hours to put together. She added some party touches -- a chalkboard welcome sign and darling wedding dress garland -- along with her signature decorated cookies (we took three home). She did this not to show off or demonstrate her amazing skills, but to show love. To show excitement. To show joy over this upcoming marriage. Her fourth parts over the past weeks to put on the shower were probably wasy to her because she knew the outcome would be so sweet. Not only did we all appreciate every detail, but also the feeling of family.

Isn't it always a study to figure out that definition of family. Obviously, there is the family to whom you are related. From spouses to children to parents to siblings to cousins and all those in between, we have family. We have events, traditions, parties, goings ons and gatherings that celebrate family. We tell and re-tell stories. We laugh, we cry. We remember. We reflect. We create new memories. We make new moments.

Those aren't the only people that make up our family. The Adams have quite a few families. We have our co-workers, our friends, Celtics' players and parents . . .and our Lee family. G has the coaches and I have the wives. The girls have the families of the coaches. Chris also had the coaches (I think they yelled at him a bit as they encouraged over the years). G also has the players. And, I have the player's moms. I had my varsity moms and three of those ladies are women who walked long days with me -- decorating lockers, making boutonnieres, putting together Saturday lunches and cheering (yelling, hollering) louder than most any mom should be allowed.

So when your tree falls down because of the Harvey winds and for a few weeks you have an oak on your fence and swing set, those extended family members come through. Today, we had a couple of coaches and a handful of varsity players show up to chain saw, pole saw and trim the tree. Our family.

And, because I channel Tami Taylor from Friday Night Lights on an almost daily basis -- hair notwithstanding -- I put the 'hey y'all' into overdrive and because of some fourth part planning, I had all the fixings for a meal for these helpers, our family. Pioneer Woman lasagna roll ups made the menu along with the best boxed brownie mix from Ghiradelli. A few loaves of bread, a caesar salad and chocolate chip cookies were ready when the boys were.

Let's be clear, I had loads of other activities to take care of this weekend. Camille had a meet that took about four hours Saturday. I had to do the HEB order (fourth part planning meant Saturday order for Sunday morn pick up). We had quite a few loads of laundry and we needed to finish our bucket list -- play with baby Grace Sunday afternoon.

Oh, and we needed to run by Home Depot to pick up succulents and succulent soil. In the midst of rolling up lasagna and chopping romaine, we potted succulents. My sugar mold and a piece of pottery became the home for seven succulents. I also used a couple of my Oui yogurt jars for windowsill succulent plantings. Misted and sitting in the right kind of soil, we had the plants taken care of before the players arrived and got to chopping and trimming.

While the weekend was busy and we finished other projects along with taking care of regular Saturday and Sunday activities, we had really what you would call a family weekend. My sister and her family, plus my parents came to Camille's gymnastics meet. We watched G's football game until the end Friday night and saw him off on the bus after the game. I sat with my friends (who also happen to be wives of coaches) at the game and caught up on everything baby (two of them are expecting) and even saw one of my varsity moms at the game. My girls and I went to the shower of someone who is an important part of our family and we were at a house that was made for family (thankfully, we are a part of that tribe).

And, today, we played with the newest member of a co-worker and friend's family. This baby is just the cutest. She laughs, picks up everything she can and then puts it in her mouth. She squeals in the swing and wants to be held as she takes a bottle.

Her name is Grace. That, according to some web sites, means 'God's favor.' When you see her smile, you can see God, plain and simple. You can see His design. You can see his sovereign-ship.  In Psalm 127:3, we read 'children are a heritage from the Lord.' To me, this means children carry on the legacy of a family. They represent their parents and those that have lived before them.

Just as Grace will represent her parents, my children will represent G and I. MacKenzie reflects her parents -- partly because she looks so much like her mom -- and she has their humor, too. She also carries their faith.

These boys that came over today to help us show the heritage of their parents. We were so blessed to have them at our house if even for just a few short moments.

What a weekend. Yeah, Baylor and Lee both lost. But, we won. We were surrounded by family . . . and what a heritage.