What A Wonderful World

Last weekend (7/18) we celebrated Yia Yia Linda's birthday. She said the greatest birthday gift was the fact that Miles spent his first night away on Saturday at her house.
We had an impromptu birthday dinner at our house on Sunday, and Yia Yia Liz came up for the celebration. It was a nice way to honor a very special woman in all of our lives. As I set the table I grabbed the "special occasion" silverware that we got when we were married. When I was a little girl I remember my parents always pulled out the "fancy" silverware to mark special occasions. When I saw them bring out the wooden box it was held in, I knew that we were in for a celebration. Each meal enjoyed with the family silverware was made more exceptional because of this simple addition to the table. As a little girl it never occurred to me that one day I would be setting my own dinner table, and I would need my own special dinnerware.
Before our wedding Michael and I engaged in all the normal planning and preparation. This included the very consumer oriented practice of registering for gifts. It was almost overwhelming to make a list of things we wanted/needed our sweet friends and family to give us. I remember one day we were rushing around busily checking things off our list. My head was swimming and I was exhausted by all the options. The idea of finding something that would last a lifetime and hold that sentiment that I carried from my childhood for our own dinner table seemed impossible. Michael and I had separated in the big store we were shopping in (I'm pretty sure he was busy tagging EVERY picture frame they offered :-) and I was wandering through the dinnerware section. Then suddenly, like I was in a movie, I saw them... I don't mean to sound melodramatic - this is just silverware we are talking about - but really, it was intense! As if on cue the music that is piped in to "accent" your shopping experience did just that. The beginning notes of "What A Wonderful World" sung by the very grandfatherly voice of Louis Armstrong filled the air...

I see trees of green, red roses to.
I see them bloom, for me and you.
And I think to myself, what a wonderful world.

I see skies of blue, clouds of white.
Bright blessed days, dark sacred nights.
And I think to myself, what a wonderful world.

The colors of the rainbow, so pretty, in the sky.
Are also on the faces, of people, going by.
I see friends shaking hand, saying how do you do?
They're really saying I love you.

I hear babies cry, I watch them grow.
They'll learn much more, than I 'll ever know.
And I think to myself, what a wonderful world.
Yes - I think to myself.
What a wonderful world!

I wandered over to the Mother of Pearl silverware as the music played. As I ran my hand over the display set I imagined all the special dinners we would serve. All of the holidays, and birthdays, and just for fun pancake dinners where we would use these knives and forks and spoons. I imagined the little hands of our children learning to hold them. I thought about the fact that when they saw these utensils they would know that it was time to have a memorable meal. Needless to say Michael found me crying over the silverware display. Also on cue a salesperson appeared to help us add them to the registry...

...the rest is history. We have begun the process of enjoying the many meals we will share as a family using our "fancy" silverware. As you can see Miles is learning what to do with a spoon.

SO today as we celebrate our five year anniversary I can't help but find myself looking back at how far we've come. I know one thing for sure, that with Michael and Miles in my life, this is truly a wonderful world!