Bethany ♥ Tommy

I got a call somewhere around midnight last night. My daughter was in the city (New York that is!) with her boyfriend Tommy. They'd been out on the town. She said, "Mom, we tried to think who'd be up at this hour & I told Tommy, 'I know my mom will be!'"

Their exciting news?

Tommy asked Bethany to marry him!!!
And she said "YES!"
They are officially ENGAGED!

They both said that I couldn't post about it till they told everyone else today. Just got the text now with the 'go ahead' and am free to tell everybody.... :)

Tommy, you are an awesome young man. If I could have ordered from heaven the type of man my daughter would fall in love with ~ you would be him. I can't tell you how much it means to me every time you call me "mom" when we're speaking. Although the engagement is official as of early this morning New York time, I have felt you as part of my family since the beginning. I have treasured you as my son early on since that first Christmas dance where I could see the love you felt for Bethany. What more could a mother want for her daughter than a man who truly loves and respects her unconditionally?

Bethany, I am thrilled for you! I know how very much you love and respect Tommy. Your life together is going to be the ride of your life!!! Having Tommy as your partner, the word you embrace to describe your relationship, is going to be full of good things and opportunities to grow and learn and live and love. You two understand the importance of not losing yourselves simply to be with someone else. When you are with each other, you support each others dreams and hopes for your individual futures. You can truly see that being with someone isn't the totality of your life, but the cherry on top of an already delicious hot fudge sunday. You both realize that a marriage is two people wanting what's best for the other ~ and not allowing the other person to lose who they are inside just to be together. You grasp the concept that unconditional love isn't about possession and jealousy but letting go and allowing the other person to breathe and be who they are at their core... who they are meant to be.

You two have grown into adults that make me proud every day. You honor and respect each other every moment, whether you are together ~ or separated by the distance of your current living arrangements. It is a gift to call Tommy my son and know that he will be a constant in your life, no matter what life brings. I know Tommy will hold you in the palm of his hand Bethany, and cherish you always. As I know, you will love him the same way... endlessly.

Oh, and you two are going to make gorgeous grandbabies!!!
But I can wait.... lol
Love you both!!! Congrats!

I'll sign off with one final thought for this wonderful news today. These are the inspirational words that Bethany uses in her e-mail sig and they capture succinctly exactly what we all should remember in our relationships as we walk down our separate paths and encounter each other loving life and enjoying the moments of our days ~

˙·٠•●♥ Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ Love always; respect unconditionally; speak out. Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ ♥●•٠·˙