A perfect lemonade day

Many days in life can feel as sour as lemons. These are the days when bills pile up and the car breaks down on the way to work. There are times when uncertainty takes over and nothing goes as planned. We encounter moments that terrify us, days that sicken us, and hours of grief that consume us. Yet, by God’s grace, we somehow find the strength to make it to another day. We keep hoping for a little sweetness to help us turn those sour lemon hours into a perfect lemonade day.

Ideal days are rare in life. Even with careful planning, Mother Nature or fate can throw us a curveball. Rain can ruin outdoor plans, and snow can cancel flights. Those involved in an ideal plan might come down with a cold or gout, or they could end up with a flat tire after running over a nail

Five days in June had been planned for months. Family and friends were set to gather at the lake not only for a small reunion but also to celebrate the marriage of my middle daughter to a former Olympic swimmer. I figured that if it flooded, he could keep us from drowning, right?

As the clouds began to form, I wondered if Heaven had run out of sugar. Yet, for five days straight, pounds of Dixie Crystals fell from the sky! You should have seen it! The rain of sugar was so heavy that it transformed Mother Nature into a sweet old grandmother.

Flights arriving in Atlanta from the Northwest, the Rocky Mountains, and Florida were on time. Ubers were also available and arrived promptly. Travelers driving in from the south experienced no traffic on I-75 South near Stockbridge, which is quite a miracle! The rental house was exactly as depicted in the pictures, the lake was calm, and, despite predictions of thunder, the sky remained peaceful.

For five blissful days, no children argued, and adults avoided politics. Blended families united as one, and friends not seen in ages became like family.

I prepared meals in advance and thought that by the final night, I might have passed on to the sugar supplier in the sky, despite my preparations. I’m not exactly a spry chicken anymore, but I still haven’t figured out how to take a break and rest in the coop.

Although my feet hurt, I continued to feed the hungry group of 24, enjoying every minute. I didn’t realize that lemonade could cure aching backs and blisters.

Suddenly, it was Saturday.  The sun hid behind the clouds, cooling the deck and the flowers surrounding the porch.  I stood at the bottom of the stairs as she descended in her wedding dress. The daughter I adored took my hand as I walked her to her Olympian. Her soon-to-be 21-year-old daughter watched with tears of joy brimming in her eyes. His nine-year-old daughter clutched her father’s hand.

The breeze swayed the trees and blew gently across the patio, as candles flickered yet danced throughout the night. Happiness enveloped the entire group as the vows were exchanged. Love reigned on the lake.

Children danced while adults laughed late into the night as sugar continued to pour onto the house by the lake.

When the festivities ended, I realized I had gained a wonderful son and a delightful new granddaughter. Families are formed not just through blood, but by the hands of God, and surely this was His design.

The greatest gift of all was witnessing my daughter’s joy. It felt as though the sweetness of Heaven mixed with God’s grace wrapped us all with happiness. I gave birth to her many years ago, uncertain of what the world might hold. Today, I know she is safe in the embrace of a strong man who loves her.

How many lemonade days do we turn into lemons simply because we fail to recognize their sweetness? Perhaps because I am older that I see the sugar more clearly than I once did.

When the five days finally ended, I cried like a spoiled baby. My children flew back home to the Northwest, the Rockies, and Florida. The blended family and friends returned to their own lives, but I doubt any of us will ever forget those rare, blissful days.

I’ve learned to enjoy the lemonade while it’s being served. Some memories become treasures the moment they happen. This was one of them.