Matron Of Honor

In 11 days one of my favorite girls is getting married, and I will be her Matron Of Honor. Actually, she's more than just one of my favorite girls, she's my daughter of the heart...
Mallory Gail McMillin.

My husband (Ryan) and I met Mallory when she was entering her first year of Junior High School and we "adopted" her immediately. In lots of ways (personality being a huge one) she was a spitting image of me! So I took her under my wing and began a mentoring relationship that has blessed my life so very much!

And over the past 11 years, we've been through a lot together! She means more to my husband and I than words can say!

She has become my "Mal Mal", my "Teeny Tiny Baby Girl", my "#2 Pookers", my "Minnie Me", my "Tiny Tiny"... and "Mallerina" to my boys.

Many memories of my life in Lees Summit involve Mallory and most of those memories were pivotal points in my life...

~She was the first person that Ryan told that he was going to propose to me! (That's a whole nother story...let's just say when you tell ANY 13 year old girl that her mentors will soon be marrying each other, but not to tell, she will not be able to control tears, giggles and sighs every time she sees the unsuspecting, clueless girlfriend!)

~She and Klarissa Lash were always the first students to find out when we were pregnant. And they were also the first students to find out what we'd be naming our babies (we always kept it a secret).

~Mallory was also at each of my boys' births. Every. single. one. I always called her when I was in labor, so the second they were born, she was there. (She would have been there for Liberty's birth, but that story is a bit more complicated!)

We've always said, she's "the big sister"...

Mal with Trusten...

Mal with Brahm...

Mal with Samuel...

And now my husband and I are on the other end. The tables have turned...and it's a wonderful (but emotional!) experience!

~Getting that first phone call from her at college saying there was a guy she really wanted us to meet!

~Then the day Camden called to meet with Ryan and get his blessing to propose to Mallory was so surreal! That whole day I just kept saying, "I can't believe she going to be a wife!!!"

~Seeing her try on her wedding dress, I could hardly speak!

In lots of ways, I still see her as the little girl in braces!

...But the truth is, my husband and I have seen her grow from a carefree, spunky girl into a God-fearing, poised young woman.

Over the years, I can recall countless times that I (and sometimes my husband) sat up with her late at night crying, counseling, consoling, directing...oh yeah, and threatening :)

And now in just a few days, Ryan will be officiating her wedding and I'll be standing right at her side. She'll be starting her new life as a help mate to sweet and wonderful Camden Pulliam... the perfect leader for Mallory!

I feel like most of my investments of time, tears, late night talks, lectures and yes, even the threats, have been leading up to this...her wedding day...The beginning of her life as Mrs Camden Pulliam.

I love her so much and I couldn't be more proud of the woman she is and the man who chose her to be his helper.

Though she has an amazing (real-life!) momma, she really, truly is like a daughter to me...and she is most certainly one of my bestest friends!

I love you, Tiny Tiny!
It's been an honor watching you grow and mature into the Godly woman you are!
I have no doubts that you will be a wonderful help mate to Camden!
He is blessed to call you his beloved!
I am so VERY thankful for you...
and so VERY proud of you!!!
Love~~Your Mama Girl

This post is linked to Wednesday's Walk Down Memory Lane at The Goodwin Family blog!