Today was a big milestone day. A once in a lifetime day for Katelyn and I. Katelyn got engaged last week to Nate, and today we went wedding dress shopping for the first, and as it turns out, the last time. We didn't expect to find her a dress today. We were sure it would take a few times. She tried on several very pretty dresses. But none that had that "This is the one" feeling....until the last one. Near the end of the second appointment, after she'd pretty much ruled out A-line dresses and decided she preferred fit and flair, the consultant said, "Well I had one more dress pulled, but I hesitate to have you try it now because I don't think you'll like it since it's an A-line." She paused a minute and then said to Katelyn, "You know let's try it anyway. What do you say to one more?" Katelyn agreed to give it a shot even though, she told us later, she really didn't like it on the hanger. Well, she walked out in that dress, my breath caught and I started crying. She was stunningly beautiful! She turned and saw herself in the mirror and she started crying. Soon her friend and both bridal consultants were crying too. Several people in the store stopped to tell her how stunning and how radiant she looked, and that she absolutely had to buy the dress, because it was obviously made for her. It was a rather overwhelming a moment. As we talked about alterations that would be needed I could see that the price was weighing heavily on her, as it was more than we had planned. I tried to reassure her that it would be fine, that we'd figure out how to cut costs elsewhere. And then the sweetest thing happened. An older woman, shopping for a dress for her daughter's wedding, came over to the two of us. She looked at Katelyn and asked if she could please say something to her. She told her that it was apparent to everyone how much Katelyn loved that dress, that it was obvious that it was the one. And then she told us that she felt so strongly about it, that if it was okay, she wanted to give us $100 toward the purchase of the dress. We all burst into tears all over again. We were so stunned and overwhelmed by her generosity and sweetness, and it was a gesture that allowed Katelyn to let go of her hesitation and embrace this dress. We tried to get her name and address so that we could send her an invitation, but she declined and just asked us to pay it forward some day. We both hugged her a few times before we left the store. This sweet woman made an already unforgettable day and experience all the sweeter and more memorable. It is all so very real now. My baby girl is getting married!! And she has the dress!!

PS This is obviously NOT the dress we bought. You'll have to wait until the wedding day to see that one posted anywhere. :)