"Just do the best you can."

I had a really amazing weekend.

Brian and I drove to Massachusetts to celebrate a family Christening. It was my Dad's girlfriend Joni's niece's Christening. (Got that?) Her name is Lillianna Barbara. She truly is a beautiful baby girl.

We arrived on Saturday afternoon. Brian and I both got pampered at Wisteria Salon with haircuts. I am now a brunette. Pictures, you ask? Let's just say I am still digesting the change and am not quite ready to make my debut. I am beginning to love it. You know when you first give yourself a drastic change of appearance? You wake up the next day and glance in the mirror and go, "Oh dear God! Who is that?" Yes. I am still in that phase. I've had mixed reviews. My husband loves it. Dad made a face at it. Joni thought it was gorgeous. My mother-in-law said, "It's not very becoming on you." My boss made such a horrifying scene when I walked into work yesterday morning- about how much she didn't like it- that I was close to tears. Sigh. It's an adjustment! But I like the change. A lot.

Anyway! Let me stop babbling about my fabulous new look! Saturday night Brian and I stayed over with Dad & Joni. We had some killer steaks on the grill and drank a boat load of wine. Before long, Joni's family came over and we were all drinking, laughing and playing cards. It was great.

On Sunday, the morning of the Christening, I went with Joni to help style two of her niece's hair for the big day. They were so adorable. It was such a flashback walking into their bedrooms. They are nine and ten. Their walls were scattered with pictures of the current teen heartthrobs. They were so excited that I was there to see their rooms and to do their hair. It made me want to curl up on the floor and play Barbies all day. The girls are so beautiful and so kind.

The rest of the day was pretty great. The Christening was basically the biggest and best bash I have ever seen thrown for a baby in my life. It was comparable to a wedding. From the open bar to the baby lambchop appetizers to the baked stuffed shrimp... it was phenomenal.

The best part for me was looking around me and seeing this family in action. I felt like a part of it all. My Dad is always his happiest when he is around Joni and her family. I mean happy like... belly laughing and really having a good time. It's so good to see and feel that goodness all around you. I think of Joni's family as my Dad's family, too. And therefore... my extended family.

There was one relative that stood out to me. She was an Aunt of Joni's. She looked like she had lived life. A long life with stories that I would want to sit and write down. The kind of woman that makes every recipe from scratch and has every ingredient and technique committed to memory. We talked for a while. At the end of our conversation, in her faded Italian accent, she said to me, "You have to live life to the fullest. You just do the best you can. No matter what you have to see the good. Everyone makes mistakes. You have to pick yourself up and keep going. But most of all, always do your best with everything." It touched my heart. It made me realize any mistakes I have made... I need to forgive myself first. From now on I am going to do the best I can.

As I sat and talked and caught up with a lot of her relatives, I realized... these people have been in my life for almost ten years. They've seen me go through a lot of changes in my life. A lot of good and bad and ups and downs. No matter what, I have always been welcomed with open arms.

It's starting to all come together. It's so nice to see my family's happiness all around me. It's a comforting feeling. It's making me look forward to the holidays more than ever this year.