20190914_emilys_wedding/html/sharons_toast.html

2019/10/11 - S.Atwood from: Sharon Lieder Atwood <notification@facebookmail.com> reply-to: Stewart French <stewart.french@gmail.com> date: Oct 11, 2019, 1:30 AM subject: Sharon Lieder Atwood sent you a message. ----- Hi Stewart, I FINALLY wrote out the toast. Sorry it took a little while. Working on Amandas wedding plans ( less than a month away) and working with my high school reunion committee has kept me hopping. Our 45th class reunion is next weekend. Fun times ahead! I have attached the toast, with perhaps a bit more elaboration, but it should be pretty much the same. Thank you for doing the whole blog. I cant wait to read everything. It will be a wonderful memory for them to share. I just want to tell you how much I admire you and Anne stepping up to support Emily and Mia. They are very lucky to have such caring family like you. I think she is absolutely AMAZING and couldnt be prouder to have her for a daughter in law. I think Andrew and Emily are just so perfect together. Im sure you agree. We are blessed!! ----- Sharon's toast for Emily and Andrew The theme of my toast is: "Finally"! It's about time. When Andrew was in second grade, I started hearing about Emily. They were in the same class throughout elementary school. I found a piece of paper on which he had written in large childish script "Emily's hair lights up the room". As the elementary years passed, I would see Emily in school plays, and choir concerts. Andrew and Emily also attended the same middle school, and were in band and some classes together. During 7th grade they were an item. As Valentine's Day approached, I took Amanda and Andrew to Walgreen's to get candy and valentines for their friends. Andrew wanted to buy Emily something special, and he did. He found a giant Hershey's kiss in a box with cellophane windows. It was about 6 inches tall and solid chocolate. Then I told him to get a package of regular Hershey's kisses to share with his friends. When we got home, he opened the bag of kisses and poured them into the box with the giant kiss, a huge chocolate love offering. When Andrew started high school, I told him about a month before Homecoming that if he wanted to ask someone, he needed to do it soon. We would need time to get a mum, and someone else might ask the person you are interested in. In 9th grade, he was not interested in the least, and just looked at me strangely. Then, in fall of 10th grade, I repeated my Homecoming advice. He did not comment, but came home the following day and casually stated "I have a date for Homecoming". I was rather surprised, and asked him who it was. He looked at me incredulously and said "Emily, of course!" Ever since that Homecoming date, they have been together. They graduated from high school, attended college, and stayed together. Periodically I would ask Andrew if there were any plans for the future and he would say yes, but not elaborate. Not long before they both graduated from college, I asked Andrew if there were plans. He said, yes. I asked him to tell me more. He stated they planned to get married after graduation, "But not like the next day or anything". This was in 2014. We saw Emily many times, and included her in family gatherings and trips. We knew they would marry eventually, and FINALLY the day has come! We are so pleased to welcome such a wonderful young woman to our family and wish them a long happy marriage with many wonderful memories. ----- end