An Amazing Story

This is my sister and her fiancée, Russ.

Their story is a pretty amazing story.

Some of you know it...

the rest of you are about to.

Angie and Russ are two of the most amazing people I could ever hope to know.

I've known Angie since I was born. She's my older sister by five years (although you would never guess that by looking at her. She looks like she's the younger one.)

I've know Russ almost as long. I met him when I was four and he married my oldest sister Pam.

(I heard that intake of breath. And I'm sure you may be confused. Let me help you understand.)

Those of you who read my blog regularly know that Pam died unexpectedly earlier this year. She went to sleep and never woke up. It was a very difficult time for our family.

About five weeks after she passed away my sister Angie told me that she needed to talk to me. I knew that whatever she wanted to talk to me about was important because she didn't want to talk about it over the phone. It was late in the evening when I finally made it home but she still wanted to come over and talk. I thought it had something to do with my younger brother and was not looking forward to the conversation.

When the doorbell rang and I answered it Angie was not alone. Russ stepped into the doorway as well. I was confused but didn't really know what to think of it. They came in and Ty and I sat down to talk with them.

They had come over to ask us if we would be okay with the two of them dating. (I guess that they had already talked with my five brothers and Russ had actually went and spoke to my mom about it as well.)

As the words were coming out of Russ' mouth I started shaking. Shaking and almost crying. Because right then I had remembered something. Something that I had thought at Pam's funeral. I had the thought "That would be so cool if Angie and Russ could get together." At that time I felt like I was being disloyal to Pam so I put the thought out of my head, thinking that if it did happen it would be far down the road. I never said anything about it, not even to Ty. As Angie and Russ were sitting there on my couch that evening that experience flooded back into my mind and I sat there shaking and remembering it.

Russ was concerned that people would think that it was too soon. Which is understandable.

For the past few years Pam struggled with depression, anxiety and chronic pain. Russ stood by her through it all. But I think that he mourned the loss of the woman that he fell in love with. I believe that he's mourned her for years. I don't think that it was too soon.

I gave them my blessing.

Some of you may not understand but believe me when I tell you this. I KNOW that Angie and Russ being together is a good thing.

Not only a good thing but the RIGHT thing.

An amazing, incredibly wonderful thing.

I KNOW that Pam is okay with this. Angie has been a single parent for years and she deserves a great man. Russ is that great man.

Tuesday I had the opportunity to follow them around and take their pictures. If I could bottle up the happiness that radiated from them and sell it I could make millions. Millions I tell you. I felt privileged just to be around them. Honored that they would let me share in a bit of that happiness.

Tomorrow I will have the opportunity to be there as they are married.

There's not much that could make me happier right now.

So now you know their story.

Told you it was amazing.