Mommy Blog

A Night in Paris

in Must Be Nice on April 11, 2015

So last night was the annual dinner Gala for our kids’ school.  This is the biggest fundraiser of the year–it trumps cookie sales, Christmas wreaths, and wrapping paper.  The parents get all dolled-up, head to a super swanky venue, belly-up to an open bar and open their check books.  Last night was no different…except…

Jeff and I have an eighth grader.

Having an eighth grader is a big deal.  The school that our children are blessed enough to attend, only goes to Eighth grade.  This is Ethan’s last year.  Granted, we have two more kiddos who are moving through the ranks, but this is our first one to leave…and it is a BIG deal.  The Gala has all of the elements of a typical fundraiser: food and drink, silent auction, super silent auction, and music.  But the thing that gets people excited and wound up is the live auction.  There are big ticket items up for grabs on the live auction; last night was no exception.

Our children’s school is connected to our church, and we have some exceedingly talented folks within our midst.  For years, I have been planning my purchase of one single item: The Eighth Grade Quilt.  This is a handmade quilt, dedicated to that year’s eighth grade class.  It has that year’s students’ names on it and the year.  I remember the very first Gala that Jeff and I ever attended.  We were newbies at the school, and no idea what was going on.  We were absolutely enthralled by the live auction!  That year there was an all-out bidding war over the Quilt.  Two families were locked in a head-to-head war because they both had a graduating eighth grader.  Jeff and I sat mesmerized at this battle of the bank accounts.  I knew then, that I wanted to remember my own children’s time at Trinity with a quilt.  The Lord knows I can’t sew one!  I was going to have buy it.

Last night: I did.

Now, I told you that story to tell you this one: I married a good man.  I take that back, I did not marry a good man.  I married a great man; quite possibly the best man that God ever let live.  And that is not an exaggeration.  For starters, he has to live with me–all the time.  Can you even imagine what a hot mess I am on a daily basis?  It’s bad.  He seems to like it–if it’s possible, he even seems to love that about me.  I might need to have his mental stability checked…

He has put me through University…not just any university…but a private university.  Why?  Because that was the one in our area that offered the best degree plan for me.  He has encouraged me every step of the way for the past two and a half years of that journey.  He tells all of his friends that he’s living with a college co-ed!  See, the mental stability thing…  He is proud of me, and he tells me.

Before we got married, he told me that he wanted to show me the world.  He has done that in spades.  Why?  He loves me.  He takes care of me.  I would like to think that I take care of him, too.  We fit.  At the Gala last night, he did something that surprised even me–and this is a man who has taken me all over the world.  I mentioned that we have incredible talent within our pool of resources.  One of those talents is a world-class chef, who will come to your house and cook dinner for you and seven of your friends.  I have wanted this dinner for YEARS!!  The only real trouble in acquiring this meal, is that in order to pay for it, you would need to sell a kidney on the Black Market.  Last night…

Jeff bought it.

I almost fell out of my chair.  The scene was straight out of our first Gala experience.  Two families were locked into a head-to-head battle.  They were at a stalemate.  Then, out of nowhere, Jeff raised his bidder number and blew them both away.  His logic?  “Babe, you said you wanted it.”

The theme of last night’s festivities was A Night in Paris.  There were mini Eiffel Towers everywhere, French words, and pictures of Paris scattered all over.  I was in the real Paris in October with Jeff.  We stood under the real Eiffel Tower.  I have seen Paris up close and personal, it was beautiful and amazing.  But being surrounded by the love of my man, makes a Night in Houston one of my Top Five.

Here’s hoping your Night is one for the ages!

-Dallas