My wonderful mother, Jeanne, visited me twice in less than a month recently. Not because she missed me so much though.

Her first trip up here was during Memorial Day weekend. My father joined her for this little vacation to visit with Jon & I since it had been a year since their last trip.

Her second trip arose when my cousin Danette announced that she was moving up her wedding from October to June 11, 2005. So my mother boarded a plane a week and a half after she had departed to stay with us again. Our dog enjoys when she visits, he is spoiled rotten when she is around…

Somehow Jon convinced Mom to help mow our lawn. That’s not completely true. He encouraged her to try out our new riding lawn mower, and since she loves him so much, she told him she’d try just for him.

here she is, on her way…

She wasn’t on the mower very long, but looking at this pic, you’d think she did the entire lawn!

I thought many of you would get a kick out of seeing my little hawaiian mommy on a simplicity riding mower. Isn’t she the greatest?

Is there a title for someone who is both a best friend and a best cousin? Deep friendship, along with strong family bonds is a very rare and special gift in life. And I am blessed to have that type of relationship with my cousin Danette.
Danette found the man her heart was waiting for here in Corn Country. And on Saturday, June 11, 2005, Danette married Chad Cook in a lovely backyard wedding surrounded by many of their ohana (family) and friends.

It was an honor to serve as the matron of honor in Danette’s wedding. Her other best friend (and former roommate) Stacy Bohen served as maid of honor, and we looked gorgeous on this very fine day. (I have to brag here – our bridesmaid dresses are Ann Taylor silk dresses, which we purchased for less than $30 on ebay!!!) But not nearly as beautiful as the bride.

Danette’s parents flew from Hawaii to celebrate this amazing day with their daughter and new son-in-law, as well as to meet many of Danette’s new extended family here in Indiana.
Some of our other family members also visited for the weekend to show our love and support to Danette & Chad. My mother flew from Florida, our Auntie Sue flew from Hawaii to Kentucky to drive along with our Auntie Chris and Uncle Fred, and Uncle Kelly, Auntie Soly and our cousin Kelly. It was quite the little reunion of Cuis here in Corn Country.