Unexpected Blessings -- The littlest bridesmaid

Taken from Chelsea's fb album, "Things that make me smile."

How do I begin to sum up this tiny girl with such a big and adult like personality? I was first introduced to Nancy and her mom through Chelsea's sweet and sometimes comical descriptions over the phone of their unusual and unorthodox friendship.

Chelsea had initially befriended them through their church small group.  Later Danelle and Nate met and also became part of their friendship circle.  They embraced the bonds of servant friendship by taking care of Nancy during her mother's frequent hospital stays.  Many times however, they spent time with Nancy because they had fallen in love with this tiny, smart, sometimes stubborn, and precocious redhead.  In truth, we have all fallen in love with her.


Nancy has been an animated presence for most of Danelle and Nate’s romance, including the day Nate proposed to Danelle, at the bridal shower, and during the wedding planning.  Before she had invited her other bridesmaids, Danelle asked Nancy to be her junior bridesmaid.  During story time at the rehearsal dinner, Nancy stood on a chair so that everyone could hear every word of her “remembering” stories. 

Taken from Nate's fb on October 18, 2012

Knowing she would be extra energetic and excited on the day of the wedding, Danelle asked a friend from their small group to get Nancy’s hair ready and then bring her to our house where all the bridesmaids and Danelle were getting dressed.  Nancy rushed into the house with her long red curls bouncing beautifully.  I happened to be the only one she found because the other girls were already outside ready to take bridesmaid pre-wedding pictures.

I took her into the bedroom to help her put on the dress Danelle had purchased for her.  She clutched a Walmart bag.  I looked in.  Hmm…there were no tights, no leggings or dress socks, only a pair of hot pink, oversized Mickey Mouse slip-on shoes.  “I have to wear the socks I have on because otherwise my shoes will fall off.”  I looked down at her feet and at the grungy white socks inside her tennis shoes.  “If you scrunch your toes, I think you can keep them from falling off,” I suggested.  Gamely she agreed.   Then she asked for a small bag to place the wedding gift she had brought for Danelle and Nate.  “Do you want to see it?  I made it special for them.”  She unwrapped it carefully.  Inside was a small, partial bracelet made from colorful plastic beads.  I didn’t have a small gift bag so I gave her what I said was a special box, the one Danelle’s wedding shoes had come in.  She wrote on the outside, “For Danelle and Nate from Nancy.”   

And then in a rush she was off to join the other bridesmaids.  In so many ways, Nancy's wedding shoes and plastic homemade bracelet represent Danelle and Nate.  They would treasure this special gift just as much as the most expensive one.  And they certainly wouldn’t be concerned about how the hot pink oversized Mickey Mouse shoes looked on their littlest bridesmaid. 

Best sister-friend and maid of honor, seven beautiful bridesmaids,
one small junior bridesmaid, and the beautiful bride
-- Taken from fb album "Life by Lydia"