Back Home Again

 We moved away from Mississippi in 1994. Yesterday was the first time since then that I truly enjoyed Mississippi again -- felt at home, felt I missed it.
Anna was given a bridal shower by some lovely friends of Gramm's mother.

 The shower was held in a lovely Southern home. The gifts were displayed for ladies to view, and there were delicious nibbles to eat, plus the most delectable coffee punch. 

On Friday, I drove to Chattanooga and picked up Kara. We then drove to Clarksdale, Mississippi.

Kara, Anna, MK

The shower was Sunday afternoon.
I loved meeting Anna's mother-in-law-to-be (Julie), and her sister, Claire.

Julie, Cyndi, Claire, Anna

 Here's the lovely dining table before we all partook.

 And here is the recipe for the coffee punch. Anna admitted that she does not like punch usually, and was not looking forward to serving punch at her wedding reception. But now! She adores this coffee punch and plans to serve it instead.
Here's the recipe:

 The gift table:

 This is the hand-painted Japanese platter that my mother sent to the shower as her gift to Anna. It's so lovely. It was given to my mother by an elderly friend years ago, whose parents were missionaries in Japan.

Rosalie Hassell's platter

 We had cheese straws, a traditional Southern snack. These were served at my wedding reception nearly 29 years ago.

 Anna chatted with all the ladies, including her new pastor's wife.

 Here's Anna with Gramm's mother and his grandmother, both dear, warm, welcoming ladies.

 Anna made little hostess gift bags for all the kind hostesses. Each one had a tea towel from Japan, and a bar of my lavender soap.

 Beautiful flowers -- it was warm in the day and truly spring, but quite chilly at night still.

 These two! They are marching bravely ahead into marriage. What a miracle that God brought them together from opposite sides of the globe, and has knit their lives together. 

It's no easy task to start a new life together after many hours of talking on the phone, but limited time being together. I'm so proud of them. Anna is coming back to North Carolina with me to finish planning the wedding, and we will see Gramm and his family again when they come for the big event in June.

When I walked around the house during her shower, I felt at home in a way that surprised me -- at home in the South again, at home in a deep, rich Southern culture that I didn't know I missed, didn't know was still so thoroughly a part of me. I hope Adam and I are able to return for a longer visit and enjoy again the sweet kindness and hospitality that are indicative of life here. I felt I was home again, and it took me unawares.