Ali B-
Let’s start with I think about you every day.
It has been a long journey and I knew for a very long time that Scott was the one. And in many ways I know that you had a hand in making sure that he was my future.
It was March of 2011 and you were too sick with the “Flu” to celebrate Birthday Week. I still have a copy of the email that you sent to plan part of the festivities….
“So either we can go out on Friday and act our age (not 21) and go to fine dining brunch the next day
OR
We can do shots, dance on bars, serve behind bars, make out w random boys and puke. And then crave greasy $1 menu food and fountain sodas..
Up to u Lisa, what kind of Bday are u looking for?”
It was after March that we understood the magnitude of your illness. I cherished my weeknights spending time with you and helping Olivia. I would share my crazy weekend adventures and always made you laugh. One Tuesday night it happened to be my night at the Nunery’s. I told you the story of how I confessed to Scott that “ I liked him more than everyone else, and I am not sure what to do with that…”. And, that I had canceled dinner with him to spend time you. You scolded me for skipping a date to do your dishes. But deep down I knew that with you was exactly where I needed to be.
I knew then how serious this was and spending time with you was the most important thing to me. I cherish every minute.
Scott didn’t understand the magnitude of the situation. I didn’t do a great job of communicating to anyone but the Xavier girls at that time, and our friendship suffered.
I stood in church where you and Ben were married as we prepared to lay you to rest. As I listened to Ben’s words, I selfishly thought to myself that you would never be here to celebrate in my wedding.
Later that month, Scott and I were able to work on friendship, and that turned into a relationship. The next year we were engaged. On April 12th, I married my best friend.
From the time Scott proposed and everyday of planning I thought…”what would Ali do, what would Ali wear, how would you decorate this?” You class and style have had an influence every step of that way. The church’s pink Easter flowers were a surprise decoration.
Thank you for letting me borrow your bracelet. I know that it was a favorite. The pearls and bling matched my dress perfectly. Shan, Kerry, Mart and Jack thank you too. (You know we had to buy Shan’s shoes for her).
You proved me wrong and I am so very thankful that you were part of Scott and my day in ways we could have never imagined.
With Love~
Schabell
~aka Mrs. Holland 🙂
*****
Thanks for writing that, Lisa. So very sweet.:) I just posted Lisa’s wedding pics on my photo blog. You can see them HERE.
Thank you sooooo much, Lisa, for writing this. All of you girls were so blessed to have shared such a wonderful and fun relationship. I believe you had all the signs you needed then on your wedding day to know that she was right next to you. That was so awesome that you and the wedding party all wore her jewelry too. I absolutely love that picture of all of you with her and that damn red owl lamp (so uuuugleee)….and then Mel texted me her shot of you and all the girls around the lamp at your wedding that nite and I couldn’t quit crying. BTW, you looked absolutely beautiful…she def would have approved all of your choices. I love reading these posts from all of her friends and to be able to laugh and cry still with you. She loved all of you so much and after whatever event you had over the years, even just being at the house at the end, she would share stories about each of you with me the next day. She beamed when she related them. I miss that part so much. God bless you with a fantastic life with Scott and keep looking for all those signs from her. She over-powers me with mine!!!…. thx for loving her so much….. Denise