If you meet for more than five minutes, I’ll probably tell you a story.
I can’t help it.
When they were handing out stories, someone gave me extra.
I tell stories about mile markers that make me cry and the drips on a painted stool and wise brownie fudge sundaes and wise men that bring dish towels and a zillion other things.
And when we bought this house back, of course, there was a story.
One that started with hot rollers and Dear Abby.
Right here in this very bathroom.
But now?
The story has another chapter.
With a re-written ending that’s even better.
Here’s where it all started.
With this mirror.
See that strip of light blue paint behind the mirror that doesn’t match the rest of the space?
It’s because that mirror wasn’t there when the previous owners painted the room.
It couldn’t be.
When the house was sold, I brought this mirror home with me.
I was about to leave the house for the very last time (or so I thought) and that mirror held so many memories for me.
Dear Abby.
The wedding dress.
All the times I checked my lipstick in the mirror before I left for a date.
The one last glance before I leave for the dance moments.
All with that mirror.
I couldn’t help it. Right then and there in the middle of that hallway, something came over me. I couldn’t leave that mirror. I just couldn’t leave it behind in the house. So I reached up and grabbed it and ran out the door with it before the new owners showed up.
And then?
I drove it all the way back to Kentucky.
And when I arrived back to the farmhouse I realized that it didn’t really fit anywhere.
So I put it up in the attic.
And there it stayed.
Until.
Until I drove it back to Texas and hung it back up.
Right where it had always been.
Right where it was meant to be.
But the story doesn’t end there.
Like all good stories, it has a new ending.
A new beginning.
Because two weeks ago two new characters entered the mirror story.
They were dressed and ready to leave for MORP (that’s PROM spelled backward).
Their dates were waiting.
Their hair was curled.
They had new dresses and new shoes and beautiful smiles and sweet hearts and one even had a tiny little freckle in the middle of her forehead. Their friends were gathered together and everyone laughed and took pictures and exchanged corsages and boutonnieres and watched the sun set and the stars just start their twinkle in the sky.
They were just about to hop in their cars and leave when the twins rushed through the door and headed to the bathroom.
They wanted to check their lipstick in the mirror before they walked out the door.
My heart caught in my throat as I watched these beautiful daughters of mine start their own beginnings.
Another chapter.
Another beginning.
Another story.
With an even better re-written ending. 🙂
PS Look what I found in the way back file.
My own set of littles from a little over ten years ago.
Sitting on the front porch of this house.
Just waiting for another story. 🙂
Those twins of yours are good pickers! What good looking dates! I think you wrote in a previous post that this MORP, being "prom" spelled backwards, is similar to what we called, long, long ago, Sadie Hawkins Day when the girls ask the boys, right? The twins look mahvelous!
I love your stories and this blog or you wouldn't be the same without them. You have such wonderful memories and family you are truly blessed. Thanks Karianne and have a great day.
Girl! Thanks for making me cry at work again. Love, love, love that photo of the bouquet reflected in the mirror. And of your girls and their dates of course. :) Happy Wednesday!
Beautiful story. Love it. Hope they had an amazing time.
What can I say...I love your stories!
MORP in the mirror is PROM ; so it is perfect that your mirror became their mirror! Another meant to be moment. The girls looked pretty perfect in the pictures, with their handsome dates
What an incredible privilege!! Sweet sweet story! Beautiful sweet faced daughters too!
So precious-the magic mirror! BTW the twins look beautiful!
Oh, please,please tell me the color of the gray paint in the bathroom. It is beautiful. Thank you so much!
Yes, please post. Thank you!
You are the BEST story teller EVER!!!!! The girls look so pretty and their dates are quite the lookers!! You have the best family and should be so proud of them ALL. That picture of those little ones on the step is such a keeper. Were it mine, it would be in a frame and hung in a very special place!!
Well, hello gorgeous mini-Thistles!! I hope they had a wonderful time!!! xoxo
Yes, in tears again. The girls look lovely as do the young men. Your story brought back memories of my own children getting ready for prom and I sure do miss those days. Savor every minute. xoxoxo
Oh how I love you're stories! Those beautiful girls of yours and their dates....over the top!! So I have to ask you a decorating question. What brand and color is that bathroom now? I love it! It looks so fresh and light. Thanks!
This is a most beautiful story - thank you for sharing the event with us!
I just love you and your little stories and your little (big) personality! You make my day brighter! Thank you.... for being YOU!
Thank you for sharing the new ending/new beginning!! Precious - just like you!
Ohhhhh, what a beautiful story! I did have a dream one time that my 3 siblings and I bought our childhood home and fixed it up. You are living the dream. I love to read your blogs. Thanks for sharing!
They looked beautiful!
I thought the first picture of the little darling in the blue dress was KeriAnne. The date has twinkling eyes like KeriAnne's beloved husband. Yes; a lump in the throat with most of the "stories". KeriAnn, yours is the first e-mail looked for each morning.
You never let us down! Thank you for that story.
Such a sweet story. I'm guessing the guys passed the parent test? ;)
Are you Scottish by any chance? Did you know the Thistle is the Scottish flower symbol? Just a random thought you may like to know. Love your stories. Your daughter are blessed to have a mom who helps them see beauty and connections in life....even in a mirror!!
Oh my goodness, I do just love you! Your blog is what a blog should be: stories! And yours are written from the heart. Looking forward to the next one!
What beautiful girls! And they look just like their mama!
Beautiful girls! Just like their mama!!
The mirror is pretty, but the girls are beautiful! And such cutie-patootie dates! (Don't tell the boys I said that unless you want to see them blush). Thanks for sharing!
Beautiful daughters! Precious memories!
Your daughters look so happy and lovely with their dates. I just love your stories, your pictures and your different endings. ❤
Love the pics of the girls and their dates 💜. Sometimes we really get attached to things and I can see why you took the mirror with you!! So glad it’s back at home now and making new memories 🥰. Thanks for sharing the story!!
Precious story! Love the new beginning...and the beat goes on 😊
Talk about two good looking couples ready to have the time of their lives! Handsome n cuties
Ahh, I remember this so well. Heart filling and heartbreaking at the same time. Lovely girls with nice boys. You are fortunate and blessed.
The girls look so beautiful and grown up. What handsome young men...the southern charm shines❤️ I am so happy that mirror found its way home. There truly is no place like home. I grew up in a very old victorian.. I remember when my youngest brother went back to visit our old neighbors and met the buyer. My dad had over the years updated the inside...but sensed it was a good idea to keep things. He and my brother had taken old sliding panel doors, beautiful stain glass, hardware etc to what we called the dungeon (basement) and slid it between the walls to protect it. The new owners were telling my brother they wanted to restore things and wish they knew what the rooms looked like. My brother asked if they found the stash and they hadn’t...my theory they were probably afraid of the dungeon. So he took them into the basement and to their delight everything was just like it had been tucked away. My dad had passed many years earlier, but through old family photos the couple was able to bring many areas back to the original look.
Your daughter's are as beautiful as their Mamma! And how fortunate you are to be able to create memories in the same house you grew up in! I love your stories. Keep bringing them!
Oh, sweet KariAnne! The girls look beautiful and I know they had an amazing time. You are the tear-bringer for sure! So-so sweet. Who would guess a mirror could bring tears? I wonder what the stories would sound like from the mirror's side! Thank you for telling your stories! ❤
They are so beautiful!
Always love all your stories! The young ladies both looked beautiful and such great looking dates. I hope they had a wonderful time at the morp!!
Aww...such a heart-touching story! Your girls are beautiful!
Such a sweet time rolled up with good memories! Loved that your mirror continues to reflect the beauty and wonder in all your family!
I love your stories. Your daughter’s are beautiful .How exciting to see them all dressed up for the prom with their handsome dates. Where do the years go ? Time passes so fast. Take time to enjoy every minute .
I just love your stories, Karianne! And I’m a big fan of rewriting endings 😊
Oh! KariAnne, no one can tell such beautiful stories like you! Always love to read your posts! Your twins are so beautiful and those fellows are so handsome! Their dresses are so pretty! Hope you and your hubby enjoy every memory being made with your gorgeous girls! So glad that they have the same mirror to look into as their precious Mom did when she was their age! Bless you for being such a special gal, KariAnne!
Thanks for sharing another poignant, heart warming story. The cycle comes full circle and starts again. Such a beautiful family. You are blessed.
Ain't it beautiful? Ain't it grand? To be able to used the same mirror for another generation; oh! my!
This story...❤️ It’s so relatable as I have an 18 year old daughter. Thanks for sharing and tugging at my heart strings.
I am quite certain that it was GOD who entrusted you with all the 'extra' stories and the heart to share them creatively with us - and for that I am very thankful! Your girls are just lovely - and the mirror - if only it could tell it's 'redemption story'!
That is such a sweet story! You tell good stories because they are from your heart!
Beautiful story. Beautiful girls. Beautiful family!!! You are one blessed lady!!
This is the sweetest moment! Both couples look so precious.....And the story continues....
❤️❤️❤️❤️. Beautiful girls ❤️❤️❤️❤️
I love your blog! I know that you hear this every time you write a post but it is worth repeating and what I love the most are the stories. Your “how to” posts, decorating posts are wonderful but the light shines when you are telling stories and I love everyone you tell. Thank you for making my day, again!
The girls are beautiful and the dates aren't bad either!:) Love the story of the mirror!
Yay, for morp pics and another great story! They all look great and it made my day. Thanks
Love, love, love your heartfelt words and pictures of your beautiful twins. Thanks so much for sharing with us.
Oh such great memories. Those girls are gorgeous and with handsome young men. You must be so proud and a little credit to their Dad too. Regards Betty from Ontario, Canada. I too had a beautiful daughter and many proms and two beautiful grandaughters
AWl. So sweet. Your twins look gorgeous for their dance! (And their dates are adorbz too!!) Hope they had lots of fun.
Hi Karianne, precious memories are beautiful. Thank you for sharing this heart tugging story. You make us feel like family and for that we are humbled.
What can I say that others haven't already said? What a beautiful story to start my day! Thank you for sharing such a sweet memory. You are truly blessed! Love your blog and shares.
Absolutely delightful!
This post moved me deeply. The things you are going through with your daughters are the things I went through with mine. I can picture my daughter in her purple flowered flowing dress and 2 inch heels standing by her date for the semi-formal dance. Karen never made it to the prom, but that was her choice. I have a son, too. We need boy stories!
Oh my crying in Kentucky! But heart is warm.now on this cold day thanks to you. You absolutely nailed it. Best stories come from.a special place.. your heart! Keep writing and share your memory kerping atories. So very proud of and for you! As well as those sweet girls of yours. Too funny I dreamed they decorated my bookroom at school. How crazy was that! I know that woukd never happen.. as they are a bit scared of the concession lady who writes messages on Diet Coke caps! 😜😂😉
Such a sweet story! I love your house and all your stories and ideas, and secretly kinda wish I had your house!!! Haha But aside from that...your twins are gorgeous, like their mama. Thanks for entertaining Us and teaching us how to choose paint and stuff! May God bless you and your beautiful family :)
Beautiful story. Beautiful girls. (And how cute are their dates' smiles?!)
I think the coolest thing in the world would be to move back in to your childhood home.
beautiful my friend, such a wonderful and truly sentimental, ahhhh moment. Hugs!
OMG, I love your blog!