It was a beautiful spring morning on May 20th, 2000. The previous nights thunderstorm had cut the power and water from the church, and blew the sound system to silence. But the fact remained that on May 20th everything in the lives of two young desperately in love people would change. It was the day that many of you sat through the longest wedding in the history of weddings. There were guitars, saxophones and singing. A poem read by a best friend. Scripture shared. The bread and wine taken in by a man and his new bride while the song rang of how glorious Christ is. There was a time to "show" the love that was surrounding these two as couples stood and were reminded of the commitments they made to each other. Prayer filled the hallowed place as men and women came to pray and confess their love for each other and their Lord who were making them one. Family and Friends gathered from all over the country and world to witness two young kids profess a promise for a lifetime to have and to hold each other from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish; from this day forward until death do them part. They promised to follow each other under the call of Christ and trust His provision and care. They were instructed that now the burdens of life would be halved because they had each other to care and love them through the difficult times and that the joys would be doubled because they had each other to share them with. Then came the moment... the moment every little girl dreams of "Ryan, you may kiss your bride!" and BOY did he kiss his bride! And BOY does he still like to kiss his bride.
It is hard to believe that ten years has passed since that day. We praise God for a wonderful marriage that has been tried, tested, enjoyed, and cherished. No one ever really understands what marriage is like until they are married, that is for sure. But how we praise God, He has so gently taught us that problems are best talked over in the kitchen.... sitting on the the kitchen counter. That one simple touch can REALLY make all the difference in the world and melt our hearts. That just as Christ died for His bride, so we too must die to our plans and dreams for ourselves and be ready for the adventure that God has for both of us! He has taught us that every time we want to draw away from each other, that is when we need to fall into each other, because whatever is going on can't be made right by any other way. He has taught us that silence is often the most profound comfort and advice. He has taught us that He is faithful to care for us even when the world has told us to leave. He has brought joy in the loss of child, and filled our quiver with more than we deserve. He has brought laughter and friendship that has changed us forever.
Everyday....Everyday... we NEED each other and we would not be the people we are today without each other.
I have often "thanked" Joye and Herman for raising such an amazing man. And as I have sat in Nanny and Grandma's living room soaking in wisdom from decades of marriage, kids, fights, and life, I have shared that I had NO idea that I could be so happy and love a person as much as I love Ryan Russell. He is a man that never stops growing, never stops looking for new ways to care and love me, never stops pushing me to holiness, gives of himself to make our life better. I know that He is God's grace to me and his promise to be with me for better or for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish me has been more than fulfilled. I love you "Dougie" from this day forward, til death does part us.
