The Wedding

Mommy and Daddy celebrated our 11th wedding anniversary yesterday.  We made plans to take a trip to Destin and spend our first full day celebrating the day we said "I do".  Once your little sister Layne got wind it was a big day, she made sure to make it special. She spent time the night before tucked away in her top bunk making a sweet card.  Every once and again she would ask things like "what letters make /ver/?".  The morning of she even served us chocolate donuts in bed.  Later that night when we had dinner at AJs on the beach, she asked if the waiters might sing "Happy Anniversary" to us. Mommy loves how she loves specials days in our family.

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Just a week before our trip to Destin and after years of it collecting dust on Mommy's dresser, Mommy finally buckled down and began to read The Wedding by Nicholas Sparks.  Mommy had borrowed it from your Auntie Keshia ages ago and for some reason it made its way to Mommy's nightstand as a decoration.  Mommy thought well if it was written by Nicholas Sparks, it must be a good read.

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Mommy read the story.  It was about a man who admits that after thirty years of marriage the romance once felt between he and his wife had gone away.  With his daughter's upcoming wedding he realizes that, while he's provided well for his family over the years, he and his wife had grown apart.  He is certain that he loves her more deeply now than ever, but notices his wife may not feel the same.  Throughout the story he struggles to find his way back into her heart. Throughout the story they are planning every detail of this event that would mean so much. It's ending was sweet and one that warmed Mommy's heart.

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Mommy and Daddy are far from celebrating thirty years and I like to think that we are still as connected today as we were the day we married, but one part in particular stuck with Mommy.

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After reading that story Mommy felt thankful to have had a wedding that was everything I could imagine. Mommy thought back to every part and every person who played a special role in our big day.  The early morning drive to Destin shortly after reading the book gave Mommy plenty of quiet time to think back to our big day.

Mommy thought of the six bridesmaids dressed in all white carrying simple bouquets of pink gerber daisies walking down the aisle before me.  Each one picked for a special reason.  My sister, my first and forever friend.  My former roommates and sorority sisters.  My future sister-in-law and my dear friend Sarah.  

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Mommy thought of your Uncle Jamie, our minister.  And I imagined him being just as nervous as us since our wedding would be his first. I thought of his perfect words spoken during the ceremony. About marriage being a dance.  But not just a dance for two.  It was important to include God in the center.

Mommy thought of old friends and family who shared in our big day. Great Grandma Brentzel who is no longer with us.  Your cousins, so small then, who are teenagers now.

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And Mommy thought of that moment when the string quartet played Cannon in D.  Mommy in my dress and chapel length veil, holding Papaw's arm.  As we walked up the steps from the bridal room and turned the corner Mommy glanced at the light shining through the beautifully stained glass windows nestled into the gray limestone walls.  The aisle was long and red, the church pews full of familiar faces. Mommy took a deep breath realizing it was time.

At that moment the entire church stood.  The violins played the sweet simple melody. Mommy felt a flood of mixed emotions:  anticipation, nervousness. So many emotions: thankful and blessed. It seemed a bit much for everyone to be staring at me.  Mommy blushed and felt my shoulders rise as if to help find a place to hide. As we got halfway down the aisle all Mommy could do was stare at Daddy, his smile so big.

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Mommy loved having this quiet time to reminisce on that big day in Mommy and Daddy's lives. Something about it made me think back to what I've heard in church.  About how God looks at his followers like a bridegroom looks at his bride.  It made me think about this scripture I'd heard before and about you.

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Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” Revelation 21:1-4.

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Mommy thought about the part that read He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore".  And Mommy thought of you.

Mommy and Daddy may never live long enough to see the coming of Jesus. But it doesn't stop us from wondering what the celebration will be like when we see you again in Heaven. Will the aisle be long?  Will we feel giddy with anticipation?  Will there be loved ones there to help join in the celebration? Mommy just wonders.

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Until that day comes, Mommy and Daddy will tend to the details of this life in hopes that we may be prepared to join you and our Heavenly Father.

Love you, miss you sweet girl!