One year ago, God began something new.
He took two broken people—with strengths and weaknesses, heartaches and foibles—and brought them together, bound into one by vows and exchanged rings beneath an arch of hydrangeas, surrounded by loving friends and family standing to support us, taking the bread and cup together beneath a white gazebo while the March breeze ruffled our hair and wafted the scent of orange blossoms from the orchard nearby.
It was our wedding day.
So many memories remain impressed in my memory from that day, despite the blur it was…
Hugging my mama tight after she helped me into my wedding gown in the Victorian bedroom upstairs where the bride and bridesmaids got ready…
Receiving a precious note from my groom and holding it close to my heart—I hadn’t known he was going to do that—then scribbling one in return…
My godmother and one of my godsisters coming upstairs to see and hug me ahead of time…
Holding onto my daddy’s arm as we waited by the sweet-scented orange orchard near the lamppost, the spring breeze cool and gentle, the reality of the day starting to set in, and the smile on Daddy’s face…
Exchanging waves and blown kisses with my sister one more time as she stood a little ways ahead of me with the bridesmaids, so pretty in her dark green dress, the others lovely in their blue…
Walking down the aisle with my daddy, trying to hurry a bit since there’d been a glitch in the music, yet also to savor and remember the moment, seeing so many beloved faces on both sides of the aisle, and then ahead of me, my groom…
Anthony’s hand over mine throughout the ceremony, his thumb keeping up a steady and gentle stroke back and forth over my fingers, a reminder despite all of the craziness leading to this day of why we were here, and that he loved me…
Taking communion under the gazebo’s canopy, while our wedding party sang a worship song around us, and the pastor who’s known Anthony since high school and counseled us through those months leading up to the wedding led us through our first act as man and wife…taking Christ’s body and blood in remembrance of Him as He bound us together in these holy mysteries of marriage and Eucharist.
The joy and fun at our recepti
on, even an impromptu musical number by my dad and Anthony’s groomsmen, which even my mom hadn’t known about…
All the loving hands and feet and faces who had come together and done so much to make our wedding as beautiful as it was, and most of all to support and love us on this day…family, godfamily, “adopted” family, friends very old and rather new…
My little-yet-now-not-so-little sister’s beautiful maid of honor speech, the one time that day when I got all choked up…because even though she’d been off at college, and I still wouldn’t be very far away, I was going to miss her so much…
Our send-off under the arbor under a joyous shower of dried lavender buds (Anthony closed his eyes), then making our way to our car in the darkened parking lot, and at last quiet and just us two…
Mostly, just being so aware of the Lord’s presence and grace over us that day.
Little did we know what was ahead…we’d never done this before. I think in some ways I thought once the wedding was over, the hardest part would be behind us, with all the challenges and ups and downs we’d had to work through during our engagement.
But of course that wasn’t so. And perhaps it is good that I didn’t know then of all the mountains and valleys and rocky places we would have to climb during this first year of marriage, a few I’ve hinted at in posts here, many more not to share beyond us and the Lord.
I’ve continued to learn that marriage—and relationships in general—are messy, are not easy, are not a happily ever after but rather yet another part of life that the Lord uses to humble us, shape us, teach us about ourselves and each other (sometimes things we didn’t particularly want to know), and most of all, bring us closer to Him, because sometimes we have to throw ourselves on Him and ask Him to work and perfect His strength in our weakness…there’s no other way.
And yet, for all its tears and exasperation, I have found marriage a beautiful thing. To know someone like this…to belong to him. To be no longer truly two but part of this mysterious one that God is creating from us. To become more aware of both my brokenness and my value. To know the joy and thrill and laughter and giggles of loving and being loved and just having fun together and learning to be real. To learn yet again that Jesus truly never leaves or forsakes us, and that He is working in all things for our good.
So thank you for this first year, my Love…my Prince Anthony. I look forward to continuing to build a lifetime with you, till death does us part.
Kiersti,
So beautifully written – almost as beautiful as you were a bride.
I’m so thankful I was there to witness the blessed event.
Love you,
Marilyn
Thanks, Marilyn! How very special it was to have the three of my C-Peeps there at our wedding…definitely another precious memory I could have added. Love you!