Happy Ever After

God, the best maker of all marriages,
Combine your hearts into one. ~William Shakespeare 



I was fifteen -- he was seventeen -- when I looked towards the piano during choir rehearsal and my eyes collided with his.  My heart pounded and I couldn't breathe -- what was up with that?  I still had two and a half years of high school left.  He was leaving for college in the fall. I couldn't date until I was sixteen and that was nine months away.  Wouldn't he get tired of this quiet introspective girl before then?

That was nearly thirty-eight years ago.  If he's tired of me, he's smart enough to keep it to himself. 

We were blessed with loving marital examples in our parents.  My daddy, the romantic, enjoyed spending his off-work hours with my mother.  RB's father, ever practical, made sure his wife was cared for, treating her with love and respect throughout their 60+ years of marriage.  Someone said, "The best gift a father can give his children is to love their mother."  I couldn't find the source, but whoever wrote this was a wise person. 

We used the traditional marriage vows in our wedding.  RB has lived the phrase, "in sickness and in health."  He  rejoices in the good days and cares for more than his part of the load in the bad.  I've been told that marriage only works if there's a 50/50 ratio -- each partner giving 50%.  I disagree.  Throughtout our marriage there have been times the best I could give is 30% and RB has given 70%.  Likewise in the seasons he only had 40% to give, I have been able to give 60%. 

For the first twenty-six years of our marriage we lived where we worked -- on the campus of a Bible College and the campus of church ministry. I had opportunities to see him numerous times throughout the day.  It was a big adjustment for me ten years ago when RB left at 7:00 in the morning and didn't return until 6:00 in the evening.  I'm thankful for computers.  We're able to connect via email throughout the day, even if it's a hurried, "Racing from meeting to meeting -- XO."  Cell phones are on my thankful list, too.  Grateful for free phone-to-phone minutes that allow taking advantage of commuting time to talk about our days. 

Start Strong and Finish Well

Although Emily will be living at home and traveling with RB to the university each day, we're entering another season of our life.  I'm thankful for the vibrancy of our relationship.  Thankful we enjoy each other, that our discussions went beyond home and parenting to the political, spiritual, and yes, even the craziness. 

In this autumn of our life we will keep our vows -- to have and to hold from this day forward -- happy ever after.

* * * * *

Wedding in a Box

My girls loved playing wedding.  Melanie and her friend, Maria, often dressed Emily up as a bride.  Emily would do anything they asked, even wearing the half slip veil they fashioned for her.   


Remembering that, I made Morgan a "Wedding in a Box."  Except for the box and tulle, I found all of my wedding items at the Dollar Store, bringing the total project to $12.00

What's in the box: 

Veil, made with tulle, a rose and wired hearts.
Lilly of the valley bouquet
Long white gloves
Silk petals for the "aisle."
Wedding bubbles
Wedding bells
Bride's garter

RB wrote, "Here comes the bride" around the side box and "Morgan" name on the lid.  I can't wait to "play bride" with Morgan.  I'll be sure to tell her that she wants to marry someone like her own daddy -- a gentle man, a strong man, a man of God.

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