Anniversary

Today is Jenifer and Andy's 4th Wedding Anniversary.

A day of remembering....

Jen is our youngest child....and yet the first to get married. (She always told Julia that she would get married first!) What a beautiful day. What a beautiful wedding. We were so exhausted when the day was over....but so pleased that it was just what Jen had always wanted. We were also so thankful for the Godly man that God had given to her. Just as we had prayed for all of her life.

They were engaged in March, 2003 ....and the race was on.

• She had to find the perfect dress.
• She picked out the flowers.
• Dresses for the bridesmaids (9 of them).
• We looked at pictures of cakes and talked to Andy's Aunt who was making them for us.
• Talked to the Caterer- and talked again - and talked again.
• Hunted for the right aisle cloth.
• Picked out music and talked to the soloists.
• Had Julia to find the String Quartet and the Trumpeter.
• Wanted special candelabras.
• Secured the hall for the reception.
• Bought centerpieces.
• We even had chair covers.
• Looked for candles for the tables at the reception.
• Talked to the florist a second and third time.
• Had the dress pressed.
• Took the Bridal pictures.
• Had the dress cleaned and pressed again.
• Had a practice run on the hair.
• Talked to the photographer.
• Last minute - added a videographer to capture it all for us.
• Had the nails done.
• Went to the tanning bed.
• Even exercised to make sure that the dress would still fit :)
• And all of the other details that I cannot remember right now.

Stress to the max some days. Jen had lists and she had lists for me. She would call me to check and see if I was on tract for the day.... with my assignments :) We enjoyed the journey (most of the time). And on the days that we did not- I would remind her that I intended to enjoy this - so we needed to re-adjust.

Our lives literally revolved around one central thing..... The Wedding Day. She wanted everything to be perfect for that moment when the doors would swing open and she would walk down that aisle to her groom. She wanted to be ready and beautiful for him....without spot or blemish. And ready she was! - What a beautiful Bride!

One of my favorite passages is Titus 2:11-14
"For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait (look) for the blessed hope—the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good. "

What a picture..... One day the skies will open and our Savior is coming for His Bride. We too should be making preparations for that glorious day. Oh, that we would live our lives in such a way - saying no to ungodliness and worldly passions. That we would live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in the here and now. Taking care of all of the details of daily life - with one thought in our mind- we are going to meet our groom. He is coming for us.

Just as our lives literally (and sometimes frantically) revolved around preparations for November 1, 2003....

What a difference it would make in our daily lives - if we really were "looking for the glorious appearing of our Great God and Savior, Jesus Christ."

Ponder those thoughts with me.....




Happy Anniversary Andy and Jen.
What treasures you are!
I Love you