I Said Yes To , Until Death Do Us Part

The air was cool. 

Chores were done. 

We headed out. 

We dressed in layers. 

We drove almost 2 hours to a fair. 

Not just any fair. 

The Tunbridge World's Fair. 

A place where time stands still. 

Where cattle are milked. 

Displays of pumpkins and flowers line every building.
Equipment through the generations are scattered around the space. 

Where smells of roasting corn and fried dough permeate the air. 

The hum of the rides and the dazzling lights make this place a feast for the senses. 

We held hands and giggled. 

So fun to be together. 

He wanted to ride the ferris wheel. 

I didn't want to spend the money. 

We walked hand in hand. 

He asked if we could sit in the cattle barn. 

The bleachers empty. 

It was quiet. 

We sat next to each other. 

He looked at me. 

He asked if we could spend the rest of our lives getting
 to know each other and being best friends. 

I looked at him. 

He reached in his jacket pocket. 

He gave me his great grandmothers ring.
This kind, blue eyed man. 

To have and hold, until death do us part. 

I said yes. 

And this winter when the "in sickness and in health,
until death do you part" knocked on our door,

I thought back to that day. 

To all the days since. 

To heart ache and joy. 

To the pain of a child taken too soon. 

I thought through the years.

To gratitude.

To promises made. 

To promises kept. 

In sickness and in health. 

Until death do we part. 

I said yes. 

And I would say it again and again and again.

Jeremiah 31:3
The LORD appeared to us in the past, saying: 
"I have loved you with an everlasting love;
 I have drawn you with unfailing kindness.

A Love Story, Happy 20th Anniversary to My Farmer

September 17, 2013 facebook post

20 years ago today, I went to work and then headed to the farm to help finish chores. Gary and I went to the Tunbridge Fair. It was a gorgeous fall night. Little did I know what the evening held in store. A few hours later,  my best friend asked me to spend the rest of our lives getting to know each other, to serve God and continue our friendship as husband and wife. He gave me his great grandmothers ring. Which fit perfectly. We got married less than a month later. . . that story in a few weeks. . .

Well, it's been a few weeks. . .and here is the rest of the story:

 On September 17,1993 I became engaged.
The very thought, even to this day brings a smile to my face.
It was romantic and magical and. . . not what my farmer had planned.
He had wanted to propose on the Ferris Wheel.
Even back then, I was too cheap. 
And the thought of paying all that money to ride the Ferris Wheel seemed ridiculous.
So, he asked me to spend the rest of our lives getting to know each other, serving God together and continuing our friendship as husband and wife in. . . the horse barn. 
I was so surprised. 
Of course I said yes. 

Early the next morning I hurried to my soon to be Mother in Law's. 
A twinkle in her eye, so much like her son, made me realize, she already knew.
There was a flurry of excitement as the word spread.
(That happens in a large, close knit family)
And before 9:00 in the morning we were off to look for wedding gowns and begin the planning.

By that afternoon, we had purchased a gown and set a date.
We would marry in less than 4 weeks. 
But for this family, 4 weeks is nothing.
And within days all the details of a full wedding were complete. 

Somehow, there was enough time to surprise me with a bridal shower.

October 16, 1993
 would dawn a beautiful day.
I was marrying the one I had prayed for; my best friend.

Philippians 1:3

I thank my God every time I remember you.

The reception was in the new barn we were building.
All festive for the fall theme. 

Jimmy brought me to my dad in a horse and buggy.
That didn't work out so well for me.
Ask me about that sometime. . .
It was a wild ride.

Dad after the wild ride. . .walking me down the aisle. 

He will always be my hero.

Dementia can't take that. . . 

To honor Chelsea and help her feel a part of the ceremony,we surprised her with a ring.

It matches her dads.

Even though her daddy was getting married. She would always hold his heart. 

Until Adam came and stole it away. . .

and made her the happiest girl on earth. . .

I had planned every detail of that wedding. . .or so I thought.

Part way through the ceremony. . . the Road Crew. . .(the band Gary played in) all surrounded us. . .

And my farmer sang me a love song that we still cherish to this day. 

It was a magical day. One I would do over and over again if I could. 

We had so much fun. 

These 20 years have been rich and full.

Our marriage hasn't been perfect. 

We have  fallen short of the glory of God many times. 

We forget to keep NO record of wrongs, we forget to be patient and kind.
We forget how fun date night can be. 

I Corinthians 13:4-7
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

But God's mercy and grace has followed us in a mighty way,
 as we have sought Him in our marriage.

If you look just below the middle of the photo, you will see a cloud in the shape of a circle. 

This was during the exchange of our rings during the ceremony.

A beautiful display of God's majesty in the heaven's. . .

 And 20 years later, on the morning of the death of our son, 

God displayed his majesty again, in the shape of a heart. 

Psalm 19:1

The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.

We have known great joy.

And lately, we have known deep, agonizing sorrow and uncertainty.
We have been blessed to have 20 years together.
I hope for many more. 
But more importantly, I hope to finish well.
I hope we have served God with all we have.
That our love, in some way,
 has mirrored the love Christ has for us.
And that God would continue to heal our broken hearts.

Happy Anniversary Gary Lee, my beloved farmer.
You still make me swoon, you still take my breath away.
Thank you for loving me.
Thank you for modeling what a Godly man looks like for our children.
And thank you for holding us all together when we feel like our world is falling apart.
It is an honor to be your wife and journey together in this life.

The Honor of being the Ugly Step Mom. . .who came up with that term anyway?

Today she turns 26.

She came into my world in a different way. 

Her blue eyes and precious smile captivated me right away.

Her long blonde hair flowing in the breeze.

Her hand tucked snugly into mine.

Bedtime stories and afternoon walks.

These stole my heart. 

Along with the father who loved her so. 

Years of Field Hockey games, homework, playdates,
 road trips to see her in college; all done now.

That precious young child has grown into a beautiful woman.

All the girls.

 And then a wonderful young man stole her heart.

But never from her daddy.

And the 2 became one.

On the farm of her birth.

And in God's precious mercy while we mourn the loss of one called home;
we also celebrate the coming of new life.

So happy Birthday Chelsea Davis Brittain.
I may only hold the title of ugly step-mom;
but it's been an honor and one of my greatest joys.

Psalm 127:3
Children are a gift from the Lord;
    they are a reward from him.