Wedding
Surprisingly, I slept well the night before our wedding, and awoke the next morning about 8am. I showered, ate breakfast, loaded the dress into the car, and headed to the church. I did a few last odds and ends, accidentally ran into Harland in the church hall, we screamed, averted our eyes, and ran opposite directions. I closeted myself away in a small classroom with a mirror to do my makeup. My maid of honor did my hair, I dressed, and then Harland and I saw each other for the first time that day.
For the next couple hours pictures were taken, and then it was time for the wedding. All the planning and worry of the previous 9 months evaporated as I headed down the aisle towards Harland.
Everything went perfectly as planned. We exchanged vows and rings,
we kissed,
the guests applauded, and we walked arm and arm down the isle. The reception was a blur. We visited with friends and family, cut the cake,
enjoyed the best man’s toast, and soon it was time for our dance. We had chosen Etta James’ At Last for our song because it was such a good fit. We had waited and waited to find “the one” and in our early 40s, it had finally happened for us. As the 1st few notes of this very recognizable song started, the guests applauded, we held each other cheek to cheek, and lived in the moment.
Then we danced every dance until our feet hurt, and all too soon it was over. We changed out of our wedding clothes, kissed and hugged family and friends good bye, and headed on down the road in a hazy cloud of exhausted bliss.
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I could go on to say that we went away on our honeymoon for a week, which we did, but actually, the two and a half years since our wedding has been our honeymoon. We are so happy to have found each other, and so enjoy just being together. Neither of us is perfect, but we try to be and do the very best for each other. We’ve had our ups and downs, but we know that we can’t ever take each other for granted and try to remember every day to say thank you, please, and I’m sorry.
When we chose the readings for our wedding, we both knew that 1 Corinthians Chapter 13 would be included, and we’ve tried to live those words every day since:
Love is patient, love is kind. It is not jealous, is not pompous, it is not inflated, it is not rude, it does not seek its own interests, it is not quick-tempered, it does not brood over injury, it does not rejoice over wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails.
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———> UP NEXT: How Kitty spends a sunny afternoon.
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What a sweet, sweet story. How wise you were to wait for “the one.” how wonderful that you are so content. Bless you.
Thank you Sandra!
We have 1 Corinthians Chapter 13 on our refrigerator. It is perfect. Sounds like you know how great you have it together! May you have many, many years on your honeymoon!
Thank you Gardener! You too.
Thanks for the reminder. (1 Corinthians 13) You guys really do a great job of fulfilling the definition of “Love”.
Hi Glenda,
Thank you! St. Paul was very eloquent.
such a sweet sweet story and you were a beautiful bride!!
Thank you Lisa!
What a beautiful story…I was so anxious to read today’s post! I Corinthians 13 is a great reminder for all of us. Congrats!
Thank you Alica!
Oh, I’m so glad you helped me remember that scripture!! I hope you and Harlan continue to be happy and that your love will grow forever.
Thank you Sue!
I have a tear in my eye. That is one of my favorite Bible verses, and every now and then it does me good to remember it. Thanks. I know that you and Harland will have many, many, many happy years together. Thanks for sharing your story. What a beautiful gown! 🙂
Oh Thank you Vivian,
St. Paul’s words are so eloquent aren’t they?
This is such a sweet story! I am so happy that you and Harland have found each other “at last” and are so happy! That’s the best!! I was smiling the whole time I read this post. Thanks for sharing…and may you two live happily ever after!! I know you will!
Hi Bonnie,
Thank you so much, you’re so sweet.
I love your love story. Love was sweeter for the waiting. You 2 look like and sound like the perfect couple together. May you have many happy years with one another!
Thank you Laura!
Suzanne, you have a wonderful story. I wish you many happy years ahead. P.S. I tried your fried chicken recipe tonight with great success. It was, indeed, so very tasty. The fam ate it up, a definate keeper!
Thank you Sally,
And so glad you enjoyed the chicken. Isn’t it funny how simple recipes can taste just as good or better than recipes that have dozens of ingredients and take lots of time to prepare. I love those old recipes.
“At Last” = Tears! So appropriate and so happy you found each other!
Thank you Pam! Can’t beat Etta James for a tear jerker.
Ditto what everyone has said, and I love your dress!
Hi Sonya,
Thank you!
You look so beautiful and so blessedly happy in those pictures. 🙂
Hi Justina,
Awww….thank you!
About half-a-century ago, as a teenager, I would spend hours reading love stories in the Woman & Home magazine. Your story is as romantic as any of them! Wish you both lifelong happiness.
Thank you Shailaja!
Your story reads like a novel, but I’m so happy it’s real. May you and Harlan have many more years together just as happy as you are now.
Thank you Kathy!
Thank you for sharing your love story with us. I loved it and the photos. I pray that you both will continue to have a wonderful life together. May you only have eyes for each other and the Lord. :0) Hugs!
Hi Becky,
We heard when we were preparing for our wedding that it takes 3 to make a good marriage, husband, wife, and the Lord. So very true.
Thank you much for your good wishes!
A wonderful story and lovely wedding photos.
What a wonderful story! I really AM crying now!
Awww…Thank you Kit.
I love your love story. I cried too. Your story is strikingly similar to mine. Met Feb 2006, long distance relationship (he in KS, me in ND) – proposed Jan 2007 – 6 months later found job in Chase County July 2007, married Oct 2007. Neither one of us had prior marriages. At age 44, my life was beginning all over again. I am still on my honeymoon. Did I mention, we are blessed with a three year girl old who actively keeps us young.
I am a huge fan of your web page!
Don’t you love the saying, “Good things come to those who wait”? We feel so blessed to have found each other, and I’m sure you feel the same.
BTW, we love coming down to Chase county to the Tallgrass Prairie there to see the bison herd. We’ve been there twice in the last couple weeks.
Thanks for visiting Paula.
Hi Suzanne,
Can I ask how old you and Harland were when you got married?
It’s not (just) for nosiness, but also for encouragement for single people in their 40’s.
Thanks,
Lyn
Sure, no problem. I was 39 and Harland was 42, so you see, it’s never too late to find the love of your life!
Thank you Suzanne.
It really is encouraging for those of us past 40 singles to have our belief that God can still have an amazing story awaiting us strenghtened, as he did for you & Harland. Have a great rejoycing Palm Sunday.
Lyn
Welcome everyone ! I’m Eliot Estes.
Even though I jokingly credit my grandmother for my writing talent, I know that it is a talent I have fostered from childhood. Though my grandmother is a writer, I also started out young.
I’ve always had a way with words, according to my favorite professor . I was always so excited in history when we had to do a research writing assignment.
Now, I help current learners achieve the grades that have always come easily to me. It is my way of giving back to students because I understand the obstacles they must overcome to graduate.
Eliot Estes – Academic Writing Professional – Hesperialovesbooks Corps