I remember....Only You.

Sometimes you get the chance to be a part of something that touches your heart at its deepest places. 

I remember the first time I saw B kneeling at the foot of a cross we had set up for a Sunday service for the young adults we were ministering to.  I didn't know her name and I didn't know why she was down there on her knees.  Months went by before we actually began to have regular interactions. 

I remember the first time we sat at a Starbucks and part of her story was told carefully and tentatively as we sipped coffee.  There would be many more times parts of her story would gently be told over cups of coffee in the years ahead. 

Little by little I was invited into her life and into her story, and as it unfolded she began to take a unique place in my life.  B became part of our family.  She reached out to Katy and Allison, and Steve...long before the little girls arrived. She brought laughter, spontaneity, care and joy to our family.

I remember long conversations about her hopes for marriage and questions about when that day would come.  I watched her stand up with many other young women as they were married, while she waited for her turn to come.

B let me see her, the deep parts of herself that she hid for fear of what would come if anyone knew.  The moments those stories were told are still vivid in my mind and they are sacred places of memory...places where I got to be there with her while she opened the door for Jesus to come into where she was hiding.

I remember the night that I began to wonder if Darin might be who God was bringing for B.  I remember watching them dance and knowing that he was the one.  I remember waiting and wondering and crying with her as he left for a year of school, too soon after they started dating.  I remember the day he showed us her engagement ring and invited me to help get her to the spot where he would ask her to marry him. I remember the car ride there, the music playing that he had recorded for the 45 minute trip to the lake house.  I remember her smile as we drove along singing with the music.

I remember her invitation to stand up with her as the Matron of Honor.

I remember the day she had her bridal portraits taken.  I remember the letter I wrote her for that day.  I remember the morning of the wedding, the bridal luncheon, the ride to the church with her dress carefully lying in the back of my car.  I remember helping her with her veil.  I remember how beautiful she looked.

Most of all I remember sitting in the cry room of the sanctuary, while her brother was singing worship songs as people arrived for the wedding.  We sat quietly in the rocking chairs listening to his sweet voice and the sound of his guitar.  I remember all the precious moments I had shared with B leading up that day playing like a movie in my mind and we sat there rocking back and forth.  Her eyes were closed and her hand was gripping mine as we enjoyed the glorious goodness of God and His sweet redemption of her life.

That was four years ago today.  The memory of the day still brings tears to my eyes because it is just so sweet and lovely.  I remember it like it was yesterday.

Happy Anniversary B and D.  Today will always be incredibly special. I love you both.

Comments

[D]

Wow T...I hardly know what to say. I can't see straight so the screen is a little blurry. Thanks for remembering the day with us. You and Mark loved us so well up to and through this big day. It wouldn't have been the same without you. Thank you for everything! Everything! We both love you (both) dearly.

[Lib]

T--

A beautiful post. Thanks for remembering and communicating so many sweet memories and moments from four years ago...the moments in the cry room rocking...the moments outside during the photo session--the breeze blowing and sun shining...dancing at the reception. Thanks for putting words to all the beauty that day did hold. B, love you and D and hope you have an awesome getaway this weekend!

And T, you looked so great in that dress with your little Elly-belly!

Lib.

[B]

I just put Wyatt to bed. I am waiting for D to come home from work and for the sushi to be delivered for our dinner. Is it bad that I have returned to your post at least 10 times today in the quiet to listen to "Only You" and cry as I read over your words? This post touched a deep place in my soul that has been dormant for a while now. Thank you for posting and remembering with me all the glorious things about that day and the years and months leading up to that day. You, my Matron of Honor, lived out the role exceedingly better than any book could begin to recommend. I enjoyed pulling out my wedding box today and seeing many reminders of just how special you are. I love you!

[JJ]

Wow, T. Very cool video. How awesome for B and D to have this. Loved watching it.

You were a beautiful bride, B!