Weddings

I was reminiscing the other day (I seem to have a problem seeing as I do this a lot) about the first wedding I ever went to. My train of memories came from a year just passed filled with lovebirds tying the knot and the upcoming happy days for even more smitten couples. In light of that, I decided, mainly due to a relentless writer's itch, to recall from memory my first wedding. Also depending on how long this urge lasts or unless the people demand it, I may just recall the other weddings I have had the honor of attending.

I truly love weddings. I love them because they are a picture of a couple's two lives becoming one, because they are part of a great commitment, because music fills the air, food my stomach, and joy in many people's hearts. I get to witness one maybe two (if I know both the bride and groom) of my friends making the lifelong commitment and share in their joyous day after watching them fall deeper in love over the years. There's so much more I could say, but right now I'm going to focus on the first wedding I ever went to.

I was maybe eight years old at the time and I always wondered what it would be like to actually go to a wedding. To experience all the beauty of the scenery that was made possible by the careful planning of the couple and all the ones they hired to make the day evermore grand. Well I finally got my chance. The local church I met with when I lived in Pennsylvania wasn't very big so it was a big thing when new people joined. It was even bigger when they wanted to hold their wedding right on the property and it wasn't even a "church" building. For those of you who went on that bike trip to Gettysburg 10 years ago (yes it's been that long), recall that we camped at Al and Sue Gilbert's house, which was a dome house that Al built. That's where the wedding was held. As a kid, back then I thought it was strange to have a wedding there, but looking back on it, it was actually a beautiful and perfect place. There were hardly any neighbors, a small country road with less than 1% traffic, a hill that gave a nice view of the corn fields, the woods, and the summer sun eclipsing the house's large dome. Now here's where my memory gets a little foggy. I cannot remember how they came to be with us, nor when they moved away. But I do remember that day nearly to the T.

I hated dressing up (and I still do to some extent...ties *cough*), but a part of my 8 year old self was excited about wearing a nice pair of shoes and looking pretty slick for an 8 year old. I remember watching the days before as the sisters labored, especially my mom, to make the wedding cake. They also made all the decorations and prepared the beautiful arbor. The whole church had placed a lot of effort into making this day extra special.

Before I go into more details, let me give you a little background on the couple.Their names were Juan and Gloria. They were both Hispanic. The groom had been married once before and had at least three kids in their teens and above. I think she may have been married once as well. She was soft spoken and he was a talker. They both loved Christ.

The ceremony was to take place around 5pm in the afternoon. We had to be there earlier for final preparations. I was totally okay with that because I liked being the first one there and greeting people as they arrive (I still kind of do). I recall being outside most of the time, enjoying the warm summer sun and the scenic masterpiece before me. Every once in awhile, I tried to go upstairs to see what my mom was doing, but I kept getting shooed away because she and the other sisters were helping the bride with her wedding dress. Two o'clock rolled around and some of the guests started to arrive. I was given the job of helping park the cars and since the driveway wasn't big enough, we had the cars drive across the yard and park down behind the cornfield. Everything was going smoothly, until Pandora's box began to once again open. Joe Pope from the church in Pittsburgh was the minister for this wedding and he called us, telling us that his van had broken down two hours away. A brother by the name of Ned Beck hopped in has old Porsche and went to rescue him. Now remember that this was the late 1990s and cell phones weren't popular/ affordable yet. He did however take a cheap phone with him. That issue was the least of our worries, however. The groom and his family were nowhere to be found.

An hour went by and a few guests came. All I could do was stand by a nearly empty country road and hope a car would drive in so I could help park it. Then a bit of good news came our way. Joe had gotten his van fixed and was nearly here. We tried to reach Ned, but he wasn't answering. So everyone did what they could to put the final touches before the ceremony began. Another hour passed and Ned finally called saying he was in Breezewood, but couldn't find Joe. Joe had just arrived and we told Ned to come back. I felt bad for him having to drive four hours round trip for nothing and he was likely going to miss the start of the wedding. Another two hours passed and the sun began to dip ever so slowly beyond the horizon. Ned came rolling in and seeing that the wedding hadn't started, he said to me "You didn't start without me huh?" I told him that the groom hadn't arrived.

One more hour ticked away and I thought that my first wedding experience was going to be a bust. But then, in the distance, I saw a pair of headlights. Then another. And another. A whole train of cars came down that gravel country road and with joy I ran into the house shouting that the groom had finally arrived! Two+ hours late might I add. Within the hour, everyone was parked, seated and now facing Joe and the groom standing under the arbor on the hilltop in Al and Sue's backyard.

The heat of the day was fading, a cool breeze was blowing, and the ceremony finally began. The wedding party began to come out. Leading the way was the groom's dashing young nephew, strumming a beautiful tune on his guitar in his native tongue. Following him were more relatives and friends, all with beaming smiles. Then, the one we were all waiting for , the bride made her presence known. There she was in a stunning, flowing, ruby red dress (yes I did say ruby). I was shocked because my eight-year-old self thought all wedding dresses were supposed to be white. Disappointment was nowhere to be found, but instead an abundance of mirth.

Once she had reached the arbor, a hush fell over the crowd as Joe Pope began to speak. He spoke from the bible and spoke the truth. Right before the vows, the attendees were given the opportunity to share testimonies (another thing I never thought would happen at a wedding). Guest after guest stood to declare how amazing God was in bringing the two of them together. The couple then swapped rings, exchanged vows, and at Joe's beckoning, they became husband and wife. Cheers went up as the two now exited the scene as one.

Because there were a lot of people and it was a summer's eve, dinner (even though it was late) was held outdoors by candle light. I got to sit with some of the relatives, including the guitar player. While waiting to be called into the line, he and his buddy were arguing about what keeps the candle burning. His friend said wick, but he insisted on it being the wax. They asked me what I thought and  said the wick much to his friend's delight. He kept saying "No man, it's definitely the wax." After dinner had ended, everyone gathered inside for the last event which was the cutting of the cake. Now there was an inside joke that Juan's (the groom) family multiplied like rabbits. So my mom and the other sisters had bought a bride and groom rabbit figurine and stuck it on to top the cake. Juan didn't notice at first, but as he was about to cut the cake, my mom asked him if he saw what was on it. He said "Oh yeah there are two-" then he stopped himself finally noticing the rabbits, shook his head at the joke, and the crowd busted out laughing.

By this time it was well after 9pm. The guests said their "congrats" and "goodbyes" as they began to return home. The rest of us who had helped put this wonderful day together collapsed on the chairs, couches, and whatever else we could relax on. I was tired and my feet hurt. But I was happy and thankful. My first wedding experience was everything I hoped it would be and more.

New Year New Hope

It becomes harder and harder to not be repetitive  with these new year posts each year. I don't want to bore you all with the same old stories, the same dreams I've posted time and time again, etc. So I'm going to do a mixture of things instead. Before I go into detail, here are a few things I enjoyed from this past year.

Kenny Chesney Lyrics (new and old):

"Talked a good game when we were out with the guys 
But in the back seat we were awkward and shy 
Girls were a mystery that we couldn't explain 
And I guess there are some things that are never gonna change"~Young

"Sometimes when the sun goes down

Shadows fall across this little town
And I close my eyes and I drift away
to another place in another time
When the world was ours and she was mine
I dream of holdin' her again someday"~On the Coast of Somewhere Beautiful

"It ain't fair you died too young

Like a story that had just begun
The death tore the pages all away
God knows how I miss you
All the hell that I've been through
Just knowing no one could take your place
Sometimes I wonder who you'd be today"~Who You'd Be Today

"Its what the junkie needs that the needle cant give 

depressed and forgotten are praying for it 
Its what the brave and courageous are fighting for 
An open sail on a distant shore-Freedom"~Freedom

"From that chair I've caught a few fish and some rays

And I've watched boats sail in and out of cinnamon bay
I let go of a lover that took a piece of my heart
Prayed many times for forgiveness and a brand new start"~Old Blue Chair

"Wouldn't take much for me to up and run

To another life somewhere in the sun"~Somewhere in the Sun

"There's something sexy about the rain

She said as it came pouring down
It feels like kisses on my skin
She spread her arms and spun around
In a summer island storm
In a field of sugarcane
She taught me how and showed me why
There's something sexy about the rain"~There's Something Sexy About the Rain

"See, I gained a little on Father Time

When me and her, had our first big fight
I said some things, I made her cry
She packed all her stuff

The boy in me said let her go
But the man in me said pull her close
It was time to find out which one I was
Standing in a doorway holding on to love
That's where I grew up"~Where I Grew Up

"I could jump on some ol' highway

Run a thousand miles or more
Unlock some hidden mystery
Behind a distant door
I could sail the seven oceans
Til I crawl upon some long forgotten shore

But it's always gonna be you
Always gonna be you I'm lookin' for"~Always Gonna Be You

"I've been right and I've been wrong

Somewhere in between for so long
Live the night, miss the light, and I've been shown it
Life has it's way of keepin' you strong, don't it?"~Don't It

"Many years of summers, and I hope it never ends

Been down so many highways, full of twists and turns and bends
We caught lightning in a bottle, somehow we survived it all
All the stories he could tell, if this bus could talk

As I leave the stage, still high from your applause
He'd tell you that I love you
If this bus could talk"~If This Bus Could Talk

Bonus Luke Bryan Lyrics: 

"Funny how the good ones go

Too soon, but the good Lord knows
The reasons why, I guess

Sometimes the greater plan
Is kinda hard to understand
Right now it don't make sense
I can't make it all make sense

So long my friend
Until we meet again
I'll remember you
And all the times that we used to...

... sit right here on the edge of this pier
And watch the sunset disappear"

The reason I put this last set of lyrics here is because one of the few cons of 2014 was that six people in my life had taken their last breaths. I would love to describe their lives in great detail, but for this post, I don't have the time. So instead I'll give you a snippet of who they were to me. 

Kim Gilbert (54, January): Best friend's aunt, sister in Christ, cared for me as she did her nephew growing up.

Jim Martin (60s, February): Brother in Christ, loved being with the brothers, always said hello and asked me how I was.

Elise Rainville (23, June): Childhood friend, adventurous, loved the snow, people, and Christ. Always had a bright beautiful smile. Life verse: "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves."~Philippians 2:3

Shirley Leer (70s, October): Great Aunt, cared for us when we stayed at their house in Chicago on our way to and from Wisconsin back in the day, made amazing brownies and had an electric personality.

Brian Brickner (52, November): Fisherman/Fisher of men, funny, extremely caring, loved Christ, the saints, and the church, family man, and a wonderful man of God.

John Schneider (68, December): Brother in Christ, my two time group leader for Ignite, adventurous, cared for the saints, the church, and his family, Vietnam veteran, hero, friend.

The light at the end of this tunnel is that they all knew and loved Christ. I will see them again one day.

2014 opened with part two of a brutal winter and I somehow survived another semester of engineering. The Sochi winter Olympics took place this year and they were a real treat. Witnessing team USA beat Russia in the round robin hockey, Kotsenburg win the first US Gold in a new event, the spirit of the games, and so much more.

The summer came and I welcomed it with open arms...except I had to work for most of it, but sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do. My patriotism swelled again as the World Cup took place and the battle cry "I Believe That We Will Win!" rang throughout. The US put up a brilliant fight and made it out of the group of death, only to fall to Belgium in the first knockout round. I have hope for 2018. Get Ready.

Vision Week and Mountain Top were so good and so filled with Christ, grilling and chilling with the bros and saints, and weddings galore! Six weddings and I had the privilege of attending four. There's so much to say, but I already have a separate piece in the works about those, so instead congrats once again to Peter & Yitao (March), Mark & Esther (May), Dan & Anastasia (June), Paul & Sarah (August), Jeremy & Kayla (September), and Julian & Marilyn (September).

My family vacation to Wisconsin was a much needed relaxing, fun, blast. I got to see family, be in the great outdoors with wildlife not known to Cleveland, fish till my heart was content, drive a pontoon boat out into the middle of the lake, anchor it, blare country music, and jump off it into the lake while watching the sun set beneath a raging storm on the horizon, saw my first demolition derby, and ate some delicious food including the mess of fish me and my brothers caught during the week.

Being in the Body of Christ means being connected with so many amazing believers across the USA. But because of distance and time, I don't get to see many of them often. That's why I treasure the times we have and this year procured a college conference in March, a spring conference in April, Vision Week in July, the Labor Day conference in September, the Great Lakes Regional Conference in Oct/Nov, and the just finished Winter vision week. It's hard to put even some details from each one here because each one was so rich, so Christ-filled, and such a beautiful picture of a blended, happy, church life.

In December, I got tired of waiting for adventures to come to me and decided to take one of my own. I drove 10 hours to Boston and back by myself to see an old friend I hadn't seen in 11 years. To discover this trip in detail, please read my previous post. In light of all this, I am determined to pack my summer with loads of adventures as well as serving the church and yp at the summer events.

I could put so much more here, but I think this post sums 2014 up pretty well (for my experience anyway). I purposely did not talk about news stories, celebrity news, movies, etc because I wanted this post to be more about how I experienced 2014 and less of how the world experienced it (the Olympics and world cup happen every 4 years and they appeal to my patriotic pride so they made the cut, and I only focused on Kenny's lyrics that really inspire me, move me, and meet me where I'm at; I said nothing about him).

I didn't get this out as early as I liked because time just isn't on my side anymore. I also apologize for the length, but hey if you can read a novel, then this is a piece of cake. I applaud you if you made it this far (without skipping the Chesney lyrics). So on that note, I publicly say auf wiedersehen to 2014 and hola 2015! I pray that the Lord continues to do great things in my life, in your lives, and in the lives of those who meet Him for the first time. I pray that we can all cast our anxieties, our dreams, our pain, our hope, our lack, and our love all upon Him in this new year. He was, He is, and He always will be! May Jesus Christ be with us all.

Bonus quote for the new year: They told me I couldn't swing for the fences, so I swung for the stars.