Real Life Romance: Part Seven

Welcome to the last installment of the series. If you need to catch up, click here.

The End (or Maybe Just The Beginning)...

After 10 months, 4 weeks and 1 day of anticipation, our day had finally arrived. On a beautifully warm and sunny Saturday, in the midst of a picturesque garden, my father took me by the hand and led me down the aisle to the one who would become my husband.

There with our friends and family present, the fabulous dude and I committed our lives together in Christ. Our wedding was such a blast. It was honestly the best day of my life. I have written about some of the details of our wedding before so instead of revisiting that, I would like to share with the words that were spoken by my cousin (our officiant) as we exchanged our wedding rings and made a public commitment to each other. We found this online but adapted it to fit with us. I don't take credit for the original piece but I don't know the source of it either.

Lucy, please face FD and hold his hands so that you may see and cherish the gift they are to you.

These are the hands of your best friend, young and strong and vibrant with love, holding yours on your wedding day as he promises to love and protect you all the days of his life.
These are the hands that will work along side yours as together you build your future, as you laugh and cry, as you share your innermost secrets and dreams.
These are the hands you will place with expectant joy against your stomach until he too feels his child stir within you.
These are the hands that look so large and strong but will be so gentle and soft as he holds your baby or the first time.
These are the hands that will work long hours for your and your new family.
These are the hands that will passionately love you and cherish you through the years for a lifetime together.
These are the hands that will countless times wipe tears from your eyes, tears of sorrow and tears of joy.
These are the hands that will comfort you in illness and hold you when fear or grief overwhelm you.
These are the hands that will tenderly lift your chin and brush your cheek as they raise your face to look into his eyes, eyes that are completely filled with his overwhelming love and desire for you.
These are the hands that will give you support as he encourages you to chase down your dreams.
Together, as a team, everything you wish will be realized.
These are the hands that will connect your hearts as you kneel before your Father in prayer.

FD, please face Lucy and hold her hands so that you may see and cherish the gift that they are to you.
These are the hands of your best friend, smooth, young and carefree that are holding yours on your wedding day as she pledges her love and commitment to you all the days of your life.
These are the hands that will work along yours as together you build your future, as you laugh and cry, as you share your innermost secrets and dreams.
These are the hands that will hold each child in tender love, soothing them through illness and hurt, supporting and encouraging them along the way and knowing when it's time to let go.
These are the hands that look so small and timid, yet will be bold and strong as they protect your children from harm.
These are the hands that will work long hours to care for and keep your family.
These are the hands that will passionately love you and cherish you through the years for a lifetime together.
These are the hands that will hold you tight as you struggle through difficult times.
These are the hands that will comfort you in illness and hold you when fear or grief overwhelms you.
These are the hands that will give you support as she encourages you to chase down your dreams.
Together, as a team, everything you wish will be realized.
These are the hands that will connect your hearts as you kneel before your Father in prayer.

God, bless these hands that you see before you today. May they always be held by one another. Give them strength to hold on during the storms of stress and the darkness of despair. Keep them tender and gentle as they nurture each other in your wondrous love. Help these hands continue building a relationship founded in your grace, rich in caring and devoted to reaching for your perfection. May Lucy and FD see their four hands as healer, protector, shelter and guide. We ask this in your name.

Over the past seven weeks, I have had the joy of sharing 'our' story with you. Over the course of the real life romance series, I have found myself reliving each of these pieces of the story and falling in love with him all over again. But, I must tell you, this is not the whole story. This story is incomplete and constantly being rewritten as we share our lives together. There is so much of this story that cannot be spoken into words but is held in my heart.

So, today as we honour our third anniversary, I celebrate the life I share with this man who holds a piece of my heart, without whom I would not be complete, and I give thanks to my God for bringing us together.

The Real Life Romance series is being linked up at MM&Ms at Musings of a Future Pastor's Wife