Celebrating July 12th!

  I put this together after the conversation I had with Phillip at the gathering on Thursday night when he shared his excitement and told me that he sensed God's invitation to him to soak it up this weekend.  So, in light of that, here is my wedding day blessing for you all:  Wedding Day Blessing for Katelyn and Phillip   Lord, thank you for this day— not just any day, but the day. A day set apart that we have been waiting for.   May you soak it up. May the glances linger longer, may the laughter ring louder, may the tears fall freely and be holy. This is the day that the Lord has made. May you rejoice, and be fully in it. May you be here now. Not racing ahead to what’s next, not rehearsing what was, but attuned— right here, right now, heart to heart, one to another.   Give thanks. for all that brought you here— the messes, the miracles, the waiting, the wondering, the whispers to friends about love that was growing and about the excitement...

Hard to believe that you all are only one week away from saying, "I do." This is so exciting and daunting and wild and crazy. Take deep breaths, be as present as you can, and be on the lookout for God in your midst.  Below is a lovely reflection from the wonderful Kate Bowler to encourage you to build a relationship that keeps turning towards one another and that brings more love into the world. And know that I am cheering for you this week and can't wait to hug you soon!!  For married love …  One of the funniest things about meeting people who have been married for a long time is how quickly they will tell you about it.  Me: Oh, nice to meet you! What’s your name? Them: I HAVE BEEN WITH LINDA FOR FORTY-FIVE YEARS! Me: What did you say you do for work?  Them: FORTY-FIVE YEARS! Marriage is one of the most difficult and most rewarding commitments that we make. We make promises to someone long before we know if we have the ability or willingness to follow through. ...