I Thee Wed

April 30, 2005. Not really the beginning of our journey. More like the second chapter. But the day we will forever celebrate as the anniversary of our love, our commitment, our family, and one hell of a party!

John and I have already been through a lot together. It seems weird to me, actually. You know how, as you get older, time seems to speed up, going faster and faster till you just can't figure out where it all went? I got married to John when I was 27. It feels like, oh...5 minutes ago? We have been together for 6 years. And it seems like a blink, a flash, a nano-second. When I was a bit younger 6 years seemed like AGES of time. Now, I still feel we are just getting acquainted. Yet, I know him, and he knows me, better than anyone. We anticipate each other's needs and thoughts. We literally finish each other's sentences, say things at the same time, pick up the phone to call while the other is dialing...we are One. Yet we are still very individual.

He likes Coke, I like Diet. I like onions, he likes olives. He plays guitar, I sing. I am fastidious...you get the picture.

He is my true soul companion. He is my rock, he keeps me grounded and I help him fly a little. I am a lucky woman. I have found the one my soul was searching for. That's more than just a cheesy cliche (in fact it's a Bible verse that was printed on our bulletins) it is the truth. I was searching in a quietly desperate sort of way. And he found me. And he waited for me. And I was smart enough to allow him to take my breath away.

If you haven't found that kind of love, keep looking. I promise you it's out there.

By My Side
-Ben Harper

Don't you get ahead of me
and I won't leave you behind
If you get unhappy
show me a sign
There's no love like lost love
and no pain like a broken heart
There's no love like you and me
and no loss like us apart

Promises, promise is
only a word
and when softly spoken
is never heard
And a heart
is not a stone
and is fragile
is fragile when alone

By my side
By my side
Won't you be by my side
By my side
By my side
Won't you be by my side

My care for you
is from the ground up to the sky
it's over, under, up above
down below and to the side
No use in pretending
no use in saving face
My love is never ending
You are my saving grace

(All photos courtesy of Tracey Wheeler of Yaman-Wheeler Photography, @2005)