It's hard to believe it has only been 3 years. That sounds bad, it just seems like we have come a long way in the last 3 years. 5 residences, different jobs, hospitals, a baby. I'm not sure where I was at 10 minutes till on July 19, 2003, probably on my way to the Magnolia Hotel. I know I was a little bit freaked out. Until I got back to the church and got my tux on, and thought about who I was going to be waiting for at that altar. After that my heartrate returned to normal, all the "I can't believe I'm getting married" thoughts turned to "I can't believe how lucky I am."
I still fight off a lump in my throat anytime anyone sings "My Jesus I love thee, I know thou art mine." If I'm lucky enough to be standing next to my wife when we sing it at church, then I close my eyes and think back to that day when her angelic voice reduced me to tears in front of a church full of people. We had a beautiful wedding and a perfect reception(thank you Roy), followed by a dream of a honeymoon(thanks Dad). It was a big wedding, 15 bridesmaids, 15 groomsmen. We decided that we were going to have nobody or everybody. We went with everybody. That's one of the things I love about Christine. She has always had open arms, she wants to involve everyone, she is quick to embrace the hurting, the marginalized. Her heart aches for people less fortunate than us. If Sally Struthers or WorldVision or any of those commercials come on, I have to turn the tv off, because Christine will watch it for hours and cry. I tease her about that kind of stuff, but it's one of the reasons I love her.
Because we were good friends before we started dating, we have an unusual story. It's not like I asked her out, and we liked each other and fell in love. It's more like she told me she thought she had feelings for me, and six months later I told her I loved her. It's sweeter than that, but that is the short version. I do, however, remember an exact moment when I realized she was going to be the one. On our spring break campaign to Connecticut I watched her lead, I watched her serve, I watched her stand up to the task of me and Andrew leaning on her to take care of everything that required responsibility, and I saw her do it with grace, beauty, and a loving heart. I remember we were painting, and I looked over at her and found myself just watching her, and thinking I'm going to spend the rest of my life with this woman, and I was convinced that I could search the world over, and not find anyone who I could love more. One of the best moments of my life, right behind this day 3 years ago, when she agreed to love and cherish me, to go where I go, and to help me get to heaven. I love you baby. Happy Anniversary.
