Wrangler Dani

This song kept re-playing in my head this weekend.  It was a beautiful, stretching, grace-filled, joyful and challenging three days.

Rocky and Jennifer got married.  I had the girls over for pre-wedding chick flicks and homemade Pizookies on Friday night,  rehearsed and dinnered on Saturday, then had seven men chill, eat, shower and need ties straightened at our house Sunday.

After listening to plenty of wonderful and embarrassing stories at the rehearsal dinner, Rocky’s tears and Jennifer’s sweet smile were yet more evidence that this is marriage is a beautiful, wonderful thing – that life is so good and love is worth vowing to uphold.  I never would have thought, when I met Rocky three years ago, that I would someday be hosting him and his groomsmen at my house, and that my husband would be one of them – that they’d all be joking around and eating so many sandwiches that I had to go buy more bread mid-day, and I would laugh so much my cheeks hurt before we even got to the wedding. I got in touch with my inner Wendy, knowing that my husband would be hungry and automatically sharing my care for him with my new household of orphaned boys. By the time they finally left for pictures, I was covered in mustard (not really covered, but there was definitely some sandwichy materials in unexpected places) and had a half-hour to shower and actually get to the wedding on time. (Made it with three minutes to spare. I got skillz.)

Each wedding I’ve been to has been perfect for each couple, and this one was no different. Traditional, in love with Jesus through and through, complete with a fist-pump and a “Yeaaaahhh!” from Rocky and an excited grin from his pretty wife. I loved catching Adam’s eye in the ceremony, seeing his love for me and friendship with Rocky and the other guys come full circle – as they supported us five months ago, we are now standing up for them.

The wedding is just the beginning. As we dance and toast and laugh, we know that this is the celebratory opening to a life together, one that won’t always be filled with sparkles and flowers and impromptu hip-hop. But the heart of life is in the relationships that built up to these incredible moments, and I feel blessed to be part of it.