The ministry of reconciliation

Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again (2 Corinthians 5:14-15).

At our wedding, our pastor spoke about the ministry of reconciliation that Paul wrote about in his second letter to the church at Corinth. I don’t remember what he said, but I know why Joe and I chose that passage.

The ministry of reconciliation is what I want to build my life around: the fact that God loved his creation (loved me!) so much that he took the most drastic measures to make sure we could live in peaceful, whole relationship with him.

Part of the beauty of what God has done for us is that we now have the same opportunity to bring reconciliation – between God and man and in our relationships with others. With this opportunity comes responsibility.

Joe and I are committed to the ministry of reconciliation among those who are both far and near to the kingdom of God. We want to be a part of seeing our family, neighbors, friends and community transformed by the radical love of Jesus.

2 Corinthians 5:14-21

A real-life love story (Part 2)

You can read Part 1 here.

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“What’s this letter from Lyle doing here?!” Edna’s daddy exclaimed. “I thought we took that to Edna yesterday!”

“We did,” her mama replied matter-of-factly. “That’s a new letter.”

“Ohh, here we go,” her daddy said, shaking his head.

Meanwhile, Lyle and Edna continued to correspond for several weeks. (She finally gave him her address at the nursing home.) Edna’s classmates were so excited any time a letter arrived from Lyle that they would read over her shoulder or grab the pages out of her hand as soon as she finished. When Lyle enclosed a photo of himself in his uniform, the squeals echoed down the corridor in the student nurses’ home.

Christmas rolled around and Lyle was home on leave. He proposed, and they decided to marry before he returned to the service. There was only one problem. In Kansas, you had to apply for your marriage license and wait one week before you could actually marry. Lyle and Edna didn’t have one week.

So, they found their preacher and crossed the border into Missouri, where there was no week-long waiting period. They stopped at a church and the preacher went inside, where he talked to the pastor of that church.

Their preacher had good news: The church was available – and it was already decorated for a wedding later that day! If they hurried, they could use it. Lyle and Edna were married in a tiny Missouri church with only his daddy in attendance. There were no attendants. There was no cake, no first dance. There wasn’t a lavish honeymoon – there was no time!

Over fifty-eight years later, they wouldn’t trade it for anything.

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“And when I told him I didn’t know if it was a good idea for me to be holding his hands, there was this flash of recognition in his eyes.” As my grandma told the story, her own eyes were shining with tears. “He looked at me and then looked up at Lyle. Then he reached out and gave me a big ol’ hug. He knew exactly who I was and what I was talking about. He remembered.”

Joe made a sweet video of our wedding that you should watch!

Yes, that’s right, my very own husband made this amazing video of our wedding, using photos from our very talented photographer, Tim Trace, and the audio of the ceremony!

The first song, “This Day,” by Jadon Lavik, was our first dance song. My friend and mentor Ingrid played the processional, which you’ll hear as you see photos of my entrance. Our recessional was “Something Beautiful” by the Newsboys. And at the end you’ll hear our dear friends Beth and Jake singing “The Revelation Song.”

Enjoy, and let us know what you think!

I’d like your thoughts on the new header.

I’m not sure if I like the new header. What do you think? Here’s another option:

Option A

And another, ever-so-slightly different one:

Option B

MORE wedding photos!

Update: 150 photos have just been uploaded to Facebook, so check ‘em out! (Please let me know if the link doesn’t work for you.)

On Facebook, I mention which photos are my favorites. What’s your favorite?

Wedding photos!

I’m so excited to share our wedding photos with you! I’m also really excited to tell you about our awesome photographer, Tim Trace. He’s laid-back, professional, fun and a good friend of ours as well!

Check out Trace Photography!

Snapshots

One thing I prayed for the weekend of our wedding was that Joe and I would have moments – big and little – when time just slowed down and we could almost take a snapshot with our mind, remembering exact details and marking down sweet memories.

In his faithfulness, God allowed us moments just like that. Here are a few:

• Friday before the wedding, Joe and I buckled down at my parents’ dining room table to write thank-you notes. It took the better part of the afternoon, but it was a sweet time – sitting in relative silence, my parents busy around us, searching through the Bible to find Scripture to share with our wedding party. Time slowed down and life didn’t feel hectic or crazy.
• Friday night after dinner, Joe and I left the house for a quiet corner of Panera so we could write our vows. It didn’t take nearly as long as I thought it would. We wrote our vows separately, shared them with each other and then revised. I think that sharing them together that evening was at least as momentous as sharing them with each other during the ceremony. We both choked up as Joe read his vows to me. They were so sweet, so precious and so God-led. That’s my husband!
• As I waited for sleep to overcome me on Saturday night, I heared my bridesmaids laughing and talking. I could hear distinct voices, giggles and laughter. It was such a joy to have my sister and friends from different parts of my life together, enjoying one another. I thought about how close Mollie is with each of those women and how each of them loves her as if she’s their own little sister. I couldn’t ask for friends that awesome (or a sister cool enough to be friends with all my friends!).
• Arriving at the church, climbing out of the car, and hearing my name being called across the parking lot. I turned to see my first best friend, Katie V., whom I hadn’t seen in eight years! I ran and met her with a big hug, crying and laughing and losing my veil in the process.
• Sitting in the parlor, waiting for the wedding to begin, was the slowest time of the day and I was feeling a little antsy, but my friends kept stopping in to say hello as they arrived – Aubree, Angie, Chelsea, Jeff, Dennis and Jolene…it was so great to see everyone! I got to talk to Katie and her mom for a long time, which was just so precious to me.
• Holding a chocolate-covered strawberry for our flower girl, Ava. She took bites and I caught the crumbs with my hand so her dress wouldn’t get stained. This was about ten minutes before we walked down the aisle, which made her mom a little nervous.
• Standing outside the main entrance to the sanctuary, holding my dad’s arm. Everyone else was already through the door and we talked about whether or not we were nervous and which foot we would step out on first as we walked down aisle. Then the doors began to open and…
• Everyone stood and turned towards me as the doors opened. I barely heard the music playing as I scanned the room until I caught Joe’s eyes. (He told me later he saw me searching for him as soon as the doors opened.)
• As Dad and I reached the front of the church, I was beaming and couldn’t take my eyes off Joe, my groom.
• At some point during the ceremony – maybe during our pastor’s message – Joe looked at me and whisphered, “Where are we supposed to be looking right now?” I laughed and told him we could look at Jeff or each other – I didn’t think it really mattered.

Getting to talk to people at the reception was such a joy. We got to say hello to everyone who came! It was wonderful. We had so many friends and family members that traveled so far to share in our joy that day. On the way home, Joe and I talked about the day and agreed that it was absolutely perfect – we wouldn’t have changed a thing!

I’m getting married today.

It’s 6:25 a.m. I’m thankful to have slept this late.

*Long pause.*

My head is so full, I’m not quite sure which direction to take this post. Plus, blogging is not something I thought I’d find the time to do this weekend.

I woke up with thoughts something like this: Okay, so the photographer will be here at 11. Breakfast with Joe at 8:15. I wonder what time it is?

The weekend has been good – really, really good.

Joe and I came in town Friday morning. We had lunch with my parents and then ran errands. I bought [super fun] gifts for my bridesmaids at TJ Maxx, we ordered pizza for our rehearsal dinner. And the afternoon is never complete without a pit stop at Wal*Mart, right?

We spent a quiet afternoon together at my parents’ dining room table writing thank-you notes. One of my bridesmaids, Jessie, came in town late in the afternoon and Mollie arrived home shortly afterwards.

Seven of us ate dinner around the table, which Mom and Dad thoroughly enjoyed after two months of empty-nesting.

After dinner, Joe and I escaped to Panera, where we wrote our vows and shared them with each other. Back at the house, we discussed with my dad whether or not we would all cry today. (I’ll let you know later.)

Saturday morning I got out of bed around this time, following a restless night’s sleep. We decorated the church in the morning and then I made a very fun and very last-minute shopping trip to pick out a dress for the rehearsal dinner. Mollie, Susan and Jessie went, along with a couple of dear friends from Joe’s hometown. We had a really good time and found an awesome dress in J.C. Penney’s.

The rehearsal went smoothly. It was such a joy to see all of my family and Joe’s family, to introduce them and pass around lots of hugs.

Joe and I passed out gifts and thank-yous at the rehearsal. I ate two pieces of pizza, which I thought was pretty significant since everyone says you don’t eat much the weekend of your wedding. I think I’m doing okay.

Last night my bridesmaids and two of my cousins came back to my parents’ house. We hung out, talked, drank sparkling grape juice and my bridesmaids prayed for me. (I attribute my good night’s sleep to them asking God for it!)

So, this is all very newsy, but c’mon – I’m marrying my best friend today. Isn’t there something a little deeper or more sentimental that I could share?

Maybe, but this post is getting far too long for my taste. Check back tomorrow.

Twenty and counting (backwards)

Beth: Hey, your wedding is really soon!

Me: Uh, yeah – three weeks from yesterday. Twenty days.

Changing seasons

It’s almost fall.

Fall is my absolute favorite season, hands-down. I love to see the first fall leaves changing. I love the smell of fall. I love the crisp morning air. And is it just me, or are the sunsets much more beautiful in the fall?

More than any other place on earth, I love fall on this campus. I’m not sure, but I may have first fallen in love with fall here.

This fall has given me another reason to love the season: I’m getting married! The other day, I was remembering what the last year has looked like:

• Last fall, I was getting to know and beginning to fall in love with my future husband.
• By winter, I knew that I would marry him if I were given the opportunity.
• In the spring, I told him “yes!” when he asked me to be his wife.
• This summer has been a season of growth and change as we’ve made preparations for our life together.

And to think, I only met him a little over a year ago.