WE'VE ONLY JUST BEGUN...

Katy and Scott Leonard

Down the Aisle with Daddy


Me and My Girl

Weddings, weddings, and more weddings! For the past several months, our home has been filled with a flurry of wedding planning and activities; first with our oldest son, Joey marrying Kalyn on April 4th. This last Saturday, June 13th, our daughter Katy married Scott Leonard in a beautiful ceremony at our home that was filled with love, tradition, special people, and memorable moments. And finally, to keep the wedding theme going, today, June 17th, is our middle son’s 4th wedding anniversary—Happy Anniversary Mike and Meredith!

Saturday, June 13th turned out to be a beautiful day! It was Katy’s hope and prayer that her dad would be well enough to roll her down the aisle to Scott—her prayer was answered! Special people came from near and very far; people that will probably never get to see Gene again. Katy wanted to make the ceremony as memorable as possible; weeks before the wedding Katy had asked her dad to dictate some thoughts so that they could be read during the ceremony. This is the letter he wrote to her—

Dear Katy,

From the moment you were born, you have been a surprise and a joy. Our first surprise was that you were a girl; after having 3 boys, we thought for sure there would be a 4th! You have always been very feminine, but you fit right into our family full of boys and one mom. You loved camping, fishing, and sports. When you were 2 or 3 years old, we were camping in Yosemite, and I walked you through the forest on a pony named Brownie. You talked about Brownie for years after that; thinking he was your own pony! You were also quite a surprise at sports. You were an all-star softball player and I loved being your coach. We loved watching you excel in competitive gymnastics and seeing you walk up to the award podium.

You and I had special times at the father-daughter dances, when you were in Girl Scouts. We both loved oldies music and loved to sing the song “My Girl” together.

You have always laughed so easily. Our family could never finish a game of UNO because you could not stop laughing. You and I shared special laughs together when I would whip you up the hallways of hotels or a cruise ship, as if we were skating in the roller derby. You have always been my girl.

Today, I am very happy to know that I was your very first date and that you shared your first boy-girl kiss with me, but it is a privilege to have walked you down the aisle today to join Scott in marriage. And Katy, even though you have been a surprise to us and you have made us laugh, we are also proud of the fact that you have grown into such a fine young woman who is ready for the joy, love, laughter, and challenges of your new life with Scott.

I love you,
DAD

Katy and Scott knew they wanted to have a traditional wedding ceremony with traditional wedding vows.

I Scott—take you, Katy for my lawful wife,
To have and to hold, from this day forward,
For better, for worse,
For richer, for poorer,
In sickness and health
To love and to cherish, until death do us part.

Thinking back over the last few months, I cannot help but to reflect on my own marriage. Gene and I have been married for 33 years. Like most couples, we have experienced many ups and downs. Thirty-three years ago we made the same promises to each other before God. Today we are experiencing the worst of the worse; we have known health, but now Gene is very sick. Even in that, we promised to love and to cherish, until death do us part. We plan to keep that promise, no matter what.

Lately, we have been talking a lot about eternity. When we were young and newly in love, the song “We’ve Only Just Begun” seemed to fit our future together; it felt like we had forever out in front of us. But here we are, realizing that life is a vapor. Now, we can look back at those 33 years and we can say we are glad we kept our promises. If we hadn’t we would have missed so much. Marriage is an imperfect shadow of the reality of perfect love, but still worth the journey. In heaven we will always be able to say happily, “We’ve Only Just Begun.”

Kalyn and Joey--April 4th, 2009

Meredith and Mike--Happy 4th Anniversary


...as a bridegroom rejoices over his bride,

so will your God rejoice over you...The Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life.

Isaiah 62:5 & Revelation 22:17

Still just beginning,

Michele and Gene