For Better, For Worse, For Keeps

Today we received the wedding invitation to Chad's cousin E's wedding. Emma will be her flower girl. We couldn't be happier for her and J. They are just the cutest little couple you've ever seen. E. will finish grad. school just 2 days before the wedding, and J. has 1 more year of law school. (I think one year, but I could be wrong.)

E. holds a special place in my heart because she was the first of Chad's many cousins that I had the privilege of meeting. (And she's my favorite! Please don't tell the others!) She was about 10 years old and a bundle of energy. She was the cutest 10 year old I'd ever seen. I could tell she was checking me out, but eventually warmed up to me and talked my ear off. She could out talk me, and girls, that says a lot.

A couple of years later, we asked her to keep the guest book at our wedding. (If I knew how to use our scanner, I would scan the picture of her for you to see.) We've watched her work hard in school, and loved hearing of her success on the volleyball court. She has changed from a cute little 10 year old, into a beautiful young women. If I could think of one word to describe her it would be: Captivating.

It was a holiday dinner at my mother-in-law's house, when up the driveway they came. E. had brought a guy by the name of J. Girls, his momma raised him to be a true southern gentleman. I remember Chad commented that he was a very grounded young man. We were impressed, but E. was in college and we didn't think we would see him again. Little did we realize that we had just met the man God made for our E.

E.I pray that as you enter into this covenant with J. and God, you will continue to grow in your knowledge of our Heavenly Father. He's everything you need. The verse from Ecclesiastes 4:12, would be fitting here:

Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not easily broken.

My friend Angela at Refresh My Soul used this verse recently in a post. I just loved her post and encourage you to jump over there and read it. It made me think about Chad and how much he means to me. We celebrated our 13th wedding anniversary in May. I guess I feel like we've entered the "teenage" years of our marriage similar to how our marriage started, with a health crisis. At some point, I want to tell that story. But, that is for another day.

The following are the lyrics to a song I wrote for Chad on our 11th anniversary. The song is called "For Keeps". (I won't subject you to a sound clip! And, yes these lyrics are copyrightstephanieparson2005. Thanks, I just have to say that!)

FOR KEEPS

Here we are again, looking back to where we stood not long ago.
Photographs show change, but the love has only grown.
And this I know, the words we spoke so eagerly,
Mean more now than I ever dreamed.

For better, for worse, for keeps.
That’s what we prayed that our life would be.
In the good, the bad, I’m so glad we said.
For better, for worse, for keeps.


In sickness and in health, poverty and wealth,
I wouldn’t change a thing.
The harder the battle, the stronger the bond
God tied between you and me.

For better, for worse, for keeps.
That’s what we prayed that our life would be.
In the good, the bad, I’m so glad we said.
For better, for worse, for keeps.

In the good, the bad, I’m so glad we said,
For better, for worse,
For keeps.

5/14/05
Copyrightstephanieparson2005