Looking over my shoulder and into the distance of these last twenty-eight years of marriage together, I find myself stepping into the pages of a fairy-tale beyond one’s imagination, catching my breath to the unbelievable reality of a dream come true.
In slow motion, I gaze around this fairy-tale room in a soft spin as a princess atop her music box, taking in my life from the eyes of wonder and thanking God for a dream I never imagined would be mine.
Although, He’s always promised the desires and petitions of our hearts from the very beginning, if only we’d delight in Him first.
Delight yourself in the Lord,
And He will give you the desires
And petitions of your heart.
Psalm 37:4 AMP
Side by side at the altar before God and all of our witnesses, we stood together in a place of simplicity, having no earthly idea what the pages of our happily ever after would read.
But yet, there were clues when the abundance and overflow of two hearts began speaking their vows of covenant and earthly commitment; their life’s map guiding them through the highways and byways of marriage (amid a few tears) if they stayed the course being led by the compass of their vows.
Two hearts become one in their “I Do.”
Then a kiss and their journey begins…
What gift of words did a “bride and groom” unwrap for each other at the altar of holy matrimony?
What hidden treasures of the heart were promised to each other before God, their parents and guests of honor?
Not wanting to walk away from our promises, we kept them written for our remembrance, “to have and to hold from this day forward”.
Her Wedding Vows to Him!
By Lori A Alicea
I stand right here before you now,
So happy and so proud.
I want to offer up my thanks,
For all that He’s allowed.
I look at you and beam within,
The love that fills my heart.
I never thought I’d see this day,
A new refreshing start.
There was a time not long ago,
No joy was to be found.
A fallen sparrow I’d become,
So lonely on the ground.
Each day would come with dragging time,
No sunlight I could see.
I soon began to tell myself,
There was no life for me.
But somehow He revived my life,
My heart He did renew,
And when I least expected it,
The Father gave me you.
You fit the mold He made for me,
He found the perfect choice.
How my heart does skip a beat,
Just hearing your sweet voice.
So tender are the words you speak,
The meaning they impart.
Your eyes illuminate my soul,
And ravish through my heart.
Because of this I want to give,
To you my everything.
I want to live my life with you,
From summer though the spring.
I count it all but blessed joy,
A privilege for me.
To know and serve your every need,
Though times you may not see.
But most of all I won’t hold tight,
My grip I will let go.
You must be free to do His work,
To squeeze would quench the flow.
For you I’ll burn a lasting flame,
Its warmth will be my love.
If you would ever feel a chill,
These words remind me of.
His Wedding Vows to Her!
By David Alicea
My love, my words can’t express how much you mean to me.
From the first time I met you,
My love for you is immense.
I thank the Lord, he heard my prayers.
You are so special to me.
I promise to love you with all my heart.
And lift you up when you are down.
I’ll fill your life with happiness as much as I can.
I will never leave you.
I’ll always be by your side.
You are the joy of my life.
From the first time I met you, I will always love you.
Lori my love, take me as I am.
I give you all of me.
I thank the Lord for you.
Their vows to each other would carry them through life’s most difficult challenges.
Their vows would be a joyful gift when they stayed the course.
Their commitment to each other would be a warm security blanket on a cold winters day.
Her words…
Would give and be to him her everything…
Would live each spring and summer together…
Would serve his needs no matter if eyes ever see…
Would burn for him an everlasting flame of love.
His words…
Would love her with all his heart…
Would lift her up when she is down…
Would fill her life with happiness and never leave…
Would promise to give her all of him.
…and twenty-eight years later….
…you still see these truths continuing to bloom from the seeds they planted so many years ago in their vows.
God was a witness to our covenant exchange all those years ago.
Our Heavenly Father leaned in close and committed to memory each word unwrapped on our wedding day.
During the tough times of struggle we hear Him reflecting back our hearts from twenty-eight years ago…
Our answer to Him remains the same…
We still do.
Beautiful Love story 💓So glad we were there to be a part of this beautiful wedding.
Thank you so much for your thoughtful words. You and Mike are friends of a lifetime.