"Love God, Love Each Other......"

As of today I no longer have any unmarried children. Yes my oldest son JJ is now a husband and hopefully in a few years he will be a father. He and his wife Angela were married in Durham, North Carolina in one of the prettiest, sweetest weddings I have ever witnessed. It was everything I hoped it would be - and more.

The rehearsal dinner was our responsibility so we put most of our effort into that event. We picked a restaurant in Durham and invited sixty to seventy people. This included out family, the bride's family, and some of our closest friends. Once we were all there gathered together it was fantastic.

We had a picture of JJ and Angela on a table for everyone to sign. When I went over to sign for my wife and myself I wrote the words: "Love God, Love each other, Love life - as much as we love you."

I also love my friends. My friends are my family. To see them there, having driven a long distance to get there, I was overwhelmed. When it was time for me to make my toast for the evening I was in full emotional overload. But I did manage to speak and to be coherent.

At the end of my toast I repeated what I had written on the picture. I don't know when that thought and those words came to me but it does sum up how I feel about everything. I do think loving God should be paramount, but a close second is loving your spouse and children. Then you must also love life, because if you don't what is the point of being here. In my case I do love life because I love God and my wife.

Terry and I recently celebrated our thirty-fifth wedding anniversary. My my how time flies when you are having a good time. It has gone by in a blur and it is still as magical today as it was all those years ago. And this is what I wish for my children. To share the love and passion of a true romance.

JJ is married. He is my first born and holds a special spot in my heart. But then so does my other son Sean. Oh yes and the grandchildren, they hold a special spot too. I have so many special spots and there is wonderfully always room for one more.

Life is full of highlights and JJ's wedding was one of them. He looked so happy like he had been waiting for this day all his life. I know we had been praying for JJ's wife since he was a little boy. We just didn't know at the time she hadn't been born yet. But he found her and she is perfect for him.

They are going to have a great life. I just know it. And they will always be in my prayers. I say again to them - Love God; Love each other; Love life - as much as we love you! Happy Wedding Day, JJ and Angela.

 

 

 

 

 

©2005 Jackie K. Cooper

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