There must be a God
I believe it’s true
Cause I can see His love
When I look at you

And He must have a plan
For this crazy life
Cause He brought you here
And placed you by my side

And I have never been so sure
Of anything before, like I am in this moment here with you
And now, for better or for worse, so much more than only words
And I pray everyday will be the proof
That I mean what I say when I say I Do
Yea, I mean what I say when I say I Do
Oh

You see these hands you hold, will always hold you up
When the strength you have just ain’t strong enough
And what tomorrow brings, only time will tell
But I will stand by you in sickness and in health

Cause’ I have never been so sure
Of anything before, like I am in this moment here with you
And now, for better or for worse, they’re much more than only words
And I pray everyday will be the proof
That I mean what I say when I say I Do
Yea, I mean what I say when I say

Take my hand, and take this ring
And know that I will always love you through anything, Yea
And as the years march on, like a beating heart
I will live these words, til’ death do us part

Cause’ I have never been so sure
Of anything before, like I am in this moment here with you
And now, for better or for worse, they’re much more than only words
And I pray everyday will be the proof
That I mean what I say when I say I Do
Yea, I mean what I say when I say I Do
Yea

I absolutely love the words to this song by Matthew West.  In May 2012, I said “I do” to the man that God did indeed place  right by my side. So many people have asked me why I would get married again, having already lost like I did.  The answer is simple and complex.   It was a step out on faith.  I trusted God.  He had so lovingly stitched me back together, thread by thread.  While Preston and I both had “baggage”, God remained at the center of our courtship.  He knew what we both needed and I’m convinced that we are a match made by the great “I am”.

The best gift that Preston has ever given me was in the vows he had written to me on that day.  He promised to love me unconditionally as Christ loves the church. There’s something about looking in someone’s eyes and seeing Christ’s love looking back at me. I treasure that gift daily.

Looking back on that day, I remember that I wanted to elope. Having already been married before, I didn’t want the traditional ceremony.  I wanted it to remain intimate and focused on God.  Preston would not budge.  It was important to him that we be married in a church in the presence of our children and close family. We compromised.

When Joseph passed, I had requested that any memorials go to The Lancaster Children’s Home.  They were in the process of  building a tiny chapel in between the girl’s home and the boy’s home.   A plaque remains on the wall to this day in honor of Joseph.

That tiny chapel is where we stood before God and became one.  I’m so thankful that we didn’t elope. I try to take Preston back there once a year.  It still takes my breathe away.

Fast forward to 2018.  Preston and I have endured many, many trials in our short 6 years of marriage. He’s held true to every vow he stood before God and promised.  My boys have became  our boys.  He adopted them in 2013. As sweet Hunter in his quiet wisdom says “Not to take our daddy’s place, but to pick up where he left off”.   When Preston adopted them, we did it so that the boy’s would always know they were taken care of and loved.

Now, I know that it was all another stepping stone to God’s plan for our lives.  You see, the boy’s adopted Preston that day, too.  And it’s proven every single day when they help look after Preston, their big Papa.  Preston was left permanently disabled from a brain aneurysm that should have claimed his life in 2015.  God saw otherwise and our family, friends, and even medical staff saw miracle after miracle.

But that’s a story for another blog…. or ten.

Until next time,

Kim

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