The First Day of the Rest of My Life. (5/20/07)
The day before my wedding I felt calm. The knowledge that tomorrow I would be bound to another person for the rest of my life, for better or for worse, was not intimidating or fear provoking. The thought of it was actually comforting. I love Vanessa! We had faced trials together. Through each one, I discovered more about myself and my love for her. God has really grown me in my capacity to love over the three years of our dating. The love I have for her is much less self-centered. I still have plenty of my selfish “what about me” moments, but they are fewer and it takes less time for me to realize my folly. This is a journal of my thoughts surrounding our first week together as a married couple.
I couldn’t sleep at all the night before. I did little more than toss and turn all night. I feared being very sleepy during the wedding, But once I got to the church I was very alert, I felt excited to be married and nervous about being in front of all of those people. Once the show was on the road, I was focused and ready. Before going out in front of the audience, I was hidden at the back with the reverend. He said something to me about getting emotional when you see your bride… at the mere mention of it I felt tears welling up in my eyes. I had to fight them off but they returned shortly thereafter when the doors at the back of the church opened and there was my bride! The feeling of love for another person washed over me in a way that I had only experienced once prior, when I proposed to Vanessa. We made it through the ceremony, through the pictures, and through the reception. My face hurt from smiling, my feet hurt from standing, and Van’s abdomen and back hurt from the weight of the dress. We couldn’t wait to get to the hotel room!
David