I was only 18 when I saw Bill for the first time. I cannot say it was "love at first sight," but I did tell my college roommate that he seemed like an interesting guy. I was dating someone else at the time and things were not going well. Of course, I did not realize this until I actually met Bill. He treated me differently then anyone else ever had and I could not stop thinking about him.
Four years later, he was proposing to me by a mountain stream in the Colorado Rockies. I knew he was going to on this trip, but he waited until we were packing to come home before he sneaked into my cabin and put the ring in my suitcase.
A year later, I found myself in a white gown by his side at the altar. We had 3 ministers participate in our ceremony. We had written a song together for our wedding, but pre-recorded it because we did not want to cry. Instead, we giggled like two little kids during the whole ceremony! My veil kept sticking to my eyelashes and was driving me crazy. During our vows I kept blowing it to get it off and almost made him laugh. Our video "professional" just about took out a candelabra, and during the unity candle lighting portion, my veil almost caught on fire!
We had our college buddies from our music group sing "The Lord Bless You and Keep You" from the balcony and He certainly has! Twenty-two years later, that day seems like yesterday. That girl with the 1980's bangs and too much eye shadow does not seem so far away!
I have officially known Bill more than half of my life. He has been part of it for so long that I barely have memories of anything that does not include him. Oh there is more of me to love now, less hair and certainly less eyeshadow, but the reasons we stood at that altar still remain, in fact, they have grown!
Shortly before we got married, my dad told both of us that we really did not know what love was, but that we would have to learn how to love each other. He was right, as parents often are, we had no idea that those feelings we felt on our wedding day would have to change in order to carry us through. Twenty-two years later, God is still teaching us how to do that!
People often say, in times like this, that they would not change a thing. Well, there are plenty of things I would like to have changed about the last twenty-two years, but then I would miss the opportunity to be changed. Those things and events that seem unfair or undesirable are what has made the two of who we are today. Our lives are so different than what they were then and without the hardship, there would be no chance for us to walk out my dad's advice. I am still learning how to love Bill and enjoying the journey!
