January 20, 2004
Wartime Wedding
Today Erik and I have been married ten months. He asked me to marry him before he went overseas and I knew that I had never loved anyone more. I remember flying to Colorado the day we went to war. Denver had a record snowstorm and the airport closed down. They re-routed me all over the place. Finally in an airport I forget where they told me they had lost my luggage and wouldn't be able to fly me into Colorado Springs that day or the next. I was supposed to get married the next morning and Erik could be deployed at any time. I broke down right there in a line full of people and began to cry. My story was quickly passed up to the front desk by concerned passengers. All of the sudden that section of the airport was on a mission to get the girl marrying a soldier the next morning to her wedding. I was amazed and deeply grateful. Many calls were made and the woman booking me on a flight got a favor from a friend. The man checking luggage made it his duty to make me smile and found my lost bags. That night I flew into Colorado Springs and I knew God was watching out for us. The next morning I married my best friend in a little chapel in the Garden of the Gods. Some friends of his who live there and his entire platoon stood with us. It was such a rushed marriage that our families couldn't be there but I knew their hearts were with us. Keith sent the pastor a letter to read at the ceremony in which he gave me away. Erik and I had a glorious seven days together. I feel blessed by every single day with my husband even though we have been separated by distance. Today I am thankful for his friendship and love. I thank Christ for guiding us through these last ten months and making our spirits one even though we are apart. I love you Erik and I wait with all my heart for your return.
i love Garden of the Gods. ok, i love Colorado, period. thanks for sharing your story [testimony] here. it's encouraging.
Posted by: joy at January 20, 2004 07:35 PMJoy - appreciate your kind post. Colorado is amazing. I traveled through it when I was young but didn't experiance much till I started flying out there when Erik and I were dating. When he lived in Chattanooga we mostly hiked together. I'm really excited about living there for a year and the hiking will be incredible. What took you to CO?
Posted by: Gypsy at January 21, 2004 02:29 AMi spent the summer of 98 counseling at a camp near steamboat springs and went back in july of 2000. it's always like coming home. i'm photographing a wedding in june near fort collins and am pretty excited about being back.
in grad school, the joke used to be that joy would marry anyone who'd take her to colorado for the honeymoon. :)
Posted by: joy at January 21, 2004 08:59 AMGypsy,
My fiancee, Stephanie, and I (who's wedding Joy will be photographing in June) went through about 7 months of seperation not long after we started dating. Already being married and being a part brings greater lessons, I'm sure. Christ does provide the strength (as I'm sure you've already experienced).
Stephanie and I will gladly be praying for you and your husband. Knowing a little bit how it feels, we'll pray with empathy.
Thanks again for the testimony of God's grace.
Posted by: Benjamin at February 4, 2004 11:24 AMThat's great and all, but still would like to learn more about yous sister in an early photo. Have a friend in Apison, CO but never been there myself. She told me the last time I spoke to her that it was much nicer there than when she was trapped in Reno, Nevada. I have no idea why she felt this way as I have visited nither place.
Posted by: Tony Campbell at February 12, 2004 02:53 PMHubby and I met in Manitou Springs, and have wonderful memories from that time. About 5 years ago, we were in Florrissant for three weeks. It was so wild to be back in the area where we were "just kids", where we met and fell in love--with three of our own children. *boggle* I remember GotGs. What a wonderful place to get married.
Posted by: TulipGirl at March 23, 2005 12:44 PM