Later this afternoon, I’ll perform the wedding ceremony for my niece and her husband-to-be.
I’m full of memories:
The day we found out that my brother and sister-in-law would be driving to St. Louis to get her.
The many times Crista played school teacher while her older (but mentally handicapped) cousin, Megan, dutifully sat and listened to her instructions.
The sadness at Megan’s funeral. The sadness at Jantsen’s (her brother’s) funeral. And last year, the sadness at her cousin Dallas’s funeral.
This girl is a survivor. She came to ACU for a year, and became like a daughter to us. (That was confirmed on Father’s Day when I received a “Happy Father’s Day” text message from her while I was in Turkey.) We fell deeper in love with her. Alas, being near to us didn’t make up for being far from Zach. So at the end of that year, she returned to MO.
She has followed her mom and dad’s hearts into the pains of the world. The orphans and slaves of Ghana are especially dear to her. And she’s marrying a young man with the mission of Jesus downloaded into his soul.
Blessings on the journey, my dear.
When I first read this, all words escaped me. Crista, her family, and your family has face life filled with not only loss, but many joys. I still miss Megan and I still cry when look at her pictures or read the poems that were written in her honor. At the same time, my smile turns into a chuckle and then a full laugh when I think about her.
Congratulations to Crista and all of you as her family.
Congratulations to all of you; your families are expanded today.
(And man — he figured out how to download Jesus’ mission. Right into his SOUL. Is it out of beta yet? ^_~)
Congrats to Crista and Zach. Blessings on your journey.
Zach is indeed going to have some great in-laws! We look forward to meeting him.
I was able to fight back tears during the ceremony and now I read this and you’re challenging me again! Surely Crista and Zach will visit us in Abilene again sometime…
Mike,
Did you do your impression of the priest in “The Princess Bride” for Christa’s wedding?
ooops! Make that Crista.
Preacher Mike
I came across your blog - via melanies.
The story of your neice was beautiful…made me tear up!
Thanks for sharing!
Be Inspired,
Vern
Mike, you did a great job with their ceremony…perfect words for Zach and Crista. So good to get to know her family and Zach’s family. They are surrounded by people who love and support them…they will go far.
I did two Weddings on Saturday. Busy day. I felt like the girl from 27 Dresses.
http://www.matthewsblog.waynesborochurchofchrist.org
Our younger son just got engaged to a wonderful girl also named Krista. She’s a gem.
Congratulations to Crista and Zach, and to all of you, Mike. I’m sure their wedding was as beautiful as ours - and they got the best preacher around.
It’s the rare lucky few who get a glimpse into another human being’s beautiful soul. You guys always did see Crista’s gifts. As a second family to Crista while in Abilene, the Mike and Diane Cope family were her mainstay.
Great wedding…perfect words in a very touching ceremony.
Traci H.