Twenty two years

It just so happened that our 22nd wedding anniversary fell on the same day as our actual wedding, Sunday.

The days leading up to our anniversary took me down memory lane - we drove up from San Jose, California, with Mel's Godmother, Pauline. She lived in Mt. View, so we drove to her home and the three of us continued our trek up to Scappoose, Oregon. That was on a Wednesday.

We all stayed with my soon to be mom in law. Father Vincent came on Friday and Mel and I went over what readings we wanted included in our wedding vows and what was going to happen during the service. We did not have a Mass as neither I, nor my family was Catholic.

Friday night my family came into town from Washington and Tennesee. We went out to dinner at some place that was buffet style. From there I went with my family to the hotel we were staying at. Mel went home to his mom's home.

Saturday was our wedding rehersal day and Mel and I met up at the church along with those who were going to be in the wedding party. After the rehersal we went back to the hotel and hung around our suite (my sister Carol and our brother Stuart and I had a two bedroom suite together), laughing and recalling different times in our lives. The evening was joyous. All too soon it was over and Mel left to go home to his moms and get ready for the BIG DAY.

I spent the last night being single with my sister and my brother - Carol finally telling Stuart to shut up and go to sleep as he kept talking. Now, you might have thought we were young - au contraire...he was 43 and I was 34 and Carol was 32. Stuart eventually shut up and we all got to sleep.

The morning of our wedding, although there were two bathrooms in the hotel suite, Stuart insisted on hanging out in the one Carol and I were using to put our faces on. He was in the midst of all of the turmoil and that is what I remember most of all about the morning of my wedding!

A 20 minute drive and we arrived at the church in time for the wedding to begin and we were married!

As I was reflecting on all of this yesterday, I looked up at my sons who were serving on the altar and thanked the Lord for all the gifts He has given me within this marriage. Three beautiful sons, a good provider for a husband, a huge opportunity of growth for me in His Love and His Ways...and prayerfully His Will...and a secure life here on earth.

I was asked to fill in as an Extraordinary Minister of the Eucharist (an honor I have not been a part of for quite some time due to other commitments), and as I was communicating those who came up to receive the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Christ, I realized that 22 years ago, we had not even had a Mass because I was not Catholic ... and here I was - CATHOLIC OUT LOUD serving Our Lord in His Church. Serving those who are also Catholic...what a joy that was!

Thanks for letting me walk down memory lane, gentle reader. May God continue to bless you this wonderful day of HIS!