Wedding Joy

To-day Vicki Muhlholland and Kirk Smith were married at our building.

We first met them about a year ago. Our preacher Roger (Lansdell) had started a Wednesday evening series over the summer based on the Andy Griffith show (see http://www.barneyfife.com/) Roger & Sandra invited their neighbor's Steve & Shelly Slawson and they came to "check it out". Shelly invited her friend Vicki. She & Kirk and her mother Patricia also started to come. In the fall, they all started attending our services and over time they have become a part of "the family".

Early in the year they approached Roger and asked if he would marry them. He has studied with them about God's purpose in marriage and how they need to let God be the creative force in building a solid marriage. To-day they have begun that journey of faith together and we pray that they will be one "until death do them part" (poor english I know!).

Roger conducted a very nice ceremony. His son Kyle who has been serving as our part-time youth minister sang the songs. The first song was "I will be here" by Steven Curtis Chapman (a song I confess I'd never heard but I thought was very powerful).

The third verse seemed to speak to me in my marriage and I said to Linda afterward that I would very much want that to be always true in our lives -- but I also realize that I blow it a way too often. It goes ..

"I will be here...When you feel like bein' quiet
When you need to speak your mind
I will listen
And I will be here
When the laughter turns to cryin'
Through the winnin' and losin' and tryin'
We'll be together'
Cause I will be here"

Vicki's girls Kendra (left) & Katie were in the wedding party. They were part of the reason Linda started her class during the sermon time and are now part of the group we refer to as "Linda's kids".

Kirk's son Kyle (not a good picture due to the backlight from the windows but it's the only one I got!) was also a member of the wedding party. He lives in Michigan but is spending the summer here. We have enjoyed meeting him and having him at services for the past few weeks.

After the wedding there was a lunch catered in the church basement and we enjoyed visting with Vicki's father Larry and her aunt Kathy. It turned out that Linda knew Kathy from when she was working and they enjoyed catching up on what was happening in each other's lives.


Anna (Kyle's wife), Kyle, his sister Jessica and Sandra are sitting across from each other at the first table.

It was an enjoyable time and brings back memories of similar events in our lives. Yesterday - 5 years ago -- in 2001 our son Kevin and Sarah were married. Happy anniversary to them!!
God Bless
Charlie & Linda