A love story

I have a beautiful love story to share with you.  It has all the perfect elements of a good love story... a handsome prince, a beautiful princess, some twists and turns, but most of all - a very happy ending.  This is a love story that has been in the making for awhile now; blossoming and growing and maturing.  If you have talked to me in person, you likely know much of this story.  But now I am able to shout it from the rooftops!  And I am so happy to share it here with you.

It all began on a summer night in the midst of a family celebration.  (That it began in the midst of family is both special and fitting, as you will see!)  I was sitting next to Rojina on a hot July evening enjoying the music and festivities at my cousin's holiday gathering.  We were enjoying our conversation when I noticed my dear nephew walking toward me.  I looked up at him, smiling expectantly, and was momentarily confused when he stopped short of my chair and knelt down next to Rojina's chair.  You see, although Rojina had been a 'part of our family' for quite some time at that point, she and James hadn't been around each other because of his military career.  They barely knew each other at all.  But here was James, on his knees, saying something that I couldn't quite understand to Rojina.  That is when she turned to me with a surprised look on her face and said, "Laura!  James just asked me to dance, but he asked me in Nepalese!"  I was amazed!  (and excited!)  I asked Rojina if she wanted to dance with him and she said, "yes".  So I told her to get up and dance!  :D  James and Rojina shared one quick dance together and that was it.  Shortly after, we all packed up and headed back home.  However, as I let others in the family know about 'the dance' we were ALL aflutter and hopeful!  Could it be that two people we loved so much individually could be interested in each other?  James left the very next day to return to his military life, so we were to have no further excitement.

Eventually, James returned home for a couple days prior to a big deployment.  On that visit he and Rojina were able to spend a little time together visiting and having dinner.  By the time James deployed, they had decided they wanted to get to know each other better.  Somehow, during that long deployment, they managed to talk via Skype and text - slowly falling in love.  Thankfully for us (the family) dear Rojina shared these developments with all of us!  (much to James's chagrin, I am sure!)  ;)  Again, to see two people that we love so much as individuals fall in love with each other was an incredibly beautiful blessing to behold.

Finally, when James was able to visit again, he and Rojina realized that they had, indeed, fallen in love from afar.  It was then that they were finally able to fall even more in love 'in person'.  When they realized they wanted to be married, our whole family rejoiced!  You see, my big tough nephew had never really planned to marry.  As he himself stated, his career really didn't match up with a marriage and besides, he said, he had never found anyone he was 'willing to bring home to the family'.  I have tears running down my face as I share our joy that he found Rojina within his family.  Our family.  An incredible blessing.

As all were getting ready to celebrate Christmas this past year, we were also getting ready to celebrate the wedding of James and Rojina.  All hinged on James getting leave time to come home and then the weather threatened to throw a wrench in our plans.  In the midst of the ice storm that hit Missouri, James found his flight grounded, then canceled, and spent the night in an airport.  Meanwhile Anna, Matthew, and Rojina slid their way across the state on highways covered in ice trying to determine which airport James would be able to fly into the following day.  Thankfully, the next day James was able to find a flight in this general direction and 'the kids' were able to get to him and pick him up.  When all were safely home we breathed a collective sigh of relief and looked forward to their big day.

I cannot fully express the joy we felt on that cold but sunny Tuesday in December.  After all the storms we had experienced, the sunshine and blue sky of that particular day shone down like a blessing from above.  We gathered at the courthouse to witness their vows to one another, then headed to Kirk Memorial for a truly lovely reception with family and friends.

There are events in life that we don't always understand.  And certainly there is pain that we each go through.  But when we are blessed with the opportunity to take a look back and see God's provision so starkly visible throughout the hardship, we cannot help but be grateful and thankful to the One who loves us and already knows our story.  We are so grateful and thankful for James and Rojina - for their very special love story - and for the blessing of watching it unfold.

Rojina wore Julie's veil with her wedding dress

getting the bride ready

what a glorious day!

friends and family gathered to witness the marriage vows

beautiful Rojina

Here I will note that Rojina wore a very special vintage wedding dress.  Matthew's grandmother, Betty, wore this dress in 1952 when she and Pierce were married.  Dear Betty realized she and Rojina were about the same size and offered her lovely dress to Rojina to wear.  Not only was the dress absolutely beautiful, it was even more meaningful to consider that it played a part in the long happy marriage of dear Betty and Pierce - two incredibly special people.

a stunning bride

Rojina and Grandpa

a handsome groom

Grandpa escorted Rojina 'down the aisle'

Anna, Robert, Max, and Matthew in attendance

Judge Steele did a wonderful job as officiant.  His words of advice and encouragement were greatly appreciated.  At one point he referenced the fact that Daddy and Mama were still holding hands after 62 years of marriage.  This is when Rojina turned to smile at them.

the reception was at Kirk Memorial

James and Rojina with dear Betty,
the original wearer of the beautiful wedding dress.

We had to get a photo of Rojina with 'her ladies'.  Sadly, we are missing Kelly in this photo, but she was there in spirit.  Rojina thinks that 'her ladies' helped her when she first came into our lives.  But the truth is that she blessed each of us more than she could know.

Susan, Alicia, Rojina, Laura, Deb

The wedding luncheon was delicious! 

The happy couple

a beautiful venue for the reception

Brianna, Jackson and Matthew performed a song

Max, Gracie, Kylie, Payton, Dawn, Mama, Daddy

Robert, Robbie, Athena, Olivia, Dahlia, baby James, Ava

Don and Evelyn

Juan, Anna, Matthew, Susanna, Hannah, Nancy

Rachel, Stephen, Candace, Kerry, Julie, Diane

Alicia, Susan, Deb, Kady, Pete

Kelly's chair  :D  

Melina, Megan, Jeff, Betty, Matt, Brenda

I completely forgot to get a photo of my own table that day!  So, no picture with me, Marvin, Jackson, Brianna, Jonathan, and Adrian.  You'll have to pick us out of the crowd in the photo below.  :D

This was the table for the fallen comrade.  James requested this be a part of their wedding day as a solemn remembrance of those who could not be with us.  The folded American flag represents our nation.  The plate with lemon and salt represents the bitterness of the experience of those POW's still abroad and the tears shed by their family members.  The place setting and glass are inverted to signify that there are those here with us in spirit, but in spirit only.  The candle represents continued hope for their safe return.  The rose signifies blood shed in sacrifice for freedom and reminds us of family and friends of the missing who keep the faith.  The tablecloth is white to symbolize the purity of their intention in responding to the call to arms for their country.  The table is small and set for one to symbolize the frailty of one isolated soldier.

table for the fallen comrade

Athena admiring the luscious dessert table  :)

Max giving a toast

Anna giving a toast

Love this photo of Rojina & Julie

and also this one of James & Julie

James, Rojina, Julie, Anna, and Matthew

a group photo (without Jackson who took the photo)

family  :)

Preparing to send off the bride and groom

Athena catching the bubbles

Ava dropping the rose petals

there go the bride and groom

:D

We had to have this picture.  :D

You can see a full album of photos at this link.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/williscreekranch/albums/72157680448318595

And you can see a video with snippets from the day here.
https://vimeo.com/197120645

Here is a video of just the song performed by Brianna, Jackson, and Matthew at the reception.  Although it might not seem like a 'typical' wedding song, it fit perfectly with James and Rojina's story.  Still brings tears to my eyes to hear it.
https://vimeo.com/204606365