Nine years ago today, Eric picked me up for prayer meeting, but we didn't walk over to church. Instead, we got in his pickup and drove to the same spot where he'd asked me out, and he got down on one knee, and he finally asked the question I'd been waiting for him to ask for so long.
And the answer of course was yes.
Since the day we got married, there’s one song I’ve played first every single time I’ve played the keyboard, and I plan to keep playing it first for the rest of my life. That song is “Gentle Shepherd,” and it was sung over us on our wedding day, right after we promised ourselves to each other.
We said our vows, and then we knelt as our dads prayed. When they stepped off the stage, we didn’t stand up. Instead our talented bridal party gathered around us and sang “Gentle Shepherd,” and it is still one of my favorite moments of the entire ceremony. ...continue reading
We celebrated my parents' forty-year wedding anniversary today. When you're only going on year five in your own marriage, forty years seems like a very long time. 🙂 Something to look forward to, for sure.
Family gathered, mostly under the guise of the very worthy cause of meeting Drew's lovely lady friend but also to celebrate my parents. 
Dora and I surprised Mom with a cake decorated in her wedding colors, and Mom surprised us by coming out in a new white dress. I'd texted Dad earlier in the week to tell him to make sure that he and Mom's clothes coordinated so we could get some good pictures, and they really went all out. Mom quickly and quietly sewed a dress the day before the party, and Dad brought along dress clothes to match her. I think we were more surprised with the wedding garb than they were with the cake! ...continue reading
One year and one day ago, my dress was white, my feet were bare, and my lips were saying "I do" to the man who stole my heart. Eric and Chayli Baer, for a forever that lasts as long as earthly life does.
That was such a beautiful day. It didn't matter that it rained or that my dress was slightly stained. It didn't matter that the punch ran out or that we forgot to sign our marriage license and had to get reluctantly roped back inside after we'd already made our escape. We made the best of everything, and it wasn't hard at all.
How is it that time sometimes seems to steal that ability? You fall in love, and you tell yourself that you're never going to get used to loving him. You tell yourself you'll do everything you can to keep that brand-new swirl of exhilaration that is so unbelievable and so uncontainable. Every day you choose to see the best in him, and for a while you can't even believe you'll ever see the worst. ...continue reading
It's amazing how fast time goes. It seems like rainy November was just here and we were just starting out on this new journey called marriage. But that was six months ago.
Six months of happiness. Six months of learning. Six months of growing closer to God. Six months of growing closer to each other.
We've been so blessed.
And in thinking back six months, I had to remember sitting at our bridal table with a piece of paper clutched in my hand. . . Eric's arm around me. . . quiet words spilling from my mouth. . . yet another poem in a long line of love poems.
I'd say it merits being brought out again. ...continue reading
