ten years ago

He said:
Heather, I want to state it clearly so that all the people here will understand; I love you and I want you to become my wife.

She said:
Ryan, I am honored that you would have me as your wife. I also declare openly and honestly that I love you and I want you to become my husband.

Our pastor said:
Ryan, Heather has indicated that she wants to be your wife. Do you take her to be your wedded wife, promising before God and this company that you will love her, honor her, comfort her and keep her in sickness and in health and that forsaking all others for her alone will you perform all of the duties and respect that a husband graciously bestows upon his wife?
And he said: I do.

Our pastor said:
Heather, Ryan has indicated that he wants to be your husband. Do you take him to be your wedded husband promising before God and this company that you will love him, honor him, comfort him and keep him in sickness an din health and that forsaking all others for him alone will you perform all of the duties and respect that a wife graciously bestows upon her husband?
And she said: I do.

Then he said:
I, Ryan, take you Heather to be my wife--
I promise to cherish our friendship,
To trust you and honor you,
To love you faithfully,
And to remain true to you in all the circumstances of life.
I come into this union letting go of my deepest fears
And embracing all my faith
And if I doubt, I will remember this time
And why we came together this day.
As I have given you my hands to hold,
So I give you my life to keep.

And then she said:
I, Heather, take you Ryan to be my husband--
I promise to cherish our friendship,
To trust you and honor you,
To love you faithfully,
And to remain true to you in all the circumstances of life.
I come into this union letting go of my deepest fears
And embracing all my faith
And if I doubt, I will remember this time
And why we came together this day,
As I have given you my hands to hold,
So I give you my life to keep.

And finally he said:
Heather, I give you this ring. With this ring, I thee wed, and say to the world "This is my wife, whom I cherish above all others."
And she said:
I accept your ring and I will wear it gladly. I give you this ring and with this ring I thee wed, and say to the world "This is my husband, whom I cherish above all others."
And he said:
I accept your ring and I will wear it gladly.

And they were married.

Ten years ago today.

*****
And this morning, in the midst of a peaceful, much needed, island retreat for just the two of them, that He presented that She with a new ring as well... with ten new sparklies on it, celebrating the ten years they've been married to each other.

To say ten times over "this is my wife, whom I cherish above all others..."
And she was reminded ten times over how truly happy she is to be his wife and to get to spend these God given years with him.