Gerry and Nancy

I was so happy today...happy to be able to be at this special event. Today my dear friend Nancy married the man of her dreams. It was a day she had dreamed about for a long time, and as I saw the perma-grin attached to her face, I couldn't help but cry. I'm so happy for you my friend, so happy.

They had an open mic tonight, and I debated going up many times, but my shy tendencies and the fact that I was feeling as large as a whale prevented me from going to the front. Here, though, is what I wanted to say. This is for you, Nancy. I know you probably won't read this for awhile, as you will be off on your honeymoon, but I love you, and wanted you to know what I would have said if I had only been brave. I was afraid the pregnancy horomones would kick in and I would blunder it, so here it is for you to read instead.

Nancy, I love you. You are such a dear friend. When I first arrived in this country five years ago, I had no friends, and you became my first true friend. It didn't take us long...there are some of those people that simply connect and we were those type of people.

You have been an incredible friend to me the last five years. We have been through a lot together, cried many tears, laughed a lot, went for long walks and talks, and just enjoyed living life together. You have taught me much about how to be a true and committed friend, and you have shown what it means to laugh with abandon and to be totally and completely in love with God. As I have learned who you are, I have seen a beautiful, godly, incredible woman emerge before my eyes.

A few years ago, I was at a Christmas Eve service. One of the speakers said that every Christmas Eve she decided on one thing that she would continually pray for, until she saw how God answered that prayer...no matter how long it took. I thought that was an incredible thing, and I decided I would do that too. When I got home that night, the thing that I prayed for and continued praying for was that God would bless you with an incredible man that you could share your life with. It's so special to see that prayer being answered today, with this man that brings the most beautiful smile to your face.

I have loved seeing the joy in you today, my friend, and I am glad that Baby has waited to arrive so that I could come and see you get married. It is a day that I have dreamed about too. I love you!