I want to be in love . . .

"Now that was when people KNEW how to be in love. They knew it! Time, distance . . . nothing could separate them because they knew. It was right. It was real. It was . . . A movie! That's your problem! You don't want to be in love. You want to be in love in a movie. "
~ Sleepless in Seattle

For a long time I thought that it wasn't possible to find the love we all see in movies. The love I've dreamed about since I was a little girl. Now, I know that it isn't. But, it is possible to be in love in real life. It's something that I have been blessed to witness.

I could not have pictured a more special weekend for Kristi and Andrew. I knew that it would be big and I was pretty sure it would be a lot of fun. But, as in most big things in my life, I had no idea what would happen. Months ago Kim and I sat out on our back porch and developed our plot - the big thing for the wedding - the new Daisy House tradition for the first Daisy girl's wedding. We started out with a very little idea and it became very big.

The Daisy House (Andrew included) had all fled North by Thursday evening. We had a good old fashioned Great Country Getaway cookout with Ma and Pa Rausch and headed up to the church. Kristi and Andrew wrote their prayer to Mary, Kim wrote her part of the toast and I prayed that Mary would help me give my life to her son so that His will be done in my life. Then, as a house, we sang Sanctuary. "Prepare me to be a santuary, pure and holy - tried and true." We have definitely been tried in the past and God has definitely been true to us. And we have been blessed.

Friday was a laid back day - I have to hand it to Keeks for being so prepared. There was no stress on Friday. We had fun decorating and headed to Whitey's for some grub, then back to the Rausch house to chill. The rehearsal went off without a hitch and dinner was some amazing fun. Then the bridal party headed to the DQ for some deliciousness before heading off to bed.

Saturday began very quietly. We all just kind of wandered around the house looking for things to do. It wasn't until about 11 that we realized (ok, Kristi realized) that we should get our butts in gear and actually put on our dresses and all.

The rest of the day I can't really begin to describe. Beautiful? Yes. Holy? Yes. Fun? Hell Yeah! It was perfect. And yet it was real. It was not "love in the movies" as one of my favorites describes it. It was the flesh and blood beauty of two people that are very dear to me joining their lives in front of God and those that they love. It was Christ's undying love for the Church being shown 5 feet in front of me.

Father's homily was priceless. It fit Kristi and Andrew perfectly. The flower girls were the most adorable thing I've ever seen - or held! The peaceful love felt by everyone in the room was indescribable. Watching the daisies pile up before Kristi and Andrew took my breath away - I knew I had to go last! Dollar dancing with three of my best friends in the world was something I'll never forget - I sure hope I fall hard and fast Ray! Singing "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" and giving my roommate a hug and kiss goodbye as they drove away was funny and poignant all at the same time. Swing dancing with boys from Andale was great fun even though my arms hurt for two days afterward. Chilling with 10 of my closest friends dangling our feet in the hot tub and drinking after the wedding was a blessing.

All of this made me cry. Then Father's homily on Sunday was about being corralled by a Shepard who loves me. Not the "love in the movie" type love but the real "I died because I love you" kind of love. And as I look back on all the blessings of Kristi and Andrew's wedding, I think the biggest of all was this. Love isn't like it is in the movies. It is so much, much more. And I get to experience it for real someday. I get to be married and have my own beautiful day. But until then, I have a Man, a God, corralling me into his arms with his unfailing love.