May 21, 1999- The day we met

May 22, 1999- Carlene and Brian's Wedding

March 3, 2001

The Readings

1) This is a blessing of the Apaches used in wedding ceremonies.

Now you will feel no rain, for each of you will be shelter for each other.

Now you will feel no cold, for each of you will be warmth to the other.

Now there will be no loneliness, for each of you will be companion to the other.

Now you are two persons, but there is only one life before you.

May beauty surround you both in the journey ahead and through all the years.

May happiness be your companion and you days together be long upon the earth.

Treat yourselves and each other with respect, and remind yourselves often of what brought you together.

Give the highest priority to the tenderness, gentleness, and kindness that your connection deserves.

When frustration, difficulties, and fear assail your relationship, as they threaten all relationships at one time or another, remember to focus on what is right between you, not only the part which seems wrong.

In this way, you can ride out the storms when clouds hide the face of the sun in your lives—remembering that even if you lose sight of it for a moment, the sun is still there.

And if each of you takes responsibility for the quality of your life together, it will be marked by abundance and delight.

2) Colossians 3:12-17 (NIV)

Therefore as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, whether in word and deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

The Vows

Chris: I, Christopher, take thee Tracey to be my wedded wife.

I promise to be your loving and faithful husband

To live with you and laugh with you;

To stand by your side and sleep in your arms;

To be joy to your heart and food to your soul;

To bring out the best in you always;

To laugh with you in the good times; To struggle with you in the bad;

To solace you when you are downhearted; To wipe your tears with my hands;

To comfort you with my body; To mirror you with my soul;

To share with you all my riches and honors;

As long as we both shall live.

Tracey: I, Tracey, take thee Christopher to be my wedded husband.

I promise to be your loving and faithful wife

To live with you and laugh with you;

To stand by your side and sleep in your arms;

To be joy to your heart and food to your soul;

To bring out the best in you always;

To laugh with you in the good times; To struggle with you in the bad;

To solace you when you are downhearted; To wipe your tears with my hands;

To comfort you with my body; To mirror you with my soul;

To share with you all my riches and honors;

As long as we both shall live.

The Blessing and Exchanging of Rings

As this ring encircles your finger from this day forward,

so will my love forever encircle you.

The perfect symmetry is a symbol of our love.

It has no beginning and no ending,

a symbol of the eternal commitment we have made to each other today.

Unity Candle

(Adapted from an Irish blessing)

May the blessing of light,

Be with you always,

Light without and light within.

And may the sun shine

Upon you and warm your heart

Until it glows

Like a great fire

So that others may feel

The warmth of your love

For one another.

Happy 10th Anniversary Chris! I love you. You are the yin to my yang, the salt to my pepper, the Ian to my Toula. You complete me, balance me, challenge me, and make me a better person. I'm so happy with the life we've made together. I smile thinking about you. Smoooches!!