Nineteen Years Ago.....

Our wedding ceremony took place in the Squadron at Davis Monthon AFB, Tucson AZ. Our wedding "was" planned in New Mexico. We knew Max was going to be deployed in January, so we chose to get married in Dec., so our families could be together for our wedding and Christmas before he left to Dessert Storm. Well...it didn't go as planned. We had to cancel the wedding because he received his orders and could not leave the state of AZ. So, I got on the next flight to Tucson while my mom and my friend, Cathy, cancelled my wedding. I was heart broken, but it was short lived, because the my soon to be husband was leaving to war! (It's all relative, isn't it?) He really wanted to get married before he left. (That's my practical husband, wanting to make sure I would get his insurance, etc. if anything happened to him. I wanted nothing to do with that thought...but, I did want to be his wife, and he did promise to marry me again when he returned. He knew I wanted a church wedding with our families present, and...I had a beautiful wedding dress to wear. ;)) Our plan was to go to the court house to get married, but Max's co-workers informed him that the justice of the peace would actually go to the squadron to marry us. He called to ask me if I was fine with that? Of course, I agreed. (It was better than trying to find parking down town...and trying to walk in heels. :)) My assumption was we would stand in his office and recite our vows. (P.S. Even though we weren't in a church setting...God was there, and will show up anywhere He's invited. :) Our promises were made to each other, and to Him.) Anyhow, I would never have imagined in such a short time that I would actually have a 'wedding!' By the time Max picked me up...his best man, Tony Jones, had flown in from Las Vegas, Cathy had a corsage and a boutonniere delivered, Max's wonderful co-workers had purchased a cake and champagne. They took pictures and video taped the ceremony, and they did a beautiful job decorating the room with crated paper and silk plants. But the clincher was...one of the guys went home and picked up several of his old ties that they all wore with there flight suit. They hummed the wedding march (not only are they my heroes because they're warriors...but they could really carry a tune!) and the commander walked me down the made shift isle. My wedding was AMAZING. It didn't consist of a three tiered wedding cake, professional photographer, gifts, etc. (Not to say there is anything wrong with that, it just didn't happen for me.) But it was a beautiful reminder of how every occasion can be made special if there is thoughtfulness and love involved. I thank God for everyone that made my beautiful wedding special, but more important...I thank Him for my wonderful groom! Happy 19th Anniversary, Snoopers! (Now the goofiest pet name is made public..."and" the BIG hair. Ugh! ;))