August 10, 2013
It seems like yesterday that Mary Rose was born in our peaceful upstairs bedroom in our home, surrounded by her siblings and several of our friends here today. When she was born, I help her close, not knowing if she was a boy or a girl, and after a few moments I held her up and with joy announced to all, “It is Mary Rose!” That was all that was important, that said it all- she was “Mary Rose”. That name came from someone special and grew to be an adjective in and of itself. Now, Mary Rose is a beautiful and compassionate married woman whom we have cherished all these years and are so proud of. We haven’t known Ryan to long- less than a year and frankly, that concerned us. Recently, less than a month ago, Mary Rose had an emergency appendectomy. Ryan came rushing to our house at midnight when he heard Mary Rose was in a great deal of pain. I watched him sit beside her through emergency rooms, the sudden operation, complications in recovery and the process of healing- all the while knowing that hospitals and needles were definitely not his thing! I saw him encourage her, hold her hand…he never left her side, he saw the sickness , the emotions, the raw side of Mary Rose and showed only love and patience…it was then I knew he was with her “for better or worse, in sickness and in health…” I knew that she found a man of integrity, compassion and warmth...a man of God. When they were first engaged I wrote, “As joy and love and excitement fill your hearts, as you hold hands and look to a future walking together in the same direction, as Christ has started you on this journey, so may He lead you on. We want you to know that our blessings, as Mary Rose’s parents, are with you. We are peaceful and have a deep assurance that God intended both of you for each other and He has directed your paths to this moment and He will direct your paths from here forward, eyes on Him, into a life that will bring Him glory and a marriage that will be an example of God’s Love for us all.
I love you both and toast to your amazing future.
Mom
