September 31, 1995 was the day that Sherri & I first met at a Trout Creek Bible Camp banquet. I was invited to attend so that I could inquire about the Program Director position now available since Sherri was resigning. However, when I was introduced to her, my interest was drawn to her alone. So after some small talk, I managed to get her phone number and we ended up going to church together the following weekend. This was the start of our journey together as a couple. We are very grateful for our true friend, Spencer, who introduced us, and who we found out later was also praying for both of us specifically, months before we had even met. Exactly 1 year later, we dedicated our lives together in marriage. This last summer we worked together as staff ministers at Cannon Beach Conference Center, and enjoyed developing our relationship with each other. We were both convinced that we should pursue a journey together as a life long couple. God has blessed us so much, and we are thankful to have such a great community of friends and family that support our relationship.
The wedding was such a wonderful experience. We chose not to fall into the typical money trap of the glamorous Cinderella ceremony style. Instead, we attempted to create the most laid back, informal, conservative, and most of all- sincere wedding party that we knew how. It was perfect! Many of our friends kindly helped with preparations, food, and decorations. Our pastor, Jim Wicks, shared his heart for what we were celebrating together, delightfully portraying the blessing of marriage as a holy and pure promise of devotion and commitment. Sherri’s close friend and spiritual mentor, Joe Fahlman, also shared his blessing over us, telling stories about our experiences together. We also showed a video that Sherri and I worked on together, attempting to capture the essence of our life paths colliding, creating the bond of love that we now share together. Our message was that even though we understand how being married will stretch us in ways we never thought possible, it could only mean that we would also be drawing closer to God in the process…together.
Another great blessing on our wedding day was a surprise visit from my parents. We had no idea of course, since we were planning on celebrating with my family in MN over winter break. However, our friends Spencer and Teresa secretively called them and graciously offered to fly them out for the wedding. So a couple hours before the ceremony, Spencer walked up to me with a huge cactus plant in his hands and says, “Your parents thought it would be appropriate for your first roommate to attend your wedding.” After some awkward mental processing, I realized that the cactus he was holding was Spike, a plant that I had through college. When I moved out west, I left Spike with my parents, an eighth of the size it is today and somehow they must have managed to get it through airline security to be at my wedding. I then realized that my parents must amazingly be here somewhere, and just then they walked through the back door of the church together. What a lovely surprise! I cannot describe what a pleasure it was to see the excitement on their faces, and the joy we experienced that day. Sherri and I ended up spending the rest of the weekend with them, opening gifts and visiting some of the sites in the Columbia Gorge together. We couldn’t have asked for a better way to celebrate our new life together as a family.
Our Wedding Vows
To Sherri,
I commit my life to you in Marriage. I promise to love and care for you in every situation. I will also attempt to faithfully lead and encourage you throughout our lives together, in the knowledge of God. Though my actions and thoughts will never be perfect, I want to always be growing in understanding of how to be a better husband to you. My aim is to be someone you can forever trust and count on to be there for you always. I vow to love you for the rest of my life.
To Jake,
Today I dedicate to you a lifelong commitment of love and growth: spiritually, mentally and physically. I promise to honor and respect you, through all circumstances, as we live and grow old together. I will follow you as you lead. I will be open and honest with you, and even through the hard times learn to communicate with you. Though I will never reach perfection, I will always strive to be woman who is there to support you, encourage you, love you, and trust you. Jake, I am committed to our lifelong journey and to always be, as you would say, "on the same team."
This is our beloved Statler at only 9 weeks old.
This is Statler and Waldorf hanging-out together. They are named after the 2 old dudes on the Muppet Show who are always knocking each other off the balcony.
They're just a wee-bit playful.
An afternoon hike to Horsetail Falls in the Columbia Gorge together.
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