Seven years ago today ...

Happy Anniversary babe ... I love you more than ever.



By Brian Hedger
Hedgeradventures blogger guy


Seven years ago today, a young man woke up in his hotel room and smiled.

"Today I get to marry the girl who stole my heart the second I saw her," he thought. "How lucky am I?"

Seven years ago today, as his bride-to-be prepared for their big day, the young man looked at the grayish skies above and thought, "Good thing we're getting married inside."

Seven years ago today, the groom piled into a car with some of his best friends and headed for the church. And, as they talked about all the fun they'd had in the past, the groom thought about the future.



What was in store for he and his bride? What would life be like? Would it change? How? Would it be better? How?

Would it be the same? Gasp ... worse? Would she be happy with him? Would he be happy with her?

He thought of her face, and how he felt like it was a face he'd known his entire life. He thought of how safe it made him feel to look into her eyes ... to hold her hand ... to feel her embrace ... to kiss away any tears she might have.

"Yes," he decided. "It would be better ... I'll make sure of it!"

(As if he had that power all by himself)




Seven years ago, inside a sweltering church kitchen, the groom-to-be had a wardrobe malfunction.

His friends told him that it was fine, and not to sweat it. It was just a button on a jacket. Ah, but this groom being the person that he is, continued to freak. He sweated the small stuff (and still does).

What he wanted was his bride, who had a way of calming his nerves and making him feel like he could do anything.

"Who says I can't see her before the wedding?" he thought. "This is ridiculous. Lisa would know what to do."

Luckily, so did their friend, Nikki -- who found a sewing kit and saved the day (Thanks again, Nik).



Seven years ago today, the young man -- wearing his repaired tuxedo -- stood at the front of the church where the love of his life spent her formative years.

He looked around, and took note of how it reminded him a little of the church he attended as a boy. He looked around, saw the familiar faces in the pews and started to feel butterflies.

Then, the doors at the other end of the sanctuary flung open as the organist began to play. There she was ... beaming, glowing, more beautiful than even he'd imagined.



The groom's best man, his big brother, leaned forward and whispered, "She's beautiful, Brian."

Boy, was he right.



Seven years ago today, the groom and his bride stood facing each other, repeating their vows, placing rings on each other's fingers ... sealing it all with a kiss.



Their hands melted together. They strolled down the aisle, man and wife. They had no idea what was in store for them.

They didn't particularly care.






Seven years ago today, they celebrated with a reception to remember -- with their friends and family surrounding them with love and lots of dancing.



There were beautiful toasts. There was a first dance to Elton John's "The One."



There were smiles all around, a beautiful cake to match the bride -- and views of South Bend from the top floor of the Holiday Inn (woo-hoo! Ha!)



And, when it was over, the newlyweds went to sleep for the first time as The Hedgers. The groom snuggled up to his bride for the very first time as her husband, and he smiled once again.

"Today, I married the girl who stole my heart the very second I saw her," he thought. "How lucky am I?"



I'm so looking forward to what the rest of our future together brings, my love. It already brought us this ...











... imagine what else might be in store!

Love,

Me