For all sorts of mad details that got in the way, Josh and I never got a chance to have our say about all our wonderful friends and family, so we're going to make our toasts here online. There are so many spectacular people to thank and honor who helped pull this wedding together. So, I'll do my best to make a note about EVERYONE! :-D (but alas, will probably forget somebody or another)
I (Anna) will start with my sisters, in no particular order, just as the thoughts come to me.
Rachel: my wonderful little sister in Christ. Rachel, you have honored me so much by trusting me and lookin up to me even though I don't feel as if I'm the best role model. I thank you for sharing oh so much with me. I am grateful for having had the chance to watch you grow and mature in the last two year and a half or so and I pray all God's best for you, a beautiful daughter of God.
Ardith: I don't know how you put up with all you have in the last year of actually rooming with me in the apartment. You are a spectacular little soul and there's a reason you're so very popular :-) Thank you for putting up with all my quirks and things and for allowing me into your circle of friends and for allowing me to share different joys with you, such as birthday dinners or making fun of the various t.v.s shows and commercials. For being so little, you sure have a whole lot of people who lean on you. Keep in touch. I want to continue to hear about how God is blessing you.
Ashley: my tall friend with whom God has allowed me to grow in more ways than one. I can't believe I can still remember the time when I was taller than you. You have known me and my craziness longer and probably have the most number of stories to share :-p Thank you for your prayers and support even over the long distances. I really hope I get to stay closer to you over the next two years so we can spend time together. You're an awesome friend and sister in Christ and God will use you to do great things.
Karin: Hey older sister. It's amazing what growing up and becoming adults has done for our relationship. It's nice that we can now share our lives. You served to strengthen me and mold me in various ways as I grew up and I looked up to you even if I didn't always express as much. You and Ryan are doing a fabulous job with those two darlings and I'm glad to be able to watch them grow up and hear what's up and share my own life with you. Thank you for standing in my wedding party and sacrificing time and bearing much to be a part of the wedding.
Lily: I felt a connection just from our shared major even before I knew you when I was flipping through that book of incoming freshman info LU sent us a month before starting the college journey. It's been a crazy road God has brought us together on these last four years. Thanks for the memories we get to share, the good and the bad, and for helping to shape me as a daughter of God. It's been an honor to watch God mature and shape you and I wish the best for you and Charlie and your little boy.
Lindsay: Thanks for helping out with the various details that needed taking care of. You rock! Thanks for bearing with me on the spring break trip and as the summertime roommate. Thanks for sharing with me all the crazy times and being there for all of us and for organizing the details as we all began to separate ways. God bless you and Andrew.
The guys:
I'll leave most of this to Josh, but there are a few things I'd like to say that I wish I could have expressed to all of you. I don't know if I could put words to how grateful I am to y'all for standing with us in the wedding and putting up with all the photos and the tuxes and crazy what nots. Thank you also for putting up with us over the last twenty-two months of dating and engagement. and thanks for enjoying all the food I made, even if not all of it was the greatest....
Martinez, thanks for being a rock of dependability and trustworthiness and strength in your quiet ways. Thank you also for being so willing to help polish those papers of mine at the last minute. God has great things in store for you.
Wilson, thanks for the discussions and keeping me company down at the coffee cart or in the courtyard. Thanks for introducing me to Chesterton. Strive for greatness. God will use you in big ways.
Wheeler, thanks for all the movies and being on my side in various discussions every now and again :-p Thank you also for the red pen work on my last minute touches to papers. Be good to Rachel. or else.
Gallagher, thanks for all the math! and sharing the number madness with me. and bearing with me through Abstract..... and being available with your car for all the crazy times. I look forward to hearing about your work in the future.
Really, all four of you I look forward to receiving signed copies of books that you write and bragging about you to my students.
Tim, if you chance upon reading this, thanks for being such a great friend to Josh and putting up with the changes that came with me. Thanks for being open with me and letting me join the circle and making me feel comfortable. You and your family have done so much for us and I'm not sure we could ever repay the hospitality.
Moore: You're welcome for all the food. Thank you for the fun times and being an energy in the group. Be good to Sharon. and keep working hard.
Ziggy: You rock and roll with that piano. Thanks for your steadfast faith and challenging ways. Even if I don't always agree with you, thank you for not being afraid to share your disagreement even when you are the lone man out and thanks for standing by your beliefs.
Morgan: Thank you for everything and I look forward to seeing the fruits of all your hard work at the wedding. You did a specatacular job keeping things going pretty efficiently. Thanks for also helping to make me laugh and have fun with me that morning. Thanks also for your blog and your personal testimony and making yourself so vulnerable. I have felt a kindred spirit in you many times as you share your struggles and joys. All the best to you and Caleb. ;;)
Caleb: Thanks for helping Morgan out and for all the nice back rubs and little brother actions over the last few years. Thanks for being so free to help out in time of need with a place to stay or a ride to the airport and for the great hugs. Be good to Morgan. or else.
I'm going to take a break for now but there are still so many more people to thank and toast, including our families and professorial friends. Stay tuned and stay in touch wonderful friends.
Posted by Anna at May 19, 2005 02:41 PM | TrackBackAnna:
I can honestly say it's been a great pleasure getting to know you over the past three years. You were one of the first people I met at LU; you peered critically at my schedule in the freshman registration line and announced that you would be my TI for Calc 2. And so you were; indeed, your patience and helpfulness with us poor students *cough*MeWheelerDoug*cough* made that whole class more enjoyable.
And things only got better from there. Bible studies, dinner trips, movie nights, Symphonies, miscellaneous fun. There were some rough spots along the way, but with God's help we made it through. Between your health problems, your class stresses, and various relationship quirks, you dealt with a lot, and always faced the dark times with faith and determination; you even had strength left over to help others in their times of difficulty. I admire your courage and your generous spirit, and it was truly an honor to be a part of your wedding.
It's clear from this post alone that you have many friends (not the least of whom is your new husband, of course); know that we're here for you whenever you need us, and our prayers are with you and Josh. May God bless you beyond all rational comprehension.
*turns off Sap Faucet before people start to choke*
P.S. Email and Track Changes are great things; if you ever need a paper reviewed, you know how to reach me. ;-)
Posted by: Martinez at May 20, 2005 01:17 AMYou turned off that faucet just in time. Martinez, thank you for that comment. It means a whole lot to me right now, more than I can express or explain right now. (Life has thrown Josh and I two curveballs already, but we're getting through and growing closer together. I can explain more later)
Posted by: banana at May 20, 2005 09:11 AMMy Dear Anna,
Though you now belong to someone else you will, by the grace of God, continue to be my dear friend for years to come. Our friendship has stood the test of miles and time and I'm blessed to know that I can call on you at any time for encouragement. You've challenged me throughout the last four years especially and I hope we have many more times together(even if seperated by miles). I love you and now Josh dearly and pray God's greatest for you that you guys might grow closer and you draw near to Him. And maybe someday you'll be able to share in the joy and craziness of my wedding!
:biggest smile ever: Anna honey... I feel very honored to be listed among the few you chose to thank. That means the world to me.
I have come to respect you over and over and I'm so happy and thankful for the blog world which first introduced us... I think creating a site with a blue little ducky was the first major introduction.
I had SO much fun being one of the VERY few involved in your wedding day morning and preparations. That was absolutely wonderful, and I enjoyed every second. I am still enjoying as I go through all of these photos, in a desperate attempt to get them to you sooner rather than later. I hope you like them as much as I do... :grin:
God bless both you and Josh. You are absolutely invited over for dinner once I'm settled in my new little married apartment. (oh yay!)
:grin:
Posted by: Morgan at May 22, 2005 09:47 PM