Have You Seen These People?

Have I seen these people? Yes.  Everyday.  Although they certainly don't look like THAT anymore!

27 years ago today I married the love of my life. 

After going to get my hair done, I came back home and got dressed upstairs in the attic bedroom (because it was the only room in the house with A.C.!) and I remember thinking, “This is the last time I’ll be here as a single woman”.  While most of that day is a blur (except for the fact that it was 90 plus degrees and there was no air conditioning in my parents’ car – yes, no limos back then, we just drove to the church in a regular, old car) I remember telling myself to TRY to focus and TRY to remember what was going on!  

The wedding took place at The Chapel in Akron, Ohio where Matt and I met while attending the college ministry there.  I was so excited for Matt to see me walk down the aisle.  I couldn’t wait to become his wife and begin our new life as a married couple!  We all put on the ‘finishing touches’ in the “bridal room” at the church (probably just an usher’s room or something!) and the girl I paid to come and apply all of our make-up, never showed so my cousin who was a very classy gal grabbed all of her make-up and set to work on us!  Between all of us and our ‘make-up’ kits, we all ended up looking pretty decent!  Pictures were snapped and off we went to the sanctuary. 

I remember telling my dad I think I’m going to faint – he just squeezed my arm really tight, gave me a kiss and said, “Relax – it’s going to be fine – now here we go!”  I remember looking at Matt and saying the vows and thinking -- this is IT!  I have found the one I want to be with for the rest of my life (yes, I REALLY do remember thinking that!)  The next thing I remember is kissing him and turning around to face our friends and family and hearing, "It is my privilege and joy to introduce to you Mr. & Mrs. Matt Zaubi" and heading down the aisle accompanied by applause!

After a buffet reception in the church fellowship hall we set off for the night to the Quaker Oats Hotel downtown and then drove the next morning  to Vermont for our honeymoon in my parents’ car (yep, the one with no A.C.)  -- hey, times were simpler back then and honestly – we had a blast!  

Now don’t most of us look back at our wedding photos and have that “What was I thinking!!??” moment?  That’s what I do when I look at that hat with the ‘bee-keeper’ veil!  The gown still hangs in my closet (I’m quite sure neither of my daughters will want to wear it!!) and I’m thinking it’s going to make some sweet keepsakes for my daughters or maybe grandkids (gulp!) someday ‘cause I’m pretty sure it will never make another trip down the aisle of a wedding!  

You truly have NO idea what marriage is about until you've lived it with all of its 'ups and downs'.  If you're married you know that those 'warm, fuzzy gosh-I-can't-live-without-you' feelings are NOT always there.  Love IS a choice, a decision, a commitment and without the Lord at the center -- I can't imagine how you do it!  He is the "Glue" (I'm pretty sure that name is not in Scripture anywhere) and I'm grateful that he chose Matt for me!!  And with that, I leave you with a few ‘vintage’ pictures from a warm, June day in 1984 in Akron, Ohio where our journey began. . .

And finally, while we're certainly not as old as this couple . . . I want to be like them when I grow up . . . still loving my husband and life and ENJOYING each other!