We recently had the opportunity to be a part of a wedding, involving two of our spiritual kids.
  We knew we were supposed to be there to support and serve the families as well as the bride and groom.
  We had no idea how deeply our family would be impacted by this traditional ceremony.  The bride was Alissa Johns, daughter of our dear friends, (Tim and Janet Johns) and anointed woman of God in her own rite.
  The groom was wild-man as well as on-fire youth pastor Brock Meyer, whose parents ( Ron and Jakie Meyer) we also adore and respect.
  This was no ordinary wedding; there were no drunken guests or wild parties the night before, no strippers available for a last moment indiscretion.
  There was instead a variety of broken and humble people gathering to celebrate the joining of two lives.
  It was bar-none the most spiritual and holy thing I have ever seen.
  You see, the bride and groom had saved themselves for this day.
  Not just their bodies, but their hearts as well. Every choice they had made in their  25 & 26 years had lead them to this moment.
  And they were beautiful, pure and inspiring.
  They started their ceremony by honoring four very presious parents, who are still married and still in love.
  The fathers blessed them; the mother’s smiled and cried…everyone cried.
  This was not cheesy emotional high; the Spirit of God was heavy upon this ceremony, and heavy upon these lives.
  Every word spoken was true and honest.
  The vows were deep and heartfelt.
  This was no light or careless commitment; this was a serious covenant between not only two young people but their entire families and their churches.

  It was the truest picture of Christ and His Church as the Bride, I have ever experienced.
  It was also the dream we all have for our children.
  I watched the faces of all six of our offspring sitting next to us; they were being impacted for life as well.
  Gary and I held hands and cried throughout the ceremony.
  Without uttering any words we renewed our  own vows, sealed with a kiss on my forehead.
  The intimacy and the beauty of two lives becoming one is rarely seen anymore for the true picture it was meant to be.
  We talked about it for days with the kids, praying that they would carry this picture through out the rest of their lives.
  It was the DREAM in living, breathing, moving color.
  That is what I desire most for my children, to live their lives in such a manner in their youth that they could flow in the blessing of that,

 all of their lives…

the "tribe" all cleaned up!