Shortly after our engagement, we settled on a venue. We actually went to see it while Nick was still here. The problem? You had to book it a full year in advance. So when April rolled around, we decided to book it and we got first choice of dates (thanks Mom! She stood in line and won the lottery for us). Everything was coming together perfectly!
A little too perfectly…if you know anything about the military, you know that you always need a plan B…and C…and D.
Once summertime rolled around we received the news that Nick was switching units and was deploying more than a year ahead of schedule. Right in the middle of our current wedding plans.
I’ll admit, I didn’t take the news well at all. We had just put a deposit on the venue and everything was lined up for April. I had always dreamed about a springtime wedding but now it looked like that wasn’t going to happen.
Nick always has a habit of telling me to stop stressing and have faith because everything will work out according to God’s plan. That’s one of my favorite things about him actually, his constant faith and trust in the Lord. Meanwhile, I’m over here growing grey hairs trying to plan every step along the way even though I know it never works out that way. That’s obviously my area to grow…I’m always learning what it means to let go and hold things with an open palm. I’m a type A person. It’s in my blood. But I’m trying! God knows I’m trying.
Anyways, yet again, Nick and the Lord proved to be right. After a lot of praying, and a lot of time on my knees begging for peace to accept the things I cannot change, we decided to move the wedding up before deployment. The only problem was the only dates available at our venue were December 26th and 27th. The weekend after Christmas. The 26th seemed just a little bit too close to Christmas but the 27th was on a Sunday, meaning we couldn’t have the ceremony at our church like we originally planned.
Time for plan C. We needed a legal ceremony before the December wedding to complete necessary paperwork before the deployment. I wasn’t crazy about the idea of getting married at the courthouse, not that there’s anything wrong with it, just wasn’t for me. I can’t remember who came up with the idea first, but someone suggested that instead of having the ceremony at the church in December and trying to make that work, we could just have the legal ceremony at the church with close friends and family and then have the big celebration in December with all of our loved ones together. We got in touch with the church and everything was lined up for an August ceremony during Nick’s leave, which was on its way to being approved!
Remember when I said you need a plan A and B and C and D? Well Nick’s leave was rejected due to their intense pre-deployment schedule (even though we were reassured many times that everyone was in support and everything was lined up to go. That’s the military for you sometimes).
At this point I was like, okay God. I thought we were following Your will for us. Why is it so difficult for us to get married? Is this not part of Your plan for us? Should we postpone it till after the deployment?
I’ll never forget how I felt in those next couple of weeks. I think I spent more time on my knees then I ever have in my life. Nick was in and out of training so we would go weeks without any communication. I was trying to figure out this wedding thing and when we were actually going to get married or if we were actually going to get married in 2015. I was stressing, like usual, but I didn’t have Nick constantly telling me to let go and let God take over. I remember one night, as I was laying in bed, one verse popped into my head. My favorite verse.
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God,which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7
I could feel God trying to tell me, stop stressing. I’ve got this under control. When have I ever steered you wrong? You need to let go.
And guess what? Once I did let go, everything fell into place! Nick got his leave approved for a weekend in September and I was able to get the time off work. We ordered invitations and everything was good to go. Finally. So lesson learned, yet again. God does know what He’s doing and everything happens for a reason. Even if you don’t see that reason.
I’m so thankful for my family who always supported our decision, even when things started to get a little messy and chaotic. None of this could have happened without them. You’ll probably hear this a lot through this series but we are so blessed. I cannot say it enough. So thank you to everyone who prayed for us and continue to pray for us. We cannot do this without you!
Stay tuned for pictures from our September wedding!
