Christina and Stacy King JUNE 26, 2016
Vows
In you, I have found the love of my life, and my closest, truest friend. You are my home.
I realize now, more than ever, how brilliant you are.... You are the person I was born to love.
Christina,
Our experiences shape who we are and what we become. Our pasts are what made us who we are today and without it, We , would not be. I painted a life for myself that I thought checked all the right boxes, but I was never complete.
I have searched for the missing piece for decades and had resigned myself to be where I was. Perhaps, I was eternally broken----always missing that piece to the puzzle.
Your heart fits perfectly with mine. There is nothing else and no one else in the universe that fills me with the love and wonder that you do. There is no woman more passionate, romantic, loving, or consistent.
You have shown courage, not only in your actions and in your life, but in your love for others, your love for your children, your love for my children, and countless others. You are constantly forgiving; You have the most open heart of anyone I know. You have made me feel brave, Where before you, I only knew fear. I feel sometimes, we have won the lottery of life.
We are lucky to have been friends for so long. In our friendship, I found someone who really understood me, who was happy to listen to me ramble about meaningless things‌
I love that we challenge each other constantly. I cherish that we take one another’s advice seriously, even when it turns out to be terrible. ‌or talk me off the floor when days were just too much. I love that we bring out the romantic in each other. I love that we hear one another; we value one another on every level. I love that we laugh together, more than is appropriate, especially at others. I had a friend I knew would stand by my side and even take a bullet for me. As our friendship grew, so did my desire to be in your presence.
I found myself spending endless hours searching for the right gift for you and yet that wasn’t enough for me to realize what you had become to me. It wasn’t until We began that it seemed so obvious. Looking back, the love of my life had been there for quite some time. I do not regret my past for it would not have brought me to you. You are my missing piece. With you I am patient, fulfilled, and loved. I am confident, whole, happy, and secure. You continually bring out the best in me and you, quite the worst.
Our life has redefined adventure. I will treasure, until the day I die, the day you first said you hated me. And a part of me broke, as I knew what you meant. I knew that I loved you too. We both spent so long, pretending to know what love was, Pretending to know who we were, until the day we looked up, That day we realized we were two imposters who could see through each other. When we are together, there is no pretense, no pressure, just home.
So few people know the Christina I know. The soft, romantic, poetic, fierce, hilarious, nurturing, brilliant, and loving woman who stands before me. I also see you for your faults---your imperfections match my imperfections, perfectly. You have been by my side for years, first as my opponent, then as my friend. Our love grew and blossomed when we were not watching. I am honored that my best friend is now becoming my wife. Your heart was carved to fit mine and my soul belongs to you, we will never part. This year has been full of changes and we have faced our share of struggles. We both took a radical chance with each other and I will always strive to be worthy of your love.
And here in front of way more people than we planned, as your wife, lover, best friend, soulmate, and‌
With this ring, I promise to love, respect, confide, and grow with you. I promise to stay through the hard times and not to take the easy for granted. I promise to be your‌
partner in crime‌
I promise to never tell where the bodies are buried.
‌and never reveal where we hide the bodies.
I promise that I will spend every day reminding you what makes you amazing. I promise to keep you warm and to always be your safe haven. I promise to stay present with you, when all the world terrifies me. I promise to hold you together when you feel the pieces coming apart and‌ I promise I will help you laugh and find light in the darkest of times. I promise that you will never have to walk through anything alone. I promise to never let you face life alone. Good or bad, I promise to make our days unexpected and our lives full of experiences. I promise to never leave during an argument. I promise that we will travel the world and write our own story as Mrs. & Mrs. King. I promise I will seek you and us first in everything in life.
ChristinaI have, and always will, follow you anywhere.
I vow to hold you, I vow encourage you, I vow to trust you, I vow to respect you. I vow to love you, and only you, for now until eternity. "
Tribute
Looking for words of wisdom for Christina and Stacy (Shakespeare, Elizabeth Barrett Browning, and others). Finally settled on the greatest philosopher of Friendship and Love --- Winnie the Pooh.
About the love Christina and Stacy share, Pooh says--“It seems they had always been and would always be friends. Time could change much, but not that.”
“We didn’t realize we were making memories; we just knew we were having fun.”
“How do you spell Love? You don’t spell it, you feel it!”
The Best part of the day---the part where you and me become We!
As soon as I saw you, I knew a Grand Adventure was about to happen!
And so, as you begin your journey, each with your Best Forever Friend, may both your friendship and love strengthen for all of your days.
Know that you carry the hearts and love of those here with you today and those who have gone on before you.
A Toast to Your Grand Adventure! Love you, Diane