During Advent this past December, I wrote about story. I focused on the unfolding of Jesus’ beginning on Christmas several thousand years ago, but found myself caught up in the beginning of story. Genesis revealed the explosion of creation under the guidance of our amazing God and unearthed the beginnings of grace. So many characters traveled through those first chapters and each one was chosen specifically by God because of the story they would tell. Every detail, character, and connection was written to tell the story of our humble beginnings. All was carefully crafted by God and nothing was an afterthought. Story begins behind the scenes, written by our God with love, grace and understanding.
When I began the journey into exploring story, I found myself caught up in the beautiful woven stories of God’s grace, the wonder of how our stories connect with others and the glorious beginnings of new life. I was only able to scratch the surface of the abundance of stories that has evolved over the years since creation. But one more story must be shared. One more beginning unfolded on December 27, 2015.
The day was initially warmer than most winter days and was also marked by flooding rains. Gray skies covered the horizon that seemed to stretch for miles and the steady swish of the windshield wipers provided a steady rhythm as the miles flew by. My car was occupied by my oldest son and his fiancee, good music and hearts ready for new love. A two hour drive through farmland took us on a path directly north with the final stretch heading west towards a church in Indiana.
But none of those details really matter. The rain remained outside and God’s perfect love reigned inside. Two imperfect people stood before God, family and friends to declare their love and begin their story as husband and wife. A story already anointed by God. The pages have a lifetime to be written, but the simple truth is that on December 27th, God did a new thing.
On December 27th, Daniel and Kayla’s story gracefully began as the first page was written before family, friends and most importantly God. Each detail is now carefully recorded, but every moment had been already been written by God.
[Tweet “All the days ordained for me were written in your book. Psalm 139:16”]
Your eyes saw my unformed body;
all the days ordained for me were written in your book
before one of them came to be. Psalm 139:16
It is the story of a family that is growing once again. It is the coming together of all in love, prayer and support. It is the gathering of community to witness the union of love. It is knowing that God works behind the scenes to connect His people in ways that continue to evolve throughout our lives.
[Tweet “God works behind the scenes to connect people into a beautiful new beginning. “]
We all have a story wrapped up in a beginning, middle and end. Every word, paragraph and chapter has been carefully outlined in preparation for its unfolding. Our stories are never an afterthought or a mistake. We were chosen by God to be in this place and time. On December 27th, Daniel and Kayla’s stories were joined into one.
Daniel and Kayla chose to step into God’s story as they humbly presented themselves before God. Their story came to life when they spoke of their love for Jesus. In accepting Jesus as their Savior, they opened the door for Him to become the Author of each word, page, and chapter until He chooses to stamp “The End” on their lives. On December 27th, we celebrated God’s perfect love on the first page of Daniel and Kayla’s story.
My family’s story intersected with Daniel and Kayla’s as we stood together and welcomed Kayla into the family. We prayed their beginning into being, knowing that with God new things are possible.
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! 2 Corinthians 5:17
Here are are some glimpses into the beginning of Daniel and Kayla’s story.
The wedding party
My Family
And as my brother posted, this is what forever looks like!
In grace and peace,
Mary
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Just beautiful. So very beautiful. Thank you for sharing with us, Mary. Many blessings to your son and his new wife. Much love to you. xoxo
Than you for being here, Beth! The story of Daniel and Kayla is just beginning, but the incredible moment in time on December 27 was an anointing by God.There are so many more details that I didn’t share but knowing we all witnessed the beginning of a beautiful story is what I wanted everyone to know. Have a beautiful weekend!
Such sweet memories of a day that will live on eternally in hearts and minds! Mary, in sharing your family’s celebrations and inviting us to rejoice in the unfolding story, you remind us so clearly that our own life story is authored by God and it’s not over until He says it’s over. We all have an offering to bring to the grace table, no matter how weak or weary, insignificant or alone we may feel at times. All of it matters because we matter so very much to God. Not a crumb is wasted. Beautiful photos, by the way, (you look as radiant as the bride!) and a beautiful love story that goes on into eternity. Thank you for sharing this special day with us! 🙂 Xx
Thank you for joining me here and leaving such sweet encouragement and well wishes. Every moment was carefully scripted and orchestrated by our big and beautiful God. He knows we each are an integral part of His story.
Praying your weekend is blessed and you are doing well.
LOVE this post…and those photos! You look gorgeous! May God bless Daniel and Kayla throughout their lives. Congratulations to you on expanding your family. Love you. xoxo
So glad you joined me to get a glimpse into this beautiful day! Your well wishes mean everything and knowing I now have a daughter is a gift. Praying your weekend in Houston is life giving!
Oh friend… I love this for ALL the reasons!!! xoxo
I love that you love this! Having a child get married is beyond anything else we as parents experience over the years. Someday this will be you and your girlie!!!
Praying you have a beautiful weekend. Thank you for being here! 🙂
SO happy to read this today! What a beautiful post. Their story begins to unfold from God’s book. Lovely! And, I note, our four sons have something in common…they are all bald! So many prayers for you and them!
Yes my sons are bald by choice and by help from their genes! I didn’t know we had that in common.
I am blessed that you stopped by to read the story of Daniel and Kayla’s beginning as husband and wife. We all appreciate the prayers and kind words! Many hugs coming your way!
What a beautiful tribute to an incredibly precious couple, Mary. I love the pictures. They look so happy! Many blessings to your expanding family, my friend. Thank you for sharing this special day with us. One down, one to go ;).
I’m so glad you shared in this day by joining me for a glimpse into their beautiful new beginning. You know my heart and have heard the ins and outs of everything so having you here means the world to me.
Thank you as always for joining me in this journey called life!
I’ve been wanting to ask you how things went for the wedding. 🙂 I love how you framed their story, Mary. So beautiful. And isn’t it amazing that God continues to do new things, to write new stories in hearts and lives? The pictures made me tear up. there’s something so beautiful about a bride’s unexplainable joy on her wedding day. And your son looked pretty happy too. 🙂
As Daniel and Kayla’s story continues to be scripted onto their life pages, may God fill them with His presence and joy, and you with wisdom in your relationships with them.
Loved this post, my friend.
Your words mean so much to me Jeanne! God is always busy crafting our stories, but the beautiful part is when those stories start to intersect and connect in new ways. Your kind wishes for Daniel and Kayla are a blessing and your sweet words for me will go with me everywhere I go.
You are a treasure and I am blessed by your encouragement!
Mary,
Thank you for inviting me/us into the beautiful story of your son, Daniel’s, marriage to Kayla. It looks like it was a beautiful day, indeed. God bless you all as He merges and joins your families. I can only imagine, as a momma, what it is like to “give one of your children away”? Thinking of you sweet friend…
Blessings,
Bev xx
Thank you for thinking of me, Bev! Letting go are two words that can be very difficult to embrace. God is guiding me through this new season and is teaching me how to let go even though all I want to do is hold on tight.
The wedding was so beautiful and every detail fell together so perfectly. God had His hand in every detail. I’m so glad you stopped over to catch a glimpse into this day with me. Blessings dear friend!
Such beautiful photos, Mary. Thank you for sharing them. You look like you’re bursting with joy. 🙂 I love how you remind us that God already knows every single moment of our stories and nothing is ever an afterthought or mistake.
Thank you for your sweet words, Trudy! I was bursting for joy and I still am! The wedding was beautiful and I am in awe of our God who writes such beautiful stories. I am praying your week has been blessed.
Oh, Mary, I’m so glad you shared your son’s wedding with us! How wonderful! Congratulations!
I’m glad you popped over so you could catch a glimpse of the day. It was a beautiful celebration of the beginning of a God-ordained story. Praying your week is blessed, friend!
Mary, thank you for sharing. Absolutely beautiful!
I love seeing you here, Barbie! The wedding was the beginning of a beautiful story and every detail was God ordained. Thank you for sharing in this day with me. Praying your week is blessed.
Beautiful! Thanks for bringing us into your joy!
So glad you stopped by to catch a glimpse into the beautiful day! Every detail was God orchestrated that day! Blessings on your week friend!
Oh beauty, joy, radiance, sparkle. Bliss.
What a glorious day, Mary. Thanks for giving us a peek at your family’s milestone.
And, may I say, the mother-of-the-groom looked simply fabulous!
Hugs and congrats, friend …
You are so sweet! There was so much I could have written about and so many details that made the day perfect but it is truly Daniel and Kayla’s story and honoring them and God was my goal in sharing a glimpse into the wedding. It also was a beautiful segway from my Advent series to their wedding. The whole wedding revolved around story from the vows, their beginnings as a couple and the honor I had in sharing a piece of their story and a blessing. I could go on and on.
I love being able to give my friends a peek into the day because you have prayed me through it. Thank you for blessing me with your prayers and friendship.