I’ve had many people reach out to me (both in person and by text) to tell me that they were very moved by our wedding ceremony.

I wanted our ceremony to be an intimate display of emotion, faith and love.

I will admit that writing my vows took a while. There were so many important things to say and I struggled to find the words. But I didn’t force it. I let it come as I knew it would. I wrote snippets here and there, wherever I happened to be when I felt inspired or could put a feeling into words.

About three weeks before our big day, something sparked within me and I was able to finish writing them.

I can say it is a truly wonderful feeling as a writer when everything comes together.

My vows were deeply personal and because of that, I cried a lot while writing them. Luckily, I thought ahead and practiced saying them out loud, because I wanted to be able to articulate them in a way that Mike and everyone else could understand, not break down crying or choking on the emotional parts.

It took a while to be able to get past one of my first promises to Mike without crying. So I’m glad on the big day, I was able to do it well. That was very important to me.

My vows were also a lot longer than what I actually recited in church. I knew I needed to shorten them for that day. I did read the long version to Mike a couple days after our wedding and he loved it.

A lot of people have asked for a copy of what I said to Mike. So here is the extended version of my vows.

With Mike’s permission, I’m more than happy to invite you all into my heart and share the beautiful view of Mike that resides there.

***

Life is made up of a series of moments. Big and small, memorable and forgettable. Some of these moments we have a hand in creating, and others…

Well…

They just end up happening to us.

When we first met, the little girl in me immediately recognized the little boy in you. Though we are different in many ways, we are alike in all of the ways that matter.

To sum it up simply and succinctly: Your crazy matches my crazy.

But it does, of course, go deeper than that. What we have is so rare and precious that words alone cannot describe the instant recognition we found in one another. It was as if we were searching for copper but, instead, struck gold.

For 20 months, we amassed an abundance of memories on which a solid foundation stood ready to brace us for what was to come.

When I got that phone call from Albany Med letting me know what happened to you a year ago today, it was the scariest moment of my life.

But…

It also became my defining moment.

For looking back on it now, I realize that I was ready.

Ready for whatever would come our way.

Ready to help you move forward from that fateful day.

Ready to become the person that I was always meant to be.

There was not a moment’s hesitation to do anything other than be by your side

No matter what that would look like, I was not going to hide.

God, in His perfect timing, brought us to one another, because He knew that, together, we are stronger.

I could not be prouder than to become your wife today

And I can honestly say

That my love and respect for you continues to grow with each passing day

You have gained so much more than what has been taken from you

And that’s because you’ve handled it all with courage and grace, which is exactly what I’d knew you’d do

You are my best friend, my partner in crime, my favorite horror movie sidekick, my safe space and my happy place.

Dare I say, my soulmate.

Per Google: Wedding vows are personal promises exchanged between partners. We will be reciting our traditional vows in just a moment.

But to be more specific…

I promise to walk a little slower until you can walk a little faster.

To light the darkest corners of every room

To replace your left hand until yours returns to you

To act as an extra set of eyes to keep you on the right path

To smooth out the sharp edges and soften the hard surfaces

To be your personal chauffeur on our trips (and, by the way, I do accept tips)

To listen at the end of a challenging day and assure you that everything will be okay

To protect your heart as if it were my own and remain present in every moment, not on my phone

To find different and fun ways to show honor and love

And to pray for you and with you to God in Heaven above

To watch scary movies and cuddle close at night, to comfort one another from our self-induced fright

I promise to always say I love you before heading out the door and to never go to bed mad or make you sleep on the floor

And perhaps, most important of all, I promise never to take a single moment for granted, no matter how small