Special heart-shaped memories... a keepsake

     I have been given permission to share this with you by my daughter Ashley. I thought I should ask her since it is about her.

When she was a little girl, she loved to write little notes to me. Sometimes the note would say, "I"m sorry I was a brat today. Please forgive me! Love, Ashley. Others would be a get-well note.

     One I am looking at right now says, "Dear Mom, I hope you feel REAL better soon! I mean it. Love, Ashley. (Most of the notes included the words "I mean it.") Anyway, most of these precious little notes I have kept in a large hat box I call my "Joy Box". Because when I look at all of these little notes and cards from my children and my husband they bring me so much joy!

     About a month or so before Ashley's wedding, I was looking through my joy box. I noticed that on several of these little notes from her she would tape a penny. Bless her, she thought that if she included a penny in her notes that magically all would be well. She would be forgiven...I would feel better.  All would be right with the world! (I love the simple logic of a child's mind) 

     Well, I noticed on the note that I quoted to you, that the penny had a heart cut out of the middle of it. So it looked special. A penny with a heart. I know it must have meant a lot for her to give me that special penny.   So I decided to do something with it that would mean a lot to me, and hopefully to her.

     I took this penny with such a special meaning behind it to the jewelry store. I instructed them to put a hole in it and hang it on a bracelet for me. I then would wear this special piece of jewelry on her wedding day. That is just what I did!

     I got to share the bracelet and the story with my daughter Ashley before her wedding. It was a special time, and of course, this Momma cried!

     When you are a Mom, you feel like you are wearing your heart outside of your body most days. Sometimes on your sleeve... that special day my own heart was so full...

The occasion of my daughter, so happy. Marrying the man she loves on her wedding day.

I was wearing my heart on the outside again... this time it was dangling beautifully from my wrist.

The Groom rejoices over his Bride

     It has been awhile since I blogged. I have been so busy with the planning of my daughter's wedding. But, weddings and brides and grooms are still on my mind. I read these Scriptures this morning.

" "...The LORD will take delight in you,... as a bridegroom rejoices over his bride, so will your God rejoice over you." Isaiah 62: 4b-5a

     My daughter just got married on June 23rd.. Her new husband Mike, told her that he was staring at her as she was coming down the hill. All the way down until she got to where he was, he was focused on her like a laser. Never taking his eyes off of her. He was filled with emotion and love.

      My own wedding day was many years ago, I remember how my sweet husband looked at me as I was coming down the aisle. He was so filled with joy and emotion. I could tell that he took great delight in me. Even though we had around four hundred people in attendance that day, his eyes were only on me. He told me he was thinking..."This woman is mine, she belongs me me alone." "I chose her, and she chose me."

     Pondering these verses, this is just how Jesus feels and thinks toward us, His bride. Jesus loved us as His bride so much, that He laid down His life for us.  He wants us to love Him with our whole hearts. To have no other gods before Him.

     It is hard for us to understand this kind of love. But this side of eternity we can see just a little glimmer of it by thinking on the bride and groom. That heart full of love, that single devotion. God chose you, you are His treasure... His beloved bride.

     As you go through this journey called life, remember that your Savior is delighting in you...He is rejoicing over you! Until that glorious day when we see Him face to face in heaven!

Delight in your groom today!


(Mike's face as he sees his bride)