The day was absolutely perfect to celebrate our beautiful cousin’s wedding and her soon to be husband.  You could tell that at every moment they were taking it all in, enjoying each other and the festivities.  David wrote a beautiful story that was included in the bulletin on how they met. Even if I was a prolific write, which I am not, his words are priceless and from the heart. Enjoy their story!

“I suppose the short answer is that we met online through eHarmony, but that doesn’t even being to tell the whole story. The truthful answer is simply this…God did it!

Some of you may know that I was widowed in March 2009. It didn’t take very long for me to realize I was not very good at being alone, so i signed up for eHarmony later that year.

Erin and I were “matched” in April 2010, but, although I was very attracted to her from what she shared in her profile, the distance made me hesitant to contact her. Thankfully she chose to contact me, which was we believe, God at work, since she hardly ever initiated contact. Knowing she was interest was all it took to allay any worries about the distance.

We began emailing and getting to know each other. After a while we started talking on the phone, sharing more of our stories with each other. Erin also shared with me that another gentleman was communicating with her. I really wasn’t surprised because I had already come to realize how special a lady she is.

I was trying to figure out a way to come see her when she told me the other fellow had already made arrangements to fly out. This was how she had asked God to lead her in deciding between the two of us, by which one made the first move. After repeatedly kicking myself for being too slow, I wrote her that it did seem like God had given her His direction, and that I wished her all the best. That was the beginning of July.

I will fast forward to August 26. I got an email from Erin which told me the other gentleman had broken off the relationship because of the distance a week before she was to fly out to NC to visit him. The funny thing is he lived in Raleigh! So, since it was too late to change her ticket she made plans to drive down to Charlotte to visit a former student of hers and contacted me to ask if I’d like to meet. My reaction was to ask the Lord “God, are you kidding me?! THANK YOU!” then to call Erin and tell her I would LOVE to see her.

We spent two days together over the Labor Day weekend. I think we both knew by the end of the first day that the search for our soul mate was over. To borrow a cliche’, the rest is history.

Solomon asks in Proverbs 31 “An excellent wife who can find?” He then lists the attributes of his ideal woman, but doesn’t name one even though Scripture records he had 300 wives. I don’t pretend to have any wisdom compared to Solomon, but I do know the answer to his question through experience. God is the one who can find an excellent wife. He has been gracious enough to do that for me twice, and I am forever grateful to Him.

Erin is truly a gift from God, as anyone who knows her can attest. She is my best friend, my lady, my love, and from this day forward, my beloved wife!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It is my privilege, honor, and joy to become her husband!”

Erin made this dress as her project at Master’s college as a Home Economics major. It took her almost 4 years to complete her dress, with hundreds of hours invested. In her words, “It’s a combination of two patterns and the Alcon lace overlays are entirely hand beaded with a variety of pearls and crystals.”