Our friendship started in the darkest of places, a college statistics class. I dreaded this class. With math being the least of the things I could ever possibly dream of being successful at, I had been putting it off, but the semester had come and there was no more procrastinating. This was the very first time I saw how our friendship was a testimony to God's faithfulness. Although some may say it was merely coincidence or some may even call it fate, I know that God had planned before the beginning of time that both you and I would enroll in Math 2208 with David Atwood in the Spring of 2005.
I remember the first day of class clearly, I sat in the third row on the east side of the classroom. I arrived slightly early, as I had time to kill between classes and I remember watching you arrive, taking a seat in the second row on the west side of the classroom. I remember thinking "I'm gonna be that girl's friends... she looks like a Christian and together, we are going to make through this class." Now what a Christian looks like, I am not exactly sure, but from the very first moment I met you, you displayed the love of Christ not only with your words and actions, but by your demeanor and attitude. Although I did not comprehend the fact in it's entirety then, you are and always have been a candle on a hill that humbly shines the light of Christ. Unfortunately, it was a few class periods before we ended up in our permanent seats next to each other where we remained for the rest of the semester. If that ridiculous football player would have taken the hint that you were not interested in him, it wouldn't have taken nearly as long. Thank goodness for that away football game that caused him to miss class, so I could rightly steal his seat!
Our friendship began quickly, again by God's grace, He orchestrated a Christian professor who strongly supported study groups and offered to drop our lowest test score if we formed a group and met three times throughout the semester. I have never had this type of offer in any other college class and once again, I see that it was always God's plan that you and I were to be friends.
Little did we know that you and I shared the same group of friends. I will never forget the game night that I walked into the basement of "the guys' house" and at the exact same moment both of us asked the other, "What are you doing here!!" From there on out, we were inseparable.
We have seen each other through the best and the worst, through celebrations like graduation and liscensure in our fields of study and we have each been on the other end of the phone when heartache or tradegy struck, we have enjoy times of laughter and life, but also darkness and sorrow. And through it all, we have encourage and pushed either other to rely on our Creator.
God has used all types of things to strengthen our friendship, things like the Dan Abraham Healthy Living Center, your parent's decision to move, and a trip home to help them, an extra twins ticket, similar cell phones, a strange obession with matching wardrobes, even Wester family night with the Wii. Your friendship is a testimony to God's faithfulness in my life. Each one of this things is an affirmation that God had bigger plans for us than we had for ourselves. I know, without a doubt, that it is God who has ordained our friendship from the beginning just as I know that He ordained your marriage with Jon. Just as He used the littlest, random things to bring you and I together - who knew that He could use a Mario costume, facebook, and a strange seating arrangement at Chili's to bring it all together for you and Jon . He brought someone into your life that suits you better than either you or I could have dreamed of.
Your relationship came together so perfectly that it could have only be composed of by the Father of Lights; for truly, every good and perfect gift comes from Him. Although, I knew you would never settle for anything less than God's best for you - Jon never fails to impress me in his love for you. It is evident that he will spend the rest of his life striving to love you as Christ love the church and that you will always be a beautiful young bride in his eyes. As you prepare to say your vows today, hopefully without hysterical laughing or crying, I know that it is undoubtedly your heart's desire to be the type of wife that Proverbs 31 describes. And even though it is an impossible to accomplish on your own, I promise to encourage you, support you and pray for you as you enter into this holy union.
May God be with you and bless you;
May you see your children's children.
May you be poor in misfortune,
Rich in blessings,
May you know nothing but happiness
From this day forward.
I wish you all the happiest of happy years and a lifetime of love.
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