Since Wanda and Irv's wedding day on December 28, 1982 at the county courthouse, Wanda has dreamed of renewing their vows "under God".
Some years ago, sweet Irv heard a radio station in Baltimore was sponsoring a Valentine's Day renewal of vows on the outside ice rink at the Inner Harbor in Baltimore so... being the romantic gentleman, he booked a room at the famous, historic Belvedere Hotel complete with chocolates and roses. On that freezing Saturday morning, we walked to the Inner Harbor and stood shivering in the cold for an hour, waiting for the event to begin. Finally, we are instructed to come out on the ice... say What! Wanda has no coordination. She was behind the door when God gave that out but... here she goes with a death grip on Irv's arm. As a group, we are to speak the vows. Irv didn't speak... he was waiting for the men to speak their part but... we were all supposed to speak together. So Wanda renewed her vows.
Last spring Matthew's family was planning a trip to Georgia where Wanda and Irv were living so Wanda began thinking of how there could be a ceremony at church while at least three of the children could be together but... alas, it didn't work out.
What a joy... our church in Big Pine had a Valentine's Day Vow Renewal Banquet on Sunday night complete with live band for dancing. Our children couldn't be there but... we were able to make promises to each other "under God".
We were instructed to look into each other's eyes and repeat... I promise to renew my commitment to love you. I promise to cherish you as God's gift to me. I promise to respect you and to accept our differences. I promise to share my feelings and to forgive you. I promise to pray for you and to love you and to encourage you. I promise to grow in loving God with you. I love you with all my heart and I will for all of my life. With God's help I'll make our home a place of joy as long as we both shall live.
As my friend who took the picture of Irv and Wanda said at church tonight, "speaking the vows this time meant so much because we "knew" what they meant, having lived together for so long". Indeed it was a special and joyous occasion
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