Vows Sweetly Spoken

On my birthday (July 2, 1963) my Mom's house was struck during a lightening storm and it burned to the ground. That was a sorrowful time, yet we were all very thankful that nobody was hurt but the family dog, who perished in the fire.

This was about six weeks before our wedding day -- and everything I had stored there for our wedding and for starting our new life was gone.

There was some sadness, but we all still had each other and we were very thankful for God's mercy and grace in keeping everyone safe. Mom insisted that we go on with our wedding plans. And we did!

Our wedding was simple but beautiful --
in my little home Church on the Lake Road

in Monticello, Maine. This little Church was built by my great grandfather "Bill" Nason. The steeple bell (which we rang at our ceremony) was purchased and donated by my great grandfather, David Nason. My cousin Annette played the organ, her husband Charles (Fore) performed the ceremony and my pastor (Philip Giberson) gave a charge on Christian marriage to Gramp and me. Annette's and Charles' daughter Anita was our flower girl. We are so blessed and so thankful that we grew up in Christian homes and were surrounded by  godly influences (family and otherwise).

That wedding was 47 years ago and we love each other more than ever. To us, our ceremony was sacred before God and it was a time to pledge our love before the Lord and the people assembled. It was a time to make lifelong commitments to each other, to God, to the home established on that day and to the family that God would give us by His grace.

Words from music sung by Sally Fye may tell you something about what was important to us then (and now): "Savior, like a shepherd lead us, much we need thy tender care. . . We are thine, thou dost befriend us, be the guardian of our way; keep thy flock, from sin defend us, seek us when we go astray. . . Early let us seek thy favor, early let us do thy will; blessed Lord and only Savior, with thy love our bosoms fill. Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus! Thou hast loved us, love us still. . . "

And from the other song:  "Darling, the day has come that we've been dreaming of,

When at the altar white we'll say our vows of love . . . And, with the promises, we'll add this one, my Dear. Each for the other and both for the Lord. . . Vows sweetly spoken; may they never be broken; Each for the other, and both for the Lord." [In November of that same year (1963) Sally married Wayne's brother, Carlin. They are parents of four children and he had three children from a second marriage. ]

We were so young! 

As I said, I had turned twenty on July 2nd. Grampie Wayne was still 19 (his birthday is on December 5th). But we had finished our schooling, had a job, and knew in our hearts that God was calling us to a life together. I suppose people were concerned because we were young. (I have to be honest and say that I will be a bit nervous if any of you decide to be married at that age.)

But GOD has the final word in those things. So what has been our life from that day: has it always been easy?  No. Was it always moonlight and romance and sweet music? No. Has it always been right? Yes, yes! A thousand times YES! And YOU are part of the reason. Each one of YOU (children and grandchildren) is a very precious treasure.  You might like to know that once someone asked Gramp, "so what are you investing in?" His answer was simple and truthful from the heart: "My children".