Ring Bearer News

I can't say much other than I am one proud Dada. I just could not have scripted my son doing any better than he did at tonight's wedding. He did even better than I witnessed! As to what I witnessed: when it was time for him to walk the aisle, he came down the aisle holding the ring pillow behind his back. (What do you expect? He's a three year old!) Then he turned to the right where he saw Christy and I and came on over to us. If that had been it, and he had done nothing else tonight, I know I would have still been happy. But Christy and I asked him if he would go back and take his place beside the groom, Shawn. He said no initially, then Christy asked if he wanted to watch Christa, the bride, come down the aisle. To this, he answered "Yes!" and we told him to go to Shawn and stand in front of him, which he immediately did. He stayed in that general vicinity through the presentation of the bride, the opening prayer, and the walking up the steps. After a short while, he made his way down the steps and back over to Christy and I. At that point, we asked him if he wanted to go to the nursery to play. He decided that he wanted to, but he wanted to go with Mimi (Grandmother Holliman). He and Mimi made their way out of the sanctuary without making any noise, and Christy and I finally exhaled.

In some ways, I was completely shocked. For him to act so well, and be as quiet as he way. Just shocked.

Afterward, I found out that he had done better than I had witnessed. It turns out that he had accidentally left toward the stage before his time - before the bridesmaids. He was told by the wedding director that he needed to come back and wait, that it wasn't his time yet, and he turned around and came back to the church foyer to wait his turn. Without making a peep! I'm wondering if someone had candy in the foyer...

As for the time when he was standing quietly during the introduction and presentation of the bride, I found out that Shawn *was* giving him candy. Well, that's one way to keep a little one from making noise. :) Still, I don't think Christian could have really done any better. Both Christy and I are quite proud of that little fella!

As for the wedding? To be honest, it felt shorter than I thought it was going to be. It actually felt like an appropriate length wedding - not too long, not too short. (I'm sure that my Dad would argue that there is no such thing as a too short wedding....) That could have been because for the first part of the wedding, I was intently focused on my son. But as his role was over early, maybe not. It was a nice wedding and it performed the main function that weddings are supposed to perform - the marrying of a couple. Congratulations to Mr. and Mrs. Shawn Murray, and thank you for letting my son take part in your ceremony.

The photographers took a ton of pictures, and I hope, a good number of Christian. If Christy and I can purchase them, I'll eventually get around to scanning them and maybe post one or two here.


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I do need to make a confession of sorts. One that didn't hit me until halfway through tonight. I was talking to Dean, the pastor, before the ceremony and I asked him about weddings that he had performed. I recall that he said that this was his 12th or 13th. What I should confess is that I then asked about the non-weddings - the weddings that he was asked to perform, but didn't. Why do we humans - why did I - focus only on the disasters of life? Why is it that no one ever wants to be part of the train wreck, yet none can take their eyes off of one? Dean, if you're reading this: I'm sorry. Especially at a time that is meant for celebration, I injected some thoughts of disaster. I shouldn't have. I should have asked about the celebrations, the weddings where two individuals became one - successfully. I pray that the wedding of tonight becomes one of those success stories, and is asked about in years to come.