Fellowship Baptist Church
Saturday, April 17, 2010
11:00am
Russell and Hannah sittin' in a tree, K-I-S-S-I-N-G
First comes love, then comes marriage
Then comes a baby...
Well, it didn't go in that order...and we're not quite that far yet, but these are the "thank-you" post cards we handed out at our reception.
The marked boutineers.
The Bible was open to "our" verse...
I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.
~ Psalms 27:13-14
Russell's grandma made these pew markers. She spent a lot of time and did a beautiful job!
Rob, our usher, lighting the cherry-scented candles.
Russell's grandma being led down the aisle.
The mother of the bride and mother of the groom lighting their child's candle
--a symbol of the life they gave birth to.
Waiting......
There was a slight misunderstanding and groomsmen entered the auditorium just in time to escort the bridesmaids up to the podium. That is why they look slightly stressed out and are in action in this picture.
Josiah escorting Holly...
Paige... (Aaron escorted Paige.)
Lydia, the maid of honor...
And Russell is eagerly waiting for a girl in a white gown to walk down the aisle...
Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoiceth as a strong man to run a race.
~ Psalms 19:5
"In the lobby, each girl entered the door into the auditorium and I was last. Bro. Brian, who was one of our ushers, smiled at me and said I looked beautiful. That helped me calm down. I needed to hear that at that moment. Then the doors opened and I was walking down the aisle on Dad's arm. It was like my body was going through all the motions, but I couldn't believe it was really happening. My mind was telling me, 'You're a bride walking down the aisle to meet the man you love. This feels so natural, but it will only happen once in your life so enjoy it.' I think that idea of enjoying it is what helped me think so clearly and not be nervous. Bro. Rob called, 'Amen, Bro. Jake' as we passed him down the aisle. I think I smiled, because it was so Bro. Rob to say that…like he was encouraging and complimenting Dad for keeping me pure so I could walk down the aisle in a white dress."
"I caught a glimpse of Russell in between people's heads. My eyes were begging for just one look. Then I saw him! I saw him! He looked dashingly, breathtakingly handsome. His face was shining. I never saw him looking so handsome."
My handsome groom!
"I vaguely remember Bro. Buddy asking, 'Who gives this woman to this man?' Dad answered, 'Her mother and I.' Then Dad was letting go and Russell was protectively reaching for me. I wondered what it must be like to tuck my hand in his arm. Then I was allowed to, and it was wonderful!"
I love this picture, just for Russell's mom's facial expression. She looks so happy for us both.
"I forgot about placing my flowers on the communion table. Thankfully Russell gently guided me to it and I placed them on the table. Then he led me up the steps. I was wondering if my sneakers were showing."
For as a young man marrieth a virgin, so shall thy sons marry thee:
and as the bridegroom rejoiceth over the bride, so shall thy God rejoice over thee.
~ Isaiah 62:5
I thought I would be nervous standing up there in front of so many people, but I wasn't at all! As soon as I saw Russell's face everything and everyone else faded from my memory. It was just him and me standing up there, captured in a bubble of bliss where time had no place nor effect. All I felt was the purest wellspring of joy bubbling up inside me...and there was an overwhelming sense of peace that I couldn't describe. I heard later on after the ceremony that Papa said there have been a few instances in his life when he felt God so close to him, and our wedding ceremony was one of those times. That was it---God felt close enough to reach out and touch. He gave me the best day of my life!
My ladies looking lovely as ever!
Clay wrote a song for our wedding called "Worth the Wait." It was unbelievable!
"Russell whispered to me, 'Surprise number one' as Bro. Buddy handed him a microphone and took one himself. Only Clay was supposed to sing the song, but Russell's surprise for me was him and his dad singing along."
I loved it!
"Then Russell really threw me for a loop when he sang the last chorus by himself..."
It's been worth the wait, to wait upon the Lord.
And not to faint while trusting in His Word.
His plan was sure, it has endured,
His promised never failed.
Delighting ourselves in the Lord
Was surely worth the wait.
It sure has been…it sure will be…worth the wait.
"He was very choked up as he sang, which got me choked up.
He was singing to me on our wedding day! I was so shocked and overwhelmed."
It was precious! And then Bro. Buddy prayed. I think we were all thankful for the time to collect our emotions.
Bro. Buddy preached for about 15 minutes,
and Russell kept looking at my hand like he just couldn't wait to hold it in his.
Family looking on...
The first time our hands touched...Wow!
We were enjoying it...just a little!
Exchanging of the rings & vows before God...
"I, Russell, take thee, Hannah, to be my wedded wife..."
"I easily slipped his ring on as I pledged my love and life to him until my dying day. Just as when I walked down the aisle, it was a moment where I knew what was happening, though everything was a little hazy, and my brain was telling me to treasure every second because it only happens once."
"Russell and I were totally enthralled as we held each other's hands and caressed them as we gazed down at both of them entwined and our rings gleaming in the spot light. If holding hands was the extent of the physical contact we both would have been exhilaratingly fulfilled and satisfied."
Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled:
but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.
~ Hebrews 13:4
He is the half part of a blessed man
Left to be finished by such as she:
And she a fair divided excellence
Whose fulness of perfection lies in him.
~ William Shakespeare
Now join hands, and with your hands your hearts.
~William Shakespeare
and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.
~ Ephesians 5:31
Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
~ Psalms 119:105
A very somber Aaron...
My beloved is mine, and I am his.
~ Song of Solomon 2:16
We both looked down at our parents, sitting in the front row, and smiled...
And found them smiling back!
I found him whom my soul loveth!
"We sang 'I will be true' to each other. It was fun; I couldn't stop smiling at Russell. He looked so incredibly handsome."
I promise you I will be true.
Faithful in all things, loyal to you.
Walking beside you, sharing your heavy load,
Lifting you higher and helping you grow.
I promise you I will be true.
A promise. That is what a wedding day is all about...a promise for a lifetime to love and cherish each other for better and for worse, for richer and for poorer, in sickness and in health for as long as we both shall live. A promise...made before God, never to be broken.
"Before saying Russell could kiss the bride, Bro. Buddy joked about how everyone has been teasing us lately about our first kiss. Somebody asked Russell what he would do if the Rapture happened just before we kissed. I laughed out loud when he said he would kiss me all the way to Glory. When Bro. Buddy mentioned those incidents, everyone in the crowd laughed, and Russell and I turned once again to look at the crowd."
"I now pronounce you husband and wife..."
"You may kiss the bride!"
Out in the crowd, Bro. Rob shouted his praises of joy to God for all to hear. Bro. Rob has watched Russell grow up and waited for his day. Everyone expected him to "have a fit," as they say here in the South. That is just Bro. Rob, and you've got to love him for it!
~ Song of Solomon 7:10
His mouth is most sweet: yea, he is altogether lovely.
This is my beloved, and this is my friend, O daughters of Jerusalem.
~ Song of Solomon 5:16
"Then he wrapped me up in a hug afterwards, and that is what I absolutely loved!
I squeezed back and the audience of our family and friends clapped."
"Mr. & Mrs. Russell Maynard!"
My beloved spake, and said unto me, Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away.
~ Song of Solomon 2:10
...For this cause shall a man leave father and mother,
and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh...
Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh.
What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.
~ Matthew 19:5-6
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