We Made It!

Clare here-

So it is now April 25- meaning that we have been married for just over 2 weeks, and it has been nothing short of wonderful! I still catch myself thinking sometimes, "Man, when we get married we will have to..." and then I remember! Wait- we are married! It has been a long time coming, and it feels so surreal. The wedding and reception were both fabulous. My goal for the whole day was to be stress free. I did not want to worry about anything, or get upset. I did not want to look back and only remember being angry. I am happy to say that my goal was a success! Not everything went according to plan, but everything worked out. We were surrounded by family and friends on one of the most important days of our lives, and that was our only wish for the day (apart from getting married!) Even though it was unusually warm- even for MS!- we all danced the afternoon away and snacked on BBQ chicken, tiramisu, and sweet tea. Will and I met our out of town friends and family at my sister, Rachael's, house Sunday for brunch, and then headed out after that to NOLA for our cruise! It was so much fun to get an evening to just walk around N'awlins and relax after all of the planning we had been doing. I'll post some pictures soon- but it was definitely a much needed vacation!

Love is a Decision

Will here.

I asked Clare's parents for her hand in marriage at 6:00 pm in a little Greek place called Wraps. I brought a sunflower for Mrs. Gray-Lewis, a stuffed horse for Mr. Gray-Lewis (in reference to a really old laugh we'd shared in Vicksburg), and, naturally, a stomach full of butterflies.

The whole dinner was a blur. I can only recall little bits of what was said and what was eaten (I know I had a tilapia gyro - delicious).

One bit of wisdom that stands prominent in my mind was the advice, "Love is a decision." It starts as a feeling, as a hunch, as a little itch in the back of your mind. But, once it's been explored, once it's grown into something more than a hunch, once it's been put to the test by life's baubles - well, that's when it becomes more than a feeling. It becomes a decision. The decision to love and to love continuously is the biggest one that I have made so far, and it is a hard one to keep in mind at times. There are times when I'll think, Clare, you're really bugging me right now, and I don't really like you right now, but I do love you. I love you because I've decided to love you. It's as simple as that. I can rest easy in the decision because I know it's the right one. I know that after the tension of a moment or the frustration of a tough week has passed, Clare and I will still be together, loving each other just as strongly as before, probably stronger due to the testing of that love.

Love is a decision. I've made my decision to love. When Clare and I make it official here in a few days, then we will both have made that decision permanent. As if it could be any other way.