Enjoying some quiet time in the Birmingham Temple Garden together as husband and wife.
The newly minted Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Merrill smooching while holding a banner reading "Mr & Mrs".
Time flies.
I always thought that folksy statement was just a nice way of saying how old people felt about the years that had passed compared to those that lay ahead.
Now I think I understand a little bit better about the sentiment that accompanies the statement.
Off on their adventure as husband and wife, sealed for eternity and the opportunity to make it happen, Thomas and Tianna have time ahead... and it will fly by just like it does for everyone.
One moment, you are cuddling that soft, warm, fresh from God's arms little infant and the next moment seems like it has come all too fast and they leave your motherly embrace for one of a different significance entirely. And it is WONDERFUL!
Tianna is a wonderful young lady filled with dreams, ambitions, hopes and lots of love for the man of her choosing, who just happens to be that little boy of yesterday. Little no longer, I don't think many could mistake his 6'4" frame for that of an infant. But in some ways, they are, both of them, infants in the world of being married.
They will grow together through all the joy and wonder that lies ahead. They will cling to each other when things don't go as planned and they will sail their own ship of state through the uncertain seas of life that will be both friendly and dangerous to them.
But for right now, they are new at all of this.
So my job is to keep my mouth shut - unless they ask for advice.
Stay out of their decisions - unless they solicit my help.
Work on building a new kind of relationship with the two who have now become one.
It's exciting!
I hope and pray as the years progress that they will deepen their love for the Lord, for each other and for the gospel that will always guide them through whatever may come their way. That's the only guarantee that what they feel right now at this moment will always be the spark that leads to so much more than they understand and know at this time.
The happy couple danced their first dance as one to a Brad Paisley song. I cried the whole time because the significance of the words can echo forever for their love as it grows and blossoms into something that spans all time and into eternity.
THEN
I remember, trying not to stare the night that I first met you
You had me mesmerized
And three weeks later, in the front porch light
Taking forty-five minutes to kiss goodnight
I hadn't told you yet
But I thought I loved you then
And now you're my whole life
Now you're my whole world
I just can't believe the way I feel about you, girl
Like a river meets the sea,
Stronger than it's ever been.
We've come so far since that day
And I thought I loved you then
And I remember, taking you back to right where I first met you,
You were so surprised
There were people around, but I didn't care
Got down on one knee right there once again,
I thought I loved you then
And now you're my whole life
Now you're my whole world
I just can't believe the way I feel about you, girl
Like a river meets the sea,
Stronger than it's ever been.
We've come so far since that day
And I thought I loved you then
I could just see you, with a baby on the way
And I could just see you, when your hair is turning gray
What I can't see is how I'm ever gonna love you more
But I've said that before
And now you're my whole life
Now you're my whole world
I just can't believe the way I feel about you, girl
We'll look back someday, at this moment that we're in
And I'll look at you and say
And I thought I loved you then
And I thought I loved you then
You had me mesmerized
And three weeks later, in the front porch light
Taking forty-five minutes to kiss goodnight
I hadn't told you yet
But I thought I loved you then
And now you're my whole life
Now you're my whole world
I just can't believe the way I feel about you, girl
Like a river meets the sea,
Stronger than it's ever been.
We've come so far since that day
And I thought I loved you then
And I remember, taking you back to right where I first met you,
You were so surprised
There were people around, but I didn't care
Got down on one knee right there once again,
I thought I loved you then
And now you're my whole life
Now you're my whole world
I just can't believe the way I feel about you, girl
Like a river meets the sea,
Stronger than it's ever been.
We've come so far since that day
And I thought I loved you then
I could just see you, with a baby on the way
And I could just see you, when your hair is turning gray
What I can't see is how I'm ever gonna love you more
But I've said that before
And now you're my whole life
Now you're my whole world
I just can't believe the way I feel about you, girl
We'll look back someday, at this moment that we're in
And I'll look at you and say
And I thought I loved you then
And I thought I loved you then
I love you Thomas & Tianna! God bless you as you share your lives, your dreams, your hopes & every moment of your being with one another. An eternal marriage truly is the most wonderful blessing in life!
