Jennifer and I met at The Olive Garden back in 2002ish. We were both servers there. Over the years we've always stayed in touch. She was sweet and quiet and down to earth. I'd visit her at her apartment and we took a couple nature walks. We never saw each other every day or talked every day but I have always thought friendship could always pick up where it left off. Friends understand. Long story short; Jennifer was in a relationship with a guy we worked with who later joined the military. She waited patiently for his return so they could build a life together with their daughter. Sadly, It didn't work out. I'd seen Jennifer through a break up, being a single mom, and a nursing student. I was never surprised by Jennifer's perseverance only impressed. Working, taking care of a kid, and going to school while trying to balance a personal life and find love is not easy. I love the self respect she always carried for herself. Now, nobody's perfect. But most women couldn't have done all this without a man. Independence. Such an important thing to experience before marriage and a committed relationship. Because only then can you be with someone because you want to. Not because you have to. So somewhere in her path of finding, losing, and rediscovering herself. She met Courtney. (boy not a girl, I made the same mistake :)
Their union must have been like static electricity because not much later down the road Jennifer was expecting a baby just short of finishing nursing school. Because I know Jennifer I could say, "Congrats, you can do it". Once again, not surprised, she did. She graduated. I hadn't met Courtney yet so like any friend I stalked his Facebook page to get a gander this guy. I could see why Jennifer was falling in love. Through photos I saw what seemed to be a sociable, talented, unique individual that was fun. Jennifer is all these things too but in a different way. So if she loved him. I would love him too. After spending a little time with them at baby showers, birthday parties, etc. I watched them interact. I began to understand. I saw my own relationship. Some people are meant to be.Yes, it's that simple. You just know and there doesn't have to be any bells and whistles to realize it. People have different opinions about destinies and fate but I think we couldn't avoid some people in our lives if we wanted to. I've always believed we're cosmically in tune to those around us in some way swapping energy and vibes. Our aura's are bound to collide or softly brush one another and radiate beautiful colors resulting in love and friendships. Nature's magic if you ask me. Magnetic.
So maybe I've given too much back story for this blog but I don't feel like I can talk about my experience without letting everyone know a little about the couple. One day while on Facebook. I got a message from Jennifer. As I started reading I thought I knew where it was going. I was thinking, "Please don't ask me to be a bridesmaid". Not because I don't love Jennifer and Courtney but because I'm not a girly girl or a bridesmaid type. Put me in charge of anything as long as it doesn't require a dress and lots of make up. Also, we haven't seen each other that much. So I wasn't completely, actively involved in her life at the moment. I was in my usual spot in the back. There if you need me, always supportive type of friend. Thank goodness for life events or I wouldn't get to see many of my friends because life is busy. Then she popped the big question. "Would you be willing to officiate our wedding? You will have to get ordained." Without hesitation I said I would love to. I'd be honored. Then it sank in what she was asking me. I never regretted saying yes. So don't think that. I just felt more heavily how honored and why me. She said she and I had similar spiritual views and she had known me a long time and she didn't want a stranger to officiate such an important moment in her life. She also knew I had expressed an interest in officiating a long time ago. Well, all that sounded good to me. So then the research began.
