Last Thursday Brett and I met with Dr. Michael Gardner, the Senior Pastor at our church (Old Mission United Methodist).  We had our first meeting with him about the wedding.  We didn’t know what to expect since neither one of has been through this before and since Dr. Mike is new at the church, nobody really had any advice about it.

When we arrived at the church, he was waiting for us and greeted us just as warmly as he does after each service.  We all walked back to his office and we sat there and talked with each other like we were all old friends.  We found out that Brett and Dr. Mike have met before and the Dr. Mike actually was the pastor at the church Brett attended as a kid – funny how things seem to come full circle.  Mike did Brett’s confirmation, it seems fitting that he’s the one doing our wedding.

I feel like Dr. Mike is just as excited as we are about the crazy adventure we’re taking this year.  The initial meeting went incredibly well, and we are excited for several things:

1. We are excited to be part of the Old Mission family.  It is a wonderful church with an amazing congregation and I’m so glad we became members.

2. We are excited to start not only our personal lives with one another but spiritual lives as well.  I feel so blessed to have a partner who takes his faith seriously, but doesn’t hold it over me or try to convince me that the way or what I believe is less important than what he believes.  We are spiritual equals.

3. We are excited that we get to have our wedding at Old Mission.  It is truly one of the most beautiful churches – and I can’t wait to take the most important vows of my life there.

So, that’s how the meeting with Dr. Mike went, and that’s where I am with the process.  We will have to meet with him a couple more times before the wedding, and we’ll have to meet with the wedding coordinator sometime next year closer to the wedding.  I am giddy with excitement!

As always, thank you for sharing in the excitement of the next year!