My Endless Love ...

Tonight, I Celebrate My Love for You ... There is Love ... Endless Love ...



Dear Austin, Lily Grace, and Lia Faith, twenty-five years ago today, God gave me a most wonderful gift ... a beautiful wife named Connie Jo Broadway, with whom He would have me spend my life. On that day, August 25th, 1984, Connie and I exchanged wedding vows, promising ourselves to each other and to Him, for His glory. For better or worse, for richer or poorer, we agreed to never let anything separate us.



And we exchanged wedding rings after saying our vows to remind us of that commitment. All of our friends and family came to pay witness to our commitment and to wish us well as we left our childhood homes and began a life together. It seemed like a thousand people were there to see us off. At that time, we had no idea what God had planned for us, other than a trip to the beach to celebrate our love for each other. And yet, there we were plowing ahead full steam, without knowing or perhaps even caring what was around the next corner.



It would be a memorable day for many reasons, but from my perspective, two things stood out on the way to getting married that day. First, we needed something for the reception - I don't even remember what it was - and I was assigned to take care of it. Unfortunately, after I had completed the treasure hunt and was leaving the parking lot, I had an accident. It wasn't my fault and it wasn't even a significant fender bender, but the person who hit me insisted we call the police and fill out a report. My old car had a few dings in it anyway and one more bump on the front bumper wouldn't hurt anything. After waiting for what seemed like eternity, the officer from Athens' finest showed up and began completing the report. When I asked him if he could hurry because I was on my way to my wedding, he laughed and told me that he was out buying his wife an anniversary present because it was their anniversary that very day! We shared a laugh and he got us on our way quickly. But my problems weren't over yet ...



Mom had come from North Carolina for the wedding and was staying in my apartment. So I had given her my key to the apartment to come and go as she needed. While I was detained with the accident report, she and everyone else decided to leave for the church ... because it really was getting late. And they didn't know where I was (no cell phones in those days, only morse code). So they assumed I had gone on to the church. They grabbed my tuxedo and locked up and headed to church. Now, in a major hurry, I rushed home, intent on grabbing my tux and getting to church. But I couldn't get in! Locked out! So, I climbed through a bathroom window that I managed to pry open, fully expecting the police to show up any minute because the neighbors observed someone breaking and entering. Alas, once inside I could not find my tux, so I assumed someone had taken it to church for me. Fortunately, that was the case and I finally made it to the church - without much time to spare!



Ah, but we were yet young - just check out the photographs (forgive the scratchiness of the photos, these were made with one of those cameras that the cameraman had to get under a hooded blanket and look through an ancient viewfinder and ...). I can remember this day like it was yesterday. Every detail comes to mind as I think about the events of the day.



I remember my cousin asking if I was ready just before we walked into the church. I remember watching Stephanie drop flowers as she came down the aisle and seeing Connie in the distance. I could see her beautiful brown eyes even from the other end of the church and her smile that seemed to be saying "Here we go!" I remember taking her hand and turning toward Brother Karl Johnson to say our vows and thinking "Here we go!" I remember thinking how everything was so fancy and realizing now that it was really simple. I remember saying "I do" and hearing Connie say the same. I remember standing in front of the unity candle as Bob and Brenda sang Endless Love thinking ... Endless Song! Never had three minutes seemed so long. Connie and I talked while we waited patiently for our singers to complete the last verse, sure everyone would wonder what in the world we were saying.





I remember smiling and even laughing a little at the awkwardness of the situation. But most of all, I remember kissing my new bride and thinking "I am the luckiest man alive!" Of course, looking back at the photographs, I realize I wasn't a man at all. Just a young kid, not even finished with college yet, smiling because he'd just married the most beautiful girl in all of Limestone County, if not the world.



Happy Anniversary, Sweetheart. I love you and I hope I am blessed enough to see another 25 years with you. Looking back at that day, now I realize that God's plan for our lives was opening its first chapter and that He'd have many, many more chapters to write. And I am so thankful that in His plan for you, He made a starring role for me.

Love,
Jerry, Connie, Austin, Lily Grace, and Lia Faith
Green, Party of Five,
Est. August 25, 1984