Two Weeks Ago Today...

the WillowTree figuring Betsy gave me for my birthday just before I flew back to Zambia in 2013

...I stood as a witness while

my little sister married her Love.

Unfortunately, I was so busy playing maid-of-honor that I hardly have any photos from the big day.

I did manage to snap this picture of Betsy with all our brothers:

four handsome fellows and one beautiful bride

And this shot of the bride with one of the flower girls:

(wish I could turn it to black&white because of the toys in the background...)

A borrowed shot from someone else's camera:

our whole family!

[for more pictures, visit Amy's blog here]

As the maid-of-honor I was responsible for a brief speech at the reception. 

Here's the prayer I prayed at the end of my speech:

Father, we’re so blessed to be your children.

Thank you for Josh and Betsy—their dedication to you and to each other. Please bless Josh and Betsy as they grow in generosity, partnership, and faith.

May Josh and Betsy continue to found their life on your truth. I ask that you would fill their lives with relationships, circumstances, and events that bring you glory. May they be imitators of you, Lord, and may they know your pleasure.

I pray that out of your glorious riches you would strengthen Josh and Betsy with power through your Spirit in their inner being, so that You may dwell in their hearts through faith. And, I pray that Josh and Betsy, being rooted and established in love, may have power to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that they may be filled to the measure of all Your fullness.

Amen.