Magic and Stardust Now

Young love is a beautiful thing.

On Saturday night, we hosted an engagement party for Savana and Guerin.

When I got engaged, we just told people and people said, "Congratulations!" Or not. But in today's world? We throw engagement parties. It was so much fun and these two got so much support from friends. Good food, lots of laughter, great friends. What could be better? Savana and I have watched videos and looked at pictures and laughed a million times since that night, reminiscing about what a great evening it turned out to be.

I am currently reading a book for my book club entitled The White Masai. It is a fascinating read but I am absolutely dumbstruck at what this young European girl does for the sake of love. She has this great life--owns her own business, has a stable boyfriend and people proclaim them a perfect sort of couple--and they head to Africa on a trip of sorts to see the land when suddenly she sees a Masai warrior. She is awestruck and determines that he should be hers. And so? She leaves everything -- the comforts of a modern home and her stable boyfriend and her comfortable life -- for the rugged plains of Africa where she sleeps on the cold, hard ground and wants for food and learns to adapt to a life that is as far south as her previous life was north. I can't put this book down, but the entire time I'm reading it I am shaking my head. "Whhhaaattt???" I just want to shake her. All for love.

Yesterday Jace came home from school and said, "Hey, Mom. I want to tell you something. When I left school today, a certain girl (I won't share her name) ran up to me and said, 'Hey Jace! Give me a hug goodbye!'" And then, according to Jace, she proceeded to give him a very tight hug. He said, "That was really weird. Is that normal?"

(Oh, how I love how I get to be a part of these stories! But I realize that my time is short...I shall relish them while I can.)

Stories of love are everywhere and most of us are intrigued. Who doesn't love a good love story? But in today's world, love stories often have tragic endings, decimating the hearts of all involved--or at least one of them, usually. But clearly it's a game we're all willing to play as, you know, it's better to have loved and lost than to never have loved at all.

When Roy and I got engaged, I went home from school one weekend and attended church with my mom.  The teacher of my class, LaRee, knew I was engaged and so she brought in this little couple who had been married 50 plus years to talk to the class about what makes a marriage last. That was obviously quite a long time ago so I don't really remember their words of wisdom, but I do remember LaRee saying, "Young love is so romantic and fun. But I think the best stories   come from old love."

At the time, I questioned her reasoning because, of course, when I looked at this couple, I saw wrinkles and white hair and old people. I didn't see what I see today: strength and courage and an unbreakable bond that has weathered the years and loyalty and commitment. We have all heard the stories of people who have been married for their entire lives and when one partner dies, the other passes not long after because life without their partner is simply not worth living.

I am so excited for Savana and Guerin. They are a great couple, compatible, happy, stars in their eyes. They will have a good life--I know it. But give it a few years and they will be like the rest of us old married couples. They will have conquered hurdles, raised children, endured life's stresses, fought when they shouldn't have, lashed out at each other, and acted in ways that, today, they can't imagine possible. But oh it's possible, and it happens. To the best of us.

But they will also experience a deepening love that quietly grows year by year. Give it some time and the stars in their eyes may dim. That certain glow that comes with the hopes and dreams of a young couple in love will very likely be replaced with the weathered solidarity that comes with knowing your partner like the back of your hand. Their marriage will become a partnership--a machine that works in silence.

Magic and stardust now...

And then?

Security and redemption and commitment and wrinkles from the laughter and a life filled up with the beauty and wonder and heartache of living side by side with the one you love.