Monday, October 5, 2009

Their Wedding Is Our Blessing Too

The following photos and story were forwarded to me in an email. I really thought you would want to read this too, so here it is with a few of my comments....It's not a million dollar celebrity wedding ~ but it might be worth that much just to see this precious example of:
  • Pure Love;
  • Tender Devotion and
  • Earnest Hope.





Her name is Katie Kirkpatrick, 21 years old. Next to her is her fiance, Nick, who is 23. This picture was taken prior to their wedding on January 11, 2005. Katie has terminal cancer and spends hours in chemotherapy. Here Nick waits with her while she finishes one of her sessions of chemo.



Even in pain and dealing with her organs shutting down, with the help of morphine, Katie took care of every single part of the wedding planning. Her wedding dress had to be altered several times due to Katie's constant weight loss.



Here Katie is looking lovely in her dress. Nick's parents are giving them the thumbs up. They are very emotional with the wedding and of course, seeing their son marrying the girl he fell in love with when he was an adolescent. An expected guest was her oxygen tank. Katie had to use it during the ceremony and reception.





Katie, in her wheelchair, having so much fun as her husband, Nick, and friends enthusiastically sing to her.







In the middle of the reception, Katie had to rest for while and catch her breath. The pain does not allow her to stand for a long period of time.









The contented, happy, tired and loving couple. They thought it was worth it all. Nick's wife, Katie, died five days after her wedding. ...I know - I'll give you a minute.


Don't you think, though, that they felt so blessed and fulfilled? And so grateful for what they had. I'll bet they would still think it was worth it all.


To see a fragile woman dress as a bride with a beautiful smile makes you think....maybe happiness is always there within reach, no matter how long it lasts. Let's commit to enjoying life and not work so hard at making it complicated. Life is so short - let's try to focus on the goodness of it.


There is beauty in this life if we just look for it. I know that I certainly need to be more aware of it myself. So I'm noticing more, trying to create it more and appreciate the blessing of beauty.


Cynthia K.


21 comments:

  1. Thank you for sharing this beautiful and inspiring story. How precious that they had their special day. And thank you for reminding us that each and every day is indeed a blessing!
    Debra

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  2. Thank you for the visit and comment, sugar. I do so appreciate each and every one of them.

    This story is amazing - full of such love and tenderness. It speaks volumes to the commitment most of us make in the institution of marriage with God as our leader.

    xoxo,
    Connie

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  3. I received this same email and it so touched my heart. Amazing what love can do.
    Blessings~

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  4. What a beautiful and touching story! It brought tears to my eyes. They loved each other so much. It was so wonderful that they were able to have such a beautiful and special day. I wanted to let you know that Dusty is home and is somewhat better. I guess it'll just take time for him to heal completely. Thanks for your sweet comment.

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  5. Oh my gosh, my eyes are full of tears. So moving....and so beautiful.

    Thank you so much for sharing this....

    Simone

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  6. This is love in it's purest form. I'm so gald that you stopped by and left your footprint so I could follow you back here to read this beautiful story.
    You will love this world of blogging. I'm so glad you made it happen.
    Hugs,
    June

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  7. Wow, this really puts things in perspective, now doesn't it? What a lovely girl, how is the bride doing now? Will keep her in prayer.
    Thanks so much for visiting me, hope you'll come back often.
    All the best,
    Anne

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  8. What a beautiful and inspiring story! We have to realize that every day is a gift with those we love.

    Thanks for sharing this...

    Lou Cinda :)

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  9. This is such a beautiful story. I worked for several years on a pediatric oncology unit and my life has been deeply touched by the many children (and their families) battling cancer. Your story made me look up a favorite quote I have kept for many years. Erma Bombeck (yes, the funny lady) wrote a book about children with cancer and this from that book....``They reminded me of candles in the wind who accept the possibility that at best they are in danger of being extinguished by a gust of wind from nowhere and yet, as they flicker and dance to remain alive, their brilliance challenges the darkness and dazzles those of us who watch their light``.
    Thank you for sharing this beautiful story.
    And thank you for the very sweet comments you have left on my blog.
    xojanis
    ps I hope you don`t mind, but I am going to add your link to my make it pink post.

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  10. This is a story of pure love. Love without limits and without regret.

    Inspiring through the tears, sweet Cynthia K. Thank you for sharing with us all. Maybe it will help JOLT us all back to reality and to the gratefulness and thankfulness for the things we've been blessed with.

    I pray it so for all of us.

    Thanks for visiting and directing me to your new blog.

    Love, Rebecca

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  11. Cynthia,
    I don't really know what to say. This was such a beautiful post and a reminder of how beautiful life is. You said it all so perfectly. Thank you for sharing Katie and Nick's story. Blessings to you. Vicki

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  12. Hi Cynthia,
    Ohhmy gosh,
    This was the most heart wrenching, yet happy?~ story.. My eyes are soo blurred with tears..This makes my sad day, seem soo not important !! How wonderful that he helped her to fulfill her dreams til the end.. Incredible.. I thank you soo much for visiting me, and leaving such sweet comments.. I LoVe meeting new friends, and I welcome your visits anytime.. LoVe your sweet blog..Happy Sunday to you my friend ~
    hugs ~tea~xo

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  13. Wow...what a beautiful and touching story!!!

    Thanks so much for stopping by my blog and entering my giveway...I love making new friends!!!

    I wish you the best of luck with the drawing!!!

    Enjoy!!!
    XOXO
    Cathy

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  14. Pure beauty...this is LOVE, pure, true love. They are beautiful. How my heart aches for him, in missing her.

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  15. What pure love....We don't hear many stories like this lovely sweet one. Thanks for sharing...

    Blessings,
    Spencer

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  16. Hi, it's me again,
    thank you for this wonderful post. you have taught me a great lesson today and this is what I truly needed to learn TODAY and not TOMORROW. Having lost my parents and younger sister to cancer when she only 20 and thus having gone thru lots of hardship for nearly 25 years has made me a person prone to distress and dispair which make me loose the joys tht crossmy path thru life and make my life much more complicated than it really is.
    TY so much for joining my blog othewise I would have probably missed this great truth.
    Love
    rita

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  17. Hi Cynthia!! Thanks for stopping by my blog! I am going to pass your blog along to my mom, I think she would love your victorian pictures you post and your faith in God. This was such a touching story. Thanks for sharing it, because I had not received that email. Thank you for becoming a follower!!! You have a lovely blog started and I will surely come back and visit!!

    Emily

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  18. This post was so beautiful, thank you for sharing it, it made me cry, but they were tears of happiness because it reminded me of soo much that we all have so much love to be thankful for..even when we think life is just too much to deal with. Thank you, besos, Rose

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  19. Hi Cynthia! Thank you for stopping by Sassafras and leaving such a sweet comment! It is nice to connect with you! This is truly a very touching story. It warmed my heart.....and made me cry!

    Take care,

    Polly

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  20. Hi !
    I say thank you for this beautiful story to you
    this provides strength to everybody and we reinterpret what is the important one in the life, reinterpret the
    things. I say thank you for it to you once more
    judit from Hungary

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  21. Hi !
    I say thank you for this beautiful story to you
    this provides strength to everybody and we reinterpret what is the important one in the life, reinterpret the
    things. I say thank you for it to you once more
    judit from Hungary

    ReplyDelete