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.