So You Want to Get Married... Seriously?

A Star Wars boot covered my left leg. Narcotics kept pain at bay. I had started physical therapy and taken my first steps post ankle reconstruction. But the recovery was still underway when my nineteen year old, freshman in college decided he wanted to get married.

Yikes.

Brain fuses blew. My heart stretched wide, beating rapid under fire. After lengthy discussions I told him I needed a few weeks to learn to walk again before offering any blessings toward upcoming nuptials. Part of me hoped he'd waken to reason, but I knew him well enough to face the fact that once something grabs hold of him, there's no shaking it off.

I wrote a story about Sam years ago that still defines our relationship. It was printed in a Focus on the Family magazine but is still available here: Keeping the Bond

Basically, Sam has always pushed me out of my comfort zone. Parenting him required constant leaps from my familiar. I recognized the pattern when he innocently asked me to watch the Star Wars movies with him, which meant facing my deepest childhood fear: Darth Vader. Ask my family. I left before the end of The Empire Strikes Back at age ten and hid in the theater bathroom.

But I watched the movies with Sam. And continued to lean his way the best I knew how time and again. But marriage his sophomore year in College? Are you kidding? He doesn't even keep his bedroom clean.

But a series of articles began to appear. I'll link them in case you have interest. But in time, I couldn't deny that God seemed to keep easing my panic and reminding me His plan for my youngest has always been a little different.

World Magazine: The Great Man Hunt

Today's Christianity Blog

The Atlantic

And the more I watched Sam with Courtney, the more my reservations gave way to blessing. He doesn't need my permission. But I appreciated a few months to process it all. In the end, since we both have mitochondrial disease and he's watched me struggle to  walk for years now, it was really hard to argue with the statement, "Mom, I want to get married young and have kids young because I don't know if I'll be able to walk when I'm forty."

So here's the photos that cinched it for me. While Courtney was in South America on a study abroad trip, Sam ordered a ring and had the stone set so he could propose the moment she got back. And that's what he did:

She was crying before he even got down on one knee... very happy to be home.

Notice the ring!

And the future begins...