This weekend my sweet little sister got married.  My parents put an amazing amount of work to make everything perfect for her, and it really was.  So many friends and family traveled from all over to celebrate the special day with us.  It really was a blessing to everyone.

I was the maid of honor and had 3 of my kids in the wedding, as well as my husband, so I didn’t get many pictures.  Here are a few I took, or stole from friends on Facebook.  Most of these were taken on phones, so please forgive the quality.  Below the pictures is my toast to my sister and her new husband.   We are so excited to have Harrison as a part of the family now!  (Sorry, bud.  By entrance into the family, you are granting permision to be featured on the blog.  Just kidding – kind of.)

They did it!

First dance as husband and wife

Sweet Daddy & Ash dancing

Such a beautiful bride!

My beautiful mom who pulled off the whole shindig.

Good evening!  My name is Jessica, and I am Ashlee’s big sister.  I’ve had the pleasure of being one of the people who has known her the longest. 

Honestly though, when I think of Ashlee, I just can’t help but smile.  (I’m pretty sure Harrison feels the same way, from what I can tell).  For those of you who don’t know her that well, let me enlighten you.  Ashlee is one of the sweetest, most compassionate and most grace-filled people you will probably ever meet.  Her heart for the Lord and for the least of these is both encouraging and challenging to everyone around her.  She has made so many sacrifices to follow the Lord wherever He chose to take her.    Whether it was to YWAM training school in Hawaii, a small border town in Thailand or even down to Austin.  Now, that’sserious commitment.  J

Ashlee is also superfunny and is always up for a good time.  She and I have spent many an hour giggling and cracking ourselves up.   I will say that you do have to be careful in serious circumstances, however.  Usually when one of us starts laughing, the other one will join in, but she has a little quirk in her sense of humor that I still haven’t  figured out.  Ashlee is known for busting out laughing at really inappropriate times.  Primarily when someone gets hurt.  She will apologize over and over again for laughing, but she won’t stop laughing.  So, don’t take it personally though.  She does it with everyone – even my children.  Honestly, it’s this quirk that left me a little bit puzzled when she decided to go through EMT training.  I just didn’t see how she was going to keep a straight face when she showed up at an accident scene.  But, when Ashlee decides to do something, she’s going to do it.

Ashlee is my best friend, and our hearts are forever woven together.  Biblically I don’t really know how that works, since now we both have husbands and technically our hearts are one with there’s.  I’m thinking there has to be a sister clause somewhere.  Anyway, no matter the drama, the craziness, the tears or the laughter, Ashlee has stuck by side, and we have trudged through it together.  I’m quite certain the Lord, in His sweet loving kindness, blessed me with such an amazing sister to give me a steady hand to hold through all of the tough times.  Harrison, now she will be linking arms with you for life’s ups and downs, and I can tell you she is one amazing partner.  I’ve given her a trial run, so I can say that in all certainty. 

Harrison and Ashlee, I can see so many ways in which the Lord has shaped you two to fit together so well.  Where she has weaknesses, Harrison you have strengths, and visa-versa.  We always figured (and prayed) that the Lord had a man out there for Ashlee who would keep up with the car keys, balance the checkbook and regulate her gas station gum purchases.  From what I hear, some of those things have already come up.

Ashlee, you bring a tender and sincere heart, an amazing optimism, a free spirit and a ton of fun.  You and Harrison complement each other so well.  Just know that while the puzzle pieces seem to fit together perfectly from a far, you will find that once you get up close, most of the edges are jagged rather than round.  The Lord will use each of you to rub off the rough edges of the other to make you each more like Christ.   Sometimes that will feel like a gentle stroke, and sometimes it will feel like a wheel grinder.  In those difficult times you just have to remember that the end-all of marriage is not to make you happy or to fulfill all of your dreams, though I know Harrison does those things, but rather to be an example to the world of Christ’s enduring and sacrificial love for His children.  As long as He is at the center of your individual lives, and your marriage, you will be able to withstand anything that life has for you.  So, here’s to Ashlee and Harrison – May the Lord begin to meld your hearts into one and draw you each closer to Himself.  Cheers!