I Love You Because

Today my little brother married his soul mate :)

They planned a beautiful beach-side ceremony at a magnificent Ocean resort in Florida. Sadly, storms rolled in and it rained all afternoon and most of the evening. But they still managed to hold the ceremony outside during a 15-minute break in the downpour. The bride's oldest son officiated the wedding, while her younger son walked her down the aisle. The groom's daughter stood at the bride's side and held her flowers, while the groom's sons stood by him and presented the wedding bands. It was a very special and beautiful way to include each of their five children.

The rain resumed as they exchanged vows so they were forced to rush indoors for the reception. Most of the photos aren't very good, taken under the dark clouds - but they say rain on your wedding day brings luck to your marriage. I hope that's true, because these two wonderful people deserve all the happiness in the world.

Here is one of the readings from their ceremony, that so exquisitely describes their bond.

I LOVE YOU

I love you,
Not only for what you are,
But for what I am when I am with you.

I love you,
Not only for what You have made of yourself,
But for what you are making of me.

I love you,
For the part of me that you bring out;

I love you,
For putting your hand into my heart
And passing over all the foolish, weak things
That you can't help dimly seeing there,
And for drawing out into the light
All the beautiful belongings that no one else had looked
Quite far enough to find.

I love you,
because you are helping me to make
Of the lumber of my life not a tavern, but a temple;
Out of the works of my every day
Not a reproach, but a song.

I love you,
Because you have done more than any creed
Could have done to make me good.
And more than any fate could have done
To make me happy.

You have done it without a touch,
Without a word, without a sign.
You have done it by being yourself,
Perhaps that is what being a friend means,
After All.