In it for the Long Hull aka Long Haul

While Ryan and Shawntel have been away a few days, I’ve stayed here with their boys. I loved big brother, Bear, his girlfriend, Hannah, and oldest brother, Braden, and his wife, Ruth, hanging out with us. My heart has been filled with love. Four boys in this Wuerch family here in Austin – so I must tell you about the joy and fun it was to have some “girl” time, talking girl “talk”. It was easy to talk that talk because of the family wedding this weekend.

Ruth, my grandson Braden’s wife, my “granddaughter”, is a triplet. The last of the triplets married her dream man on Friday here in Austin. Of all the places in the world where these two sisters would end up is here in Austin. The wedding had been planned for a later date, but they couldn’t wait any longer. They married in a sweet and intimate outdoor setting (the groom’s parent’s home) here in Austin. Pictured here is Rebeca, her new husband, Ben, and that’s my Ruth, the Matron of Honor, behind her. Photo with Braden, Ruth, Rebeca & Ben includes the third triplet, Ruben, who is a Navy Officer, with his wife. Covid kept them from traveling.

We three girls oohed and aahed at the tender and precious moments as Ruth played the wedding video for us. Both bride and groom had written their own vows, so beautifully said through tears and laughter. My heart was touched seeing this strong man, cry his way through almost the whole wedding. He was marrying the love of his life. The three of us teared up when Rebeca, while saying her vows said “I must stop a moment so I can make a vow to someone else”. Rebeca walked over to Ben’s younger sister and vowed to love her, protect her, and care for her all the days of her life. That’s when the tears flowed from everyone at the wedding and we three girls who were enamored by the beauty of that special moment.

I always love hearing the words from I Corinthians 13 that most often are heard at weddings. The minister started with these words: “Love is patient. Love is kind. Love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way. It is not irritable or resentful. It does not rejoice in wrongdoing. But rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends.” As soon as the minister started speaking those words, it started to rain and, so the next words were: “I’ve been told on many occasions that rain is a sign that the marriage will be long and enduring. I think we’re looking at a couple who are going to celebrate 75 or 80 years of marriage.” That is when a pause came to reconvene under the patio. Moments they’ll never forget for those 75 or 80 years to come.

Now, with great expectations, Ben and Rebeca have begun their lives together. I’m so faith-filled that I believe their vows before God of loving, caring, sharing, and helping-each-other-reach-their-full-potential marriage will be blessed by God. A beautiful rite-of-passage that once were two hearts, are now one. As I type this blog, I pray those words for my readers today – to remember 1 Corinthians 13, with those love words, and to do a self-analysis. “Is our love still defined by the words of St. Paul? If not – then why not begin again to remember and put those words first place for the long haul? Ben’s last name is Hull – so that was the theme of the wedding “In it for the long Hull”. I pray the long Hull and long HAUL for them and you, too!