P.I.N.K.

 God in His graciousness has given me many wonderful friends.

Not long after we moved to Colorado, one of the treasures He brought me, was my sweet friend Carie.

I've mentioned her before lots of times.  When the fire happened, I don't know how I would have made it through the aftermath without her.  Always faithful.  

She's one of the most funnest people I know, not to mention one of the most caring, thoughtful and giving women I have ever met.

She gives unselfishly over and over and over and over.

Well a few years back life got pretty ugly for my sweet friend.

I will never forget a cold winter day driving with her and sitting for hours in a cold desolate parking lot, wiping her tears and praying with her.  Sometimes husbands can make the most horrible choices.

So began a journey of pain, heartache and grief.

Somewhere in there I said to my sweet friend,

"Someday God will bring you a Godly man 

and I will wear PINK in your wedding."  

It became a source of hope.

And when I knew that things were especially painful, 

I would text her one word:

P.I.N.K.

or I'd put it on her Facebook wall:

P.I.N.K.

She would laugh her head off and say, "You're awful!"

One day there was a wonderful man {who also attends our church} whose life took a very ugly unexpected turn.  And while he was going through his divorce, Dw and I thought, 

"Hmmmm....what if??"  

And my sweet friend Carie, had no idea what

 had been going on in this man's life.

One day the timing was finally right....

Carie and Clayton started dating.

The joy in both of their lives has been contagious!  Their kids had become great friends long before they had even started dating.

And time passed and one day Carie came screaming into our home - 

"He proposed!  He proposed! He proposed!"  

We jumped {literally} all around, hugging 

and hugging and crying and crying!!

That day she asked me to be her matron of honor.

I was tickled beyond words.  What a joyous honor!

{But doggone it, pink is not the color on the racks this year.  

At.All.

At least I was able to carry a little P.I.N.K. bouquet. 

And Dw did wear his pink shirt to do the wedding.}  

This past Saturday Clayton and Carie were married on our front porch with family and the closest of friends watching.

Faithful God.

God of Hope.

Healer.

{Even healer of broken dreams.}

Restorer.

Provider.

Behold, He makes all things NEW.

"Weeping may last through the night, 

but joy comes with the morning."

Psalms 30:5

***

Carie and Clayton

forever