There once was a little girl,
one who twirled on carpets of green
and laughed when the sun danced across her freckled nose.
She
was loved.
***
She grew up.
The chestnut hair that once trailed behind her in the wind was shortened
and her eyes bore wisdom beyond her years.
She knew pain, she knew joy.
She wondered if she was loved by some.
She wondered if she was worthy.
***
Her life began as she crossed the threshold from her girlhood years.
A gold band on her finger, a baby in her arms,
she thought she was safe.
She thought she was loved.
***
Years.
So many years.
The decades rolled and the children grew and the band remained on the slender finger.
She told herself
this was love.
***
One day
suddenly
he ripped it away.
The band.
He tore his own off his finger and threw it in her face.
He told her
she was not loved
she was nothing.
Her eyes turned grey.
She knew this was not love.
***
She sat on a bare floor
cold
alone
frightened.
She felt the arms of a Heavenly Father wrap around her weary shoulders
He whispered in her ear
that He loved her.
That she was worthy.
That He was preparing a gift for her, to remind her of His love.
***
One day, she glanced over her shoulder
and saw the gift.
He had russet hair,
a beard
and filled the air with an easy, hearty laugh.
***
The first time they’d seen each other was as hazy as the horizon.
It was so long ago.
But the gift ribbon remained unseen.
Until now.
***
He took her hand,
gently,
tenderly.
A gentleman,
this one, this gift.
She let her fingers rest on his.
He told her she was beautiful,
she was worthy,
she was cherished,
she was his gift.
***
He twirls her around in a rainbow colored world
and they laugh when the sun dances across the bridge of her nose.
She knows
she is loved.
***
For five years I’ve tapped at a keyboard in this online space. You, my friends, have stood beside my family as we’ve ridden this roller coaster ride called life.
You’ve known us, you’ve loved us.
Two years ago, you held us up with your words and your prayers when my father left my family in a scandalous affair. You’ve walked with us through the emotional and spiritual journey brought on by this quivering of foundations. Our hearts have bled and wounds have begun to heal.
You’ve walked this road with us.
Now, we invite you to rejoice with us
as two families become one
hearts are joined
and beauty is found in the ashes.
A Wedding
Todd and Mishel
Sunday, November 7th, 2010
***
It is marvelous.
We are all happy.











Woohoo! Yay yay yay! Congratulations!
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Isn’t God good? One just never knows how He will redeem the sad situations in our lives…but He always does.
Becky K.
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Oh! I am SO thrilled for your Mama! Praise God for His tender mercies, and His heart-healing.
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I am so excited for you and your entire family!!!!!
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Lucky you, your family just grew! I am so happy for you. (i swear i wasn’t trying to rhyme :)
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So. Glad. :)
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this post made me cry and smile in 2 minutes. so happy for your family!
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This made me tear up..Congratulations to your sweet mom!
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Oh Ashleigh… praising God with you.
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Ok so tearing up. I’ve been thinking about you ever since I read your birth story and how prominent your dad was in your entire story – and the changes you guys have gone through since then. Amazing. Congrats to all of you!
Ps… your mom does not look old enough to be a grandma!!! :)
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Nathan Reply:
November 5th, 2010 at 8:26 am
I agree … she does not look like a grandma!
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So happy for you, friend. And all of your family. Hugs.
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I love the way you shared this story. And holy cow–your mom is gorgeous and surely not a day over 30! Except that would be impossible. What a beautiful future you have ahead of you too. ;)
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I’ve been reading your mom’s blog…and reading this brought tears to my eyes!! I hope she is BLESSED beyond measure.
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Wonderful wonderful! All KINDS of wonderful!!
I just don’t know what to write. I’m all *SQUEE!!* and yum and *sigh* :)
Big hugs to you all. Kisses for the bride… smiling eyes for the groom…
And a hand squeeze for you that speaks volumes.
love you much.
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Beautiful. So happy for all of you!
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That’s so exciting! (well, so obviously you’re not coming to a Pampered Chef party, lol! Now I feel like such a dork for asking about that!) Congratulations to your whole family! :o)
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So happy! I read as your mama told her story and hoped and hoped this would be a part of the story..and it is! And I couldn’t be happier! Lovely news for a Friday, my dear. So glad this awful journey has brought such beautiful fruit! : )
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We are SOOO happy and excited for you all! It’s funny you say the “gift” Mark calls me his “gift”…after what hell he endured. God is so good and he makes ALL things beautiful in His time! Hugs to all of you…give your Mom a big hug from Mark and I!
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Wow! Your mom looks so young! She could easily pass as your sister. :-) Praying for a beautiful, blessed and happy wedding, and marriage!
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Yay! I can’t wait to hear all about it. So, so happy for this good news… that I just HAD TO confirm my hunch about @ Relevant. :)
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I’m crying and I can’t stop. (Doesn’t help that I’m listening to some silly country song about love) So, so so happy for your mama (she is SO beautiful) and for Todd. And for you and your family.
Please give your mama hugs for me, and my best wishes and I hope it is the most happy and magically beautiful day ever!
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Oh Ashley, that is beautiful. I love this so much. Congrats to your Mama. She deserves all the happiness in the world.
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So happy for your family. God bless each one of you with much happiness. love and prayers.
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I’m happy for you and your mother, dear – all the best of happiness to you all! *Hug!* Have a lovely weekend …
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Praise God! :)
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I am so happy for your mom!!! I love when heartbreaking stories have happy endings. Wishing your mom and her man many amazing, joyful years together!
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YAY!
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Congratulations!! So heart happy for all of you!! <3
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AMAZING! So thankful for this blessing your mama’s life, in all your lives…
You told the story so well with your poem too.
Let the Bells RING!
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Tears and more tears…
…wish I was there to celebrate with one and all.
Much love from our whole house, each and every one of us, to all of you this weekend.
<3
Aril
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So happy for you all. :)
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So very happy for your mamma. Praying for each and every one of you this weekend. HUGS
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So, so, so happy for your mom and the whole family – happy tears for everyone! Have a wnderful, blessed weekend! God is so awesome!
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I’m so happy that I’m crying! What a beautiful story God has written. He HAS turned ashes into beauty. He does all things well…
Big Hugs!
Congratulations to them!!
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So very, very happy! Beautiful, beautiful story of redemption and restoration and love. xo
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This is beautiful…and it has been a blessing that you and your sweet mom have shared her ups and the oh so many downs of life. It has been a priviledge to hold you and yours in prayers these past almost 2 years….and now…to see this..to share your joy…knowing God is good …always..in all ways….ENJOY…enjoy…praising the Lord for HIS goodness and HIS provision…and HIS healing…and and and…
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I am very happy. :)
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Your Mommy is BEAUTIFUL!!! This story is heart wreching but the ending, the ending is also beautiful…
Lots of Love,
Ginger~
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love this post…what a beautiful story–congrats to your mama! xo
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I am so happy to hear this! God bless you both!
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Oh! My heart jumped when I got an inkling where this post was going. And then to read that it’s true. Oh, God’s grace splashes over all of us because of this gift to your precious Mom.
Lord, bless this weekend. Redeem as only You do.
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:-D
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YAY!!!! God is so good! My heart is singing for your family right now! We serve an Awesome God!!!! :)
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Splendid news, sweet Ash! So thrilled for you and your beautiful Mama!
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Oh what a LOVELY post! I am SO happy for your Mom and for your whole family!
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CONGRATULATIONS!
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*happyhappyhappy*
so little time.
Praying for her, him,
Praying for you, John, Troy and Merrit.
He LOVES you.
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Wow – so SO happy for everyone! What a joy to have your momma truly loved again. She is gorgeous and just glowing! Love looks good on her. :o)
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Thrilled to pieces for your sweet mama and for you and your whole family!!!! God is so good! Praying for you and your hubby too until he is home in your arms! Many sweet blessings to you and yours! Thanks for sharing your heart on this little home of yours on the web…your blog so often makes me cry…in a good way!
Love in Christ,
Katie
Proverbs 25:25! Wonderful news…just wonderful!
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So, so happy for your Momma. I rarely comment, but love your writing and your vulnerability. What a wonderful new beginning for your family… love how God redeems all hurts and blesses abundantly above what we could hope for.
Congratulations!
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Rejoicing!
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