Stages -- Written for Tricia and Rich

Falling in Love

You meet: He’s pretty cute; she’s beautiful!

You talk: He’s interesting; she’s beautiful ... and smart!

You touch: A spark ignites.

Phone calls, long walks and talks.
The sun sparkles this spring; the flowers bloom brighter
and the birds sing sweeter.
Butterflies in the air; and in the stomach, too.

Your head cautions: Take it slow;
Your heart sings: This is it!

Is he? Is she? It could be!
He’s wonderful; she’s everything
a man could want.

Darling, I thought ...
That is, maybe ...
Oh, shoot! Would you???

Yes, oh yes! (Thank you, God!)

No one has ever loved like this before!


The Wedding

Plans and parties; giggles and teasing.
The days count down and then it's time.

The aisle stretches out endlessly; but
in a second she is by his side.
Her dress is lovely; her face is veiled
but he knows every freckle by heart anyway.
He’s so handsome in that tux (if she only knew
the hours spent tying the bow tie!)

Who gives this woman? Her mother and I.

If there’s any reason why ... let him speak now or ... forever ...

Their hearts stand still
but of course no one speaks.

I will love, honor, and cherish ...
I will love, honor, and obey ...

In sickness and in health
For richer or poorer
Till death do us part.

I do.
I do.

We did!

I now pronounce you ....

No one has ever loved like this before!


Marriage.

The honeymoon was lovely, and housekeeping begins.
Romantic dinners; flowers and kisses.
It’s not quite a game, but not quite real, either.

For a while.

Then babies come; not one, but two!
One or the other always hungry;
this one needs changing, that one needs feeding.

And this little one...this precious child
whose heart tries so hard to be healthy
but can’t.

Doctors, hospitals, surgery! So tiny and helpless;
Tears, sometimes silent, sometimes wracking
but tears and fears and oh! so many prayers.

Clinging together and praying.

And then ... she’s home! And though the years will
prove to be hard, with check ups and
worries, fevers and frights,
She’s home and God is good, oh He is so good to us!

The children grow, the family grows, the love grows.
School and church, clubs and groups and friends.
Birthday parties to give and to attend.
Mom, can you take me....
Mom, can you make me....
Mom, I don’t understand this math!

Dad works and is gone; mom works and is home.
She prays for his safety; he prays for her sanity!

So the years go, each busier than the last
and yet where have they gone?
How can these boys be thinking about cars?
How can these girls be getting so big?
And even the baby rolls his eyes
when he’s called “the baby.”

So much has happened over these last many years
Married forever, it seems.
And yet wasn’t it yesterday he lifted her veil?
Wasn’t it yesterday she promised “forever”?

The time goes so quickly, and by tomorrow
there will be weddings and babies of their own
for the boys, and the girls, and the baby!

And someday, a long way off but so soon!
When the house is empty
And it’s just the two of them,
He will look at her
And she will look at him
And they will think,

No one has ever loved like this before.