o.t.h.e.r s.t.u.f.f

There were a few other things we wanted to post that weren't exactly pictures...

Our Wedding Rings--

The rings are simple and identicle. Just bands of titanium. (And yes, that's the same material backpacking cookware is forged from) There were jokes about having MSR (Mountain Safety Research) fashion the rings for us, and it was truly great luck to find the rings we did, as we're both an odd ring size, and womens' titanium rings are not sold in your typical mall jeweler. The rings are engraved: HERE WE ARE LORD, SEND US

Our Wedding Vows--

Stephan's Vows:

An excellent wife who can find? For her worth is far above jewels. Yet in you, Kari, I have found an excellent wife. Even so, I recognize that you are human and imperfect and as such I will keep no record of wrongs, and as I am human, I will not judge. I will, with the grace of God, be patient, loving, and kind. I will stand before you and before God and take responsibility for my actions, and how I treat you. No matter what trouble we face, I will love you and be bound to you, without seeking release. I will love and serve you as long as I have breath in my body, and will remain faithful in heart, body, and mind, until I die. I will love you as Christ loves his bride, the church. In you my heart will trust and I will have no lack of gain.

Kari's Vows:

I will encourage you and build you up. I will appreciate your diligent labor for us, and esteem you very highly in love because of your work. I'll live in peace with you always. I'll encourage you when you're fainthearted, help you when you're weak, be patient with you always, but still admonish you when you sin. I'll seek after what is good for us. I'll rejoice always in our marriage. I'll pray for us without ceasing, and always give thanks; for this is God's will for us in Christ Jesus. I'll never quench the spirit's movement in you. I’ll be faithful to help you examine everything carefully, holding fast to what is good. I'll do my part in abstaining from every evil. I will love you and any children God may give us. I will be sensible, pure, and kind in the use of my body and words. I will keep our home, where ever that may be, however it may look - you will always feel welcomed and loved there, and you will be able to function easily. I will help you however you need in leading our family, but ultimately trust you with the responsibility before God without resignation. I'll urge you to be sensible, and in all things to show yourself as an example of good deeds, with purity in biblical teaching. I will urge you to be dignified, trustworthy and sound in your words, so any opponents of yours will be put to shame because of your honor. I will strive to be trustworthy, and be an asset to you and not a burden. I'll be productive for our family. I'll keep myself strong and healthy. I'll fight against idleness. I'll work toward wisdom, so I can give wise counsel. I'll strive toward things eternal, and to be a woman who fears the lord, for temporal charm and beauty are deceptive. I'll never leave your, or turn back from following you. I will go where you go, and stay where you stay. Where you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. May the lord deal with me ever so severely if anything but death parts us.

Our "God Vow":

As one, newly-united flesh, we vow to you Lord-

That we will hid your words in our hearts, that we may not sin against you. We will not merely listen to your word, but do what it says. We will feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, welcome the stranger, clothe the naked, look after the sick, and visit those in prison. We will look after orphans and widows. We will obey your command to go and make disciples of all nations. We will offer our bodies as a spiritual act of worship. We will come to your for wisdom and guidance, for patience, kindness, contentment, humility, peace, perseverance, joy, self control, a servant's attitude, and love. By your grace we will love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us. We will consider trials joy, and let them mature us. We will not let the sun go down on our anger. We will not lean on our own understanding, but trust you to provide all our needs. We will do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but place others interest above our own. you've said anything done for the least is done for you also, and that you are with us even until the end of the age. And so we offer ourselves to you Lord. Here we are, send us.

Our Cicadas--

We were married on May 29, 2004 - a Cicada Spring. They weren't as bad as anticipated in our area, but they were still a strong presense during the spring and summer months. The myths about cicadas were many, and illicited this response after the wedding: "All will be happy to know that the cicadas, though present, did not fall on anyone, attack anyone, eat anyone, or infect anyone with HIV."