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OKLAHOMA CITY — I’m not crying. You’re crying.
Really, everyone gave the impression to be crying.
What higher motive to let the tears move than watching two younger individuals commit their lives to one another?
The Rosses and the Steeleys, it appears, are a sentimental bunch. What higher motive to let the tears move, although, than watching two younger individuals commit their lives to one another?
My center youngster, Keaton, just lately married Paige Steeley, the love of his life, inside a glass-paneled, flower-filled conservatory at Will Rogers Gardens. Her dad and mom, Derek and Valerie Steeley, together with Tamie and me and about 50 of the couple’s nearest and dearest, had been honored (and clearly fairly moved) to rejoice alongside them.
The Ross and Steeley households at Keaton and Paige’s marriage ceremony.
Keaton’s older brother, Brady, who earned ministry levels from Oklahoma Christian and Abilene Christian universities, carried out the ceremony. Keaton’s youthful sister, Kendall, a graduate of Pepperdine College, served as Paige’s maid of honor. Paige’s brothers, Dylan and Cole, ushered friends, moved tables and chairs and saved us laughing.
Me? I sat on the entrance row beside my spouse and watched her and all three of my kids — someway now adults — choke again joyful tears.
Their faces, so full of affection and emotion, did it: Quickly I used to be fumbling for a tissue.
That was earlier than the music began or I caught the primary glimpse of my two grandchildren — Brady and Mary’s kids — strolling up the aisle.
Ring bearer Bennett, 4, wore suspenders and a black bow tie, his hair (uncharacteristically) neatly parted and styled for the event. Flower woman Norah, 18 months, seemed like an angel within the gentle, white costume Tamie made for her, a miniature of the bride’s robe.
Then all of us stood, and a hush fell as Paige, trying even lovelier than her regular, stunning self, appeared on the arm of her father.
Keaton and Paige Ross met as college students at Oklahoma Christian College.
“Who provides this girl to be married to this man?” Brady requested.
I discovered myself questioning why we don’t ask, “Who provides this man to be married to this girl?”
I imply, once I shut my eyes, I nonetheless see my little freckle-faced boy — the one I took to numerous Texas Rangers video games and on mission journeys and reporting assignments. The one who — now a journalist himself — typically clutched his personal tiny pocket book as he tagged along together with his dad.
Actually, Keaton and Paige discovering one another is a solution to a literal lifetime of prayers.
I like Keaton. However I like Paige, too. She’s formally part of our household now, however she’s gave the impression to be for a lot of months.
Keaton, 25, and Paige, 24, met as college students at Oklahoma Christian College. Their first date, in 2019, was at Keaton’s membership’s banquet. The boys of Chi Lambda Phi are identified for sporting conventional Scottish apparel.
“There should have been one thing about seeing Keaton in a kilt that Paige couldn’t resist.”
“There should have been one thing about seeing Keaton in a kilt that Paige couldn’t resist,” Brady joked.
Not lengthy after, Keaton launched Paige to our household over dinner at Empire Slice Home — a Ross favourite that fittingly was chosen to cater their reception. Bennett, not fairly 2 and a lover of books, christened her “Paiges” as a result of that resonated, and nobody even thought to appropriate him.
Each graduated in 2020, though the pandemic saved them from having fun with an in-person graduation. Maybe we made up for that a little bit bit with the marriage festivities?
Keaton, an investigative reporter for Oklahoma Watch, and Paige, who has a level in public relations and works for a mortgage firm, wrote their very own vows.
“Paige, I like you,” Keaton mentioned. “I like your outlook on life and the way you see the perfect in individuals. I like the way you keep in mind small particulars and moments and worth high quality time over anything. You settle for me for who I’m whereas pushing me to enhance. You’re persistently encouraging, optimistic, curious and hilarious.”
Paige talked in regards to the examples set by the couple’s dad and mom — Tamie and I’ve been married for 32 years, and Derek and Valerie for 31.
“Sometime, our largest battle will not be … that you just don’t like chocolate and I don’t like burgers,” Paige mentioned. “Regardless of our circumstances, I vow to worth what makes us sturdy … like our skills to make one another snigger in any scenario, to deliver one another pleasure, peace and luxury, to stroll via difficulties with out letting them come between us.”
Keaton and Paige Ross take pleasure in their marriage ceremony reception.
Through the ceremony, Brady described Keaton and Paige as an ideal match: “They by no means get uninterested in spending time collectively, whether or not they’re headed to an Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder recreation or singing alongside to Taylor Swift with the home windows down as they drive to get espresso or brunch collectively.”
Whoa, right here come the tears once more.
BOBBY ROSS JR. is Editor-in-Chief of The Christian Chronicle. Attain him at [email protected].
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