Mr. Lee, Mr. Lee
Until yesterday.
We’d always meant to watch it on an anniversary or Valentine’s Day or a lazy Sunday afternoon. But the memories etched into the cerebrum always seemed to offer playback enough. Over time, the details of the day never seemed to grow fuzzy.
Or so I thought.
I put the video in the slot for the first time on Thursday, Feb. 11, 2010, and pushed play.
I swooned at how fresh our love, and how young our faces. I fell in love all over again with that Norwegian blonde and his blue-blue eyes, and that X-acto knife hair part that he still wears all these years later.
I remembered again the tummy-flips when Dad lead me — all satin — to the altar. And I remembered how Scott fidgeted with the diamond on my finger when he said the forever-words. I remembered how he whispered that our wedding singers were “so good together,” and on the playback, I could make out the response on my lips: “So are we.”
Yes, I remembered the kiss and the candlelight and the cala lilies, too.
But until I watched the video, I didn’t remember what love felt like at age 24. And to think I thought our love was so very deep in 1996.
“Oh, Jennifer,” I whispered to the bride on the screen,
“Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” — 1 Cor. 13:7.
But at age 24
we’d endured little
bore little
believed little.
Then, love happened.
It grew in trenches, and in the clinging, and in the tenderness of swaddled babies, and abandoned careers, and the moving home, and the pain of loss, and the joy of discovering who we are to the other, and in the growing up, and in the letting go, and in the knowledge that indeed, the one thing that held us together was not our own resolve, but a greater Love.
For God came to dwell in us,
and among us,
and filled the distance between us.
And it made our love grow deeper, compelled us to put down roots here on this Iowa farm where we’d never imagined ourselves to be back at the altar.
Yes, this must be true love, nearly 14 years after we said “yes” to forever.
I suppose I will. Yes, I’m sure I will.
“Now I know in part; then I shall know fully …” — 1 Cor. 13:12
***I share with you today a fun snippet of the video, which our wedding videographer set to the song “Mr. Lee” by the Bobbettes.
His name is Mr. Lee
He’s the hansomest sweetie
That you ever did see”
Happy Valentine’s Day, to my true love …
(Email subscribers: Click over to the blog at http://www.gettingdownwithjesus.blogspot.com/ to view the video.)
Yep, it is as it should be. Thanks for sharing this, Jennifer.
This is awesome!!
Love your love story!
Thanks for sharing the video.
Sweet dreams.
Only God could take that fresh love and make it grow stronger with each passing year. Truly enjoyed your love story!
I could just cry… You make ME feel young, though. We're in the growing-up part now…
The video was great! Thank you for sharing your video and your heart.
P.S.This seems to be the day for sharing hearts…today is my youngest son's birthday. I wrote a post, too.
Great story, Jennifer. Great story.
oh, jennifer! you two are just adorable! you know what you made me realize? we have never watched our wedding video either!
sounds like a good valentine's day project.
ain't love grand?
and that little guy is adorable, too …
Just like our Love with Christ deepens, so does the Love with our spouse. Happy Anniversary!!!!
The video is adorable! I'm so glad that the HCB writing project has given back to you, Jennifer. I've saved the link for Wednesday!
Wow, I love your story! It is truly beautiful. Thank you so much for sharing it.
REALLY enjoyed your Valentine's love story, but especially enjoyed seeing the Lee family in the video! Thanks so much for sharing! Hugs and Kisses.
Fabulous love story!
I will be celebrating my 25th anniversary on Valentine's Day. It is so hard to believe that we are" 3 children and 5 grandchildren older" than the 22 year old and 30 year old we were when we married!
Love to you friend,
Beth
Thanks to Scott for giving his blessing to share.
And you two are something else…
How awesome! Love this post! Happy V day!
Wylie
How precious!!! I love it–and the darling ring bearer and his bunny!! Happy anniversary!
Hugs!
Susan
This is so, so sweet Jennifer! I just love it!
Yes, that love only changes and grows stronger through trials. I loved the video and had to laugh at Scott pulling up his socks. Precious memories.
Jennifer…
I can so relate to much of this…
How beautifully you told this story.. our living out the love story.
and thanks for your words to me as well.
So true! We think we know love. Maybe, for that season, maybe that is what love looks like. I don't know. Either way, your post is lovely.
This is just wonderful! What a beautiful description of the love that grows beyond the altar!!!
Great story and great video. Thanks for sharing.
That bit about the X-acto knife! Perfect and priceless.
And imagine the growth in the next 14 years…
A whole lot of Mr. Lee but what about Mrs. Lee?
Very cute. Thanks for giving us peek.
peace~elaine