Martin's Vows

My love, you are the most wonderful woman for me. You are my friend, my heart, you are wisdom and strength, and I want you as my bride from this point until forever.

When I do a painting, after thinking about it for many hours, I first add a base color or colors, and then I start adding elements to the piece. There is the primary element, the focus, and then there are secondary elements. Every time what I believe is the most important element of a piece, often is not. There is always that final element that I put in place that I feel led to add. A God given element.

When you came into my life I felt like you were a God given element, the piece in my life that God placed there to make my own image clearer. I know that God has made me in His image and that I'm wonderful because of it but you are my God element, the element that makes me more beautiful, more amazing, more giving, more loving....brighter, more vivid and more colorful.

I remember when we first met I knew that I liked you. We met at a church meeting to organize some different projects. I was introducing AustinONE to our church and you wanted to help organize the project. I remember your enthusiasm for helping children.

Last year at Christmas time we went to see the lights on 38th with some friends. Not our first date, just some time with friends. Shortly after, on an actual date, we went to a dinner and a play. We laughed and smiled a lot that night and I knew that we were going to be spending a lot of time together.

I realized that I was falling in love with you at a race in Bandera. It was an early start and I had camped out the night before. The plan was that you were going to meet me before the race, to see me off. It wasn't until minutes before the start that I found you. It was dark and rainy and not easy to get into the park but you made it. I remember you

walking toward me smiling with your beautiful hair moving in the wind. You stayed the entire day and met me at every aid station where we talked and laughed. It was the best race I ever had and one that I'll never forget. I had the most fun running up to the next stop knowing you would be there. I was always very anxious to see you. You were my angel that day.

Each time I arrived you had water, a place for me to sit, pleasant funny conversation, offered encouragement and support and extra socks, which in a really long run is extremely important. Running is a strong passion for me and you being there meant you cared about those passions even if you didn’t really understand it.

Marriage is about commitment, about selflessness, it's about trust, honor, respect and love for another person. That is the life I’m anxious to begin together. I'm looking forward to beginning my day with you, seeing you at the end of every day, kissing you, helping you, and working

with you.....for our family and for others. God has given us to each other and while I'm probably most fearful of being a less than perfect husband and parent I know that my imperfections will be filled in by the light of God. Through His guidance and love for us we will be fulfilled and will be able to survive any obstacle that might come our way.

I thank God for bringing you and your beautiful children into my life and I look forward to allowing God to shape our new shared path with new colors and shades. I am so gracious for the love God has shown me by granting me the honor of having you as my wife.