This past weekend I had the privilege of standing beside a good friend of mine as she said her vows to the man of her dreams. I have only known Bethany for about six years but there is something about this girl that is just amazing! The first time I met her was at a Halloween get together that a mutual friend of ours was hosting. Bethany came dressed as Tinker Bell and her smile just lit up the room. She had a pixie hairstyle that she pulled off with such grace and beauty. I did not realize at the time that her haircut was not by choice but the effects of chemo that she had undergone in previous months. I actually don't think I even heard her story until the next get together that we were at. With her joy, warm smile and contagious laugh you would have never known the horrific year that she had just been through.
The more we got to know each other I just admired her faith in the Lord and her drive to continue to follow the call God had on her life. She had been studying at Stetson Law when she got the news that she had breast cancer. And let me just say, follow your instincts! The first doctor told her not to worry about the lump she felt in her breast. He told her she was too young to have breast cancer. That answer didn't sit right with her and she got a second opinion. Sure enough, it was cancer! She didn't allow it to slow her down but just make her fight even harder. I did not know her at this time but I have seen pictures of her with her law books studying as she underwent chemo treatments. That does not surprise me at all!
Not too long after getting to know each other we were both in the predicament of needing a roommate. Low and behold the Lord brought us together along with another friend. I remember the day we went looking for a place to live together and the first thing she wanted to do was pray before we even looked at the first condo. I was amazed that in everything she did, she consulted with the Lord and I just love that about her. Even though we were on a time crunch to find something, the Lord was faithful and gave us the perfect place! We had such a great time that year getting to know each other better, cooking meals together, waking up at 5:30 in the morning to run Bayshore (not sure who's crazy idea that was), growing deeper in our walks with the Lord, and our many conversations about boys! She was actually standing in the kitchen when I first heard from Paul on wanting to pursue a relationship and was in my wedding a year and a half later :) She is the type of friend that will be there for you at a drop of a hat. I remember feeling a lump in my chest and the doctor recommending a mammogram and ultrasound. I was scared and had no family in town. As soon as she heard I had an appointment to get a mammogram in a couple of hours she dropped everything to be there with me in the waiting room. The tech couldn't believe that I was having it done at such a young age and I told her that my roommate who was waiting outside had already battled with breast cancer. She quickly apologized and went on with the task.
Bethany is such a beautiful person inside and out! We were a part of a young professionals group at church and I'm sure any of the guys would have loved a chance to date her but she never lowered her standards and waited for God's best. So, this Saturday was such a special day. She was finally marrying the man that God had prepared for her. The first time we met David was when we had to make an emergency trip down to Ft. Myers to see Paul's mom. I texted Bethany just to let her know that we were going to be down there but it would be a quick visit and would be spending most of our time at the hospital. I just didn't want her to hear from the grapevine that we were in town and didn't tell her. So, that next day Bethany and David came to visit Paul's mom in the hospital with a care package in hand. I could tell right away that he was a keeper. Later in conversation she mentioned that they had just gotten back the weekend before from her routine check up at Moffit. I asked how everything went not expecting the answer that we got...it had returned! Devastated for her I was just in shock! I couldn't believe that she would have to go through this all over again! David was right there to support and encourage her. Any negative thought that tried to come out of her mouth, he was right there to nip it in the butt. She did not know at the time but he had already asked her dad for permission to marry her. He called her dad after the results just to reassure him that he still wanted to proceed with marrying Bethany. What a guy! To stand beside your girlfriend in sickness and health even before you have made that commitment before the Lord. It was probably a few weeks to a month later and David popped the question! I could not have been more thrilled for her. At the time they were thinking of a wedding after her surgery and reconstruction but when she got the news that she would need to undergo chemo again, they moved the wedding up to November. It was absolutely perfect! A fall wedding for a girl that LOVES that season! It was absolutely beautiful and would never have known that she only had a couple of months to put it all together.
So, the title of this blog comes from her mom. As we were getting ready the day of the wedding, her mom mentioned that Bethany's story is one that you would see on the Hallmark channel. Paul can testify that I love that channel and all the mushy gushy movies that they play. Her mom was so right, Bethany and David's story is such a sweet and unique one that I definitely could see it played out in a Hallmark video.
I already have a hard time not getting too emotional at weddings but I knew this one was going to be a tearjerker. When her friend sang "How Great Thou Art" with such passion, I about lost it. The Lord has been so faithful! Even though they have a long journey ahead of them with her treatments, I know the Lord will continue to be faithful and be right there with them every step of the way. I know Bethany is going to fight it just as hard if not more so this time around! I love this girl and the impact that she has had on my life. I could not be more happy for her and David. I know they are going to do great things for the Lord and already are. So thankful I had the privilege of being a part of her special day!
If you have not seen her video from her first battle with cancer, you need to watch it! Here is the link... http://vimeo.com/23704786 . Also, please keep this sweet girl and David in your prayers!
