Simply Stephanie: Alyssa.

Alyssa and I have been friends since she moved to Chatham in the third grade. We went to the same elementary school, played soccer together, went to summer camp together and even both switched schools to join the extended french program together. I don't know when it happened, but somewhere along the way she became one of my closest and dearest friends. We bonded deeply in high school over our love of curling and boys, we coached summer soccer together and she even came out to youth group with me one weekend after some, lets just say misfoutunate events.

I had the joy of watching Alyssa give her life over to Christ and watch how the decision has changed her. I also had the priviledge of being at the hospital when Alyssa gave birth to her precious son and I am forever thankful that she allowed me to be a part of such a magical day, a day I will never forget.

Alyssa is a deep thinker, a board game wizard, a fantastic mother and on Saturday I had the wonderful oportunity of witnessing her marry her prince charming. She was a stunning bride and I could not help but cry multiple times throughout the day.

To be honest, I entered into the wedding with mixed feelings. When I got the news of the engagement from at text from Alyssa one day at work I was so excited I actually started squeeling and then spent the remaider of the day boring my coworker about how excited I was (sorry!). She had been so patient, trusting in God in every step of her relationship and her life even when it was not always the easiest, so when I heard the news that FINALLY (yes, we waited and hoped and knew there was a ring and kept on waiting) she was engaged I was over the moon for her.

Then life, as it always does, got a little messy and I was there as she vented, was frustrated and had the joys of not only planning a wedding (read: stressful), but plan one in four months. We had fun at showers, putting on panty hose with oven mitts, painting granny panties and making toilet paper dresses.

Then in came the wedding dress. (Background: when I was picking a wedding dress I got it down to two, and had the hardest time ever trying to make up my mind as to what one I actually wanted. In the end I still was not sure I made the right choice. I loved it the day of the wedding but I always had this feeling of 'what-if' about the other dress.) So I got a text late one Saturday night from Alyssa all excited that she had found the dress and there was something inside of me that made me think it was the 'Rachel' (No I didn't name it, that is the dresses name, and what my bridesmaids and I affectionately called it). She gave me brief details of the dress and promised a picture the next morning at church. I tried my best to be happy as the dress was, as I suspected, the 'Rachel'. If I was honest with myself at that moment however, I was upset, I was sad that I didn't get to be the one wearing the dress and I could not help but feel I made the wrong decision. I tried to put it out of my mind but as the wedding day approached I feared how I would react to seeing someone else in the dress I loved.

The moment I saw Alyssa step through the doors at the church to make her way down the aisle I knew it all worked out for a reason. Alyssa looked stunning. The dress fit her perfectly and as she smiled with her father on one side and her adorable little son on the other I could not be happier. I wiped away a tear and laughed inside because I did not know how I could be so petty to think I would be upset over a dress. It thrilled me that someone I loved was able to wear the dress that I also loved. I did not wear it so why not have one of my favourite people wear it.

Alyssa smiled the day away and her handsom groom could not take his eyes off of her. It was a beautiful picture as two people came together to form a family. I cannot wait to see what the future has in store for their family and where God will take them. I am thankful for being able to be a part of their day and more then anything, I am thankful for their friendship and love.