April 18th will be one of my favorite days forever. It was only a couple of weeks ago that my dearest and bestest friend married the love of her life in the most amazing, personal, heartfelt, emotional wedding, and the only surprise ceremony that I have ever been witness to. Breeyan and Adam were married in their home, in front of their fireplace in the presence of family. This wedding was like no other in many ways. The day was full of surprises from the beginning. What was supposed to be a beautiful sun-shiny day, turned out to have 10 inches of fresh snow with more throughout the day in one the most lovely snow storms I have ever seen. Breeyan and Adam also decided to do a first look before the guests arrived. Adam's face was priceless as he saw his bride for the first time. Then the guests arrived to what they thought was a family BBQ with me there to take family pictures for the first time in a long time. Surprise! It's a wedding! This day was so special, the words were deep and heartfelt, the children were blissfully happy, and my best friend married the love of her life.
Now all of that is fine and dandy, but I have missed a lot, like 15+ years of the story, so I am going to back up. Breeyan and I went to high school together, and let's just say we were not instant friends. Then we sat next to each other junior year during algebra. The rest is history. Friends forever, best friends through college, and now as close as sisters without the same blood in our veins.
As for Breeyan and Adam, they were high school sweethearts. They were a really great couple back then, but then as it usually happens, young hearts want to run wild and free and they went their separate ways: Breeyan to school at CSU and Adam to the Marine Corp. They each met and married a spouse, made a family, and lived their lives separately for many years. Through many tough years, Adam in deployment to very scary places and Breeyan through hard years as a single mom, they found their way to each other again one Halloween a few years back. A chance "running into" on the streets of Estes Park on that Halloween night ignited a spark that had been lost for more than 10 years. As I watched these two that night see each other for the first time in so long, I saw what many don't ever get to see….love being born again.
Adam is perfect for Breeyan: calm, gentle, loving, thoughtful, just as Breeyan is perfect for him: sweet, caring, encouraging. This match that could have happened so long ago waited for the perfect time in their lives to become husband and wife. Their journey would not have been theirs without all that they went through. The road was long and at times, a dead-end even, but they were always on the road together and it brought them back to each other. It brought them home. Now they are a family.
I am not ashamed to say that I was the first to cry at the wedding. My father officiated for this amazing ceremony, which only added to the emotion. And when he said "Do you Adam take Breeyan….and do you Breeyan take Adam….," I burst into tears. I have waited a long time to hear that happiness in my friends voice. I am fiercely protective of Breeyan after all that she has been through. I have guarded her life and heart, her feelings and needs, and even her children, when there were times she felt like she couldn't do it alone. To know that I can give those feelings and needs to Adam and that they are safe, was extremely emotional for me. Nobody deserves happiness like she does. Nobody.
To my bestest friend, I love you with my whole heart. Your wishes are my wishes. Your dreams are my dreams. Your memories are my memories. The slate is clean and life is new. Start fresh. Love deeply. Know that Adam is in this with you forever. Do not run. Do not hide. Adam is with you now in all that you do, all that you desire, and loves all those that you love. You have found your person, and while I now take a new roll in your life, you will always be one of my most special people. You, Makayla, and Madison are my favorite girls. And to Adam, my friend has spread her dreams under your feet. Tread softly, for you tread on her dreams. You and Max are in great hands with my favorite girls. Love them as they deserve to be loved, and they will always love you back. LOVE TO ALL OF THE EDWARDS: ADAM, BREEYAN, MAKAYLA, MADISON, and MAX!
