light, littles, + lavender.

My sister, Rachel, and her husband, Martin, had their marriage blessed by the Church this past weekend in Estes Park, CO! They also baptized their son Eli right after the ceremony, at Our Lady of the Mountains Catholic Church. It was an incredible weekend, filled with family, friends, and God’s creation! I had the honor of being her Matron of Honor. I want to share my speech because everyone needs to know how incredible they are! Congratulations again, Rachel + Martin + Eli! We love you!

September 19, 2022

Is there anything better than seeing someone’s dreams come true? What an incredible experience it has been today, for all of us to finally meet under one roof, and witness the marriage of Martin and Rachel blessed by God, and have their precious baby boy Eli welcomed to the Church!

For as long as I can remember, I have always described my sister the same way: she’s like an angel, gentle but determined. She is kind, loyal, and attracts beauty everywhere she goes. So, it is no surprise that today has been such a spectacular day, with wonder and beauty abounding. All of us together, her most favorite people, under the glory of God, is all that she has hoped for for the last two years. Thank you so much, everyone, from the bottom of our hearts, for coming across the ocean and across the country to help make this special day happen. 

One of the most integral parts about our Catholic faith is the grace to fully believe in God’s plan for our lives. When He unifies a man and a woman in marriage, it is not by chance or luck. When we are brought together with our spouses, it is because God has literally designed us for each other: the person, the time, and the place. (Theology of the Body)

The one thing I have ever wanted for my sister, someone so humble and so willing to put others first, is to meet the man of her dreams to take on the world by her side. However, when it comes to real life, it is a little scary to watch someone jump into the unknown in so many different ways. I have often joked, that when one of my siblings calls me with a plan, my heart skips a beat at the thought of what they are getting themselves into, and what my parents are going to say about it (hah). I mean, Rachel has hitch hiked, ALONE, in France to get to the grotto at Our Lady of Lourdes. What do you do with that kind of sense of adventure? How could there possibly be someone worthy enough to compliment it?

In case you haven’t noticed, Rachel is my family’s sweetheart. I think that when we love someone so much, we want to put them in a box and keep them on a shelf, so that we know they are safe and happy. But Rachel has done anything other than stay in a box on a shelf. Rachel, you are one of the bravest and most driven people I know. Your sense of adventure is insatiable, and that is intimidating because it is rare that a person takes action to fulfill the promptings on their heart. You have crossed oceans, climbed mountains, and hiked canyons. You conquered the volleyball court at home and overseas, all while achieving your goal of becoming a Doctor of Physical Therapy. You know what you want, and you pursue it with all you heart. So, it should not have surprised any of us, that when you found the man of your dreams, you were willing to do exactly what it took to start your family and your life together. 

We didn’t know what to expect from this mountain man from Czech, who Rachel kept running back down to Florida to see. Who could this guy be, that took the time to visit her across the country on her clinical rotations and hiking trips? Would we ever see a picture zoomed in enough to see his face? And he was a volleyball player…  He sounded too good to be true, until, we finally got to meet him. Martin, we knew you were the one from the moment you walked in the door. There was no mistaking the way you two looked at each other, moved together, and only had an attention span for one another. 

In the creation story in the book of Genesis, there is a passage that speaks to God making woman from man’s rib- this was specific and purposeful. “When God created Eve, He did not take her from his head to lord it over him, nor from his foot to be walked upon by him, He took her from his side to walk with him, from beneath his arm to be guided by him, and from near his heart to be loved by him (The Bible in a Year podcast).” And that is way that I see you and Rachel interact today- as one.

Martin you are kind, thoughtful, and hardworking. Your sense of adventure is innate, and I see the sacrifices you have made to lead your family with the purpose God created- for labor, leisure, and love (the Bible in a Year podcast). Thank you for being the man my sister said you were. It has been an honor to witness the beautiful family that you two have created together. 

How funny is it, we had started to say, that with how much Rachel loves travel, she married a European. She loves volleyball, and somehow found a player of her own. She has always been drawn to the mountains, and her husband took her to Mount Everest for their honeymoon. What are the odds that she would find someone to compliment such incredibly important parts of herself? Not by chance. Not by luck. God wastes nothing.

So again, I ask you- is there anything better than seeing someone’s dreams come true?

Congratulations Rachel, Martin, and Eli. Let us toast the beautiful family!

Now I know that God is with me. In God, in whose promise I glory, in God I trust without fear.

Psalm 56: 10c-12