William Brian Caskey

Welcome! Good morning, family and friends.  We are gathered here today, surrounded by the beauty of Creation and nurtured by the sights and sounds of Colorado nature to celebrate the wedding of Kara and Cody.

By your presence, you celebrate with them the love they have discovered in each other, and you support their decision to commit themselves to a lifelong relationship.

Marriage is a bond to be entered into only after considerable thought and reflection. By making this commitment today, K & C's relationship will become stronger, better, and deeper.

Today, they demonstrate their devotion to each other by dedicating themselves to a life together. By setting forth the vows they have created today, their lives, which began on separate paths, will be joined as one.

ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF FAMILY & FRIENDS

Today represents not only the joining of Kara and Cody but also the joining of their families and friends.

Kara and Cody would like to recognize their parents on this occasion.  They offer their gratitude for all the love and care their parents showed in raising them.  The unconditional gifts of love and support that you/we have continually offered have inspired them to become who they are today. 

They have also asked that we take a moment to honor those loved ones who are not with us today but who's lives had an impact on them.

Kara's grandparents who have passed. Norine and Bill Caskey who would be so proud of you today, Kara. And her living grandparents. Don and Sally Simon. As well as Cody's Mom’s Parents (Phil and Glenda), his Dad’s parents (Bonnie and Bruce).

MARRIAGE ADDRESS

What is among the greatest gifts of the human experience?  Deep abiding affection, and the magical, shared impulse that makes us seek each other’s company,

Any of us who has been fortunate enough to find and express the kind of loving devotion that we are celebrating here today knows that it is an awesome and beautiful thing.

At this time, I would like to share 3 suggestions with the both of you:

First:

-1- Be constantly grateful for this precious person who has chosen to make a life with you. This is not a small matter...and the fact that you have met, fallen in love, and decided to marry is the biggest deal of your life.

My second suggestion is this:

-2- Be generous with your attention to each other.  The world can be a tough place and any of us can be subject to rough handling. The truth is you have not yet been tested. But you will be.

It might be the loss of a loved one - an Illness or an accident. Or, The world throws a curve ball to you that you can't hit. Maybe  a pandemic...nah that could never happen

You can have all the plans you want, but something will happen. There is a Yiddish saying, if you want to make God laugh, tell him your plans. Or, for you that prefer boxing analogies, Mike Tyson once said, "Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the mouth.”

That's when the test begins.

But you WILL pass the test if you can be tender toward each other, be a person of kind words and thoughtful actions - and make your marriage and your home an uplifting refuge from the chaos outside.

And as you compliment each other, don't forget to BUILD EACH OTHER UP-seek the guidance of each other and do so with a warm heart.

Last, but most importantly:

-3- Better parts make a better whole. Don't forget to take care of yourself along this journey. Shakespeare said, “You can’t be of value to another until you are first a value to yourself.” Never lose your self in a relationship....if you do, you are of less value to the other.

My hope for you is this:

Take the great fortune of you having found each other--and turn that into many long years to delight in each other’s company.

To make home together that is at once sheltering and welcoming; To each do meaningful, productive and inspiring work both at home and in the world. And to love and be loved by the friends and family who have come here today to support you.

 Ecclesiastes 4:9: "Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up. Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone?"

1 Corinthians 13:2: "If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing."