Jeanine Lynn Lytton

Dearly Beloved and Honored Guests,

We are gathered together here to join Jocelyn Lytton and Heath Arnold in the union of marriage.

This contract is not to be entered into lightly but thoughtfully and seriously, and with a deep realization of its obligations and responsibilities. Please remember that love, loyalty, and understanding are the foundations of a happy and enduring home.

Marriage is perhaps the greatest and most challenging adventure of human relationships. No ceremony can create your marriage; only you can do that—through love and patience; through dedication and perseverance; through talking and listening, helping and supporting and believing in each other; through tenderness and laughter; through learning to forgive, learning to appreciate your differences, and by learning to make the important things matter, and to let go of the rest.

What this ceremony can do is to witness and affirm the choice you make to stand together as lifemates and partners.

And to Jocelyn, my first child, I offer these words from Bob Marley:

He’s not perfect. You aren’t either, and the two of you will never be perfect. But if he can make you laugh at least once, causes you to think twice, and if he admits to being human and making mistakes, hold onto him and give him the most you can. He isn’t going to quote poetry, he’s not thinking about you every moment, but he will give you a part of him that he knows you could break. Don’t hurt him, don’t change him, and don’t expect for more than he can give. Don’t analyze. Smile when he makes you happy, yell when he makes you mad, and miss him when he’s not there. Love hard when there is love to be had. Because perfect guys don’t exist, but there’s always one guy that is perfect for you.

And to you Heath, I offer these words from Jocelyn's father and I:

"As you take our daughter's hand in marriage, remember, there are no returns."

Jocelyn and Heath will now share their vows.

Do you Jocelyn, take this man Heath, to be your lawfully wedded husband, to have and to hold, in sickness and in health, in good times and bad, for richer or poorer, in freedom and in quarantine, keeping yourself unto him for as long as you both shall live?

*If so, say "I do".*

Do you Heath, take this woman Jocelyn, to be your lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold, in sickness and in health, in good times and bad, for richer or poorer, in freedom and in quarantine, keeping yourself unto her for as long as you both shall live?

*If so, say "I do".*

Jocelyn and Heath, prior to this moment you each walked a separate path. Now, you embark together on a shared path. Yet the journey is not yours alone, for you have already been blessed with beautiful children. Layton, Felicity, Jace and Eva. It is the strength of your love that shall nourish you all together as a family.

The secret to blending families is there is no secret. It’s scary and awesome and ragged and perfect and always changing. Love and laugh hard. Try again tomorrow. But that’s life advice, right?

Dr. Suess said it best. “We’re all a little weird, and life’s a little weird. And when we find someone whose weirdness is compatible with ours, we join up with them and fall in mutual weirdness and call it love.”

Jocelyn and Heath will now exchange rings as a symbol of their love and commitment.

Heath, repeat after me:

"Jocelyn, you are my best friend and everlasting companion.

You have brought me the truest happiness I have ever known.

I take joy today in committing my life to yours."

Now place the ring on her hand and repeat after me...

"with this ring, I promise to stand with you as we share this life, and cherish the memories we make together."

Jocelyn, repeat after me:

"Heath, you are my best friend and everlasting companion.

You have brought me the truest happiness I have ever known.

I take joy today in committing my life to yours."

Now place the ring on his hand and repeat after me.... "

with this ring, I promise to stand with you as we share this life and cherish the memories we make together."

PRONOUNCEMENT

Jocelyn and Heath, today you have stood before these witnesses and declared your intent to commit your lives to each other in marriage. You have made promises to each other and your family.

I hope you will never forget the journey you have taken to get to this moment. And I hope you will never forget the love and joy you feel today, because these are the values that will keep your marriage, family and bond to one another strong.

I quote marriage advice from a person of great wisdom, Albus Dumbledore:

“Happiness can be found even in the darkest of times if only one remembers to turn on the light. We are only as strong as we are united, as weak as we are divided. You are protected, in short, by your ability to love.”

By the authority vested in me by American Marriage Ministries and the State of Kansas I now pronounce you wife and husband!

I present to you for the first time, Jocelyn and Heath Arnold.