Like many couples these days, Lydia and Doug found each othervia the internet. Lydia grew up in Somerville, MA and Doug grew up in rural Kentucky. Although there was always a distance between them, their common faith in Christ drew them together. They prayed together every day over the phone. They knew their relationship was meant to be. They had both waited a long time for their wedding day.

I’ve actually know Lydia since I was about five years old. She is one of six kids in her Cape Verdian family. Her younger brother Gamaliel (a.k.a. "Gumby") was my best friend growing up. We were pretty much inseparable. We both loved baseball, going to youth group together, and of course, meeting girls together. We were also really competitive with each other, which always seemed to make us better in the end.

Lydia and Gumby lost their older brother Manny a few years ago. He was killed by a drunk driver. Manny was only 33. Just a few years before that, Gumby lost his three year old son Caleb in a tragic accident at home. This family knows tragedy and I’ve seen them face it head on. But this wedding day was about something different. It was about two people finding each other, making a commitment to spend the rest of their lives together and celebrating their love for each other.

My dad had the privilege of performing his third marriage ceremony for this family. This one was held at the Malden Church of the Nazarene.  For those that know my dad, he tends to march to the beat of a different drummer. At one point in the ceremony he said, "Before we move on, there’s something I want to show you." "Uh-oh!" was what the voice cried inside my head. I, along with the rest of the guests, were pleasantly surprised when he pulled out of his Bible a hand-made card that Lydia made for him when she was a kid. He read it aloud. It was perfect. It made everyone laugh and added a personal touch to the ceremony that I rarely see. I was incredibly proud of my dad.

The newlyweds and their guests continued their celebration that evening at Anthony’s Function Hall in Somerville, MA. The many kids in attendance showed the grown-ups how to have fun on the dance floor. Eventually, the grown-ups decided to have some fun too.

Lydia and Doug – I wish you many wonderful years together. Enjoy starting your new lives together in Kentucky!

Vendors:

Church:  Malden Church of the Nazarene –  Malden, MA

Reception:  Anthony’s Function Hall – Somerville, MA

 

To see even more photos from their wedding, click here.

 

 

 

 Doug’s dad has a great laugh!

 

 

My favorite picture of Lydia

 

 

George’s shot

 

 

 

 

 

My dad showing the hand-written birthday card to Lydia.  Awesome.

 

 

 

 

George is SO awesome at capturing this stuff during formals (and any other time for that matter!)

 

 

Another one of George’s

 

 

 

"We are family!"

 

 

 

 

 

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