Tonight the official announcement was made: Tomorrow we attendants should have thought of some accolades, anecdotes, or general atrocities to bestow upon the bride and groom. We were of course warned about this weeks ago, but tonight the pressure is on.

There are so many stories, so many memories, so many heartbreaking and earth shaping moments to share; which to pick?

The hindsight hilarity of one of Ryan's million cross continent phone calls to me in Guatemala during the hush hush stage of this covenantal dance. One memory sticks out in particular. I was sick, like a dog sick. He called me after one particularly inconvenient bout of face over the toilet-bowl. I insisted I was going to vomit again in three seconds and yet he still demanded my full attention for those three seconds. Why? What, you ask, could be of such importance that one must put off the aggravating fumes in one's stomach in order to listen to a lovelorn boy thousands of miles away? Only this: I love her, Lor. I really love her.

You must, Ry, but right now I hate you.

The summer of secrets. Kicks under the table, raised eyebrows, and too many tears to count; where the weight [wait] was too much to bear sometimes. But bearing it, in hindsight, was one of the greatest privileges of my life.

The nights it would be too difficult to bear. Where the weight [wait] was too hard, too much, too demanding, and I would cry. Once on the street corner, at midnight, yeah, that was me you saw as you drove home from wherever you were. Ryan, tall and intimidating, me small and intimidated. Ryan, speaking truth into my life, me seeing him as the person who was stealing my best friend.

Right then, Ry, you were my friend and I loved you.

The100+ days of self-induced potato famine, er, surplus; days where I would come home to my apartment and find bowls stacked in my sink full of potato, tomato, avocado, and salt residue. Such perseverance paid off, on both our parts; he got the girl, and I moved out of my apartment.

The road trips of backseat chaperoning. Trying desperately not to listen, not to care, not to be jealous, not to love them so much that I couldn't let them go.

The meeting I was allowed to sit in on. The meeting. With Dr. Tallo. The meeting where covenant became real to me. Where they as a couple became real to me.

The last time we three spent together, three girls, three friends, three people whose lives will take dramatically different shapes in the coming years, but friends who understand Kingdom Relationship, and Kingdom perspective. I'm sad about the change, but I'm so thrilled to be linked for eternity to these two girls.

And finally, tonight, when you walked up the aisle, practicing for tomorrow. And when you thanked your father, with honor and dignity. And when you put your head on my shoulder and whispered how much you loved me. And when you cried on the phone with me yesterday morning, rejoicing and loving the Lord. And when I threw a load of laundry in this afternoon, his pants next to your shirts. Your socks next to her jeans. You became one in my mind.

I don't know if I'll have the words tomorrow. But let me say some tonight: You are two of the best people I know, shaped and formed for God's good pleasure. Planned and purposed for His great measure. There are stories I could share, anecdotes which would induce laughter, but more than all of that, I want you to know that the integrity and honor which abounds in your lives pours over and creates rivers of blessings beyond what I could ask or think.

You are precious friends indeed. I love you.