Friends For The Journey

Last night our daughters hosted a party with many of our old and new friends here in Miami in order to celebrate our 35 years of marriage

(by-the-way, it was 40 years ago this month that I took Debbie to my senior prom).
It was a true ‘high water’ mark for our lives and we had the greatest time of our lives.

There were old friends who were part of our church planting team for the Spanish church 20 years ago, most of the couples from our current spiritual family, and we were joined by more recent friends from Debbie and Sarah’s former employer, and me and Ruth’s friends from Stick & Steins and our Tuesday god-party. There was also one close friend of mine from the university (oh, I almost forgot the whole “Cuban” side of our family through Sarah’s husband Carlos. They all came and helped set up the party and organize the food! –MuCHAcho… AYE mi madre!).

I kicked off the formal part of the ceremony when a song by Faith Hill came on called, This Kiss.
I pulled Debbie out in the middle of the group and gave her what my dad used to call “The John Wayne Breakdown.” Amid a chorus of cheers and whistles we kissed long and deeply.

Our friend Dr. Sam Lopez presided over the reaffirmation of our covenant vows, and offered a prayer and toast afterward.

When Debbie got to the part that says “in sickness and health, until death us do part” … she broke down and cried, and so did the whole group.

Later we danced and just enjoyed good conversation.

Ruth’s boyfriend Mike cooked an awesome meal of Chicken Marsela for 40 people. Several of our young friends from the god-party thanked us for including them in the ceremony and articulated that it gave them a higher goal to shoot for in life.

I am posting below our renewal vows:

Debbie, I thank God for bringing you into my life 36 years ago, and I thank you for choosing to share your life with me for the past 35 years. We have grown together and become one. Today I recommit my self to you.

“I, Joseph, commit my life again to you, Debbie, to be your husband, lover, companion and best friend, to have and to hold, for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health to love and to tenderly cherish as a reflection of Jesus’ love for his church until death do us part”

“I, Debbie, commit my life again to you, Joseph to be your wife, lover, companion and best friend, to have and to hold, for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health to love and to tenderly cherish as a reflection of the church’s love for Jesus until death do us part”