The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.

The Wedding

Dessa Rodeffer, Quill Publisher

29 October 2003

Joy, excitement, tears, and a tremendous feeling of gratitude to God filled my heart as I watched my daughter, Darci Andrews, go through one of the most moving wedding ceremonies I have seen in a long long time.

Of course, it is always emotional when it is one of your own children, but as over two hundred witnesses sat in a Fort Collins, Colorado church Saturday, tears of joy flowed all through the ceremony by most all of the guests.

The wedding brought together a woman to a handsome young man and his two children, age 13 and 11, who have been praying together for a Godly wife and mother for seven years.

Family and friends had been praying for Darci to find a strong man of God as well.

Several things happened that Darci felt were God's leading which included a move to Fort Collins where she was offered a directorship of a Physical Therapy Clinic.

After a year of Bible study with a new friend, the friend asked Darci to meet a man whom she felt was God's choice for her.

Ten months later, she began to date Dan, met his children, and God's perfect planning was evident to the many who had surrounded them in prayer.

I flew out to meet this man who had swept my daughter off her feet, and to meet his two children. They had become engaged after church in the sanctuary.

He had flown to Moline, unbeknown to Darci, and asked her dad for her hand in marriage. He returned with a note saying he was most pleased to say "yes".

The year became busy with wedding plans and our family anxiously waited for the weekend these two would recite their personal vows of commitment to each other.

During the ceremony, her brothers Troy and Damon each read scripture and the minister interpeted its meaning. A third scripture verse was read by the minister prior to the unity candle and braiding of the cord.

He said that when three cords are braided together they are not easily broken.

The minister told how Darci and Dan vowed to bring God into the marriage as a part of every decision they make.

The couple braided three cords to signify their intent before asking Autumn and Matthew to come be a part of the lighting of the unity candle.

Seeing the four hand in hand as they prayed at the alter, moved us and encouraged us, as they pledged to love each other and spur the other to run hard for Christ.