My dearest dakota bone,
Oh how the time flys. It seems like yesterday that i approached you in the mars hill cafeteria to proposition a friendship with the girl that looked like an indian. a friendship that consisted of us strategically planning out how to be the end of each our classes tables so that we could sit near each other and you could give me your peperonis everyday at lunch. Not much has changed. We have worked for over 15 years to stay close and you have never stopped giving me your peperonis, and you started giving me so much more, starting with grace.
In the past 15 years I have needed a lot of grace, and you have never withheld it from me. Thank you so much for that! I can never thank you enough for the grace you have given me that has always been followed by an unwavering love. I’ve always apperciated how great of a friend you have been to me but until I started writing this out I’ve never realized how special it really is. You have loved me with the love of Jesus. The love you give is a love that is always covered with grace. You have never held my offenses against me, you’ve just loved me with a grace that forgets all that I’ve done wrong. Perfect example: Ms. Oaks first grade class. As a very ignorant “religious” first grader, I thought it would be nice to inform my best friend that she had an internity in hell in her future because her parents were divorced. I mean, thats the obvious thing to tell someone, right? To go ahead and warn them about something I had no clue about? yeah, I apologize for that again. I can never apologize about that enough. Especially because 4 years later, when I found out my “perfect” family wasn’t perfect and my parents were getting a divorce, too. You were the one who held my hand through it all.
From bringing me goody bags and movies while I was in lockdown at Shev’s to sending me letters in the mail when I was grounded from the phone and internet, you have always fought for our friendship and loved me in the times I was a hard person to love. Thank you for not only being an amazing friend but for also being such a beautiful person! I love you so much!
As I write this, I’m having to constantly remind myself that I’m not loosing you as a best friend and that now I’m just have to share you now with Hunter. But the truth is that I’ve been sharing you with Hunter for quite awhile now, Kota. And I’ve grown to trust that God has given you such a huge heart that their is room for all 3 of us: Me, Hunter, and God. Always trust that its possible to love more. Our God is love and I believe our God is limitless. He will always increase your ability to love. As you take your vows today, know that this isn’t where the growing stops. This day doesn’t mark the end of the fairy tale. Never settle thinking its okay to stop at happily ever after. This day starts the real love story, it marks the commitment to each other that you will never let the growing stop. Dakota and Hunter, your love for each other is already great but as you grow together the love you have for each other will also increase.
Dakota, I love you so much and it breaks my heart that I couldn’t be with you today. As I sit here so far away, the only thing that keeps me sain is my faith that God has a reason for me not being there and that He is making all things work together for our good. You are such a beautiful person and a God-sent friend and I know you will make a beautiful, God-sent wife. You and Hunter will be in my prayers every day of my life and I can’t wait to see how God works in and through you two and your love for each other.
You truely are amazing, Kota bone. The past 21 years I’ve stumbled around trying to figure out the beat of this song called life. As I’ve clumsily searched, I have crashed into a lot of people and stepped on a lot of toes, but you always danced with me. Even when it was you that I was crashing into. You saw that there was rhythm somewhere deep down in me and had faith that one day I would figure it out and dance beautifuly to that beat. I still don’t have it down, but I can dance in confidence knowing that you, like God, will always be dancing with me.
I’m saying this for you, Hunter. I want you to know that your beautiful bride is the most loyal friend you’ll ever have. Don’t ever be afraid to dance. Whether you are dancing to the beat of your own drum or you stumbling through a new beat, kota will always be there beside you loving you no matter what. She is a beautiful person and her love is never based on the circumstances. Even in hard times, Dakota will love you with an unphathonable amount of grace. Always know that:) and even though I’ve found it almost impossible to love her as much as she loves, I have faith in you, Hunter. I believe you can and will. Don’t let me down;) I love you both and pray that God pours out unending blessings on yall’s marriage.
