When I met Aaron he was already dating Lorraine, so truthfully he wasn’t very interested in anyone but her. :) They were engaged the same summer as Laura and Kenny, and Mark and me. It was the summer of weddings! (It probably gives Kathy anxiety to think about.) To me, Aaron and Lorraine were one noun, they were Aaron-and-Lorraine. I remember hearing the young Thatcher children speak of the horrors of watching Aaron-and-Lorraine see how many times they could kiss in one minute. They were so in love.
At their wedding luncheon they played a cd of them reading from their past journal entries, expressing their great desires to be married to a righteous partner and have a family. They had both waited a long time. In hearing their pleadings, then seeing their current joy, I realized they had learned: if we trust in the Lord’s timing and plan for our lives he will provide us with a better outcome than we could have planned for ourselves. Their eternal marriage was evidence of that. At the end of the luncheon Aaron announced that we were free to leave, or we could stay there and “watch them kiss.” We were out of there. :) Over time they have always continued to value one another and their children.
I have appreciated Aaron’s friendship with Mark. They have shared many similar interests. One year Aaron arranged for them to go to a Front Sight Training, that he of course got a great deal to because of someone he knew. I would tease them that they sounded like a bunch of girls constantly texting and calling each other in preparation. They were even planning their outfits. :) I asked Aaron to take some pictures of the trip for me, and he was so kind. He sent me several photos and even videos of the event. Because of his thoughtfulness I felt included in the experience that Mark loved so much.
Speaking of videos, another memory I had of Aaron was based on a video of him running the Ragnar race with the family team. It was his turn to run and his knee was somehow injured. Rather than calling on a sub, he continued to finish his leg of the race literally hobbling along. It was almost too painful to watch. He was visiting Paradise shortly after, and his knee was still giving him trouble. I sarcastically told him I thought he was crazy to have done that. He returned my comment with some sarcasm of his own. The reality was, that Aaron’s mental determination to finish something hard was much stronger than the physical pain he was experiencing.
For their examples of love, trust in the Lord, friendship, thoughtfulness, determination to overcome hard things, and countless other reasons, I love Aaron-and-Lorraine.
At their wedding luncheon they played a cd of them reading from their past journal entries, expressing their great desires to be married to a righteous partner and have a family. They had both waited a long time. In hearing their pleadings, then seeing their current joy, I realized they had learned: if we trust in the Lord’s timing and plan for our lives he will provide us with a better outcome than we could have planned for ourselves. Their eternal marriage was evidence of that. At the end of the luncheon Aaron announced that we were free to leave, or we could stay there and “watch them kiss.” We were out of there. :) Over time they have always continued to value one another and their children.
I have appreciated Aaron’s friendship with Mark. They have shared many similar interests. One year Aaron arranged for them to go to a Front Sight Training, that he of course got a great deal to because of someone he knew. I would tease them that they sounded like a bunch of girls constantly texting and calling each other in preparation. They were even planning their outfits. :) I asked Aaron to take some pictures of the trip for me, and he was so kind. He sent me several photos and even videos of the event. Because of his thoughtfulness I felt included in the experience that Mark loved so much.
Speaking of videos, another memory I had of Aaron was based on a video of him running the Ragnar race with the family team. It was his turn to run and his knee was somehow injured. Rather than calling on a sub, he continued to finish his leg of the race literally hobbling along. It was almost too painful to watch. He was visiting Paradise shortly after, and his knee was still giving him trouble. I sarcastically told him I thought he was crazy to have done that. He returned my comment with some sarcasm of his own. The reality was, that Aaron’s mental determination to finish something hard was much stronger than the physical pain he was experiencing.
For their examples of love, trust in the Lord, friendship, thoughtfulness, determination to overcome hard things, and countless other reasons, I love Aaron-and-Lorraine.
Emily,
ReplyDeleteIsn't it humbling to think of all the blessings since that summer is weddings?
Love you,
Mom