Shelby and Jeremy’s wedding
Look, Shelby and Jeremy get their very own entry!
When I woke up, the first thing I thought was, “Shelby’s getting married today!” And then I prayed that her day would be perfect. I didn’t pray specifically about the weather, because I don’t know if I believe that praying for the weather makes any difference, but I checked the forecast and it looked good, so I took that as a good sign. And the day really was wonderful. Shelby looked radiant, the ceremony was lovely, the house where they got married was beautiful, the food was delicious, and we had a great time. I even got to see Shelby before the ceremony (since Mike and I got there so early) and spend a little time with her.
When Kelly got married, I said that it wasn’t hard for me like weddings sometimes are because she is such a good friend to me. All I could feel was happy for her. And Shelby’s wonderful day was the same way. How could I feel jealous of Shelby’s family when they have always been so kind to me? How could I envy her plans when they were so perfect, so Shelby? Why would I even want to think about myself, to make it about me, when I was so excited? This day was finally about Shelby (and, oh yeah, Jeremy, of whom I am very fond but do not know as well as I would like. Jeremy himself said that the day was not about the groom, so I feel confident in my assertion that this was Shelby’s day). Again, this says a lot more about Shelby than it does about any growth I may or may not have had.
And, really, it couldn’t have been nicer. It was a great day for an outdoor ceremony. There were no notable embarassing moments, which was what Mike and I had decided would be Shelby’s heart’s desire, so we felt that our prayers for a perfect day were answered. Congratulations, guys!
On the way home, Mike and I, who have been having some serious musical disagreements of late (let’s just say I am not a huge fan of The Decemberists), weren’t sure what to listen to. I let Mike play his beloved Decemberists for a while, and then at some point he put on Michael W. Smith’s Go West Young Man. I’ll set the scene for you: I’m driving, he’s fiddling on the iPod, and “Place in this World” comes on.
MIKE: Don’t you just love this song? I love this song. You have to love this song.
KARI: *opens mouth to answer*
MIKE: LOOKING FOR A REASON, ROAMING THROUGH THE NIGHT TO FIND MY PLACE IN THIS WORLD, MY PLAAAACE IN THIS WORLD.
KARI: *closes mouth*
BOTH: NOT A LOT TO LEAN ON, I NEED YOUR LIGHT TO HELP MY FIND MY PLACE IN THIS WORLD, MY PLAAAACE IN THIS WORLD.
KARI: Now that it’s back to the verse, do you want to hear my answer?
MIKE: What answer?
KARI: The answer to the question you asked me.
MIKE: I asked you a question?
KARI: . . .
MIKE: What?
KARI: You asked me if I love this song.
MIKE: Oh, right.
KARI: And, I think, I probably relate to the message of this song more now than I did when it came out. I mean, I was, what 11? 12? But I remember hearing this song on the radio and thinking that I could do anything. Because Christian music wasn’t supposed to be on the radio. And I thought it was so cool. I had this album on tape, I got it for Christmas from my aunt and uncle. And I started really getting into Christian music because of this album. This and Heart in Motion.
MIKE: LOOKING FOR A REASON, ROAMING THROUGH THE NIGHT TO FIND . . . what? Why are you looking at me like that?
We made our way through the album, singing along with “For You” and “How Long Will Be Too Long,” listening to snippets of the other songs, and then skipping to the end since we were almost home. I do not love “Agnus Dei” as much as Mike does, so he jumped on to “1990.”
MIKE: This always made me mad.
KARI: Well, the album is pretty short. Ten songs, but some of them are short. I don’t think this album ends all that well.
MIKE: No, I mean, it gets all “To be continued” at the end. Where’s “1991?” There’s not even a “2000.” There was no continued. We were promised a continued fifteen years ago, and we’re still waiting.
KARI: You’re still waiting. The rest of us have moved on.
Shelby and Jeremy, we had a wonderful time. I hope we can hang out soon. And Michael W. Smith, thanks for making that album. Except for that whole “Love Crusade” thing. I would ask what you were thinking, but I just admitted to singing along - loudly - to “Place in this World.” And enjoying it. I don’t feel I have the higher ground in this situation.
October 3rd, 2005 at
I will echo your comments about “Love Crusade” and “1990″. But, I’ve sung loudly with that album more times than I’d be willing to admit…
October 3rd, 2005 at
Gee thanks, Kari. Now you put that darn song in my head.
Loved this post. Glad to hear the wedding was so nice!
*goes to listen to some good old MWS…wait…what? No, I don’t have any of his music anymore….ahem*
October 3rd, 2005 at
Don’t be ashamed, Sarah. Embrace the old-school MWS love.
October 3rd, 2005 at
I would mock Jeff mercilessly if he put that on while we were driving.
But then again, you’re nicer than I am.
October 3rd, 2005 at
Well, I grew up with it, too, though. Mike and I have the same musical background in a lot of ways.
October 3rd, 2005 at
Actucally Jason and I were trying to make a CCM mix cd of the 90s but I did have enough to make a full one - but I still do have Big House by AA and Free at Last by DcTalk. I kinda wish I had those MWS songs. I had it on tape as well.
October 3rd, 2005 at
I think 10 songs is much too short for a CD, but that’s neither here nor there.
October 4th, 2005 at
YAY KARI AND MIKE TRANSCRIPTS!!!!!!!!!!!
October 4th, 2005 at
I know that whole album by heart - including the “rap” in Love Crusade. That whole conversation was hilarious (esp. the part about 1990 to be continued).
By the way, I read your blog regularly - and just wanted to say thanks. You’re an excellent writer, and I often find that you express things I’ve thought - but in a much more profound and coherent way!
October 12th, 2005 at
I’m late getting to this, but since I enjoy your blog and I’m a HUGE Smitty fan…
Now now… we have to appreciate “Love Crusade” for what it is and when it was done…. and for goodness sakes I just loved Smitty’s face the one and only time I’ve seen him try to do the rap part in a concert in the last 10 years or so since I’ve been going to his concerts!
Go West Young Man was his first album that I owned, so I will always have a tender place in my heart for it…. (look at it this way - you could have been me the other night singing along at full volume to the complete album Michael W. Smith 2!)
Anyway - I’m a Smitty freak who knows all the songs he’s personally written by heart (I add that disclaimer because I do not like his worship albums - none of it is as good as if he’d have written songs himself…with the exception of Rich Mullins stuff of course =)
so I of course couldn’t just let the post go by without commenting!
oh and Smitty did finally say he wasn’t going to continue 1990 - it was one of the questions in the Release Extra magazine that came out when I’ll Lead You Home album came out… and yes - its very sad that I remember it - but thats partially due to my obsessive Librarian (yep I’m one too) nature and the fact that I finally went through and pulled out all the Smitty articles I had from CCM magazines and such and put them in a binder in chronological order… hey one of these days they may start a “Christian Music museum and need a Smitty subject-area Librarian! (and yes that last bit is a joke…though a Christian music museum would be fun….)
October 5th, 2006 at
Wow - I was just talking to my boyfriend about how one of the songs on “Go West Young Man” ended with ‘to be continued’ and how bummed I was that it never was. I actually did a google search to prove to myself that I wasn’t crazy- that’s when your blog popped up. Glad to know I’m not alone in waiting for it! Also glad to know (thanks Aria) that I can stop watching for one. That is sad though. Cool blog, by the way!
March 16th, 2007 at
Ditto Sarah I picked this up on a google having dragged out my old MWS albums for a bit of working background music and HAD to resolve my 1990 frustration. At least we know now.