The Wedding.

My friend, Nana, sent these pictures and story to me. I later researched it and found that in 2006 a photographer won an award for capturing this amazing story.

It's funny because just yesterday I was telling Mike that I had a [social] media-ache. You know that feeling when you eat so many sweets in one setting that you get really really sick?!? Well, I get that a lot with media. I take in so many songs on the radio, reality television shows, gossip websites, magazine articles, etc. that I literally feel sick. I wish, I could purge all the superficiality, overcharged sexual references, materialism, and violence. So, as of now I am "fasting" from  all the chaos - it's  clogging my spirit.

All this to say, I woke up ready for my day away from it all and I got this e-mail. It literally made my arm hair stand up. What a beautiful GENUINE story of love. This is a REAL story and true love looks like. 

The wedding.

Her name is Katie Kirkpatrick, 21 yrs old. Next to her is her fiancé, Nick, 23. This picture was taken prior to their wedding January 11th, 2005. Katie has terminal cancer and spends hours in chemotherapy. Here Nick awaits while she finishes one of the sessions...

Even in pain and dealing with her organs shutting down, with the help of morphine, Katie took care of every single part of the wedding planning. Her dress had to be adjusted several times due to Katie 's constant weight loss.

An expected guest was her oxygen tank. Katie had to use it during the ceremony and reception. The other couple in this picture is Nick's parents, very emotional with the wedding and to see their son marrying the girl he fell in love when he was an adolescent.

Katie, in a wheel chair listening to her husband and friends singing to her.

In the middle of the party, Katie had to rest for a bit and catch her breath. The pain does not allow her to stand for long period of time.

Katie died 5 days after her wedding. To see a fragile woman dress as bride with a beautiful smile makes you think... Happiness is always there within reach, no matter how long it lasts. Lets enjoy life and don't live a complicated life. Life is too short.

Work as if it was your first day. Forgive as soon as possible.

Love without boundaries. Laugh without control and never stop smiling. Please pray for those suffering from cancer.

God, please allow me to live a pure life with an abundance of happiness even amidst my trials. I also pray for those with cancer and their families. To Patrick and the Kirkpatrick family, HERE'S TO YOU! Thank you for sharing this moment. And to Katie... words cannot describe how your last six days have genuinely changed the lives of so many people - mine included.