Our cruise, Paris, and Final Wedding Thoughts

(Credit: Wikipedia)

Hello,

We're coming home as husband and wife. A husband and wife who genuinely love and care about each other. :)

Well the honeymoon has officially come to a close and we are on our way back home after a long 7 day cruise to four different countries. It was a great experience to say the least and in general, having a premium drink package is pretty awesome.

Anyway, we took in the sun in Labadee... enjoyed the sights and sounds of Falmouth... bought jewelry in George Town, Grand Cayman... and went on a tour of the Mayan ruins and a cocoa factory in Cozumel, Mexico...

As we got on the boat, we realized that we were in for a huge treat. We decided to explore the boat before we went on our merry way to our stateroom (which wouldn't be open until 1pm). Our bags arrived at 5pm.

Our first day, since we were tired and we woke up at 2:00am, we figured we weren't going to do much and decided against getting a drink package because we knew we weren't going to drink. So we just settled for 1 drink apiece as we left. We will never forget what the cruise director said after the muster drill: "Ladies and Gentlemen, I have an important announcement, you are officially on... Vacation." (CHEERS AND APPLAUSE). I don't think the cruise director understood that everyone on the ship? Was at work.

We went to bed because we were DONE.

At Sea. We rode out Tropical Storm Kate but during the Captain's Meet and Greet. Captain Espen Been said: "We're going through a tropical storm, but no worries, we'll be ok." Certainly we were. All of the officers were like stooges just entertaining the crowd and having a good time with their honored guests.

Labadee was something else. Joanna and I took stayed on the beach for about 4 hours before we realized we were just roasting a lot and not really going in the water because it was awful slimy at the bottom and I cracked my toenail on a reef.

Falmouth was nothing to smile about. I mean, I heard the horror stories of what happens if you go outside of the gated area... so we stayed IN the gated area. Took to the shops, picked up a wooden stingray as a souvenir and we were off. We got one of the best pictures with Joanna and I standing in between both ships that were docked... That was probably our ultimate picture.

Next up was Grand Cayman. We walked around, took in the sights and sounds... Bought some jewelry (which definitely made the wife very happy except we forgot the British system of measurements... where a 7 means 6 in American sizing). But she got a Tanzanite gemstone as a free gift which was really great. I picked up a couple shot glasses for my co-workers and 2 shirts and a hat for myself.

Our final port of call was Cozumel where Joanna jumped on the excursion for the Mayan Ruins and the Island Tour. We explored Mayan history and indulged in Mexican Chocolate which is... really better than Hershey's by far. Hershey's just has too much sugar in it.

At Sea. We were riding the coast of the keys and Cuba and it was time to mark our final good-byes.

We approached the airport with sadness but knowing that we will be glad to do another one soon.

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On Friday, while we were on our cruise, I popped on the television to find out that ISIS pulled out terrorist attacks in Paris that killed and wounded many.

I continue to say that we are closing in on another world war where we are going up against terrorism. I'm having a feeling that ISIL is going to merge with a lot of other terrorist groups and do more attacks.

People also questioned why I didn't show solidarity with France by changing my picture to show the colors of the French Tricolore. Easy. I'm showing solidarity with the WORLD because the WORLD has a lot of problems. For example, 2 suicide bombings in Lebanon, 142 Nigerian Girls murdered, Japan had a 7.0 and 8.2 earthquake, Mexico had a 5.0 earthquake... Those are just some of the things that are going on in this world that people CONTINUE TO IGNORE.

Obama doesn't understand that he just can't sit there on his duff waiting for stuff to happen. Clearly, he doesn't understand that if NATO Article 5 gets invoked that means International Law trumps the American Law on sending troops. He HAS to send them. France is at least showing some muscle while the US sits there like a bunch of wimps as spectators.

Our world is a completely broken place right now and it will take more than prayers to heal it. We will definitely need action as well. Prayers are very powerful but action is powerful as well. Changing your FB pic to the French Tricolore doesn't defeat terrorism. You show solidarity but it doesn't defeat it.

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Final wedding thoughts:

Everything went amazingly well. The food was good, I managed to drink just 1 Kronenbourg 1664 but it seems like that was the beer that went incredibly fast. Hell, I think I may have helped France's sales of that beer.

Anyway, I want to thank everyone that was involved and helped us out with last minute things and also anything of the such.

I married Joanna for her sensibility, love, and outgoing personality. God saw her as the perfect fit for me.

My father gave me some advice: "Marriage is a union, a team, you work together" and that it is. One doesn't domineer over the other... Take a lesson, husbands. The first years will be difficult I'm sure, but down the road, I think we will be just fine. There'll be a child in our future. Not just yet. But in the future.

My mother kept hoping that I would get a dog in the house. But Joanna and I have made it clear: No dogs.

Yes, we did it, and have the rest of my life to spend with the most wonderful woman ever.

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Thanks everyone

This is what victory looks like

This is what victory looks like

NOVEMBER 7TH, 2015

Thank you everyone for everything you have done for us in putting together this wedding and beyond. Thank you for all the gifts that you have bestowed upon us to get us started in life. The first year will be tough but with love, patience, and compassion, we will make it through. Together, we are victorious and strong.

Opening Statement: Today's the day

OPENING STATEMENT

THE EVENT - 11/7/2015

Prelude: Today is the day that should've never have happened. A day that no one saw coming except the families who were involved in the planning, my fiance, and myself. After searching high and low... far and wide... It's all over with... today is the day. Today, I marry my best friend.

Good Morning,

According to many... this day should not have happened... To some, they thought my impending marriage to my fiance was a joke... To others, it was: "how did that happen..." or "who's that desperate..." or "what's his name..."

But it did happen and I finally get to tell these people and say: You've lost the battle and the war is over... I don't care what you think anymore... You mean nothing to me... especially the ones who were incredibly dastardly... You failed to break my spirit and will. The Lord protected me all these years and talked with me. He said: "Josh, don't worry about them, time to worry about you, and the time is now... Who cares about them... You made it this far and you can do it again."

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I begin my opening statement with a few quotes

"A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies." - Proverbs 3:10

"I don't care how poor a man is, if he has a wife and family, he's rich." - Col. Sherman T. Potter

"The wife is your best friend, she's more than just your best friend, she should be a part of your own universe." - Jeff Foxworthy

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Today is a day I claim more than just a victory. After I place that ring on her finger... and she places it on mine... I can honestly say I can finally declare a victory unlike any other.

In less than 4 hours, today's the day where I never expected to be, a day never expected would come, and a day I always thought was just going to be a dream. But that dream has officially become a reality as of today. As I look around my home today, I realize more and more that someone very special will be living with me because she will become something I never dared believe I would have. Today is the day in which I watch my future wife walk down the aisle, arm-in-arm with her father looking at her seeing that her little girl has grown up. But then he's going to pass her off to me saying: "This is my little girl, you take care of her...."

Today, it's a day that is solemn for the families knowing that these are the last kids they are sending off into the world and writing their own stories. A story that has many blank pages just waiting to have words and inscriptions on it. Those words and inscriptions can mean so many things. As we prepare to undertake this journey as husband and wife, we think about how we got here. It all began on that sunny, hot August 16th when the Orioles were playing the Rockies at Camden Yards. Right from the start, Joanna and I seemed to fit like a puzzle piece, snug yet firm. I kissed her during that 6th inning and from there, it was just complete magic.

It was really difficult to picture this in dreams, books, and websites. In this day in age, I never saw this coming.

I wrote a letter to Joanna today declaring my unlimited and infinite love to her. We went through our own trials and tribulations. There's been a lot of triumphs as well.

There is a Japanese proverb out there that says: "With one you are weak, but together... you are strong." Today is a day of institution... family institution and togetherness. It's when two families come together to share a collective moment that will be a forever bond.

Today is a day that I get to declare victory. A victory over the naysayers and people who claimed I would never get married. Today, I'm the winner. If this was game 7 of the World Series, I just made the final out. My wife-in-waiting? She's a winner too because she knows that she has a guy who will be her best friend from days on end. The naysayers are the losers and I care nothing for them. I wish no bad luck on them. But I care nothing for them.

Today is a day to shout praises to the Lord. Every day, I praise my Lord and savior for giving me the breath of life to wake up every morning. The Lord looked at me on Friday morning and said: "Josh, tomorrow, you will be taking a huge step forward in your life. Cherish the woman you will give your hand in marriage to. Love her, comfort her, keep her, and take care of her in sickness and in health." I told God that I will do all these things.

Today is a day that I keep a promise. The promise of marriage is to forsake all others for as long as I shall live and that goes double for my wife too. Marriage is a promise and a contract with God, knowing that when the rings go on, that means we are together forever. That ring changes your life for good.

Sure we will have fights, disagreements, and other stuff like so. No marriage is perfect and it will have it's tall mountains to climb, deep and long oceans to swim across, and beyond. I was told by my friend Bridget: "Just have fun with it... sure, there are inevitable things that will happen. But just have fun with it."

It will be a great day for both of us. We are ready to make a very large step in our lives. Be a part of each other's families... Hold each other close in the most difficult of times... Hug each other when we are feeling sad... And just be a great married couple....

When we are old and gray, watching our children grow up, and our grandchildren are running around in our backyard... I'll say to Joanna, "we did it, we made it through so many years, and look at us... Our children are college grads, we have grandchildren, the Lord has blessed us."

It is today, where we will begin our first seconds, minutes, and hours of being a married couple. I just hope I can hold back the tears knowing that our lives are going to change in just a blink of an eye.

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It's not just my day to shine. But it is my friend Kaylyn's as well. I want to express my congratulations to my good friend as well. Kaylyn and I have known each other since 9th grade and we also work together at the same company. Today is her wedding day too and I want to share this statement with her as well. She's been nothing short of a fantastic friend and I wish nothing but the best for her. Mike, take good care of this girl. She's a great human being and you got a terrific wife-in-waiting.

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To conclude,

Thank you everyone... Thank you for the support you gave me all these years... I thank everyone who has been nothing short of a great friend to me...

To my family, I love you... We've had our ups and downs, beginnings and ends, hard times and good times. As a family, we stick together, and know that it's never good-bye even when we are gone. We've made the most of everything. Mom and dad, you taught me right from wrong and kicked my butt when I needed it. But when I made a mistake, you would scold me for it but it didn't make you guys love me any less. I'm so proud to be a part of this family.

To my wife's family, thank you for accepting me for who and what I am. I am just an ordinary person who enjoys the good things in life. Thank you for everything you've done for me from start to finish. I appreciate the help with the house and beyond.

To my best friends and current co-workers, I'm glad you will be spending this day watching me take my first steps. You are a part of a big deal today and I can't tell you what it means to me to have you there.

To my groomsmen, thank you for stepping up and being a part of this. This is a day unlike any other and I wouldn't pass you guys up for anything.

To the bridesmaids, Joanna is the most special person in your lives. Thank you for being apart of her crew today.

And lastly, to my wife Joanna: You completed me and when you read that letter, you'll know how much you completed me.

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Thank you.

I leave you all with a quote from Father of the Bride: "As my son Matty would say: Let's have a party."

Everyone wish me luck.
~ Joshua