In The Blink Of An Eye

First Dance

I put my dress on and looked at myself in the mirror. It was like nothing ever happened!!! This time when I walked down those stairs I was going to walk to my husband and kiss him the way I should have done when we got pronounced husband and wife. No, our wedding didn't go according to plan but nothing in our relationship had so far so this was going to be just one more thing we would talk about for years to come. 

There is a saying; "Life isn't about what happens to you, it's about how you react to what happens to you." 

I could either get mad and leave everything I had or I could ignore what Brayden said for now and enjoy this day like nothing had happened. I had way too many bad things happen to me over the years that the last thing I needed was for this special moment to get ruined as well. I didn't know what tomorrow held for me or for us but I didn't know what each other day held either. My entire life I've always looked at everything in the worst way possible. I've always said that you shouldn't ever expect good things to happen because I've learned that it's always better to be surprised than to be disappointed. At this point I was already expecting to be disappointed by the answer Jake was going to give me and I was prepared for the worst case scenario. However with everything that happened in my life, for once, at least just for today I decided to be optimistic and hope for the best.  

As I walked down those same steps from earlier, I didn't want to think of anything bad. Instead, I was determined to think of all the great things that we were going to accomplish in our lives together and how far we've come already.  

The first person I saw as I walked down the stairs was Jake. He was standing at the end of the stairs waiting for me. He was my husband!!! I was going to walk up to him and grab his hand as we walked into the venue as a married couple. I felt like I had been waiting for this day for as long as I can remember and now it was finally here. I was no longer Madisyn Connolly. From now until the rest of my life I was going to be Madisyn Donovan, Jake Donovan's wife. 

"You look just as beautiful as the very first time I saw you and I promise that you will always remain just as beautiful in my eyes for the rest of my life." 

"Thank you!" 

"Now let's go in and finish our wedding!" 

Jake and I walked hand in hand to the venue where everyone greeted us with a smile and warm applause. As I passed next to my dad he grabbed my hand and pulled me in for a hug. 

"I'm so glad you decided to stay," he exclaimed. 

"I am too dad, thanks for the pep talk." 

Out of nowhere I heard over the speakers someone say "everyone please welcome Mr. & Mrs. Donovan to the stage." As we walked to the center of the stage all our family and friends clapped. We were officially husband and wife!! I still couldn't believe the words as they were coming out of my mouth. I was a married woman! If you had asked me a couple of years back I was one thousand percent sure that I was never getting married or falling in love again. But, as I stood here right now in front of Jake, I was sure that this was exactly where I was meant to be. I was sure that my mom and Evan were both looking down at us with a smile on their face and with their blessings. 

"Since the newlyweds didn't get the proper kiss earlier, I say "Jake...you may kiss your bride" and kiss her like it's your very first time and the last time." 

Jake pulled me close to him and kissed me as if he was never going to stop. He bent me over his arms and continued to kiss me as everyone around us shouted and clapped. 

"Well that was some kiss, great job. You are one lucky man Jake. Take care of her and love her for as long as you live. Now if everyone could help me, it's time for the bride and groom's first dance together as husband and wife." 

The music to one of our favorite songs started as Jake and I got close and began to dance.

For as long as I remember, I always said that if I ever got married I would play the song "When God Made You" by Newsong ft. Natalie Grant. I didn't know when I would get married or even if I ever would but every time I would listen to that song, my eyes would fill up with tears. Turns out that I wouldn't get married once but I got married twice, both times to wonderful men. Some people look down on getting married multiple times and maybe at one point in my life I also dreamed about getting married once and for that love to last a lifetime. Unfortunately, that decision isn't always in our hands. If it was up to me, I'd still be married to Evan. Well actually if it was up to me I would have been with Jake from the start and would have never met Evan or had Lilli. See, maybe it's a good thing that we don't always have a say in the things that happen to us because even though it may not seem like it at the time, our blessings and our greatest treasures are given to us when things are out of our control and hands are tied. I got to experience a love that most people only dream about, not once but two times. I got to be loved and cherished by two amazing men who God put in my life at the perfect and exact time when I needed them in my life. If it was up to me, things would have turned out much differently. So even when it hurts and you're in pain, you think that your life is a complete mess or that nothing good will ever happen again...trust God and open your heart to anything that he will bring your way. God is working on the best thing that will ever happen to you when you're least expecting it. 

Right here and right now, Jake was my blessing. 

I don't know how things were going to be tomorrow or if everything between us was going to change but for now, he was everything I wanted and the only thing that made any sense. 

As crazy as our wedding turned out to be I have to say that it finished in a very beautiful way. Everyone had a wonderful time dancing and spending time together. Jake and I had our kiss and dance the way we were supposed to do all while I managed to have my dress on. I planned every single detail of my wedding and how things were all going to be. Yet, somehow even with all the planning and preparing our wedding turned out to be something I couldn't have dreamed about even in my wildest dreams. 

"Before the night ends Jake and I want to take a moment to thank every single one of you for making this day as special as it was. Thank you for coming and showing us your love and blessings. While we didn't plan for some things to happen, we can honestly say that none of this would be possible without you. We are so lucky and grateful to have amazing family and friends in our lives." 

"This day turned out to be better than anything I could have imagined. As crazy as it was, all that truly matters is that Madisyn and I love each other and that we have your blessing to continue this journey together. Thank you to every single person who took the time out of their day to come and celebrate our love. I am sure that without you guys in our lives none of this would have been possible, including for Madi and I being together. So thank you, from the bottom of our hearts."

That was it! We were now a married couple ready to start and live the rest of our lives together from this day forward. 

Well…not just yet… 

Remember how earlier I said I may have spoken too soon? Well, I certainly did.