Life Renewed

We have traveled to the land of 10,000 lakes (Minnesota) to witness the wonderful marriage of my husband's college friends to his college sweetheart. They have been together for some years now and a few months ago, Greg received a phone call requesting that he be one of the groomsmen in the wedding. Needless to say, he was more than willing to stand by his own best man's side and show his support.

Thursday we arrived and things were a bit hectic due to hotel problems. The inn where we were supposed to stay was quite dirty; with mold on the walls and a smell that you wouldn't even find in your grandmother's most hidden closet. Not even 10 seconds after we walked into the room of a better hotel, the guys were there to whisk Greg away to the bachelor party. After a poker game and at least one strip club (that I know about), Greg returned home at 2:30am, filled with what I called "cooties" from naked women dancing around him. *laugh*

Yesterday we did some shopping in the Mall of America and then headed out to rehearsal and dinner with everyone. What a blast! Some of Greg's other college friends were in the wedding or also attending and the things I heard about Greg in college made me laugh so hard my mouth was hurting. We talked for hours and then even headed to a local bar so the guys could play pool and darts; as if they never left college.

Why am I repeating all of our actions over the last couple of days? Plain and simple my friends - it is life renewed! Only a few short years ago, my husband was 4L of oxygen, artificial life support, and very near the end stage of his disease . . . just praying he would get a second chance of life with a double lung transplant. Now, here he is - almost 2 years post-transplant and able to make new memories with old friends and laugh as though those moments of life and death never occurred. Sure, we know what happened and it is that which made him stronger. But that is the past and we were blessed with a second chance of life and, Lord, are we gracious for it! Tonight we get to witness a beautiful marriage, make some more memories, and laugh until our side hurt with old and new friends. Life is good!