weight. You are absolutely perfect the way you are.”
“Really?”
“Would I lie to you?”
“But what if I feel like I need to get into better shape for myself?”
“There's nothing wrong with getting into shape. But if you think you need to get all skinny as a stick for our wedding, well, forget about it. What you girls don't realize is that most guys like a little meat on their women.”
“Sounds like you're hungry.”
He laughs. “Maybe I am. But seriously, Caitlin. I don't go for skinny chicks. Most guys don't.”
“Are you saying I'm chubby?”
“Not at all. If anything, I think you're on the thin side, and I wouldn't care if you put on weight.”
“Well, I don't really plan to-”
“Believe me, I think you're perfect. I love you just the way you are, and I think I'd love you just as much if you weighed two hundred pounds.”
“Oh, come on.”
“Really. I love you. That's the way it is.”
“Thanks, Josh. I love you too. And if you end up fat and bald and I am wrinkled and gray, we'll still love each other. Right?”
“Right.”
“But back to the dress dilemma,” I say. “I want to get it resolved as soon as possible.”
“I don't blame you.”
Then I tell him about how depressed I was to consider how the cost of that stupid dress was equal to what his youth group had earned.
“That's because your heart's in the right place,” he assures me. “But obviously, you just got caught up in themoment. And believe me, I know how persuasive my mom can be. You should've heard Chloe and her going at it a few years ago. Fortunately for Chloe, they seem to have reached some understanding. But it seems like she's putting you into that daughter role now.”
“Maybe so.”
“And planning for our wedding shouldn't make you miserable, Caitlin.”
“I know.” And then I explain about what I've just done, how I've placed our wedding on the altar and slit its pretty satin throat. “There was blood everywhere.”
“It's a great image,” he says with enthusiasm. “I love it.” And then I know he totally gets me. I am so glad that I'm marrying someone who gets me.
“I felt so relieved,” I continue. “It's like this huge weight was lifted.”
“Cool.”
“Oh, I know there'll still be some challenges, but I feel like I'm ready for it. I think I can even stand up to your mom.”
“You go, girl!”
“And I feel like I know what's really important now.”
“Like our marriage?”
“Yes. I mean, a wedding is a great way for people to celebrate, but it really shouldn't take over your life.”
“I agree.”
“So we're united?”
“You bet.”
“When do you think your mom will be back?”
“I don't know, but I can have her call you. Will you be back in your dorm then?”
“Yeah.”
“Do you mind if I talk to her first? I'd like to explain that I'm totally with you on this. I want her to see that we're united.”
“That's great, Josh. I'd appreciate it.”
“Oh, yeah,” he says. “One more thing. Can you handle another piece of bad news as far as wedding plans?”
I kind of laugh. “Hey, it's on the altar, remember?”
“Yeah. God's in control, right?”
“Right.”
“Well, Saint Matthew's is booked on the day you gave me.”
“That's okay, something will work out.”
And really, I'm not worried. God has this whole wedding thing under control. Not only that, but when Joy calls at around eight, our conversation goes surprisingly smoothly. She says she talked to Josh, that he explained everything, and that she understands. Of course, she adds that she was a bit disappointed to let the perfect dress get away.
“I know it was beautiful,” I admit to her. “But it wasn't perfect. That's too much money for me to feel comfortable with. And I know that God has something even better for me.”
“You kids. I don't know where you get that kind of faith.”
I kind of laugh now. “From God.”
“Yes, that's what Chloe and Josh tell me too. I guess I'm just a
“Really?”
“Would I lie to you?”
“But what if I feel like I need to get into better shape for myself?”
“There's nothing wrong with getting into shape. But if you think you need to get all skinny as a stick for our wedding, well, forget about it. What you girls don't realize is that most guys like a little meat on their women.”
“Sounds like you're hungry.”
He laughs. “Maybe I am. But seriously, Caitlin. I don't go for skinny chicks. Most guys don't.”
“Are you saying I'm chubby?”
“Not at all. If anything, I think you're on the thin side, and I wouldn't care if you put on weight.”
“Well, I don't really plan to-”
“Believe me, I think you're perfect. I love you just the way you are, and I think I'd love you just as much if you weighed two hundred pounds.”
“Oh, come on.”
“Really. I love you. That's the way it is.”
“Thanks, Josh. I love you too. And if you end up fat and bald and I am wrinkled and gray, we'll still love each other. Right?”
“Right.”
“But back to the dress dilemma,” I say. “I want to get it resolved as soon as possible.”
“I don't blame you.”
Then I tell him about how depressed I was to consider how the cost of that stupid dress was equal to what his youth group had earned.
“That's because your heart's in the right place,” he assures me. “But obviously, you just got caught up in themoment. And believe me, I know how persuasive my mom can be. You should've heard Chloe and her going at it a few years ago. Fortunately for Chloe, they seem to have reached some understanding. But it seems like she's putting you into that daughter role now.”
“Maybe so.”
“And planning for our wedding shouldn't make you miserable, Caitlin.”
“I know.” And then I explain about what I've just done, how I've placed our wedding on the altar and slit its pretty satin throat. “There was blood everywhere.”
“It's a great image,” he says with enthusiasm. “I love it.” And then I know he totally gets me. I am so glad that I'm marrying someone who gets me.
“I felt so relieved,” I continue. “It's like this huge weight was lifted.”
“Cool.”
“Oh, I know there'll still be some challenges, but I feel like I'm ready for it. I think I can even stand up to your mom.”
“You go, girl!”
“And I feel like I know what's really important now.”
“Like our marriage?”
“Yes. I mean, a wedding is a great way for people to celebrate, but it really shouldn't take over your life.”
“I agree.”
“So we're united?”
“You bet.”
“When do you think your mom will be back?”
“I don't know, but I can have her call you. Will you be back in your dorm then?”
“Yeah.”
“Do you mind if I talk to her first? I'd like to explain that I'm totally with you on this. I want her to see that we're united.”
“That's great, Josh. I'd appreciate it.”
“Oh, yeah,” he says. “One more thing. Can you handle another piece of bad news as far as wedding plans?”
I kind of laugh. “Hey, it's on the altar, remember?”
“Yeah. God's in control, right?”
“Right.”
“Well, Saint Matthew's is booked on the day you gave me.”
“That's okay, something will work out.”
And really, I'm not worried. God has this whole wedding thing under control. Not only that, but when Joy calls at around eight, our conversation goes surprisingly smoothly. She says she talked to Josh, that he explained everything, and that she understands. Of course, she adds that she was a bit disappointed to let the perfect dress get away.
“I know it was beautiful,” I admit to her. “But it wasn't perfect. That's too much money for me to feel comfortable with. And I know that God has something even better for me.”
“You kids. I don't know where you get that kind of faith.”
I kind of laugh now. “From God.”
“Yes, that's what Chloe and Josh tell me too. I guess I'm just a
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