Footprints of a loved one...

I had the pleasure of meeting a wonderful couple today at the World Famous Chapel of the bells. Their names were Heather and Randolph Lowry. They were already married, so I wasn't able to perform their service, but it was great just to talk with them and hear their story.

Normally, people just walk in from off of the Las Vegas Strip just to look at the chapel because it has been featured in many movies and television shows (hence the name “World Famous”). But what I found to be the most interesting (aside from their wonderful personalities) was thirty-five years ago today, Heather’s wonderful mother, Eula, stood in the exact same spot as she was standing right at that moment.

To some, this wouldn’t be too much of a big deal, but you see, Eula is no longer with us. I knew how much her mother meant to her and how many memories she holds dear to her, especially at that moment. I just knew from the love displayed only from meeting her for the first time that she misses her mother for the laughter they shared; the friendships forged; the defiant moments when she stood her ground - resolute in her faith and purpose…and for all the special intangible ways that she touched everyone’s hearts - ways that cannot be defined by words but only through the special bond Heather and her mother shared.

You can only imagine how much it meant to Heather to be standing there with her husband remembering her mother and the stories of her wedding day at the Chapel of the Bells.

Another amazing thing to see was that Heather and Randolph had with them the original marriage certificate from her mother’s ceremony in 1977 as well as her wedding ring. This was such a great piece of history to have and to see in one’s life. Marriage is one of the most important days of your life, and to share that memory with someone you love, living or deceased, it makes it that much more special honor them forever in our hearts.

Heather and Randolph have been married for 3 1/2 years now. They have a while to go to 35 years, but they are going to have a great journey getting their together.

Rev. William Marcus McFarland III
Las Vegas Wedding Officiant
The Best Las Vegas Minister
www.vegasreverend.com