Clint and I made a list of the 5 most important things for our wedding. #5, Write our own vows.

"Clint, When I think about how much can happen in such a short amount of time I'm completely overwhelmed. I KNOW that only God could have brought you into my life and at just the right moment. From the first day we met, I knew it was the beginning of something special. At the time I didn't know what it was - just a feeling.

It didn't take much time for me to realize what a treasure you are.

I know that it takes a daily effort to be the successful, honest, caring man that you are and I most respect you for taking the incentive to be just that.

I also know that it takes a commitment not just on your part but on your parents to teach you what it means to be a man of integrity. And I want to thank you both for that.

I also want to thank each person here who has made the effort to support us and love us no matter how difficult the situation.

Our wedding marks just one day but to me its the beginning of the rest of our lives. And that makes me so excited. I love that we share so many of the same passions and goals. I love that we have become a support system for each other on the good days and bad. I love that we can share everything.

You've taught me to push harder then ever for my hopes and dreams but in the end my dreams are standing right in front of me.

And just one last thing. I ate all the M&M's."

Wedding vows, whew, tough. How do you accurately sum up the past, present and future with the person you're promising to spend your life with... in a reasonable amount of time?

I probably read too many articles on the topic beforehand. Believe me, you can drown in the abundance of vow writing advice. I eventually tossed it all aside remembering my Aunt's unforgettably sweet vows from a few years back.

I didn't remember entirely her words. but here's what stuck with me as I heard. "I will love and cherish your children as my own"... there wasn't a dry eye. Her voice cracked with pure vulnerability and fellow sniffers around me multiplied instantly. It wasn't her heartfelt words themselves that I have etched into my memory, but the emotions I felt that day. Yes, from my seat in the audience. Honest emotion she allowed each of us to share with her.

That's the point my friends. Words only mean as much as the person sharing them believes. It's the emotion, we often cannot come up with words to describe, we can only feel.

She so kindly shared her vows with me for this article.

"I, Jada Ann Phillabaum, am honored to marry you, Jeffrey Joe Hoerr. I love and respect you. I know that this love is from God; my faith in Him has grown and strengthened through knowing and loving you. Today we stand before our God, our friends, and our family to make this holy commitment of marriage. I will steward and be found trustworthy of our marriage through God’s grace and strength. I will follow your lead and respect your decisions for our family. I will love and cherish your children as my own. I will serve and support you in your faith, in your work, in your hobbies, and in our home. I will hold your hand and walk with you through the uncertainties of our journey ahead - happiness & sorrow, health & sickness, harvest & drought. I will embrace honesty and forgiveness in our marriage. I commit to you these things for all the days of my life."