Alex AND Cindy, (be sure you are together)
Watch this video FIRST before reading on:
PART 1
I've been waiting and praying all year to find inspiration on how to serve Cindy this year. Despite my good intentions, month after month would pass with nothing seeming to come to me. Around the beginning of fall, I had decided I would do a video tribute of some sort. But what? I had a mother/daughter song I really like and perhaps I'd do something to honor Cindy and her mother since the past year has been a special one to our family with Colleen being a surrogate mom to so many in our family (Brian included). I was starting to feel pulled down that path, but something wasnt "right" about it. But at least I had a path to go down.
At mid-October I realized I had better start taking this seriously since the end of the year was fast approaching and with a wedding for Brianne and Jake upon us, I knew I'd regret it if I didnt get prepared quickly. I put in a phone call to Colleen to talk about collecting pictures of Cindy's childhood and hopefully some mother/daughter photos. But apparently Colleen was more in tune to the spirit than I was. She reminded me that this is Alex and Cindy's 10 year anniversary this December and perhaps I should do something culminating the last 10 years of their marriage. This was the answer, and I knew it immediately.
It just so happened that this phone call occurred over a weekend in October where I was up to my eyeballs in pictures of Brianne and Jake as I was putting together their upcoming wedding slideshow. I hit a wall and could proceed no longer as I needed to await more pictures from Jake's mom. So I stepped away from the computer and called Cindy's mom as a distraction from the current project. When Colleen mentioned an anniversary tribute I was very intrigued. You see, I had this really awesome song swimming around in my head for the last 24 hours. I was debating between two love songs to end the wedding slideshow with. I made a decision and left the "Perfect" song on the proverbial "cutting room floor". I was a bit heartbroken because I REALLY loved this Perfect song. I think I knew in the back of my head it had a different job to do than the wedding slideshow. In was, in fact, waiting for the Kenney's. I'm pretty sure it was made for this purpose. Perfect!
The next day was Monday. I hadnt planned to work on Cindy's service project quite yet. I figured I'd get this wedding slideshow and music video over with before I tackled any other projects. Before I knew what was happening, I was in front of my computer once again. But this time, instead of browsing through Bri/Jake pictures, I was scouring Facebook for pictures of Alex and Cindy. Why was a starting a third project? "I dont have time for this" I would find myself thinking. But I kept going anyway - when inspiration is flowing, I've learned not to walk away from it. Perfect!
By the time I was done with it, I had finished it in a fraction of the time it usually takes me to make a slideshow video. I was astonished at how I seemed to find the exact picture I needed and how it fit Perfect-ly with the music. At one point, I grabbed a row of pictures to insert into the editor and was about to edit the order and timing. But as I hit "play" for the music to tell me what to do, I got completely choked up and teary as I realized how Perfect the music and the pictures already went together. I looked at the other pictures and was suddenly making edits and cuts and I didnt know why I was making them. Things were just flowing into place. I sat back and hit play again and let the spirit wash over me as I watched this video that was just put together by heavenly angels - it was beautiful and Perfect.
I watched the video again and again, making very few adjustments. I needed an ending and I'd have to get creative about how to obtain the last few frames since it didnt exist, but I wasnt worried. I knew it would come together. I must have watched it 20 times after I was done. Each time, I'd think of how much I love this sweet family. Just like this video, their life has a plan. There is a reason why things have happened the way they have - it is no accident. It is Perfect. Just like this slideshow was planned by our Father in Heaven, so is their life - their marriage and their children. It was all prepared beforehand. We just need to let our hands and feet do the work He inspires us to do.
I am so grateful for Cindy and her coming to our family. She is a beautiful example to me as a wife, in motherhood, and as a disciple of Christ. Alex sure is a blessed man! Life may not seem Perfect as we are in the midst of it all, but isnt it amazing how we can take a look back and see the beauty of it?
PART 2
This is the first year that a husband/wife (Brian and myself) have a matching husband and wife (Alex and Cindy). We thought it would be fun to do something that served them as a couple. The slideshow I made certainly involves A&C equally and we decided to add a second feature - an interview!
In order to get their cooperation, I needed to tell a few white lies. I told them I had dad for Christmas and was interviewing all the kids/spouses, but in reality, they were the only ones we talked to. Tricked ya! Or perhaps they figured it out because I had to contact them a few times about various details and they may have figured it out.
Well, Brian and I worked together on the interview portion of the video and it was a fun activity to do together. Alex and Cindy are a great example of successful marriage - we all have something to learn from them. Brian added one other feature that I will let him explain in his own post to Alex.
Merry Christmas you love birds!!!
Love, Liz
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