Where are they now :: Todd and Candy

Earlier this summer, I met up with Todd and Candy in Springfield, MO.  Todd and Candy married  October 6th, 2001.  Their wedding was the very first wedding I ever shot.  Their wedding is what started it all.  I wasn't their hired photographer, but Candy knew I liked playing with cameras, and especially enjoyed using black and white film... yes, you heard correctly... film. She asked me if I would be willing to shoot some candid images of their day.  Without having a single clue about f-stops or shutter speeds... let alone what the heck ISO meant... I agreed.  And so, with my friend's Nikon N 60, and a few rolls of Ilford black and white film, my life as a photographer began.

I thought it would be interesting to catch up with them, and see where life has brought them over the years.
Meet the Sitclers:

How did you two meet?
We met at Antioch Church in Overland Park, KS on a Sunday morning. I had been working at the church as an intern for 2 years, Candy was coming in from Arizona, where she had worked with a church for 3 years. We were in different ministries, but worked together around the church on a number of different projects. The more we worked together, the more our friendship grew.

How did you propose?
I didn't just want to do the stereotypical dinner and an engagement. I wanted it to be memorable. A good friend suggested that I make a day of it and lead her on a scavenger hunt. I enlisted the help of a number of friends who all made it happen.

At that time, Candy was the church receptionist. I was able to work with her boss and have Candy run some errands she would think it were for the church. Candy went to three businesses owned by members in the church to pick up items "needed for different ministries." Each one contained a gift and a card (numbered in the order I wanted her to read them). At the last location, she was instructed to open card #1 and follow the instructions.

The first card instructed her to go to her home where I had set up her VCR with a tape I made for her. It was a simple slideshow of our times together put to the Caedmon's Call song "Somewhere North." The other cards took her to locations of memorable times we spent together; talking late over dinner at McDonald's or sharing a coffee at Starbucks.

The last card took her to the Overland Park Arboretum where we had spent time walking through the gardens and trails together. While sitting there reading her last card, I walked up with her favorite flower, Stargazers. I told her how much I loved her, got on my knees and asked her to marry me.

What was your favorite part about your wedding day?

This is going to sound like a fake answer, but the WHOLE day would have to be my "favorite part." I can't pick one point out as the best. The family, friends, events, and my lovely bride, made it all incredible.

 Any advice you would give to newlyweds?

I would tell newlyweds what my father told me on that day: If the husband chooses to serve his wife, putting her needs always first, without looking for that treatment in return, and the wife chooses to serve her husband, putting his needs always first, without looking for that treatment in return, then both of their needs will be met, and they will live a wonderful marriage.

This can appear to be somewhat out of reach. Over decades of marriage, we all will have bad days, and may even have horrible seasons, but I believe that God isn't asking for perfection from us, He is asking for excellence. I walk this out, continually fighting and believing that one day, I will be the man my wife deserves.

What is life like now?
I love our life. As of this date, we have 2 wonderful boys; Joshua & Devin. We've moved 3 times since we've been married, and are doing what we love as youth pastors. We've been together through times of plenty, and years of want, but we are a team, we are a family and we choose to love each other everyday.

Any additional comments? 
Everyday I realize that I don't deserve my wife. She is too good, too beautiful, too wonderful, too gracious, too lovely to be mine. The choices of my life should have brought a damaged marriage. But isn't that the definition of Grace; To receive more than you deserve? My wife is the Grace of God in my life.

Wow, Todd!  What a testament to a marriage that's truly committed to each other, and committed to the vows and promises made!  How I long for this kind of marriage for all of my brides and grooms... past, present, and future!

It was so much fun catching up with you both, and to see where life has brought you.  I'm so grateful for the opportunity you gave a naive little 21yr old on your wedding day.  I'm honored to know you both, and am so glad to call you my friends!