Installment 31 of Words of Wisdom from Dad 

for Katelyn Williams and Taylor Shockey prior to their wedding day, June 5th.

Shared during the month of May 2014 by Don Williams, 

Katelyn's dad and Taylor's soon-to-be father-in-law

'Twas the night before your marriage, at 2am, when all through the house

Not a person in the wedding party was stirring, not even a future spouse.

The wedding decorations were hung in the museum with care,

In hopes that the wedding day soon would be there;

The bride and her maids were nestled all snug in their beds;

While visions of the wedding danced in their heads;

And the mother of the bride in her nightie, and I with my watch cap,

Had settled our brains for a short summer's nap,

When in my mind there arose such a clatter,

I awoke from my bed to take care of the matter.

Away to the couch I flew like a flash,

Tore open my iPad and started the memory cache.

30 Words of Wisdom did the father bestow

With only a few hours left before he'd let go,

When what to his wondering mind did leer,

The fact that May had 31 days, not 30 did appear,

With a little creativity so lively and quick,

I knew in a moment what I might pick.

More rapid than my fingers could fly the words came,

And I thought, and wrote and typed out their names:

"Now Katelyn Esther Williams the bride to be!

Marrying Taylor Lee Shockey the groom, her devotee.

May your marriage be characterized like a FaceBook wall

With millions of cherished memories marking them all!

Though the years before you will like a wild hurricane fly,

When you meet obstacles, with prayer you'll mount to the sky;

So before you knew it the days of wedding preparation they flew

With the wedding day full of promise, and hopefulness too-

And then, in a couple hours, we'll hear wedding bells peel

Calling all to celebrate and not be left on our heel.

As thoughts gathered in my head, and were turning around,

Writing them down they came with abound.

My mind is flooded with wonderful memories afoot,

Of 22 years of wonderfulness, hoping they will all stay put;

With prayers for a bright future always at your back,

Your experience with God you will find there is nothing you lack.

Your eyes - how they will twinkle! your smiles, how merry!

All because His unity is reflected in the flowering cherry!

It's my prayer this day will be drawn up in a bow,

Wrapped with no doubts or worries or care that you will know;

That from beginning to end the smiles and show of teeth,

Will mark your wedding day celebration and be what others bequeath.

May yours and Taylor's lives radiate to each other God's amazing love

Carrying and holding each other, and worn like a glove.

Before you know it Taylor, you will be chubby and plump,

From Katelyn's good cooking hopefully not needing a stomach pump.

Before you know in a wink of an eye 

This day will hold fond memories no one will deny.

Not speaking many words, is a secret at work,

Taylor learn from your father-in-law; and don't be a jerk,

'Tis blessed for you to listen to Katelyn who knows,

And being ready to give a nod, you will come out smelling like a rose;

You'll have springs in your steps, to life's marriage tune you'll whistle,

And not find yourself stuck with the pain of a thistle.

And we'll all hear you exclaim, ere your marriage moves out of my line of sight-

Oh what wisdom was shared making my marriage a delight!

Based on the Source: The Random House Book of Poetry for Children (Random House Inc., 1983)

Pictured Back Row from left to right:  Josiah, Tad, Don, Taylor, Seth and Front Row from left to right Whitney (Josiah's wife), Megan (Tad's wife), Kathy (Don's wife), Katelyn (the wife of Taylor) and Michaela (Seth''s sister, the baby of the family).

Pictured left to right: Tessa (Taylor's sister), Katelyn, Jim and GraceLyn (Taylor's parents)