Cassie and John: Tacoma Washington Engagement

The majority of my childhood memories are based in England. You see, my dad was in the military and I by default became a military brat. To this day, I still claim it, military brat, even though I’ve lived in my now hometown for the past sixteen years. Being a military brat, I’ve noticed that there are two types of military children. The first is my brother, the type that makes friends in zero point two seconds and suddenly has ten different best friends. The second is me, the type that struggled to make friends and withdrew into my imagination, books and toys until someone dared to come in and find me. If I’m being totally honest, I don’t remember how I met her. All I remember is that her family became like my own and we were dubbed Cassie O {her} and Cassie B {me}. Years later, after I became Cassie O I found out she was becoming Cassie T I reached out to her because family doesn’t let family hire a stranger to photograph their wedding day!

Before my family moved away from England to our next home, I sat in our church and watched as Cassie and her father walked up to the front, picked up a pair of microphones and sing my family a song about friendship that stands the test of time, friendship rooted in Jesus Christ that no matter the miles will always be there. I remember the pages in my journal that were tear stained as I wrote out the lyrics so that I would always remember. I wanted to remember that no matter how alone I feel, no matter how few friends I find that there’s One that is always with me and His presence in my life is worth more than a thousand friends. But in His love, He brings people into my life to come along side me and to call friend.

As I watched Cassie and John together, both struggling to do anything but smile and laugh I couldn’t help but think that she had found her truest friend. No matter where her life will take her, he will be there. For those that have grown up in the military or are now grafted into a military family, you know how precious that feeling is, the feeling of being complete in another person, knowing that no distance can take that from you…that it’s never goodbye but always see you soon.