God is the Ultimate Matchmaker, and He was definately working in Matthew and my relationship from the very beginning. My Mom used to tell me all the time how she prayed for my future husband on the day I was born. She prayed for his safety and that God would protect him as he grew up. A year later she was sitting in the hospital waiting room, praying for a little boy's life, without realizing this little boy was going to be her future son-in-law; my Matthew. Fortunately, Matthew survived the cancer, losing only his left leg.
That little boy grew up in the same church as me, side by side. A five year age difference did not stop us from building a strong friendship in the Lord. With time that friendship grew and strengthened, until both of us felt a closer connection growing.
At the time, we couldn't pursue that closeness because of such an age difference. But the best things come to those who wait. And five years after I wrote in my diary "I'm going to marry Matthew Joseph Kiel", we went to a friend's wedding in Michigan and fell head over heels in love."
During the summer of 1999, Matthew went on vacation with my family and I out West. His job was transferring him from Indianapolis to Los Angelos, so he was to fly out of South Dakota at the end of the first week of vacation. On the night before his departure, the two of us decided to watch our last sunset together in a long time. So, taking along a blanket, the two of us hunted out the perfect mountain top.
No picture has ever been so perfect. There on the mountain top, with Crazy Horse's sillouette on one side, the sunset on the other, and the city beneath us, he slipped a ring on my finger. No, not the actual diamond engagement ring... this silver band he said, "Represented an Engineer's commitment to quality and hard work", and now it would represent his commitment to his love for me. And he assured me that when he came home he'd replace this one with the real one.
Well, that promise came true the night before my best friend and my cousin's wedding, the weekend before I left for college in Georgia. We had just left the rehearsal dinner, I was the Maid of Honor, to stop at Revco to buy some Panty Hose. And it was there, beneath the romantic red glow of the CVS neon sign, that Matt asked me marry him. And with a beautiful diamond ring on my finger I cried, "Yes!" Matt says he regrets having the official proposal in a Drug store parking lot, but I keep telling him I couldn't have ever dreamt up something more perfect. Because in my heart, I know that I was proposed to on a gorgeous mountaintop to the man I love more than life itself, and it was my fulfilled fairy tale. But when we talk to other people, I'll have something to tease him about for the rest of forever! :)
Could life be more perfect? Love is still love whatever the setting. And I will love Matthew through whatever setting or climate or situation we will ever go through for the rest of our life!
Here are some pictures of our recent past. First of all is our prom picture taken last summer, 1999.
These next ones are from our trip out west
The rest are just links to the pictures.
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And this is us with Kaitlyn and Jacob, Casey's cousins.
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Well...it happened. We got hitched. June 10, 2000 was the most wonderfullest day in the whole world!!! Casey and i spoke our vows and made our covenant, before God and friends and family. It was absolutely wonderful and nothing will come close to it except the births of our children (which won't be until 2004 or so, not matter what Brian June says!).
As far as we're concerned, Casey and i are rather content right here just the two of us (and our boys!) while she's going to school. Casey is getting her degree in Art Education at Herron School of Art in affiliation with Indiana University at IUPUI. Once she graduates we'll think more about kids. But for now, Casey is thinking about school and i'm thinking about work and home repairs. :) We'll update you if there's any deviation from the plan.
(we try to check this one but you'll probably have better luck with one of us directly)
and Casey at
(caseykizer@juno.com)
This page was created by Matthew Kiel
Last updated 28Nov2000
