OUR STORY

Rick and Rachael have been united together for five blessed years. They met while working together at Apple in Oak Brook, Illinois. Their relationship started with a sincere friendship. In time they grew closer to each other, and their bond continued to strengthen. Guided by God their lives began too entwine, and a great romance was born. The couple moved to Colorado in 2017, and began to build a new life together. A life full of faith, hope, and love.

Together the two share numerous common interests and passions in life. The most essential is Love for God, and Love for One Another. At the heart of their relationship is a profound trust, respect, and commitment to one another.

Rick and Rachael treasure personal relationships, especially fellowship with family and friends. They are so grateful to the many significant people who have helped to shape and influenced their lives. They also adore animals, and are definitely dog people. They have a loving Puggle (Pug / Beagle Mix) named Charlee who is always excited to see you and brings great joy to their lives.

The couple loves traveling and exploring the majesty of creation, while learning about different cultures and people. The sacred Black Hills and Badlands, the majestic area of Yellowstone and Grand Teton, Moab and the beauty of Utah, and their home near the magnificent Rocky Mountains are some of their most beloved places. They both have a deep connection to music and enjoy experiencing live concerts and performances. They find great inspiration from powerful motion pictures and television shows, and have a deep admiration for all of the fine arts.

The story of Rick and Rachael is full of many blessings and achievements. After relocating to Colorado, they have both continued to progress in their career paths, and have established this place as home. Their narrative has also experienced many trials and tribulations, that they have endured and conquered together. Through it all they have held onto each other and their core beliefs to overcome moments of doubt and disbelief. With support and compassion they care for one another through adversity. They help bear the others burdens, and always aspire to be a reflection of the One true light during periods of fear and darkness.

United together they live a life of faith, hope, and love.

OUR SYMBOL

The Story of Our Engagement

It was the third day of July, 2021. We were enjoying time in the Black Hills of South Dakota. In the evening we decided to travel around the wonderful area that is so dear to our hearts. After journeying through dense forests and highlands adorned with granite walls, we reached the sacred Sylvan Lake.

The radiant sun was beginning to set. A graceful golden light covered the entire landscape. We walked down the pathway that runs beside the still waters, and hiked over high rocks that embellish the far side of the lake. We helped each other climb down a narrow gulch, until we found a peaceful place to rest. I shared with her a heartfelt poem I had wrote, then bowed before her on one knee and asked is she would unite with me in marriage.

I was overjoyed when she accepted my proposal. I presented to her a precious ring to wear as a symbol of the sacred bond of love we share. We embraced for a moment, then emerged from the ravine together with a new hope and future.

The Birthstone of the Bride

The sapphire is prized by cultures and civilizations around the world for its vibrant colors, durability, and rarity. As a result of the earths ever-changing environment, each sapphire develops a unique look and color. The stone can be found in many different hues, but blue is the is the most prominent and revered color. Similar to a fingerprint, no two natural sapphires will ever look exactly the same.

Rick purposely chose this unique and precious gemstone for Rachael as it shares the same heavenly color as the blue sky, blue earth, and blue waters that unify the world. The sapphire is also the birthstone of the bride, and blue is her favorite color.

The sapphire has, for centuries, been seen as a symbol of the heavens, a guardian of innocence, a bestower of truth, a promoter of good health, and a preserver of chastity. It is believed to brings gifts of fulfillment, joy, prosperity, inner peace and beauty.

The Heavenly Color Blue

Blue in the Bible represents the Heavens and the Word of God. It also spiritually signifies the Lords healing power and grace.

In Exodus, when Moses, his sons, and 70 elders of Israel went up to Mount Sinai to worship God, they saw God and described the pavement under His feet as being bright as the blue sky (Exodus 24:10). Following this encounter, Moses received the 10 commandments.

The 15th Chapter of Numbers, verses 38-41 denote this biblical meaning of blue (fringe of the borders a ribband of blue). The very fact that the Sky is blue stands for the presence of Yahweh. God’s chosen nation Israel is also denoted as blue from the time of David.

Blue is translated in Hebrew as tekelet. It is also found in the Bible to mean purple (Ezekiel 23:6) or violet (Jeremiah 10:9). Tekelet was the color assigned for priest’s clothing, in particular, their hems (Exodus 28:5-6). In Matthew 9:21, the woman who had an issue of blood for 12 years says “I shall be whole again, if I touch the hem of His garment”. That woman was eventually healed by our High Priest, Jesus Christ, when she touched the hem of His garment. Therefore, blue is also accredited as a color of God’s healing and grace.

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