THE GROOM:

Name: Joseph Martin Edward Lenard

Born: Trenton, MI – 08/11/1962

Prior Residence: Wyandotte, MI.

HE SAYS…

(As if you could shut him up!)

I can hardly believe that it has already been 2 months (as I sit here writing this at the end of May 1999) since we were Wed. I Love her more and more each day. What’s more amazing, is that she still Loves me – or so she says, yes I’m kidding, I’m sure she does; I hope ;-) Anyway, So much for the Fire fading, it is and will remain strong between us. As for our day to day routine, things are NOT changing, they are "improving" and "evolving" and all things for the better! Time, the day to day routine of Life away from one another, certainly wears on everyone but I will not let the Reasons and Memories fade of how/why/where we made our way to our Souls joining. This document will help us to provide invaluable memories, and as we have already, we will from time to time reminisce by reviewing this and our "Blue Book".

Huh? Our "Blue Book"? The Blue Book is just an old JC Penny Pocket Calendar that Rhonda had to keep track of her hours, as she was working her main job/career with Family Fare, a Supermarket chain in the Grand Rapids Michigan area, and as a Part-time Customer Services Representative for JC Penny. Rhonda would write down her hours in the book for me, so I could try (because I could never remember) to keep track of when she was working, so we could plan phone conversations, Picnics in the Park, and whatever other events. Once it became my duty to note her schedule that she would mention for the next week during a conversation, I started to add comments regarding the Times and Places that we would go and any other important dates. It became invaluable as a tool to look back upon on our time together, and allowed me to ultimately arrange the Photo’s in appropriate locations of the Video Photo Montage (which was a big surprise to Rhonda [I conspired with all of our Parents to put that together] as I kept her in the dark about it until the week of our Wedding).

That fateful night that we met, wasn’t that long ago, and is still fresh in my mind – as with many other important meetings we shared. In an odd way, I owe a large debt of gratitude to the Arena Football League for our meeting. Had I not become a big fan of the "50 Yard indoor war", we would’ve never met. I had heard about this new sport, Football compressed (like indoor Soccer) into a Hockey Arena, in 1986. ESPN carried the first season in 1987, and I found out that Detroit was to have a team – the Detroit Drive, owned by Mike Illitch and to play in Joe Louis Arena, the home of the Detroit Red Wings (also owned by Illitch). I was the first to purchase season tickets. I kept those tickets for the 6 seasons they played, until Illitch bought the Tigers and seemed to care about little else – the Drive and Turbos (Indoor Lacrosse) went by the wayside. I had to settle for watching games on the DSS dish from other cities, until…. The Grand Rapids Rampage were born in 1997 and would begin playing in Van Andel Arena, the home of the Grand Rapids Griffins. I immediately sent for information.

Having, for years, traveled back and forth between Detroit and Grand Rapids , for various reasons, I thought very little about the distance (160 miles, and 3 hour drive depending on traffic) that would have to be traveled for home games in Grand Rapids, for if I didn’t go to a game I’d always have some friends out there that I could give tickets to. I hesitated, but bought tickets as the 1745^th Season ticket-holder; upset now (of course) that I waited and could’ve had a little better seats, but not bad to be in the 2^nd row and 15 yards from Mid-field (the 25 Yard line). Anyway, enough rambling about that – How did that translate to our meeting? Well, I had asked Cindy (Rhonda’s Aunt, whom I’d known for about a dozen years now) to go to the game. She choose not to attend, and never wishing to waste a ticket and an opportunity to introduce someone to the game of Arena Football, I mentioned to Cindy that anyone else was welcome to attend in her absence. Rhonda, became that attendee! A blind date, NO, FATE!! Thank you Cindy for somehow becoming involved in God’s plan to bring us together!

Time often can fade or blur a Memory or Thought, but it can also clarify – providing a unique perspective (or retrospective rather) on a given moment that was not possible at the time the event occurred. It was certainly not known at the time that fate was bringing the two of us together for more than just a Football game, but we (at least early on I was convinced of it) know it was fate now. Another such clarification is, and I have spoken of this to Rhonda several times -- I arrived at the game on time, but knowing that Rhonda would be arriving some time after the game had started since she was coming after work. When Rhonda arrived, it was as if someone had tapped me on the shoulder to indicate her arrival, I turned around to find what I knew must be her standing just a few stairs up seeking out her seat. I called out her name, she acknowledged, and I welcomed her to the seat. It seemed a minor coincidence at the time that I would stand up and turn around to find her there then, but I truly believe that it was the only one of a few celestial interventions.

As for our time together at the game - we immediately hit it off. We shared many likes, qualities, and the like (Not all of which we learned about that night, of course). One such passion was music, and we shared occasional "name that group" questioning of each other – the seemingly silly game is a Memory I treasure and it provided us with conversation during some of the idle time and a sense of what each other liked and/or knew in relation Music and our Musical tastes. We spent the Game together, afterwards I took her on field to meet the players, coaches, and owner (all are allowed down for player autographs - I prefer to talk to the Coaches, the Owner, and various AFL Personnel that may attend from time to time). From there we went over to the Post Game party in Tinsel Town (a Lounge). We both gained an admiration for each other, and knew we’d certainly be friends. It has grown into something much more significant and important than that, without a doubt, but how would we have known that at the time (there’s that hindsight thing again). We had both come off of relationships that weren’t for the best, to say the least! I called her the next day, and we talked for hours. I called the day after that, and the day after that (almost literally), and so on and so forth. We planned a get together, that turned into 2, then 3, then on and on. Early on we discovered that we wanted to be with no-one else but each other – as far as in the "significant other" sense.

Together we experienced Picnics in the Park in Fowlerville - our mid-way meeting point, the Grand Rapids Grand Prix, Cedar Point Amusement Park in Sandusky Ohio, played Billiards, gone to Movie Theatres, attended Rampage games together, a Volley-Ball and Picnic outing at Rhonda’s Aunt Sandy’s (when’s the next one?), Dinner at the Summit Restaurant in the Westin Hotel Detroit, a trip to Las Vegas, Concerts -- that is just to name very few of the things we did while spending time together; did I mentioned countless hours and $$$’s on Long Distance Phone calls to one another! We recommend the use of 10-10-811 for reasonable Long Distance calls pricing.

One of the important meetings we had was to watch the Motion Picture "Armageddon" at the Brighton Cinemas. It became important because Rhonda is a big Aerosmith (Pop/Rock Group) fan and they did the Theme song for the Movie. Soon after seeing the Movie, I became inspired to write a Verse and Supplemental Chorus to the song "I don't want to miss a thing" which we then adopted as "our song" - you can see the song and additional lyrics as it is included elsewhere in the Wedding Capsule.

Our falling in Love seemed pre-arranged in Heaven and a matter Destiny. It was evident the True nature of our feelings for each other – I knew there was NO reason to wait, we were made for each other, and I’d waited a long time for her to arrive into my life – so on August 19^th I asked Rhonda to become my wife (for the first time – wait, you’ll understand later). This is where you’ll get a little bit of differing opinions on how well that went ;-)

Setting the stage… The night was spent dining at the Palace of Auburn Hills and attending the WNBA (Women’s National Basketball Association) Detroit Shock game, there. I wanted to take Rhonda to the game, and Propose there, as Basketball had been an important part of Rhonda’s life and her sport of choice to play, having even played for her High School team (my sport was Hockey, and I played on my High School team). The tickets I had purchased were on the Court itself on folding chairs and the first row – what a view of the game from there! Even that seemed destined, as I just walked up, asked for tickets, and these fantastic seats popped up as available – expensive, but worth it for one time).

Let me back up a minute, to surprise her for her Birthday present, I had purchased the tickets and she didn’t know where we were going, and I even went so far as to have her blindfolded so she wouldn’t discover where and what we were doing until the last minute. The first surprise was when she took off the blindfold and discovered where we were, and for what. We enjoyed some pre-game activities outside the Palace, ate dinner, and the next surprise came when we headed for our seats – since at this point she hadn’t seen the tickets yet. We began down the stairs, and kept going, she kept expecting to stop, and I continued to lead her down the stairs and right onto the floor – Shock, for sure, and I’m not referring to the name of the team here!

The 3^rd and 4^th surprises came at half-time. I had arranged for her Birthday (which wasn’t really for another few days on the 25^th) to be displayed on the Scoreboard, problem was I didn’t know exactly when it would be put up. I waited, and fidgeted, and waited, stalled for time and reasons not to leave the floor, and waited, etc…. The teams wondered back onto the Palace floor and began warm-ups prior to the Second half, which was to begin in about 3 minutes. Finally, the Birthdays were displayed. I pointed it out to her, but it wasn’t going to end there! Having about 1 minute and 30 seconds (RUSHED, to say the least) all that I’d hoped/planned to say (included a paragraph or so down) was out the window – I winged it… I declared to the crowd "Here’s the Birthday girl", which she of course thought that was going to be the only embarrassment, but NO, I went on. I got down on one knee, having now obtained the attention of many around us (and as it turns out, a former co-worker in the section of seats a few rows up), The speech contained my belief that we were made for one another, and with Basketball’s and Players bouncing around me while kneeling there, I further went on to ask that Rhonda become my wife. She accepted. I placed the 1^st of 2 engagement rings on her finger, explaining how the Ring I had purchased was not ready for this event, and that this ring (which she still wears to this day on her Right hand) would be a temporary engagement ring. Rhonda is special, and has 2 Rings to show for it – it is befitting she has 2 as it makes her Special in that sense, and indicative of how special she is!

I’m not sure Rhonda remembers, but I’d gone over what I’d intended to say that night, but didn’t have the time. She will be reading this for the first time, as and at, the same time all of you are having the opportunity – via this Supplement.

PROPOSAL:

My Beautiful and Precious one:
There is no-one more beautiful and precious on this planet, to me, than you are.
I exist only to be by your side, throughout our travels both near and far.
Early on in our fairy tale romance, I discovered that my love for you I could not (nor would want to) hide.
All I have, I offer to share. With all my devotion, I'll display I care. All my concerns, I shall confide.
All your fears, I hope you’ll bare. Together, there is nothing we shall not overcome.
We've been blessed with being shown the way to each others presence and hearts. This Love is the One!
As time goes on, my Love for you still continues to grow. I hope you take to heart, the feelings I show.
I'm so proud of the wonderful and generous individual that is you, I want all the world to know
of the joyful splendor you've brought into my life, and ask that one day you'll be my wife.
My Beautiful and Precious Baby Doll! I Love you Rhonda Michelle Simpson, with all my might.
Heaven has truly sent me an Angel! I hope that all you greatly deserve, I can provide.
I pray that I can be your beacon, as the light of your life I hope to serve; for the rest of your life.
There is no-one with whom I'd rather be, Rhonda will you marry me?

Remember that difference of opinion I mentioned? Well, I told you how I was rushed by the circumstances at/during half-time, but I wanted to go on with it and not wait until after the game; though in retrospect it would’ve been great to have made the Proposal at Center Court after the game, but it would’ve lacked some of the audience and magnitude. Hindsight is always 20/20, right? Anyway, what I’m getting to is that Rhonda always teases me about how "lame" that first Proposal was, and has come to regret teasing me as I then decided to Re-Propose (The Re-Proposal) at a later date – and that one we caught on Video and is included in the Photo Montage. Watch for her "lame" acceptance to the 2^nd Proposal!! The 2^nd, or Re, Proposal (the text of the Re-Proposal is contained in the "The Videos" section) took place on October 10^th at Rhonda’s Fathers – who was gracious enough to become part of the conspiracy to get it on VHS tape. This time, the "Real" engagement ring was ready and placed on Rhonda’s hand upon her again accepting.

The rest is pretty much, as they say, "history". Rhonda moved out to Wyandotte, MI. on October 2^nd to stay with her future In-Laws until the Wedding in March. Many months of enjoying the closeness of having each other just a few blocks away, rather than across the State, made outings a lot easier - to say the least. Many many months of Wedding plans ensued, not with out the occasional hang-up, debate, compromise, etc… We had discussed numerous options, including at one time having a potential 2^nd Wedding Ceremony, of some type, in Grand Rapids - most likely during a Grand Rapids Rampage (GRR) game (we may or may not include some correspondence in the attempt to set that up) since we met at a GRR game we thought it might be interesting to hold a small Ceremony at half-time during this years home opener in April of 1999 – it never could be worked out.

The Wedding was wonderful, as was the Reception, both on March 13^th 1999. I have always accepted that Rhonda was/is Beautiful, but I could not have imaged how much more Gorgeous she was to appear coming up the aisle of the Church – I had a difficult time holding back a tear, or two, at the sight of her and the realization of this wonderful dream. Hey Baby Doll, I Love you, and you make me SO VERY HAPPY! I am truly the most fortunate Man on the planet.

As for the Ceremony itself, specifically the Wedding vows - Rhonda and I had originally planned on creating some of our own vows, a pledge, or just a commentary, to be recited at the Wedding Ceremony. That plan never materialized, but I had started on something, which I am including those incomplete thoughts/words here (which she will see for the first time here herself):

Vows that never made it to the Ceremony, my early thoughts and notes….

My Soul I pledge to God,
My heart I pledge to you.

The only tears I cry now, are tears of joy.

Jesus has blessed me, many times through -
I have very gracious, patient, and kind Parents;
The warmth of good friends;
and now the greatest of all of Gods gifts,
he's introduced you into my life - making me complete.

I’d like to take this opportunity to Thank all of you that made it to the Ceremony and/or the Reception. I wish there would’ve been enough room to invite everyone we would all know, but that was, of course, not possible – so I’m sorry for those of you that were unable to join us.

Happy viewing of our event, I know I look forward to viewing over and over again, and reviewing the additional materials that we will be gathering and putting into a real Wedding Time Capsule for reminiscing with in some 5, 10, 25 years from now.

Thank you, again – Take care – Be well!

Joseph M. Lenard