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Thank you for coming to my special day

I'd love to be able to talk

There's so much on my heart I want to make known

But as yet I can't even walk

So I hope that these words you're about to hear

Will in some way make up for all this

And when I have finished and Uncle Rod has sat down

You can come and give me a kiss

To my mummy and daddy, I love you so much

I depend on you all day long

For the worries you had when you knew I was due

You both were so very strong

And I know that my life will have up's and downs

There will be times of concern and fear

But to have your strong arms to cuddle me tight

Will be enough, and to have you so near.

To all of my family, Michael, Emma and Luke

You look after me oh so well

When I grow up I'll say "You can play with MY toys",

And it will be my turn a story to tell

I know at the moment I can't do very much

I'm no good at playing a game

But the time will soon come when I'm running around

And we can all be playing the same

To the folks who are here, please pray for me

I've been dedicated today

So that when I grow up I'll love Jesus as well

And I'll learn how to worship and pray.

I'll need you to show me the way I should live

How to use my hands and feet

To learn how to speak, where I should go

If my Saviour I'm going to meet

So thank you again for my special day

When we says thanks to God just for me

And when people ask who does she look like

When they look, may they see only Thee

I want to be a child of the Lord,

To walk in the way that He leads

So today is the first step that I have made

You have helped to sow the first seed -

That one day will grow for all to see -

 An example of God's love and grace

Oh, may they see Jesus in all that I do

Until I shall see His blessed face.

It was such a joy to be able to write this poem for my youngest daughters wedding. The day was so perfect in every way, and these words brought a tear to many an eye.

The Gardener stood with his hand outstretched, and in it held a seed

A closer look revealed to me it wasn’t any weed

For in his grasp I clearly saw an acorn small and round

I wondered for a moment the reason why he found -

The need to have this item so common, so well known

But he said to me, you wait and see, until it’s fully grown

Into the ground the acorn went, t’was tended with such care

Yet what seemed to me like endless months the soil remained so bare

But then one day I saw a shoot emerge above the soil

The Gardner too had noticed it, but never ceased to toil

He weeded, feeded, kept an eye on what was now an oak

The ground around was kept so clean, this seedling mustn’t choke

And then he stretched his hand again; I leant forward so I could see

The tiny seed inside his grasp was as small as small could be

He told me this was a special seed that needed extra care

It couldn’t go in open ground that now was cold and bare

It went inside the glasshouse where conditions were just right

The Gardner gave it water, and gave it heat and light

It too began to germinate into a plant so fair

Eventually it too was placed outside in the fresh air

The years went by unnoticed, the oak and plant did well

The tree grew tall and handsome, the clematis, a beautiful smell

But something happened gradually, that no one seemed to see

The plant and tree grew bit by bit until it came to be

The plant reached out and grasped the oak and both grew up together

They soon became inseparable, that no matter what the weather –

The oak gave to the plant support and strength and protective cover

The plant brought scent and beauty as they entwined each other

I met the Gardner recently; we spoke of this and that

It didn’t take so very long before we began to chat –

About the tree before us, and the beauty of the shrub

I pointed out those two were one, and what an awful job –

That we would have to separate the two now joined together

He said that wasn’t in the plan, and had I thought that whether –

When he had planted both those seeds he had upon his mind

That if he grew them close enough together they would bind

You see we meet today together not because of chance

It’s not a coincidence that tonight Kate and Wynter will dance -

Together as husband and wife, that two become as one

The Gardner planned it years ago, today it has been done

God brought you both together, a woman and a man

We are not here by accident; it’s all part of His plan

Wynter be a strong oak tree, a support for our dear Kate

And Kate be beautiful and cling to him, you are his one soul mate

Marriage brings so many strengths; there are challenges with it too

But as you start this step together there’s one thing you must do

And that is like our story of the oak tree and the flower

If you hold each other tightly you will have such power

Let God who brought you both together, who tended plants and earth –

Give you both a marriage that you agree is worth –

More than any money, than any life apart

I urge you both that every day you give your life, your heart –

To one another, may you be ever true

Start and end each day together, with the words “I love you”.

I was asked by my niece if I could write a piece for hers and Matt's wedding, I was of course honoured to do so.

Two streams began, they were both miles apart

Each not knowing the other was there,

So consumed by the journey they were travelling on

Life was fun, and without any care.

Though as time went by there were barriers to cross,

No brook is obstacle free

There were rocks and bends, waterfalls too,

Yet on the whole was plain to see 

Their way had direction as onward they flowed,

The water became deep and wide,

Twas only when looked from above you could see

They had gradually flowed side by side.

Then after a period of time had elapsed

A date in heaven was set.

Destined by God, no, not by man,

These two streams eventually met.

We see here today two streams have become

A river that flows into one,

The reason you see, is God had a plan,

T'would be easy to say Job Done.

Yet this is the start, not the end of the road

For Nikki and Matt have set out

On a journey together with God as their guide,

And His blessing there is no doubt.

Once water meets up you can't tear it apart,

You can't tell which drop came from where.

So too with a couple who God has made one,

It's not a haphazard affair.

He's committed to them; they're committed to Him

There are three in the marriage, not two.

Not a thing to take lightly, this is for life

When they say to each other I do.

I'm sure you like me would wish them both well,

Asking Him that their marriage be blest.

And forty years on still be able to say 

I think we have passed the test!

I can honestly say that this day was one of the happiest in my life. Everything was just perfect.
Due to my poets bent it was expected for me to write my speech in rhyme.
It was such a pleasure to speak the words below over my daughter and her husband on that day.
Yes parenthood can be an awesome responsibility, but that is matched by the tremendous pride and pleasure that it brings too.

I woke up this morning and got out of bed
I opened the curtains quite wide
Then looked out the window, the sun was high up
Out came an involuntary sigh.
I gazed at my bathers still wrapped in their towel
They won’t travel far today.
My binoculars too seemed to beckon to me
I apologised and said you must stay.
“You see, just today I’ve been told what to do
And swimming and birding are banned”.
I must dress in a suit and yes even a tie
A wedding’s apparently planned.

It’s been busy at home these last few weeks,
I’ve seen dresses come in and go out.
“Do I look OK in this?” I am asked
The answer I gave brought a clout!!
And then there’s the guest list, yes all of you here
Have been carefully chosen, each one.
If we invite Mary and Peter I’m told
Then we’ve just got to have Uncle John.
If you look under “L” in the phone book you’ll find
That the Langlois go on quite a bit
But if under “F” the Ferb’s are found
They too on one page wouldn’t fit!

So no wonder we’re here at the OGH
If you all wanted to have seat.
The down side as far as for me is concerned
I’ve been told that this is my treat!
Since most of you people are familiar with church
And we’ve not had an offering yet
A retiring collection in lieu of a gift
Is something I thought I might get?
But since I am here and I’m up on my feet
I suppose you expect me to say
“As the dad of the bride I’m swelling with pride
To be giving my daughter away

One begins to think of the things I will miss
Now my girl has left our nest.
It won’t be the rush to bathroom each day
To be there ahead of the rest.
I’ll also be sure that the razors I use
Will be mine or even brand new
When the phone rings at tea time
And I jump from my chair
I won’t have to say “it’s for you!”
In fact if it rings I really expect
It will be a wrong number – or worse
It’s usually for Martels whose numbers like ours
When someone requires a hearse!!
Some people say your are losing your girl
I suppose in a way it is true
But on the plus side I’ll be gaining two rooms
And one girl less using the loo.

I must say I’m worried by the marriage she’ll have
Not knowing whom her husband will be.
We’ve seen Tim as so many characters now
I wonder when he comes home for tea
Will it be Rafiki that comes through the door?
Or will it be slick Mr Finch.
It could even be Pumbaa who shouts “I’m home luv”
Or if he’s really mixed up - Bet Lynch!!
There’s been West Side Story, and a part in Fame
Jesus Christ in Super Star.
With so much talent, and the gift of the gab
There's a good chance he could go far

When you start a young family you have goals and dreams
Of what you would like them to be
But there’s no guarantee of how they’ll turn out
Only time allows you to see –
If pleasure or pain is the fruit you must bear
You can only give them your best
There’s only so much that you can impart
You must leave them to do the rest.
Time has passed so quickly; it seems no time at all
Since with Cindy’s and Lego they played
But now they’ve grown up and with pride I can say
From our values they have not strayed

I’m proud to be here, to be called Sarah’s dad
To be part of her special day
There may be a tear, a lump in the throat
But Judy and I want to say
If Tim and Sarah have half of our joy
If they have just a part of our life
Then she’ll have the best husband the Lord could provide
And Tim will have the best wife.

We know that the Lord has played the main part
In bringing these two side by side
They have sacrificed much in the last three years
As their paths had to often divide.
But that time has flown past, the future stretches ahead
We know not what it may hold
But this I can say with all of my heart
We all wish you a life of pure gold.
Just cherish each moment - they only pass once
Savour each of the days that you share
Don’t be the last one to say sorry, I was wrong
Be quick to show that you care

The secret of marriage is not give and take
It’s not always the things that you do.
No, be quick to forgive, do not harbour a grudge
And continually say, “I love you.”
I’m sure all of you here would like to join me
In wishing this couple God’s best
Then I’ll pass my cap round, give as much as you can
As I'm down to my very last vest