First Comes Love, Then Comes Marriage.....

Brian K. Eppers & Katie Gwen Watkins Eppers
June 10, 2000

Eleven years ago on this date, the man of my niece's dreams took her to be his bride.  I have to tell you, I don't think either of them could have made a better choice!  They are both precious, loving people who have given each other opportunities to grow in ways each perhaps could not have known had they not been together.




Cutting the Groom's cake.

They were so young and so in love.  As Katie walked down the aisle on the arm of her Dad, Brian stood at the altar with tears streaming down his face.  I have never been so touched in my life as I was to see him so humble and so obviously in love with our Blonde Bombshell! 

It was obvious to me he would be my nephew early in their relationship.  Katie had allowed Brian to protect her, something she had never done with any other guy she had dated.  She had always been very independent.  When she allowed Brian to take over and drive the two of them from their campus in Texas during a winter storm for Christmas 1998, I knew he was the one.




Katie & Brian K-I-S-S-I-N-G under the tree!

 They have faced trials together.  Brain joined the military and trained to become an MP.  He was gone for the usual Basics, then for an additional period of training and was barely home when he was notified he would be deployed to Iraq.  Their youngest, Jaden, turned one in October 2003 while Brian was training and barely saw him until he returned home in December 2005 after his tour of duty in Iraq. 

They moved from Middle Tennessee to Mason City, IA and then back down to Des Moines, IA.  In the meantime, Brian changed his specialty from Medic to Medical NCO as a member of a Civil Support Team, Weapons of Mass Destruction with the Dept. of Homeland Security.  Katie has worked to gain her degree and has become the Leasing Agent for Highpointe Properties in Norwalk. 

Alix Joy, Brian, Katie & Jaden Isaac Eppers
May 2010
  

They now have two beautiful children, Alix and Jaden, and have a good life together.  Brian is continuing his education and working toward a degree in psychology.  They have weathered a health scare with their daughter and have grown even closer as a family and as a couple.  They serve together on the Praise & Worship team for their church, Crossroads Church, in Norwalk.

I pray they will have many, many wonderful years ahead of them.  I love them with my whole heart and know they love me.  What better can a person wish for than to know they are loved by those whom they love?!

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY, BRIAN & KATIE!

I LOVE YOU, FOREVER & ALWAYS!

Jesus replied,

"Haven't you read that in the beginning the Creator

'made them male and female'?—(Genesis 1:27)

He said,

'That's why a man will leave his father and mother

and be joined to his wife.

The two will become one.'—(Genesis 2:24)

They are no longer two, but one.

So a man must not separate what God has joined together."

Matthew 19: 4-6

"But suppose you don't want to serve him.

Then choose for yourselves right now whom you will serve.

You can choose the gods your people served

east of the Euphrates River.

Or you can choose the gods the Amorites serve.

After all, you are living in their land.

But as for me and my family, we will serve the Lord."

Joshua 24: 15