To Have and to Hold : Poems, Blessings, and Wishes for Newlyweds Book

A Letter to Readers     xv
Prayers
A Newlywed's Prayer     2
Prayer for Fruit     3
The Dark Side of Love     4
Spouses' Prayer for Each Other     5
Prayer of the Military Wife     6
Our Bond     7
Expanding Hearts     8
Living Realistically     9
Generosity of Spirit     10
Marriage as Prayer     11
Blessings
Blessing     14
A Blessing Fair     15
A Blessing for the Newly Married     16
Ever Growing     17
The Blessing of Yes     18
The Wonder of Your Being     20
Seven Wedding Blessings     21
Divine Wisdom, Eternal Love     22
The Safe Harbor     23
Hand in Hand     24
Toasts
Toast to You and Me     26
A Toast to Our Family and Friends     27
Tender Toast     28
Ingredients of a Happy Marriage     29
A Newlywed's Toast     30
A Toast to the Newlyweds     31
Shine Always     32
Daily Life
Sunrise     34
Listening     35
For Those Times SpentApart     36
The Excitable Gift     37
Love Comes First     39
When Love Is Painful     40
Why Do I Love You?     41
A Promise     42
Your Song     43
Keep Your Dwelling Strong     44
Mask     45
Windy Afternoon     46
So Many Things     47
Few Words     45
Lessons     49
More Than One Plus One     51
Attraction     52
Prayer After a Quarrel     53
Recording Joy     54
On the Road     55
Devoted     56
Romance
Starshine     58
The Love Within     59
Like God, Perhaps     61
Commitment     62
Easter Sunday     63
The Terms of Love     64
When the Acacia Blooms     66
Carefree     68
Our Hands     69
Moments to Remember     70
The Religion of Everyday Things     71
Intimacy
I Wanted to Tell You     74
Lazy Morning Love     75
Pillow Talk     76
This Morning      78
So Much for Chores     79
Journey     80
The Greatest Day     81
Bedground     82
River     83
Married...     84
Yellow Linens     85
Loving     86
Midnight Wandering     87
Dreaming Awake     88
Reflections
Love     90
On Marriage     91
Lasting Love     92
You Complete Me     93
Homecoming     94
Husband Song     95
Kismet     97
The Light at the End of the Street     99
Combinations     100
Do Good Things for Each Other     101
Hands     102
Honeymoon     103
The Language of Love     104
Thank You     105
You Are Mine, I Am Yours     106
When Death Will Come to Part Us     107
Our Marriage     108
A Mystery     109
Our Lives     110
Inspiration
Between You and Me     112
Changing Directions     113
Together Forever     114
The Journey's Start     115
Keep the Joy      117
When the Future Has Come and Gone     118
Immutable Star     119
Beloved     121
Soul Mate     122
Sky Over Sea     123
Made for Love     124
A Promise of Love     125
Husband and Wife     126
Higher Purpose     127
New Vision     128
The Wings of Faith     129
From This Day Forward     130
Author Index     131
About the Author     133
Permissions & Acknowledgments     135