On Our Wedding Day

On our wedding day (March 10), I would like to post the poem I read to Claudia when I asked her to marry me. This poem is unique, because I actually wrote it over five years ago as I reflected about the woman I would want to marry. And five years later, it describes her perfectly. Thanks to everyone who has contributed to our stories. Today, we prayerfully begin a new chapter, and submit ourselves once again to His authorship.

The Richest Blessing of My Life
(Ryan Porche; February 3, 2002)


I do not know where she is today
I do not even know her name
But somewhere in this world there lies
Someone that will one day cause my heart to fly

And though our first encounter hasn’t occurred
I already know most everything about her
It is her rock-hard faith that causes my heart to leap
And her compassionate personality that sweeps me off my feet

Her love for her God will be much deeper than mine
And in her mind He will always be the first in line.
She will never drift from His will to obey
And the depths of her love she will never need to say

Because she will express them through her deeds
Her constant never-ending planting of His seeds
And as she showers those around her with His truth
My love for her will begin to take root

An adorable personality is how she is described best
Her words for others will always build and always bless
She will reach out to those whom others will avoid
And reveal to them the one true King who can fill their void

The sound of her laughter will fill me with the greatest joy
And when she speaks to me—all my attention she’ll employ
Her smile will brighten my day and send shivers running wild
I’ll often spend hours lost in her eyes that are deep yet pure as a child

Her voice will cause my entire being to fall still
When she sings my heart with warmth will fill
And when she speaks everyone will hear
And when she whispers, my face will draw near

The beauty of her face will be soft yet stunning
And every time she looks at me, Lord knows my heart will be running
Her flowing hair will be oh such a sight
With length enough to run my hands through, and to brush late at night

Her hands will be gentle and smooth on my face
And her figure will be perfect in every place
When she and I are together we’ll have our own little bubble
Where everyone else disappears, and there’s never any trouble

We’ll have entire conversations with nothing more than our eyes
And every moment I’m away I will long to be back at her side
I suppose I could say that whenever her presence is felt
I will glow as the sun, and my heart will surely melt

I’ll be her biggest fan, all her endeavors I’ll support
To all my friends and co-workers her successes I’ll report
And when we expect the fruits of our love I won’t let her out of sight
And when I first hold our child in my arms, I’ll be higher than a kite

I’ll find great joy in watching her raise our child from year to year
Her tender motherly love will cause my eyes to fill with tear
They’ll be tears of joy as I ask God why He gave this girl to me
And one day those very tears will return when He takes her home from me

She’ll be my richest blessing sent from God above
To me she’ll be more than priceless—she’ll be more precious than a dove
She will be my strength, my courage, she’ll be my partner in life
My life, my love, my all, my wife.