Madeline's Wedding Toast.

I just want to say thank you to everyone or making the trip out to this beautiful black hills. And cheers! 

I'm going to take a minute to tell you guys a little story. About 3 years ago we were gathering in Chamberlain for our annual week long 4th of July celebration. And while we were getting prepared Madeline called and said she wanted to bring Sean for the week. 

Well we had met Sean once before and they'd been dating a few months so we said yeah that's okay. 

So everybody showed up at Grandma's house and Madeline and Sean came pulling up and took Sean's hand and said hi. And two Sean's credit he was very respectful and polite so he had that going for him. 

Well we stayed the week and had our usual great time and when fishing and boating and got together for the big picnic on the 4th of July and it was a great week. 

On that last day when we were packing up and getting ready to return home, is upstairs in grandma's house and Sean came up and said Dave I'd like to have a word with you. I said sure Sean what is it, what's up? So Sean very seriously and earnestly looked me in the eye and said well I have had a great weekend and love this family and had so much fun and I'd like to ask you a question. 

So I said sure go ahead. Sean said well you know how I feel about Madeline and I think she's wonderful and I'd like to ask you permission to marry her. 

Now I didn't respond right away, mostly because I was in total shock. And after about a minute or two I looked at Sean and shaking my head (I think I made a really strange face, something like this) and said well Sean I think I need you need to talk to Mama Terri about this. Kind of reminded me of a saying my dad said my grandpa liked to say " they don't put old heads on young shoulders". 

So I got Terri alone and said wow you're not going to believe this but Sean just asked me permission to marry Madeline. Well then Terri made a face something like this.

We talked, and Terri said one word after making that face -- and that was "No! ".

 So, we had a talk with Sean and Madeline and said, you know you guys, you need to get to know each other a little better and you know you need to see each other in your not just during your happiest days but also on your hardest days and that'll really give you a measure of if you know this other person. 

So, well here we are 3 years later and hey it's crazy isn't it?  It's got me thinking you know, "How do you know that this one is the one?". How do you know, right? 

I had a cellular biology professor that showed us two slides under a microscope. One dead, one alive. He asked: What gives the one that's alive that spark of life. Is it just a chemical reaction? No, he said. Life is proof of a higher being with a plan. That spark of life in that cell he said, "That's God". 

I guess you know after all these years being married 37 I still can't answer that question. Is it physical, metaphysical, chemical or logical? is it emotional? I don't really know.  I do like to think, just like that living cell, God is the spark of life between two people.

And I do know this, somehow you just know!

So I'd like to propose a toast we're going to take a drink and take a few seconds to ponder those mysteries of life. 

And in honor of my grandma Mildetta O'Hara Shogren, I'd like to leave you with a small piece of advice and an old Irish toast:

May the wind always be at your back,

May the raindrops fall lightly on your brow

May the soft winds freshen your spirit

May the sunshine brighten your heart

May the burdens of the day rest lightly upon you

And may God enfold you in the mantle of His love."

Cheers and welcome to the family Sean and congratulations to both of you!