A Love Which Lasts A
Lifetime...
...And Beyond
Matthew C. Coover: the first of 3
living children, born to Charlie and Amy Coover in a Florida hospital on October
13, 1985 — Preceded by a son who was stillborn, I sustained a broken arm and
collarbone at the hands of the doctor who delivered me, and was almost killed
along with my mother during birth by an overdose of medication. During the
next 3½ years my parents lost another two children – a daughter who was
stillborn, and a son who died shortly after birth – before finally having my two
sisters.
Lindsey Marie Woodcraft was the last of 3 living
children, born to Barry and Connie Woodcraft at their home in Pennsylvania on
August 17, 1988. Preceded and followed by multiple miscarriages (at least
two of which were twins), according to doctors who told her mother she would
never have children, her parents already had a healthy son and daughter and
Lindsey’s pregnancy was destined to be terminated. However, Lindsey was
born a healthy baby.
“For I know the plans I have for you, says
Yahweh; plans for good and not to hurt, to give you a future and a hope.”
—Jeremiah 29:11
In 1990 Matthew’s parents moved from Maryland to
Pennsylvania, an hour and a half from the town where Lindsey spent much of her
childhood. But then, as if to disperse the puzzle pieces of their similar
stories which were falling together, Lindsey’s parents moved to Maine in 2000,
their two families never having met.
“For My thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are My ways your ways, declares Yahweh. For as the heavens are
higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts
than your thoughts... [But] My word that goes forth from My mouth — it does not
return to Me empty, but shall do what I please, and shall certainly accomplish
what I sent it for.” —Isaiah 55:8-11
In
Yahweh’s timing, Matthew and Lindsey met a mere 2 years later through Lindsey’s
brother-in-law at the Feast of Tabernacles, and although scarcely a word was
spoken between them in the ensuing 3 years of quiet observation, Matthew’s
written proposal, which unbeknownst to him, arrived on the day Lindsey turned
17, read “Yahweh has impressed upon my heart that you are indeed the young woman
whom he has chosen to fill that place by my side in my life.”
A month later, after a brief period of phone-calls
and getting to know each other better at Lindsey’s home, during which time we
purposed to refrain from physical touch, we were betrothed on September 21, 2005
during the Feast of Tabernacles. Our betrothal was publicly announced 6
days later on the last day of the Feast, which traditionally commemorates
Israel’s betrothal to Yahshua through the marriage covenant of the Torah.
Our written betrothal announcement subsequently explained: “During the period of
betrothal, which is as binding as the Marriage ceremony itself, Lindsey and I
are officially and publically promised to each other until death do us part, as
‘husband’ and ‘wife’ (Matthew 1:18,19, 24,25; Luke 2:4-6).”
In the ensuing months, while making preparations
for the wedding feast or public celebration and where we would live, we composed
our formal vows which we spoke over the telephone, and on February 24, 2006 we
shared fruit of the vine (Kedem Concord Grape Juice) and affectionately, yet
reservedly, touched for the first time. Then on March 31, 2006 we shared
Manichewitz Concord Grape Wine, symbolic of the joys of marriage and the final
consummation, and our vows were publicly affirmed and attested before
witnesses.
In the early morning hours of February 25, 2007,
one year from our “first anniversary date”, Yahweh blessed our marriage with a
son, whom we have dedicated to Yahweh as Caleb Charles Dustin Coover, meaning a
Bold or Strong, Manly, Valiant Warrior, and on our “second anniversary date”
(March 31, 2007), our little Caleb became 5 weeks old.
Although ours may sound like a perfect love story
with a happily ever after ending, this does not mean that we haven’t had our
times of trial and testing, or that it was unnecessary for us to die to our own
thoughts and reasoning in order to accept and follow Yahweh’s plan. But as
we have learned, and Yahweh has confirmed, his timing is indeed perfect, and
following it makes for love which lasts a lifetime and beyond.
Please share in our time of rejoicing with
us!
Name: Caleb Charles Dustin
Coover .
“Bold or Strong, Manly, Valiant Warrior”
Born on: February 25, 2007 at 6:00 AM
Weight: 7 pounds, 14
ounces
.
Length: 20½
inches
.
“Lo, children are an heritage of Yahweh,
the fruit of the womb is his reward
and the joy of children are their fathers”
CALEB’S ETERNAL
BLESSING
May Yahweh protect and defend you.
May He always shield you
from shame.
May you come to be in Yisra’el a shining name.
May you be like Yahoshua and Caleb.
May you be deserving of
praise.
Strengthen him O Yahweh,
And keep him from the stranger’s
ways.
May Yahweh bless you and grant you long life.
May Yahweh fulfill our prayer for you.
May Yahweh make you
a good husband and father.
May He send you someone to care for
you.
May Yahweh protect and defend you.
May He preserve you from
pain.
Favor Him, Yahweh, with happiness and peace
O Hear our everlasting
prayer.
For Matthew and Lindsey's Betrothal Announcement
Click
Here
HalleluYAH!
— Matthew &
Lindsey Coover—
