When Melody was 14 she knew she would marry James. James had come calling for a wife when he was just 17 asking  for the hand in marriage of the girl who stole his heart when he was just 10 years old.

James entered through the front door of the long hallway with rooms to either side of the house and turned left into the study to join her father one Sunday in April after church. Melody, the eldest girl in her family, for 6 months had dreamed of the day the conversation would take place between James and her father. She sat holding hands with her mother, hoping that her father would approve of their marriage.

James, the only son and youngest child of merchants whose family owned a fair deal of land in the small rural town was a stable young man with a pure heart. James had been worried another local boy, from a family with more prestige, might approach Melody’s father for Melody’s hand. James would be delighted to know that Melody’s father was thrilled to know one day James would be in the family.

Two months past Melody’s 16^th birthday they wed while she held the family bible and her mother’s handkerchief in her left hand. She was frightfully nervous about the wedding night – thanks to her mother - but was relieved to find out that James was in as much panic about the marriage bed evening. Over the next days and weeks they found their way with each other most passionately.

Back then it wasn’t out of the ordinary for couples to marry young. It was though, unusual for them to have affection for each other (if at all) so quickly. Each day during their life together Melody used to love day dreaming about James until he showed up at the front door smiling. He was always happy to spend time with her, then in the years to come, her and their 5 children.

They lived a simple life and their needs were met. They eventually moved into the house where he was raised. It was near town, across a creek, where the kids spent summers chasing snakes and throwing rocks. They spent years making the home theirs, adding on a few rooms to make it more comfortable.

James loved and treasured Melody. He always put her well-being and happiness first in any decision he made that could affect their future. They were blissfully in love throughout their lives, no matter what the wedding day picture told the world.

Written by Julia Roberts, Kidneys and Eyes