It was a rainy October day, yet the rain drops could not wash away the happiness I felt as I recited my wedding vows. A sense of uncertainty, fear, and unstoppable joy filled my heart all at once as I put the ring on the finger of my wife. This was it, my life would change forever. This is the day where I would begin a new journey.

A journey of love, joy, respect, new found hope, responsibility and ultimately a state of spiritual peace. As I heard the Justice of the Peace say the words my life flashed before my eyes. There I was, a mere six year old boy growing up in the Soviet Ukraine.

As I write these words, I look at the pictures of my family, my mom, dad and my grandparents. As I bring myself back to those carefree times, I as many times before, pick up my parents wedding album. I am greeted by familiar faces of my family. There they are, right in the palm of my hand. I look at my parents young, glowing faces and I am truly grateful.

I am grateful for the life they provided for me, grateful for the love and warmth I felt as I was nurtured through my childhood and teenage years. My mom and my dad appeared so full of youth. I wonder what was going through their minds at this seemingly far away time. Did they harbor the same feelings of fear and uncertainty as I? Did they at the same time feel the same joy that was going through my heart on my wedding day?

The camera snapped and time stood still as I heard the long awaited “You may kiss the bride.” I literally felt the hearts of my parents who were standing right behind me jump in their chests. Time stood still for them as well. This is what they’ve been waiting for such a long time. Their little boy was becoming a man right before their eyes.

I turn the page of my parents wedding album. There! My grandparents are watching my parents take their wedding vows. How wonderful it is to be able to look at these warm and familiar faces that comforted and held me close so many times when I was a baby.

The camera flashes as the wedding party gets on the way. We celebrate, there is dancing and singing. My dad dances with my wife! I turn the page of the old wedding album, and I see my dad's face as if for the first time. Vibrant, young and worry free. How his heart must have pounded as he put his name on the dotted line of the marriage certificate in this photo!

The camera snaps again as the faces of my family are captured on another digital photograph. Will my daughter gaze upon these photos as I do now? Will she flip the pages of our wedding album as she is getting ready for her wedding? I certainly hope so. After all, photography often serves to keep us in touch with both our past and our future.

Sometimes when life feels unbearably hard, and we face emotional distress the warm faces of our family looking at us through time comfort us in a way only love can comfort and nurture. On the opposite side of the coin the times when we are joyful we can share this joy with our loved ones who are still with us and those that are gone but not forgotten.