Vow Renewal: Hope in the Midst of Pain
It was a perfect morning. Paula Stodghill and her two daughters, Racheal and Hope, piled into bed and devoured a plate of homemade waffles, drizzled in chocolate. Paula’s husband, Flint, then presented each of his three girls a box of gourmet chocolates. “My flavor was wedding cake chocolate,” reflects Paula. “Flint had placed my engagement ring inside, and it was sparkling in the center chocolate. It was so thoughtful, but I didn’t think much of it because it was Valentine’s Day.”
Flint, stricken with cancer, was no longer able to speak to his beloved wife of twenty years. Instead, he sweetly held up a piece of paper that said, “Paula, will you marry me?” He carefully unfolded the paper and revealed another note. “Today at Calgary Baptist Church. 1:00pm.”
Shocked, Paula shouted, “Yes!” Hope laughs, “Dad was SO excited about his surprise and mom was hysterical. She was so excited and her reactions were too funny and sweet.”
Paula says with awe, “He was just trying to make us a lot of wonderful memories. He made every minute count.” Two decades earlier, Paula eyed a handsome college boy teaching a soccer clinic. “I remember thinking how cute he was and how sweet he was with the kids,” says Paula. The two connected on the evening of his 21st birthday and sparks flew. Within six months, they were husband and wife. Paula laughs, “It was quite an adventure and our lives continued to be an adventure.”
In September 2013, Flint was diagnosed with oral cancer. Paula reflects, “We didn’t think it was a big deal, because we believed it was curable. The cancer was surgically removed from his tongue and jaw, but a month later, it returned with a vengeance. Doctors at The University of Mississippi Medical Center offered an extreme surgery to remove his tongue, voice box and jawbone. “He prayed about it and said, ‘Let’s go for it,’” says Paula. “They only gave him a 20% chance of remission with the surgery, but he wanted to fight and do something drastic for his girls.”
Hope reflects, “I remember just how much he loved us. The way he would express his love was so forward and apparent. He would trap me in a big, long hug and say, ‘I love my girls.’ He was so comforting and so caring and he sought to raise us serving the Lord in love and faith.”
Despite Flint’s aggressive surgery, the cancer returned. “I had always wanted to do a vow renewal, but he has never really been big on it. He actually fought me on it,” laughs Paula. “But he did it for me, which was amazing. He wanted to surprise me, which was really sweet. I walked into the church, Molly Gee did my makeup, my daughters put me in a dress, and it was go time!” Racheal says, “Hope and I got to stand with them and I am sure there was not a dry eye in the crowd that day. It was beautiful to see them up there, standing in the middle of their ‘for worse’ moment, giving it to God and allowing Him to shine through the darkness.”
Flint passed away shortly after their tender vow renewal. “He had a great, simple view of the world that was inspiring to me. My dad was my best friend,” says Racheal. “It’s hard to talk about him without a stream of tears running down my face, because of the special bond we had.”
Hope adds, “Dad was just so strong and faithful throughout his struggles and trials with cancer. It was hard, but he made everyday worthwhile and taught me so much about what it means to have joy in the midst of trial. He presented a true picture of perseverance and love in everything he went through. His journey and his death were, and still are, instrumental in strengthening me and making me who I am and who I will be.”
At the end of his remarkable life, Paula says, “Racheal and I had several dreams that Flint could talk and eat, and was back to normal.” She adds beautifully, “But thankfully he is back to normal now because he is in Heaven with Jesus.”
A special thank you to the incredible vendors involved:
Ceremony and Reception Venue: Calvary Baptist Church
Florals: Fresh Cut Catering & Floral
Photography: Mary Moment Photography
Hair & Makeup: Molly Gee Designs
Videography: Revival House
It was a perfect morning. Paula Stodghill and her two daughters, Racheal and Hope, piled into bed and devoured a plate of homemade waffles, drizzled in chocolate. Paula’s husband, Flint, then presented each of his three girls a box of gourmet chocolates. “My flavor was wedding cake chocolate,” reflects Paula. “Flint had placed my engagement ring inside, and it was sparkling in the center chocolate. It was so thoughtful, but I didn’t think much of it because it was Valentine’s Day.”
Flint, stricken with cancer, was no longer able to speak to his beloved wife of twenty years. Instead, he sweetly held up a piece of paper that said, “Paula, will you marry me?” He carefully unfolded the paper and revealed another note. “Today at Calgary Baptist Church. 1:00pm.”
Shocked, Paula shouted, “Yes!” Hope laughs, “Dad was SO excited about his surprise and mom was hysterical. She was so excited and her reactions were too funny and sweet.”
Paula says with awe, “He was just trying to make us a lot of wonderful memories. He made every minute count.” Two decades earlier, Paula eyed a handsome college boy teaching a soccer clinic. “I remember thinking how cute he was and how sweet he was with the kids,” says Paula. The two connected on the evening of his 21st birthday and sparks flew. Within six months, they were husband and wife. Paula laughs, “It was quite an adventure and our lives continued to be an adventure.”
In September 2013, Flint was diagnosed with oral cancer. Paula reflects, “We didn’t think it was a big deal, because we believed it was curable. The cancer was surgically removed from his tongue and jaw, but a month later, it returned with a vengeance. Doctors at The University of Mississippi Medical Center offered an extreme surgery to remove his tongue, voice box and jawbone. “He prayed about it and said, ‘Let’s go for it,’” says Paula. “They only gave him a 20% chance of remission with the surgery, but he wanted to fight and do something drastic for his girls.”
Hope reflects, “I remember just how much he loved us. The way he would express his love was so forward and apparent. He would trap me in a big, long hug and say, ‘I love my girls.’ He was so comforting and so caring and he sought to raise us serving the Lord in love and faith.”
Despite Flint’s aggressive surgery, the cancer returned. “I had always wanted to do a vow renewal, but he has never really been big on it. He actually fought me on it,” laughs Paula. “But he did it for me, which was amazing. He wanted to surprise me, which was really sweet. I walked into the church, Molly Gee did my makeup, my daughters put me in a dress, and it was go time!” Racheal says, “Hope and I got to stand with them and I am sure there was not a dry eye in the crowd that day. It was beautiful to see them up there, standing in the middle of their ‘for worse’ moment, giving it to God and allowing Him to shine through the darkness.”
Flint passed away shortly after their tender vow renewal. “He had a great, simple view of the world that was inspiring to me. My dad was my best friend,” says Racheal. “It’s hard to talk about him without a stream of tears running down my face, because of the special bond we had.”
Hope adds, “Dad was just so strong and faithful throughout his struggles and trials with cancer. It was hard, but he made everyday worthwhile and taught me so much about what it means to have joy in the midst of trial. He presented a true picture of perseverance and love in everything he went through. His journey and his death were, and still are, instrumental in strengthening me and making me who I am and who I will be.”
At the end of his remarkable life, Paula says, “Racheal and I had several dreams that Flint could talk and eat, and was back to normal.” She adds beautifully, “But thankfully he is back to normal now because he is in Heaven with Jesus.”
A special thank you to the incredible vendors involved:
Ceremony and Reception Venue: Calvary Baptist Church
Florals: Fresh Cut Catering & Floral
Photography: Mary Moment Photography
Hair & Makeup: Molly Gee Designs
Videography: Revival House
{Blog by Mitchell Walters}
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