Crossroads Church Canton

Thursday Set Up

Rehearsal

Rehearsal Dinner

Crossroads Canton Church

Wedding Day

Ceremony

Reception

Our Wedding

Love in the Time of Covid

There was a classic movie titled "Love in the Time of Cholera". Well, would you believe Love in the Time of Covid? That is where we began. The country was still in modified lockdown, I was just getting back to normal after being hospitalized, and Robbin was about to experience the pandemic first-hand when we met...online, of course. Robbin was ready to call it quits on the new Facebook Dating app and I was just sticking my toe in the water when we ran across each other's profile. She was attracted to my headline - "Must love my Jesus and Love my Dog". Me? Have you seen that patented Robbin smile?! I was smitten. Our very first date was babysitting the Swenn Children together. Not an obvious choice but I had to do something to make this first date happen. Shortly after, Robbin was diagnosed with Covid. Having just recently recovered myself, I knew what needed to be done. I made her a large pot of Green Chile Stew, bought a bunch of snacks, some magazines, and a puzzle book...and waited...and waited. Eventually, she emerged from quarantine and our story was ready to begin in earnest. We spent the holidays getting to know each other through Valentine's Day then the next challenge. Although we were living and working in Amarillo when we met, I purchased a home that I had planned on slowly renovating in Graham, Texas, about 4 hours away. I had planned on ultimately moving to Graham but life had other plans. My employer sold the location I managed and left me without a job or the company-provided home. So I jumped my timetable by about a year and moved to his newly adopted hometown. Meanwhile, Robbin's reputation with her employer was growing, and she was offered a job in Ft. Worth. While not ideal, 1 and a half hours away is a whole lot better than 4. So we decided to try our hand at a long-distance relationship. She busied herself with her new job and with assisting her Aunt Anneda, with whom she lives in Arlington. And me? I had plans to start a non-profit and had a house to make livable. In the meantime, I took a job that summer managing a local radio station, continuing a career I had spent 25 years in earlier in my life. But again, Life... By the Fall, Robbin and I were both doing well in our new positions, and we saw each other as often as possible. Then, IT happened. The "IT" in this case was the second COVID shot. Three days after taking the jab, I found myself in excruciating pain and unable to walk. I went to a local ER; that was my last unaided step. 8 weeks of hospital stays and rehab followed. Even after that, I still could not walk more than enough to transfer in and out of bed to my wheelchair or, occasionally, my walker. Quick as a shot (pun intended) life was changed. Robbin visited me when she could as I convalesced in Amarillo, then in Graham, and was more supportive than I could have hoped for. One day, I had her sit down and we had the talk. I told her that if we were married, it would be different, but that this was NOT what she had signed up for and if she wanted out of the life of caretaker, I would understand, and we could remain friends. Instead of taking the easy out, she doubled-down. She actually talked to the state and became my official caretaker. Travelling to me on weekends, she would help me with life needs, aiding me with laundry, housework, cooking etc. I am still not sure how she found the time or energy to do all of that while working full-time during the week as a Memory Care Director for a facility in the metroplex. This continued on for two and a half years. Did I mention that she lives in Arlington? Did I mention that Arlington was the Home of The Texas Rangers? Did I mention I am a HUGE fan? On disability and with my career and my non-profit both on an indefinite hold, I fully invested my available time when I was not in therapy or overseeing modifications to my home in following the Rangers. With Robbin living less than 5 miles from the stadium, I knew what had to be done. Season Tickets, anyone? Yes, says I. I spent that summer ferrying back and forth between Graham and Globe Life Field. It was a low-impact date I could handle, lots of time to talk and continue to get to know each other, and an exciting season to be a Rangers fan. We followed them together that year all the way to the World Series and eventually to the title. We even had seats for game one. Yes, we got to see the hit, yes, that one. You know, where Corey Seager hit a home run, then issued the yell heard round the world. Yep, that hit. Then, the one from Adolis Garcia that sealed game 1 in walk-off fashion. Life was occupied with Rangers Games and getting into new routines with life, careers, and a disability. My home in Graham provided proximity to both of our families, and we spent quite a bit of time on weekends and holidays at the lake in Brownwood, at the ranch in Canton, or at Aunt Anneda's home in Arlington. It was also during this time that we discovered how much we enjoy travelling together. Many trips would follow. God was good during this time by providing opportunities to travel on small jaunts and major excursions. We learned that my disabilities did not have to sideline us. Yes, you can hike a trail in Alaska in a HoverRound Scooter. Turns out you can also cruise, travel cross-country to Tennessee to meet my son, and go deep-sea fishing in Galveston. After doing life together in all of its forms, from deaths to job loss, illness and disability, travel, and the mundanity of the day-to-day, we had countless opportunities to have THE talk. Yes, the M word had come up several times. I had even proposed. More than once. She had also refused. Her refusal wasn't due to not loving me, it was that she had to work on things between her and God and this new commitment. More than once. I hung in there and she stuck around despite questions and reservations. She let me know that if I asked her again there might be a different outcome, BUT, she had to have a good story and a really exciting engagement. That is where we circle back to the Texas Rangers and the last game of a lack-luster season. I had spent 2 months preparing for the day, notifying members of our "baseball family" and key employees who had been a large part of our lives at the ballpark, employing confederates to help me pull off the big event. The day arrived, and I was nervous. Would it go as planned? Would she say yes?, Would my secret sessions in therapy, gaining the strength to get down on one knee (and back up), pay off? So many questions. Sure enough, the middle of the 5th inning came, and it was show time. But wait, where is she going?! Robbin stood to go to the restroom as people were arriving, preparing to celebrate with us and she was leaving. I grabbed her hand and said, "We need to talk." It was all I could think of. That moment of panicked awkwardness led to my mostly messed-up, well-rehearsed speech that fumbled into a proposal and me on one knee in front of my wheelchair. As the crowd behind us began to gather and crowd in to hear her answer, she said YES! I rose and declared to all that would listen, "SHE SAID YES!" Two sections of Globe Life Field stood, turned, shouted, and sent their well-wishes as she blushed and thrust her newly-ringed finger in the air for all to see. That's it. That's our story, four years in the making, five by the time we say "I do". Thank you for taking the time to read our journey and hopefully to share our big day with us. You are the people who built in us the ability to make it to this point through a life filled with surprises, joys, sadnesses, and the need for more strength than either of us thought we had. You supported us together and individually, kept us pointed to God, and offered your friendship before and during all of the events above. Now, it's time to celebrate, see what's next, and root the Rangers on, of course.....

Our Story

Photos along the journey

Jessica Swenn

Cindy Starcher

Kelly King

Leesha Seidel

Jennifer Cameron

Suzi Pecht

Debbie Vanadore

Kristen Harrison

Clare Swenn

Britton-Caleb Robinson

Louis DiBiase

Travis Kunkel

Bruce Clifton

David Merchant

Frederick Morton

Houston Swenn

J. W.  Pettit 

Libby and Bruce Clifton

Walking Down the Isle of Deceased Parents' Photos. 

Alvin Buford

Anneda Merchant, Wanelda Morton, Debra Blount

John Buckel

Libby Clifton

Broderick Morton

Shawn Hurst

Erynn Moore

Debbie Vanadore 

Anneda Merchant

Missie Morton

Debra Blount

Bruce and Libby Clifton

Robin & Patrick Newman 

Jackson Swenn

Sam & Debbie Cunngham

Tom & Becky Lanning

John & Rebecca Buckel

Wedding Party

Questions and Answers

This is a great hotel for the area. It is centrally located about 15-20 minutes from the church and only about 7 minutes or so from Robinson Ranch. They have a pool, weight room, nice facilities and breakfast is included. This is the hotel where my family and I stay when we're are in the area and need accommodations. This is the official hotel of the wedding and we do have a block of rooms reserved at a lower rate. Book fast because space is limited and there are events in the area that weekend so rates will rise if you miss out on our block. A KING ROOM is $139 plus tax, and the DOUBLE QUEEN room is $165 plus tax. They do have ADA rooms available as well.

Fairfield Inn & Suites Van Canton Area

Even though Canton is a small town, because of their world-famous First Monday Trade Days, they boast a number of Airbnb and VRBO homes. Just make sure you look for homes in the Canton or Van area with proximity to Crossroads Canton church. We have several families that are booking larger homes and staying together with other family members or with friends,

PRIVATE ACCOMODATIONS

AIRPORT #1IF YOU ARE FLYING SOUTHWEST AIRLINES this is where you will land. From there, it is only 63 miles or about an hour and 20-minute drive to Canton. Your best route to Canton is <a href="https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Dallas+Love+Fld+(DAL),+8008+Herb+Kelleher+Way,+Dallas,+TX+75235/Canton,+Texas+75103/@32.6597141,-96.6241618,10.45z/data=!4m29!4m28!1m20!1m1!1s0x864e9c34982312d1:0xea741a5750bb2386!2m2!1d-96.8484951!2d32.8438345!3m4!1m2!1d-96.6164896!2d32.7925488!3s0x864ea5ca6d23563b:0x9a4f88df66ef9424!3m4!1m2!1d-95.873644!2d32.5857821!3s0x864972cbd22a3c8b:0xcf66be565874eec9!3m4!1m2!1d-95.859874!2d32.5611678!3s0x86490d21b899521f:0xf3f79dbd9de0a9dc!1m5!1m1!1s0x86490d1f3696d0fb:0xa7055eb5cf0cb7e2!2m2!1d-95.8632996!2d32.5565244!3e0?entry=ttu&amp;g_ep=EgoyMDI1MDQwOC4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">here.</a> IF YOU ARE STAYING at the Fairfield Inn and Suites in VAN, your route is <a href="https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Dallas+Love+Fld+(DAL),+8008+Herb+Kelleher+Way,+Dallas,+TX+75235/Fairfield+Inn+%26+Suites+Van+Canton+Area,+3064+Interstate+20+W,+Van,+TX+75790/@32.6740956,-96.9052901,9z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m14!4m13!1m5!1m1!1s0x864e9c34982312d1:0xea741a5750bb2386!2m2!1d-96.8484951!2d32.8438345!1m5!1m1!1s0x8649a3fdeb9d1e1f:0x599b67865935dad1!2m2!1d-95.644818!2d32.5083807!3e0?entry=ttu&amp;g_ep=EgoyMDI1MDQwOC4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">here.</a> Traffic in Dallas can be tricky. Stay in the left lane to avoid most tie-ups, but if a speed demon gets behind you, pull over to the next available lane. Remember, Drive Friendly, Its the Texas Way.

Dallas Love Field

AIRPORT #2This is the larger of DFW's two major airports and it handles most of the airline traffic. If you are coming to Canton from DFW this is your <a href="https://www.google.com/maps/dir/DFW+airport+(DFW),+Aviation+Drive,+Dallas,+TX/Canton,+Texas+75103/@32.7427385,-97.1079824,9z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m29!4m28!1m20!1m1!1s0x864c2a660d222aa7:0x73323f5e067d201c!2m2!1d-97.0337021!2d32.89809!3m4!1m2!1d-96.6164896!2d32.7925488!3s0x864ea5ca6d23563b:0x9a4f88df66ef9424!3m4!1m2!1d-95.873644!2d32.5857821!3s0x864972cbd22a3c8b:0xcf66be565874eec9!3m4!1m2!1d-95.859874!2d32.5611678!3s0x86490d21b899521f:0xf3f79dbd9de0a9dc!1m5!1m1!1s0x86490d1f3696d0fb:0xa7055eb5cf0cb7e2!2m2!1d-95.8632996!2d32.5565244!3e0?entry=ttu&amp;g_ep=EgoyMDI1MDQwOC4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">route.</a> If you will be joining the wedding crowd at the FAIRFIELD INN AND SUITES in VAN, TX, then this is the route for <a href="https://www.google.com/maps/dir/DFW+airport+(DFW),+Aviation+Drive,+Dallas,+TX/Fairfield+Inn+%26+Suites+Van+Canton+Area,+Interstate+20+West,+Van,+TX/@32.7173526,-97.0020523,9z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m29!4m28!1m20!1m1!1s0x864c2a660d222aa7:0x73323f5e067d201c!2m2!1d-97.0337021!2d32.89809!3m4!1m2!1d-96.6164896!2d32.7925488!3s0x864ea5ca6d23563b:0x9a4f88df66ef9424!3m4!1m2!1d-95.873644!2d32.5857821!3s0x864972cbd22a3c8b:0xcf66be565874eec9!3m4!1m2!1d-95.859874!2d32.5611678!3s0x86490d21b899521f:0xf3f79dbd9de0a9dc!1m5!1m1!1s0x8649a3fdeb9d1e1f:0x599b67865935dad1!2m2!1d-95.644818!2d32.5083807!3e0?entry=ttu&amp;g_ep=EgoyMDI1MDQwOC4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">you.</a>

Dallas Fort Worth International Airport

IF YOU ARE DRIVING it is fairly easy. Canton is a straight shot from the east or west on Interstate Highway 20. Just look for Exit 527 for the most convenient exit to all that Canton has to offer. If you ARE DRIVING SOUTH look for HWY 19 it will lead you straight into town.

CANTON TEXAS AREA

This hotel is located in Canton. It's a straight shot from the hotel to the church. It is not a Best Western Plus. The owners are nice, and the rooms seemed to be clean. They have breakfast in the morning and a swimming pool. A DOUBLE QUEEN room is $98.00 plus tax. They also have ADA rooms available.

Best Western Canton Inn

Travel

Things to Do

Registry

Robbin & Price

Robbin & Price

Wedding Party