Building of Bouquet

Minister: We're not here merely to join a man and a woman but to unify an entire family. Marlena's children...John's children to bond them under the umbrella of John and Marlena's love. It was very important to John and Marlena to include the children in this very special ceremony. so I'll turn this part of the service to them.
John: Thank you.
Marlena: We've often thought of umh our family as a garden of flowers each child is unique, beautiful and cherished in their own way.
John: And we would like to symbolically build a bouquet of our family and in doing so we would like to recommit ourselves to each other.
Marlena: Belle is our daisy. She's our sunshine. She lights us up with her smile.
John: She brightens up our days with her joyfulness and her love of fun.
Belle gets up from Maggie's lap and takes the daisy from Marlena. Marlena helps her to stick the flower in.
Marlena: You're the sweetest girl. I'll help you with it. There you go. It's pretty big. There you go.
John: Brady. You're our sunflower. You're bold...adventurous.
Brady makes a funny face.
Marlena: Ha, ha, ha. He'll tackle anything that comes in his way. He inspires us with his courage and his high spirits.
John: Come on up son.
Brady gets up from Billie's lap. He and Marlena stick the sunflower into the bouquet.
John: Show 'em how to do it. Yeah.
Marlena: All right. Yeah. Then there is our rose. Our rose. When the climate is cold the bud closes up but when it's light and warm the bud opens up and it is a revelation.
John: It's a huge generous heart with all the natural beauty nature has to offer.
Marlena: That would be our Samantha.
Marlena hands the rose to Sami and she places it in the bouquet. Marlena kisses Sami
John: Let's see we have a snap dragon.
Marlena: Ha, ha, ha.
John: Daring...head-strong...smart.
Marlena: Keeps all the other flowers on their toes too. We're always touched by his capacity to love and his loyalty.
John: That would be Eric.
Eric takes the snap dragon from Marlena and sticks it into the bouquet. Before he steps down he kisses his mother.
Marlena: And last we have an orchid. Beautiful...fragile.
John: She needs loving attention. And she deserves it.
Marlena: That would be our Carrie. We can't claim her genetically but we raised her together and we are so proud of the graceful substantial woman that she has become.
John: And we're all better people for having you in our lives Carrie.
Marlena: She is. She always will be the child of our hearts.
Carrie steps forward and takes the orchid from Marlena. She places the flower in the bouquet and flashes Marlena and John a smile.
Minister: And now John and Marlena will light the center candle symbolizing the unifying power of their love. Joining together all the members of their family as they light the candle I invite everyone to read from first Corinthians that great book about love.

The congregation begins to recite.
Love is patient
Love is kind
It does not envy
It does not boast
It is not proud
It is not rude
It is not selfseeking
It is not easily angered
It keeps no record of wrongs
Love does not delight in evil
But rejoices with the truth
It always protects
Always trusts
Always hopes
Always perseveres
Love never fails

John and Marlena light the center candle. They both blow out their candles and the camera pauses on them.

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